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annotate man/basic.texi @ 66424:86f81b226b02
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author | Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> |
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date | Tue, 25 Oct 2005 04:58:35 +0000 |
parents | 7fb814227358 |
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25829 | 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 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
25829 | 4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. |
5 @node Basic, Minibuffer, Exiting, Top | |
6 @chapter Basic Editing Commands | |
7 | |
8 @kindex C-h t | |
9 @findex help-with-tutorial | |
10 We now give the basics of how to enter text, make corrections, and | |
11 save the text in a file. If this material is new to you, you might | |
12 learn it more easily by running the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial. To | |
13 use the tutorial, run Emacs and type @kbd{Control-h t} | |
14 (@code{help-with-tutorial}). | |
15 | |
16 To clear the screen and redisplay, type @kbd{C-l} (@code{recenter}). | |
17 | |
18 @menu | |
19 | |
20 * Inserting Text:: Inserting text by simply typing it. | |
21 * Moving Point:: How to move the cursor to the place where you want to | |
22 change something. | |
23 * Erasing:: Deleting and killing text. | |
24 * Undo:: Undoing recent changes in the text. | |
25 * Files: Basic Files. Visiting, creating, and saving files. | |
26 * Help: Basic Help. Asking what a character does. | |
27 * Blank Lines:: Commands to make or delete blank lines. | |
28 * Continuation Lines:: Lines too wide for the screen. | |
29 * Position Info:: What page, line, row, or column is point on? | |
30 * Arguments:: Numeric arguments for repeating a command. | |
31 * Repeating:: A short-cut for repeating the previous command. | |
32 @end menu | |
33 | |
34 @node Inserting Text | |
35 @section Inserting Text | |
36 | |
37 @cindex insertion | |
38 @cindex graphic characters | |
39 To insert printing characters into the text you are editing, just type | |
40 them. This inserts the characters you type into the buffer at the | |
41 cursor (that is, at @dfn{point}; @pxref{Point}). The cursor moves | |
42 forward, and any text after the cursor moves forward too. If the text | |
43 in the buffer is @samp{FOOBAR}, with the cursor before the @samp{B}, | |
44 then if you type @kbd{XX}, you get @samp{FOOXXBAR}, with the cursor | |
45 still before the @samp{B}. | |
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 |
37988 | 51 typed. Regardless of the label on that key, Emacs thinks of it as |
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. |
25829 | 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 a short ways 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 |
25829 | 73 @kindex RET |
74 @cindex newline | |
75 To end a line and start typing a new one, type @key{RET}. This | |
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 |
25829 | 78 at the beginning of a line deletes the preceding newline, thus joining |
79 the line with the preceding line. | |
80 | |
81 Emacs can split lines automatically when they become too long, if you | |
82 turn on a special minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode. | |
83 @xref{Filling}, for how to use Auto Fill mode. | |
84 | |
85 If you prefer to have text characters replace (overwrite) existing | |
86 text rather than shove it to the right, you can enable Overwrite mode, | |
87 a minor mode. @xref{Minor Modes}. | |
88 | |
89 @cindex quoting | |
90 @kindex C-q | |
91 @findex quoted-insert | |
92 Direct insertion works for printing characters and @key{SPC}, but other | |
93 characters act as editing commands and do not insert themselves. If you | |
94 need to insert a control character or a character whose code is above 200 | |
95 octal, you must @dfn{quote} it by typing the character @kbd{Control-q} | |
96 (@code{quoted-insert}) first. (This character's name is normally written | |
97 @kbd{C-q} for short.) There are two ways to use @kbd{C-q}:@refill | |
98 | |
99 @itemize @bullet | |
100 @item | |
101 @kbd{C-q} followed by any non-graphic character (even @kbd{C-g}) | |
102 inserts that character. | |
103 | |
104 @item | |
105 @kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits inserts the character | |
106 with the specified octal character code. You can use any number of | |
37152 | 107 octal digits; any non-digit terminates the sequence. If the |
108 terminating character is @key{RET}, it serves only to terminate the | |
109 sequence. Any other non-digit terminates the sequence and then acts | |
110 as normal input---thus, @kbd{C-q 1 0 1 B} inserts @samp{AB}. | |
111 | |
112 The use of octal sequences is disabled in ordinary non-binary | |
113 Overwrite mode, to give you a convenient way to insert a digit instead | |
114 of overwriting with it. | |
25829 | 115 @end itemize |
116 | |
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117 @cindex 8-bit character codes |
25829 | 118 @noindent |
33518 | 119 When multibyte characters are enabled, if you specify a code in the |
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120 range 0200 through 0377 octal, @kbd{C-q} assumes that you intend to |
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121 use some ISO 8859-@var{n} character set, and converts the specified |
