annotate man/basic.texi @ 70545:1a34330f0112

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author Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
date Tue, 09 May 2006 23:24:20 +0000
parents 4bb94c09a47d
children ddc3087f4c41 c5406394f567
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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 We now give the basics of how to enter text, make corrections, and
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11 save the text in a file. If this material is new to you, you might
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12 learn it more easily by running the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial. To
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13 use the tutorial, run Emacs and type @kbd{Control-h t}
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14 (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
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15
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16 To clear the screen and redisplay, type @kbd{C-l} (@code{recenter}).
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17
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18 @menu
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19
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20 * Inserting Text:: Inserting text by simply typing it.
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21 * Moving Point:: How to move the cursor to the place where you want to
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22 change something.
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23 * Erasing:: Deleting and killing text.
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24 * Basic Undo:: Undoing recent changes in the text.
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25 * Files: Basic Files. Visiting, creating, and saving files.
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26 * Help: Basic Help. Asking what a character does.
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27 * Blank Lines:: Commands to make or delete blank lines.
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28 * Continuation Lines:: Lines too wide for the screen.
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29 * Position Info:: What page, line, row, or column is point on?
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30 * Arguments:: Numeric arguments for repeating a command.
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31 * Repeating:: A short-cut for repeating the previous command.
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32 @end menu
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33
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34 @node Inserting Text
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35 @section Inserting Text
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36
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37 @cindex insertion
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38 @cindex graphic characters
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39 To insert printing characters into the text you are editing, just type
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40 them. This inserts the characters you type into the buffer at the
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41 cursor (that is, at @dfn{point}; @pxref{Point}). The cursor moves
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42 forward, and any text after the cursor moves forward too. If the text
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43 in the buffer is @samp{FOOBAR}, with the cursor before the @samp{B},
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44 then if you type @kbd{XX}, you get @samp{FOOXXBAR}, with the cursor
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45 still before the @samp{B}.
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46
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47 To @dfn{delete} text you have just inserted, use the large key
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48 labeled @key{DEL}, @key{BACKSPACE} or @key{DELETE} which is a short
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49 distance above the @key{RET} or @key{ENTER} key. This is the key you
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50 normally use, outside Emacs, for erasing the last character that you
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51 typed. Regardless of the label on that key, Emacs thinks of it as
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52 @key{DEL}, and that's what we call it in this manual.
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53
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54 The @key{DEL} key deletes the character @emph{before} the cursor.
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55 As a consequence, the cursor and all the characters after it move
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56 backwards. If you type a printing character and then type @key{DEL},
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57 they cancel out.
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58
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59 On most computers, Emacs recognizes automatically which key ought to
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60 be @key{DEL}, and sets it up that way. But in some cases, especially
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61 with text-only terminals, you will need to tell Emacs which key to use
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62 for that purpose. If the large key not far above the @key{RET} or
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63 @key{ENTER} key doesn't delete backwards, you need to do this.
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64 @xref{DEL Does Not Delete}, for an explanation of how.
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65
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66 Most PC keyboards have both a @key{BACKSPACE} key not far above
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67 @key{RET} or @key{ENTER}, and a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere. On these
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68 keyboards, Emacs supports when possible the usual convention that the
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69 @key{BACKSPACE} key deletes backwards (it is @key{DEL}), while the
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70 @key{DELETE} key deletes ``forwards,'' deleting the character after
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71 point, the one underneath the cursor, like @kbd{C-d} (see below).
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72
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73 @kindex RET
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74 @cindex newline
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75 To end a line and start typing a new one, type @key{RET}. This
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76 inserts a newline character in the buffer. If point is in the middle of
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77 a line, the effect is to split the line. Typing @key{DEL} when the cursor is
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78 at the beginning of a line deletes the preceding newline, thus joining
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79 the line with the preceding line.
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80
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81 Emacs can split lines automatically when they become too long, if you
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82 turn on a special minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode.
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83 @xref{Filling}, for how to use Auto Fill mode and other modes for
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84 @dfn{filling} text.