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122 code to the corresponding Emacs character code. @xref{Enabling |
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123 Multibyte}. You select @emph{which} of the ISO 8859 character sets to |
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124 use through your choice of language environment (@pxref{Language |
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125 Environments}). |
25829 | 126 |
127 @vindex read-quoted-char-radix | |
128 To use decimal or hexadecimal instead of octal, set the variable | |
129 @code{read-quoted-char-radix} to 10 or 16. If the radix is greater than | |
130 10, some letters starting with @kbd{a} serve as part of a character | |
131 code, just like digits. | |
132 | |
133 A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} specifies how many copies of the | |
134 quoted character should be inserted (@pxref{Arguments}). | |
135 | |
136 @findex newline | |
137 @findex self-insert | |
138 Customization information: @key{DEL} in most modes runs the command | |
139 @code{delete-backward-char}; @key{RET} runs the command @code{newline}, and | |
140 self-inserting printing characters run the command @code{self-insert}, | |
141 which inserts whatever character was typed to invoke it. Some major modes | |
142 rebind @key{DEL} to other commands. | |
143 | |
144 @node Moving Point | |
145 @section Changing the Location of Point | |
146 | |
147 @cindex arrow keys | |
148 @cindex moving point | |
149 @cindex movement | |
150 @cindex cursor motion | |
151 @cindex moving the cursor | |
152 To do more than insert characters, you have to know how to move point | |
153 (@pxref{Point}). The simplest way to do this is with arrow keys, or by | |
154 clicking the left mouse button where you want to move to. | |
155 | |
156 There are also control and meta characters for cursor motion. Some | |
157 are equivalent to the arrow keys (these date back to the days before | |
158 terminals had arrow keys, and are usable on terminals which don't have | |
159 them). Others do more sophisticated things. | |
160 | |
161 @kindex C-a | |
162 @kindex C-e | |
163 @kindex C-f | |
164 @kindex C-b | |
165 @kindex C-n | |
166 @kindex C-p | |
167 @kindex M-> | |
168 @kindex M-< | |
169 @kindex M-r | |
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170 @kindex LEFT |
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171 @kindex RIGHT |
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172 @kindex UP |
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173 @kindex DOWN |
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174 @findex move-beginning-of-line |
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175 @findex move-end-of-line |
25829 | 176 @findex forward-char |
177 @findex backward-char | |
178 @findex next-line | |
179 @findex previous-line | |
180 @findex beginning-of-buffer | |
181 @findex end-of-buffer | |
182 @findex goto-char | |
183 @findex goto-line | |
184 @findex move-to-window-line | |
185 @table @kbd | |
186 @item C-a | |
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187 Move to the beginning of the line (@code{move-beginning-of-line}). |
25829 | 188 @item C-e |
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189 Move to the end of the line (@code{move-end-of-line}). |
25829 | 190 @item C-f |
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191 Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}). The right-arrow key |
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192 does the same thing. |
25829 | 193 @item C-b |
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194 Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}). The left-arrow |
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195 key has the same effect. |
25829 | 196 @item M-f |
197 Move forward one word (@code{forward-word}). | |
198 @item M-b | |
199 Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}). | |
200 @item C-n | |
201 Move down one line, vertically (@code{next-line}). This command | |
202 attempts to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in | |
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203 the middle of one line, you end in the middle of the next. The |
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204 down-arrow key does the same thing. |
25829 | 205 @item C-p |
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206 Move up one line, vertically (@code{previous-line}). The up-arrow key |
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207 has the same effect. |
25829 | 208 @item M-r |
209 Move point to left margin, vertically centered in the window | |
210 (@code{move-to-window-line}). Text does not move on the screen. | |
211 | |
212 A numeric argument says which screen line to place point on. It counts | |
213 screen lines down from the top of the window (zero for the top line). A | |
214 negative argument counts lines from the bottom (@minus{}1 for the bottom | |
215 line). | |
216 @item M-< | |
217 Move to the top of the buffer (@code{beginning-of-buffer}). With | |
218 numeric argument @var{n}, move to @var{n}/10 of the way from the top. | |
219 @xref{Arguments}, for more information on numeric arguments.@refill | |
220 @item M-> | |
221 Move to the end of the buffer (@code{end-of-buffer}). | |
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222 @item C-v |