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85
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86 If you prefer to have text characters replace (overwrite) existing
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87 text rather than shove it to the right, you can enable Overwrite mode,
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88 a minor mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
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89
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90 @cindex quoting
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91 @kindex C-q
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92 @findex quoted-insert
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93 Direct insertion works for printing characters and @key{SPC}, but other
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94 characters act as editing commands and do not insert themselves. If you
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95 need to insert a control character or a character whose code is above 200
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96 octal, you must @dfn{quote} it by typing the character @kbd{Control-q}
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97 (@code{quoted-insert}) first. (This character's name is normally written
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98 @kbd{C-q} for short.) There are two ways to use @kbd{C-q}:@refill
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99
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100 @itemize @bullet
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101 @item
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102 @kbd{C-q} followed by any non-graphic character (even @kbd{C-g})
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103 inserts that character.
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104
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105 @item
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106 @kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits inserts the character
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107 with the specified octal character code. You can use any number of
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108 octal digits; any non-digit terminates the sequence. If the
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109 terminating character is @key{RET}, it serves only to terminate the
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110 sequence. Any other non-digit terminates the sequence and then acts
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111 as normal input---thus, @kbd{C-q 1 0 1 B} inserts @samp{AB}.
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112
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113 The use of octal sequences is disabled in ordinary non-binary
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114 Overwrite mode, to give you a convenient way to insert a digit instead
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115 of overwriting with it.
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116 @end itemize
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117
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118 @cindex 8-bit character codes
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119 @noindent
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120 When multibyte characters are enabled, if you specify a code in the
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121 range 0200 through 0377 octal, @kbd{C-q} assumes that you intend to
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122 use some ISO 8859-@var{n} character set, and converts the specified
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123 code to the corresponding Emacs character code. @xref{Enabling
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124 Multibyte}. You select @emph{which} of the ISO 8859 character sets to
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125 use through your choice of language environment (@pxref{Language
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126 Environments}).
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127
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128 @vindex read-quoted-char-radix
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129 To use decimal or hexadecimal instead of octal, set the variable
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130 @code{read-quoted-char-radix} to 10 or 16. If the radix is greater than
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131 10, some letters starting with @kbd{a} serve as part of a character
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132 code, just like digits.
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133
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134 A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} specifies how many copies of the
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135 quoted character should be inserted (@pxref{Arguments}).
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136
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137 @findex newline
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138 @findex self-insert
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139 Customization information: @key{DEL} in most modes runs the command
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140 @code{delete-backward-char}; @key{RET} runs the command @code{newline}, and
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141 self-inserting printing characters run the command @code{self-insert},
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142 which inserts whatever character was typed to invoke it. Some major modes
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143 rebind @key{DEL} to other commands.
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144
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145 @node Moving Point
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146 @section Changing the Location of Point
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147
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148 @cindex arrow keys
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149 @cindex moving point
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150 @cindex movement
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151 @cindex cursor motion
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152 @cindex moving the cursor
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153 To do more than insert characters, you have to know how to move point
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154 (@pxref{Point}). The simplest way to do this is with arrow keys, or by
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155 clicking the left mouse button where you want to move to.
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156
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157 There are also control and meta characters for cursor motion. Some
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158 are equivalent to the arrow keys (it is faster to use these control
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159 keys than move your hand over to the arrow keys). Others do more
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160 sophisticated things.
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161
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162 @kindex C-a
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163 @kindex C-e
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164 @kindex C-f
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165 @kindex C-b
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166 @kindex C-n
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167 @kindex C-p
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168 @kindex M->
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169 @kindex M-<
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170 @kindex M-r
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171 @kindex LEFT
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172 @kindex RIGHT
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173 @kindex UP
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174 @kindex DOWN
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175 @findex move-beginning-of-line
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176 @findex move-end-of-line
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177 @findex forward-char
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178 @findex backward-char
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179 @findex next-line
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180 @findex previous-line
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181 @findex beginning-of-buffer
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182 @findex end-of-buffer
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183 @findex goto-char
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184 @findex goto-line
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185 @findex move-to-window-line
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186 @table @kbd
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187 @item C-a
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188 Move to the beginning of the line (@code{move-beginning-of-line}).
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189 @item C-e
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190 Move to the end of the line (@code{move-end-of-line}).
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191 @item C-f
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192 Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}). The right-arrow key
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193 does the same thing.
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194 @item C-b
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195 Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}). The left-arrow
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196 key has the same effect.
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197 @item M-f
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198 Move forward one word (@code{forward-word}).
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199 @item M-b
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200 Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}).
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201 @item C-n
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202 Move down one line, vertically (@code{next-line}). This command
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203 attempts to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in
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204 the middle of one line, you end in the middle of the next. The
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205 down-arrow key does the same thing.
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206 @item C-p
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207 Move up one line, vertically (@code{previous-line}). The up-arrow key
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208 has the same effect.
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209 @item M-r
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210 Move point to left margin, vertically centered in the window
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211 (@code{move-to-window-line}). Text does not move on the screen.
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212
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213 A numeric argument says which screen line to place point on. It counts
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214 screen lines down from the top of the window (zero for the top line). A
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215 negative argument counts lines from the bottom (@minus{}1 for the bottom
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216 line).
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217 @item M-<
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218 Move to the top of the buffer (@code{beginning-of-buffer}). With
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219 numeric argument @var{n}, move to @var{n}/10 of the way from the top.
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220 @xref{Arguments}, for more information on numeric arguments.@refill
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221 @item M->
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222 Move to the end of the buffer (@code{end-of-buffer}).
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223 @item C-v
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224 @itemx @key{PAGEDOWN}
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225 @itemx @key{PRIOR}
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226 Scroll the display one screen forward, and move point if necessary to
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227 put it on the screen (@code{scroll-up}). This doesn't always move
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228 point, but it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a
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229 @key{PAGEDOWN} or @key{PRIOR} key, it does the same thing.
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230
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231 Scrolling commands are further described in @ref{Scrolling}.
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232 @item M-v
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233 @itemx @key{PAGEUP}
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234 @itemx @key{NEXT}
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235 Scroll one screen backward, and move point if necessary to put it on
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236 the screen (@code{scroll-down}). This doesn't always move point, but
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237 it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a @key{PAGEUP} or
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238 @key{NEXT} key, it does the same thing.
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239 @item M-x goto-char
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240 Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}.
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241 Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
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242 @item M-g M-g
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243 @itemx M-g g
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244 @itemx M-x goto-line
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245 Read a number @var{n} and move point to the beginning of line number
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246 @var{n}. Line 1 is the beginning of the buffer. If point is on or
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247 just after a number, then that is the default for @var{n}, if you just
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248 press @key{RET} with an empty minibuffer.
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249 @item C-x C-n
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250 @findex set-goal-column
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251 @kindex C-x C-n
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252 Use the current column of point as the @dfn{semipermanent goal column} for
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253 @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} (@code{set-goal-column}). Henceforth, those
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254 commands always move to this column in each line moved into, or as
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255 close as possible given the contents of the line. This goal column remains
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256 in effect until canceled.
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257 @item C-u C-x C-n
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258 Cancel the goal column. Henceforth, @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} once
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259 again try to stick to a fixed horizontal position, as usual.
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260 @end table
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261
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262 @vindex track-eol
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263 If you set the variable @code{track-eol} to a non-@code{nil} value,
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264 then @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}, when starting at the end of the line, move
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265 to the end of another line. Normally, @code{track-eol} is @code{nil}.
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266 @xref{Variables}, for how to set variables such as @code{track-eol}.
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267
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268 @vindex next-line-add-newlines
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269 @kbd{C-n} normally stops at the end of the buffer when you use it on
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270 the last line of the buffer. But if you set the variable
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271 @code{next-line-add-newlines} to a non-@code{nil} value, @kbd{C-n} on
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272 the last line of a buffer creates an additional line at the end and
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273 moves down onto it.
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274
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275 @node Erasing
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276 @section Erasing Text
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277
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278 @table @kbd
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279 @item @key{DEL}
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280 Delete the character before point (@code{delete-backward-char}).
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281 @item C-d
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282 Delete the character after point (@code{delete-char}).