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223 @itemx @key{PAGEDOWN} |
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224 @itemx @key{PRIOR} |
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225 Scroll the display one screen forward, and move point if necessary to |
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226 put it on the screen (@code{scroll-up}). This doesn't always move |
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227 point, but it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a |
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228 @key{PAGEDOWN} or @key{PRIOR} key, it does the same thing. |
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229 |
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230 Scrolling commands are further described in @ref{Scrolling}. |
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231 @item M-v |
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232 @itemx @key{PAGEUP} |
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233 @itemx @key{NEXT} |
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234 Scroll one screen backward, and move point if necessary to put it on |
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235 the screen (@code{scroll-down}). This doesn't always move point, but |
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236 it is commonly used to do so. If your keyboard has a @key{PAGEUP} or |
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237 @key{NEXT} key, it does the same thing. |
25829 | 238 @item M-x goto-char |
239 Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}. | |
240 Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer. | |
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241 @item M-g M-g |
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242 @itemx M-g g |
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243 @itemx M-x goto-line |
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244 Read a number @var{n} and move point to the beginning of line number |
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245 @var{n}. Line 1 is the beginning of the buffer. If point is on or |
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246 just after a number, then that is the default for @var{n}, if you just |
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247 press @key{RET} with an empty minibuffer. |
25829 | 248 @item C-x C-n |
249 @findex set-goal-column | |
250 @kindex C-x C-n | |
251 Use the current column of point as the @dfn{semipermanent goal column} for | |
252 @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} (@code{set-goal-column}). Henceforth, those | |
253 commands always move to this column in each line moved into, or as | |
254 close as possible given the contents of the line. This goal column remains | |
255 in effect until canceled. | |
256 @item C-u C-x C-n | |
257 Cancel the goal column. Henceforth, @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} once | |
258 again try to stick to a fixed horizontal position, as usual. | |
259 @end table | |
260 | |
261 @vindex track-eol | |
262 If you set the variable @code{track-eol} to a non-@code{nil} value, | |
38172 | 263 then @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p}, when starting at the end of the line, move |
25829 | 264 to the end of another line. Normally, @code{track-eol} is @code{nil}. |
265 @xref{Variables}, for how to set variables such as @code{track-eol}. | |
266 | |
267 @vindex next-line-add-newlines | |
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268 @kbd{C-n} normally stops at the end of the buffer when you use it on |
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269 the last line of the buffer. But if you set the variable |
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270 @code{next-line-add-newlines} to a non-@code{nil} value, @kbd{C-n} on |
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271 the last line of a buffer creates an additional line at the end and |
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272 moves down onto it. |
25829 | 273 |
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274 @node Erasing |
25829 | 275 @section Erasing Text |
276 | |
277 @table @kbd | |
278 @item @key{DEL} | |
279 Delete the character before point (@code{delete-backward-char}). | |
280 @item C-d | |
281 Delete the character after point (@code{delete-char}). | |
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282 @item @key{DELETE} |
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283 @itemx @key{BACKSPACE} |
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284 One of these keys, whichever is the large key above the @key{RET} or |
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285 @key{ENTER} key, deletes the character before point, like @key{DEL}. |
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286 If that is @key{BACKSPACE}, and your keyboard also has @key{DELETE}, |
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287 then @key{DELETE} deletes forwards, like @kbd{C-d}. |
25829 | 288 @item C-k |
289 Kill to the end of the line (@code{kill-line}). | |
290 @item M-d | |
291 Kill forward to the end of the next word (@code{kill-word}). | |
292 @item M-@key{DEL} | |
293 Kill back to the beginning of the previous word | |
294 (@code{backward-kill-word}). | |