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283 @item @key{DELETE}
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284 @itemx @key{BACKSPACE}
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285 One of these keys, whichever is the large key above the @key{RET} or
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286 @key{ENTER} key, deletes the character before point---it is @key{DEL}.
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287 If @key{BACKSPACE} is @key{DEL}, and your keyboard also has @key{DELETE},
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288 then @key{DELETE} deletes forwards, like @kbd{C-d}.
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289 @item C-k
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290 Kill to the end of the line (@code{kill-line}).
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291 @item M-d
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292 Kill forward to the end of the next word (@code{kill-word}).
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293 @item M-@key{DEL}
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294 Kill back to the beginning of the previous word
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295 (@code{backward-kill-word}).
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296 @end table
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297
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298 @cindex killing characters and lines
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299 @cindex deleting characters and lines
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300 @cindex erasing characters and lines
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301 You already know about the @key{DEL} key which deletes the character
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302 before point (that is, before the cursor). Another key, @kbd{Control-d}
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303 (@kbd{C-d} for short), deletes the character after point (that is, the
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304 character that the cursor is on). This shifts the rest of the text on
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305 the line to the left. If you type @kbd{C-d} at the end of a line, it
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306 joins together that line and the next line.
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307
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308 To erase a larger amount of text, use the @kbd{C-k} key, which kills a
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309 line at a time. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the beginning or middle of a
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310 line, it kills all the text up to the end of the line. If you type
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311 @kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that line and the next line.
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312
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313 @xref{Killing}, for more flexible ways of killing text.
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314
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315 @node Basic Undo
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316 @section Undoing Changes
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317
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318 Emacs records a list of changes made in the buffer text, so you can
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319 you can undo all the recent changes, as far as the records go.
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320 Usually each editing command makes a separate entry in the undo
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321 records, but sometimes an entry covers just part of a command, and
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322 very simple commands may be grouped.
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323
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324 @table @kbd
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325 @item C-x u
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326 Undo one entry of the undo records---usually, one command worth
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327 (@code{undo}).
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328 @item C-_
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329 @itemx C-/
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330 The same.
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331 @end table
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332
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333 The command @kbd{C-x u} (or @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-/}) is how you undo.
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334 The first time you give this command, it undoes the last change.
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335 Point moves back to where it was before the command that made the
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336 change.
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337
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338 Consecutive repetitions of @kbd{C-x u} (or its aliases) undo earlier
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339 and earlier changes, back to the limit of the undo information
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340 available. If all recorded changes have already been undone, the undo
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341 command displays an error message and does nothing.
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342
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343 The undo command applies only to changes in the buffer; you can't
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344 use it to undo mere cursor motion. However, some cursor motion
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345 commands set the mark, so if you use these commands from time to time,
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346 you can move back to the neighborhoods you have moved through by
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347 popping the mark ring (@pxref{Mark Ring}).
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348
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349 @node Basic Files
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350 @section Files
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351
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352 The commands described above are sufficient for creating and altering
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353 text in an Emacs buffer; the more advanced Emacs commands just make
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354 things easier. However, to keep any text permanently you must put it in a
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parents:
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355 @dfn{file}. Files are named units of text which are stored by the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
356 operating system for you to retrieve later by name. To look at or use
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
357 the contents of a file in any way, including editing the file with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
358 Emacs, you must specify the file name.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
359
68452
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
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parents: 68190
diff changeset
360 Consider a file named @file{test.emacs}. (We can assume it is in
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
361 your home directory.) In Emacs, to begin editing this file, type
25829
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parents:
diff changeset
362
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
363 @example
68452
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
364 C-x C-f test.emacs @key{RET}
25829
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diff changeset
365 @end example
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diff changeset
366
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
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diff changeset
367 @noindent
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parents:
diff changeset
368 Here the file name is given as an @dfn{argument} to the command @kbd{C-x
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
369 C-f} (@code{find-file}). That command uses the @dfn{minibuffer} to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
370 read the argument, and you type @key{RET} to terminate the argument
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
371 (@pxref{Minibuffer}).@refill
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
372
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
373 Emacs obeys the command by @dfn{visiting} the file: creating a buffer,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
374 copying the contents of the file into the buffer, and then displaying
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
375 the buffer for you to edit. If you alter the text, you can @dfn{save}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
376 the new text in the file by typing @kbd{C-x C-s} (@code{save-buffer}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
377 This makes the changes permanent by copying the altered buffer contents
68452
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
378 back into the file @file{test.emacs}. Until you save, the changes
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
379 exist only inside Emacs, and the file @file{test.emacs} is unaltered.
25829
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parents:
diff changeset
380
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
381 To create a file, just visit the file with @kbd{C-x C-f} as if it
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
382 already existed. This creates an empty buffer in which you can insert
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
383 the text you want to put in the file. The file is actually created when
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
384 you save this buffer with @kbd{C-x C-s}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
385
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
386 Of course, there is a lot more to learn about using files. @xref{Files}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
387
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
388 @node Basic Help
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
389 @section Help
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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390
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
391 @cindex getting help with keys
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
392 If you forget what a key does, you can find out with the Help
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
393 character, which is @kbd{C-h} (or @key{F1}, which is an alias for
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
394 @kbd{C-h}). Type @kbd{C-h k} followed by the key you want to know
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
395 about; for example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you all about what @kbd{C-n}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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396 does. @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key; @kbd{C-h k} is just one of its
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
397 subcommands (the command @code{describe-key}). The other subcommands of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
398 @kbd{C-h} provide different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} twice to get
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
399 a description of all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.@refill
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
400
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
401 @node Blank Lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
402 @section Blank Lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
403
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
404 @cindex inserting blank lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
405 @cindex deleting blank lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
406 Here are special commands and techniques for putting in and taking out
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
407 blank lines.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
408
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
409 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
410 @item C-o
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
411 Insert one or more blank lines after the cursor (@code{open-line}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
412 @item C-x C-o
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
413 Delete all but one of many consecutive blank lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
414 (@code{delete-blank-lines}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
415 @end table
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
416
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
417 @kindex C-o
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
418 @kindex C-x C-o
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parents:
diff changeset
419 @cindex blank lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
420 @findex open-line
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
421 @findex delete-blank-lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
422 When you want to insert a new line of text before an existing line, you
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
423 can do it by typing the new line of text, followed by @key{RET}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
424 However, it may be easier to see what you are doing if you first make a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
425 blank line and then insert the desired text into it. This is easy to do
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
426 using the key @kbd{C-o} (@code{open-line}), which inserts a newline
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
427 after point but leaves point in front of the newline. After @kbd{C-o},
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
428 type the text for the new line. @kbd{C-o F O O} has the same effect as
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
429 @w{@kbd{F O O @key{RET}}}, except for the final location of point.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
430
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
431 You can make several blank lines by typing @kbd{C-o} several times, or
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
432 by giving it a numeric argument to tell it how many blank lines to make.
62193
598f5ebd4f94 Various typo and grammar fixes.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 61100
diff changeset
433 @xref{Arguments}, for how. If you have a fill prefix, the @kbd{C-o}
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
434 command inserts the fill prefix on the new line, when you use it at the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
435 beginning of a line. @xref{Fill Prefix}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
436
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
437 The easy way to get rid of extra blank lines is with the command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
438 @kbd{C-x C-o} (@code{delete-blank-lines}). @kbd{C-x C-o} in a run of
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
439 several blank lines deletes all but one of them. @kbd{C-x C-o} on a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
440 solitary blank line deletes that blank line. When point is on a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
441 nonblank line, @kbd{C-x C-o} deletes any blank lines following that
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
442 nonblank line.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
443
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
444 @node Continuation Lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
445 @section Continuation Lines
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
446
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
447 @cindex continuation line
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
448 @cindex wrapping
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
449 @cindex line wrapping
42902
f83cc0d82951 (Continuation Lines): Add index entries for the fringe usage.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 42364
diff changeset
450 @cindex fringes, and continuation lines
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
451 If you add too many characters to one line without breaking it with
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
452 @key{RET}, the line grows to occupy two (or more) lines on the screen.