295 @end table | |
296 | |
297 @cindex killing characters and lines | |
298 @cindex deleting characters and lines | |
299 @cindex erasing characters and lines | |
300 You already know about the @key{DEL} key which deletes the character | |
301 before point (that is, before the cursor). Another key, @kbd{Control-d} | |
302 (@kbd{C-d} for short), deletes the character after point (that is, the | |
303 character that the cursor is on). This shifts the rest of the text on | |
304 the line to the left. If you type @kbd{C-d} at the end of a line, it | |
305 joins together that line and the next line. | |
306 | |
307 To erase a larger amount of text, use the @kbd{C-k} key, which kills a | |
308 line at a time. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the beginning or middle of a | |
309 line, it kills all the text up to the end of the line. If you type | |
310 @kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that line and the next line. | |
311 | |
312 @xref{Killing}, for more flexible ways of killing text. | |
313 | |
314 @node Undo | |
315 @section Undoing Changes | |
316 @cindex undo | |
317 @cindex changes, undoing | |
318 | |
319 You can undo all the recent changes in the buffer text, up to a | |
320 certain point. Each buffer records changes individually, and the undo | |
321 command always applies to the current buffer. Usually each editing | |
322 command makes a separate entry in the undo records, but some commands | |
323 such as @code{query-replace} make many entries, and very simple commands | |
324 such as self-inserting characters are often grouped to make undoing less | |
325 tedious. | |
326 | |
327 @table @kbd | |
328 @item C-x u | |
329 Undo one batch of changes---usually, one command worth (@code{undo}). | |
330 @item C-_ | |
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331 @itemx C-/ |
25829 | 332 The same. |
333 @item C-u C-x u | |
334 Undo one batch of changes in the region. | |
335 @end table | |
336 | |
337 @kindex C-x u | |
338 @kindex C-_ | |
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339 @kindex C-/ |
25829 | 340 @findex undo |
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341 The command @kbd{C-x u} (or @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-/}) is how you undo. |
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342 The first time you give this command, it undoes the last change. |
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343 Point moves back to where it was before the command that made the |
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344 change. |
25829 | 345 |
346 Consecutive repetitions of @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-x u} undo earlier and | |
347 earlier changes, back to the limit of the undo information available. | |
348 If all recorded changes have already been undone, the undo command | |
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349 displays an error message and does nothing. |
25829 | 350 |
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351 @findex undo-only |
25829 | 352 Any command other than an undo command breaks the sequence of undo |
353 commands. Starting from that moment, the previous undo commands become | |
354 ordinary changes that you can undo. Thus, to redo changes you have | |
355 undone, type @kbd{C-f} or any other command that will harmlessly break | |
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356 the sequence of undoing, then type more undo commands. On the other |
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357 hand, if you want to ignore previous undo commands, use @kbd{M-x |
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358 undo-only}. This is like @code{undo}, but will not redo changes |
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359 you have just undone. |
25829 | 360 |
361 @cindex selective undo | |
362 @kindex C-u C-x u | |
363 Ordinary undo applies to all changes made in the current buffer. You | |
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364 can also perform @dfn{selective undo}, limited to the current region |
59959 | 365 (@pxref{Mark}). |
25829 | 366 To do this, specify the region you want, then run the @code{undo} |
367 command with a prefix argument (the value does not matter): @kbd{C-u C-x | |
368 u} or @kbd{C-u C-_}. This undoes the most recent change in the region. | |
369 To undo further changes in the same region, repeat the @code{undo} | |
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370 command (no prefix argument is needed). In Transient Mark mode |
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371 (@pxref{Transient Mark}), any use of @code{undo} when there is an |
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372 active region performs selective undo; you do not need a prefix |
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373 argument. |
25829 | 374 |
375 If you notice that a buffer has been modified accidentally, the | |
376 easiest way to recover is to type @kbd{C-_} repeatedly until the stars | |
377 disappear from the front of the mode line. At this time, all the | |
378 modifications you made have been canceled. Whenever an undo command | |
379 makes the stars disappear from the mode line, it means that the buffer | |
380 contents are the same as they were when the file was last read in or | |
381 saved. | |
382 | |