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
453 On graphical displays, Emacs indicates line wrapping with small bent
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
454 arrows in the fringes to the left and right of the window. On
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
455 text-only terminals, Emacs displays a @samp{\} character at the right
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
456 margin of a screen line if it is not the last in its text line. This
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
457 @samp{\} character says that the following screen line is not really a
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
458 distinct line in the text, just a @dfn{continuation} of a line too
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
459 long to fit the screen. Continuation is also called @dfn{line
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
460 wrapping}.
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
461
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
462 When line wrapping occurs before a character that is wider than one
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
463 column, some columns at the end of the previous screen line may be
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
464 ``empty.'' In this case, Emacs displays additional @samp{\}
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
465 characters in the ``empty'' columns, just before the @samp{\}
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
466 character that indicates continuation.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
467
68464
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
468 Continued lines can be rather difficult to read, since each line is
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
469 typically broken in the middle of a word. You can have Emacs insert a
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
470 newline automatically when a line gets too long, by using Auto Fill
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
471 mode. Another approach, intermediate between continued lines and Auto
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
472 Fill mode, is Long Lines mode, which ensures that wrapping only occurs
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
473 in the spaces between words. @xref{Filling}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
474
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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
68464
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
477 Emacs can also display long lines by @dfn{truncation}. This means
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
478 that all the characters that do not fit in the width of the screen or
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
479 window do not appear at all. @samp{$} in the last column or a small
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
480 straight arrow in the fringe to the right of the window indicates a
79464a6167f5 * basic.texi (Continuation Lines, Inserting Text): Mention
Chong Yidong <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
parents: 68452
diff changeset
481 truncated line.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
482
60102
8555807a4582 (Continuation Lines): Simplify description of truncation,
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59959
diff changeset
483 @xref{Display Custom}, for more information about line truncation,
8555807a4582 (Continuation Lines): Simplify description of truncation,
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59959
diff changeset
484 and other variables that affect how text is displayed.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
485
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
486 @node Position Info
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
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>
parents:
diff changeset
492 @table @kbd
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
493 @item M-x what-page
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
494 Display the page number of point, and the line number within the page.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
495 @item M-x what-line
36140
af4e219e9947 Miscellaneous clarifications.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 35923
diff changeset
496 Display the line number of point in the 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
dddb1bca9704 Reference column-number-mode, hl-line-mode, blink-cursor-mode.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents: 25829
diff changeset
499 Toggle automatic display of current line number or column number.
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
62338
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
521 @kbd{M-x what-line} computes the current line number and displays it
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
9d25647627a1 (Moving Point): Mention `M-g g' binding for goto-line.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 62207
diff changeset
523 mode line; see @ref{Mode Line}. If you narrow the buffer, then the
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
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
535 While on this subject, we might as well mention @kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}),
38870
d44abb4e68b2 Don't use "print" for displaying a message.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38767
diff changeset
536 which displays the number of lines in the region (@pxref{Mark}).