383 If you do not remember whether you changed the buffer deliberately, | |
384 type @kbd{C-_} once. When you see the last change you made undone, you | |
385 will see whether it was an intentional change. If it was an accident, | |
386 leave it undone. If it was deliberate, redo the change as described | |
387 above. | |
388 | |
389 Not all buffers record undo information. Buffers whose names start with | |
390 spaces don't; these buffers are used internally by Emacs and its extensions | |
391 to hold text that users don't normally look at or edit. | |
392 | |
393 You cannot undo mere cursor motion; only changes in the buffer | |
394 contents save undo information. However, some cursor motion commands | |
395 set the mark, so if you use these commands from time to time, you can | |
396 move back to the neighborhoods you have moved through by popping the | |
397 mark ring (@pxref{Mark Ring}). | |
398 | |
399 @vindex undo-limit | |
400 @vindex undo-strong-limit | |
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401 @vindex undo-outer-limit |
25829 | 402 @cindex undo limit |
403 When the undo information for a buffer becomes too large, Emacs | |
404 discards the oldest undo information from time to time (during garbage | |
405 collection). You can specify how much undo information to keep by | |
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406 setting three variables: @code{undo-limit}, @code{undo-strong-limit}, |
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407 and @code{undo-outer-limit}. Their values are expressed in units of |
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408 bytes of space. |
25829 | 409 |
410 The variable @code{undo-limit} sets a soft limit: Emacs keeps undo | |
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411 data for enough commands to reach this size, and perhaps exceed it, |
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412 but does not keep data for any earlier commands beyond that. Its |
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413 default value is 20000. The variable @code{undo-strong-limit} sets a |
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414 stricter limit: a previous command (not the most recent one) which |
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415 pushes the size past this amount is itself forgotten. The default |
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416 value of @code{undo-strong-limit} is 30000. |
25829 | 417 |
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418 Regardless of the values of those variables, the most recent change |
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419 is never discarded unless it gets bigger than @code{undo-outer-limit} |
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420 (normally 3,000,000). At that point, Emacs discards the undo data and |
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421 warns you about it. This is the only situation in which you cannot |
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422 undo the last command. If this happens, you can increase the value of |
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423 @code{undo-outer-limit} to make it even less likely to happen in the |
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424 future. But if you didn't expect the command to create such large |
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425 undo data, then it is probably a bug and you should report it. |
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426 @xref{Bugs,, Reporting Bugs}. |
25829 | 427 |
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428 The reason the @code{undo} command has three key bindings, @kbd{C-x |
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429 u}, @kbd{C-_} and @kbd{C-/}, is that it is worthy of a |
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430 single-character key, but @kbd{C-x u} is more straightforward for |
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431 beginners to type. |
25829 | 432 |
433 @node Basic Files | |
434 @section Files | |
435 | |
436 The commands described above are sufficient for creating and altering | |
437 text in an Emacs buffer; the more advanced Emacs commands just make | |
438 things easier. But to keep any text permanently you must put it in a | |
439 @dfn{file}. Files are named units of text which are stored by the | |
440 operating system for you to retrieve later by name. To look at or use | |
441 the contents of a file in any way, including editing the file with | |
442 Emacs, you must specify the file name. | |
443 | |
444 Consider a file named @file{/usr/rms/foo.c}. In Emacs, to begin editing | |
445 this file, type | |
446 | |
447 @example | |
448 C-x C-f /usr/rms/foo.c @key{RET} | |
449 @end example | |
450 | |
451 @noindent | |
452 Here the file name is given as an @dfn{argument} to the command @kbd{C-x | |
453 C-f} (@code{find-file}). That command uses the @dfn{minibuffer} to | |
454 read the argument, and you type @key{RET} to terminate the argument | |
455 (@pxref{Minibuffer}).@refill | |
456 | |
457 Emacs obeys the command by @dfn{visiting} the file: creating a buffer, | |
458 copying the contents of the file into the buffer, and then displaying | |
459 the buffer for you to edit. If you alter the text, you can @dfn{save} | |
460 the new text in the file by typing @kbd{C-x C-s} (@code{save-buffer}). | |