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
537 @xref{Pages}, for the command @kbd{C-x l} which counts the lines in the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
538 current page.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
539
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
540 @kindex C-x =
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
541 @findex what-cursor-position
46040
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
542 The command @kbd{C-x =} (@code{what-cursor-position}) shows what
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
543 column the cursor is in, and other miscellaneous information about
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
544 point and the character after it. It displays a line in the echo area
3c219fd68a91 Update info on C-u C-x =.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 45721
diff changeset
545 that looks like this:
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
546
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
547 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
548 Char: c (99, #o143, #x63) point=28062 of 36168 (78%) column=53
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
549 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
550
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
551 The four values after @samp{Char:} describe the character that follows
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
552 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
553 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
554 followed by @samp{file} and the character's representation, in hex, in
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
555 the buffer's coding system, if that coding system encodes the character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
556 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
557 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
558
ef089f655621 (Position Info): Describe the case that Emacs shows
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 64890
diff changeset
559 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
560 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
561 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
562 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
563 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
564 display ...} instead of @samp{file}.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
565
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
566 @samp{point=} is followed by the position of point expressed as a character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
567 count. The front of the buffer counts as position 1, one character later
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
568 as 2, and so on. The next, larger, number is the total number of characters
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
569 in the buffer. Afterward in parentheses comes the position expressed as a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
570 percentage of the total size.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
571
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
572 @samp{column=} is followed by the horizontal position of point, in
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
573 columns from the left edge of the window.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
574
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
575 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
576 beginning and the end temporarily inaccessible, @kbd{C-x =} displays
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
577 additional text describing the currently accessible range. For example, it
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
578 might display this:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
579
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
580 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
581 Char: C (67, #o103, #x43) point=252 of 889 (28%) <231-599> column=0
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
582 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
583
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
584 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
585 where the two extra numbers give the smallest and largest character
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
586 position that point is allowed to assume. The characters between those
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
587 two positions are the accessible ones. @xref{Narrowing}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
588
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
589 If point is at the end of the buffer (or the end of the accessible
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
590 part), the @w{@kbd{C-x =}} output does not describe a character after
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
591 point. The output might look like this:
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
592
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
593 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
594 point=36169 of 36168 (EOB) column=0
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
595 @end smallexample
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
596
44875
cc99f1248f49 (Position Info): Add text properties to the example. Add index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 43468
diff changeset
597 @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
598 @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
599 @cindex text properties at point
62193
598f5ebd4f94 Various typo and grammar fixes.
Luc Teirlinck <teirllm@auburn.edu>
parents: 61100
diff changeset
600 @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
601 character.
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
602
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
603 @itemize @bullet
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
604 @item
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
605 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
606 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
607 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
608
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
609 @item
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
610 The character's syntax and categories.
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
611
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
612 @item
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
613 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
614 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
615
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
616 @item
61100
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
617 What to type to input the character in the current input method
9d57acce20e8 (Position Info): Minor cleanup.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 61066
diff changeset
618 (if it supports the character).
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
619
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
620 @item
68685
4bb94c09a47d (Position Info): "Graphical displays", rather than window systems.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68639
diff changeset
621 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
622 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
623 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
624
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
625 @item
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
626 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
627 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
628 (@pxref{Overlays,,, elisp, the same manual}).
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
629 @end itemize
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
630
42364
c66f34e7d2cd Update C-u C-x = output format.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 39287
diff changeset
631 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
632 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
633 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
634 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
635 (@pxref{Font Lock}) enabled:
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
636
37152
693e61ce18ff Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 37120
diff changeset
637 @smallexample
67040
4c99ea8adc42 (Position Info): Update examples of the output.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 66061
diff changeset
638 character: @`A (2240, #o4300, #x8c0, U+00C0)
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
639 charset: latin-iso8859-1
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
640 (Right-Hand Part of Latin Alphabet 1@dots{}
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
641 code point: #x40
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
642 syntax: w which means: word
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
643 category: l:Latin
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
644 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
645 buffer code: #x81 #xC0
67918
c14267a3323d (Position Info): Update example.
Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org>
parents: 67040
diff changeset
646 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
647 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
648
61066
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
649 There are text properties here:
bf195b369bc1 (Position Info): Update the description about the
Kenichi Handa <handa@m17n.org>
parents: 60788
diff changeset
650 fontified t
37152
693e61ce18ff Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 37120
diff changeset
651 @end smallexample
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
652
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
653 @node Arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
654 @section Numeric Arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
655 @cindex numeric arguments
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
656 @cindex prefix arguments
36263
11db0318031d Remove redundant index entries.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 36209
diff changeset
657 @cindex arguments to commands
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
658
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
659 In mathematics and computer usage, the word @dfn{argument} means
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
660 ``data provided to a function or operation.'' You can give any Emacs
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
661 command a @dfn{numeric argument} (also called a @dfn{prefix argument}).
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
662 Some commands interpret the argument as a repetition count. For
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
663 example, @kbd{C-f} with an argument of ten moves forward ten characters
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
664 instead of one. With these commands, no argument is equivalent to an
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
665 argument of one. Negative arguments tell most such commands to move or
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
666 act in the opposite direction.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
667
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
668 @kindex M-1
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
669 @kindex M-@t{-}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
670 @findex digit-argument
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
671 @findex negative-argument
59947
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
672 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
673 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
674 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
675 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
676
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
677 @example
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
678 M-5 C-n
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
679 @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
680
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
681 @noindent
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
682 would move down five lines. The characters @kbd{Meta-1}, @kbd{Meta-2},
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
683 and so on, as well as @kbd{Meta--}, do this because they are keys bound
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
684 to commands (@code{digit-argument} and @code{negative-argument}) that
38729
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
685 are defined to contribute to an argument for the next command.
7d62f0684e99 (Arguments): Say explicitly that M-- is -1. Fix spacing in an @example.
Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>
parents: 38660
diff changeset
686 @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
687 @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
688 arguments.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
689
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
690 @kindex C-u
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
691 @findex universal-argument
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
692 Another way of specifying an argument is to use the @kbd{C-u}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
693 (@code{universal-argument}) command followed by the digits of the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
694 argument. With @kbd{C-u}, you can type the argument digits without
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
695 holding down modifier keys; @kbd{C-u} works on all terminals. To type a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
696 negative argument, type a minus sign after @kbd{C-u}. Just a minus sign
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
697 without digits normally means @minus{}1.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
698
68452
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
699 @kbd{C-u} without digits or minus sign has the special meaning of
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
700 ``four times'': it multiplies the argument for the next command by
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
701 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
702 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
703 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
704 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
705 C-n} (move down a good fraction of a screen), @kbd{C-u C-u C-o} (make
b3bbd1af21eb Minor cleanups.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 68190
diff changeset
706 ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four lines).@refill
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
707
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
708 Some commands care only about whether there is an argument, and not about
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
709 its value. For example, the command @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph}) with
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
710 no argument fills text; with an argument, it justifies the text as well.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
711 (@xref{Filling}, for more information on @kbd{M-q}.) Plain @kbd{C-u} is a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
712 handy way of providing an argument for such commands.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
713
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
714 Some commands use the value of the argument as a repeat count, but do
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
715 something peculiar when there is no argument. For example, the command
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
716 @kbd{C-k} (@code{kill-line}) with argument @var{n} kills @var{n} lines,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
717 including their terminating newlines. But @kbd{C-k} with no argument is
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
718 special: it kills the text up to the next newline, or, if point is right at
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
719 the end of the line, it kills the newline itself. Thus, two @kbd{C-k}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
720 commands with no arguments can kill a nonblank line, just like @kbd{C-k}
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
721 with an argument of one. (@xref{Killing}, for more information on
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
722 @kbd{C-k}.)@refill
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
723
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
724 A few commands treat a plain @kbd{C-u} differently from an ordinary
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
725 argument. A few others may treat an argument of just a minus sign
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
726 differently from an argument of @minus{}1. These unusual cases are
59947
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
727 described when they come up; they are always for reasons of
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
728 convenience of use of the individual command, and they are documented
801aa21b27e9 (Inserting Text): Cleanup wording.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 59883
diff changeset
729 in the command's documentation string.
25829
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
730
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
731 You can use a numeric argument to insert multiple copies of a
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
732 character. This is straightforward unless the character is a digit; for
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
733 example, @kbd{C-u 6 4 a} inserts 64 copies of the character @samp{a}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
734 But this does not work for inserting digits; @kbd{C-u 6 4 1} specifies
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
735 an argument of 641, rather than inserting anything. To separate the
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
736 digit to insert from the argument, type another @kbd{C-u}; for example,
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
737 @kbd{C-u 6 4 C-u 1} does insert 64 copies of the character @samp{1}.
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
738
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
739 We use the term ``prefix argument'' as well as ``numeric argument'' to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
740 emphasize that you type the argument before the command, and to
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
741 distinguish these arguments from minibuffer arguments that come after
Dave Love <fx@gnu.org>
parents:
diff changeset
742 the command.
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
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
752 prompts for some input, or uses a numeric argument in another way,
bffa96512ce4 Minor changes.
Richard M. Stallman <rms@gnu.org>
parents: 38729
diff changeset
753 repetition using a numeric argument might be problematical.
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