461 This makes the changes permanent by copying the altered buffer contents | |
462 back into the file @file{/usr/rms/foo.c}. Until you save, the changes | |
463 exist only inside Emacs, and the file @file{foo.c} is unaltered. | |
464 | |
465 To create a file, just visit the file with @kbd{C-x C-f} as if it | |
466 already existed. This creates an empty buffer in which you can insert | |
467 the text you want to put in the file. The file is actually created when | |
468 you save this buffer with @kbd{C-x C-s}. | |
469 | |
470 Of course, there is a lot more to learn about using files. @xref{Files}. | |
471 | |
472 @node Basic Help | |
473 @section Help | |
474 | |
475 @cindex getting help with keys | |
476 If you forget what a key does, you can find out with the Help | |
477 character, which is @kbd{C-h} (or @key{F1}, which is an alias for | |
478 @kbd{C-h}). Type @kbd{C-h k} followed by the key you want to know | |
479 about; for example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you all about what @kbd{C-n} | |
480 does. @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key; @kbd{C-h k} is just one of its | |
481 subcommands (the command @code{describe-key}). The other subcommands of | |
482 @kbd{C-h} provide different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} twice to get | |
483 a description of all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.@refill | |
484 | |
485 @node Blank Lines | |
486 @section Blank Lines | |
487 | |
488 @cindex inserting blank lines | |
489 @cindex deleting blank lines | |
490 Here are special commands and techniques for putting in and taking out | |
491 blank lines. | |
492 | |
493 @table @kbd | |
494 @item C-o | |
495 Insert one or more blank lines after the cursor (@code{open-line}). | |
496 @item C-x C-o | |
497 Delete all but one of many consecutive blank lines | |
498 (@code{delete-blank-lines}). | |
499 @end table | |
500 | |
501 @kindex C-o | |
502 @kindex C-x C-o | |
503 @cindex blank lines | |
504 @findex open-line | |
505 @findex delete-blank-lines | |
506 When you want to insert a new line of text before an existing line, you | |
507 can do it by typing the new line of text, followed by @key{RET}. | |
508 However, it may be easier to see what you are doing if you first make a | |
509 blank line and then insert the desired text into it. This is easy to do | |
510 using the key @kbd{C-o} (@code{open-line}), which inserts a newline | |
511 after point but leaves point in front of the newline. After @kbd{C-o}, | |
512 type the text for the new line. @kbd{C-o F O O} has the same effect as | |
513 @w{@kbd{F O O @key{RET}}}, except for the final location of point. | |
514 | |
515 You can make several blank lines by typing @kbd{C-o} several times, or | |
516 by giving it a numeric argument to tell it how many blank lines to make. | |
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517 @xref{Arguments}, for how. If you have a fill prefix, the @kbd{C-o} |
25829 | 518 command inserts the fill prefix on the new line, when you use it at the |
519 beginning of a line. @xref{Fill Prefix}. | |
520 | |
521 The easy way to get rid of extra blank lines is with the command | |
522 @kbd{C-x C-o} (@code{delete-blank-lines}). @kbd{C-x C-o} in a run of | |
523 several blank lines deletes all but one of them. @kbd{C-x C-o} on a | |
524 solitary blank line deletes that blank line. When point is on a | |
525 nonblank line, @kbd{C-x C-o} deletes any blank lines following that | |
526 nonblank line. | |
527 | |
528 @node Continuation Lines | |
529 @section Continuation Lines | |
530 | |
531 @cindex continuation line | |
532 @cindex wrapping | |
533 @cindex line wrapping | |
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534 @cindex fringes, and continuation lines |
25829 | 535 If you add too many characters to one line without breaking it with |
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536 @key{RET}, the line grows to occupy two (or more) lines on the screen. |
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|
537 On graphical displays, Emacs indicates line wrapping with small bent |
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|
538 arrows in the fringes to the left and right of the window. On |
af4e219e9947
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|
539 text-only terminals, Emacs displays a @samp{\} character at the right |
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|
540 margin of a screen line if it is not the last in its text line. This |
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|
541 @samp{\} character says that the following screen line is not really a |
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542 distinct line in the text, just a @dfn{continuation} of a line too |
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543 long to fit the screen. Continuation is also called @dfn{line |
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544 wrapping}. |
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|
545 |
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546 When line wrapping occurs before a character that is wider than one |
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|
547 column, some columns at the end of the previous screen line may be |
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|
548 ``empty.'' In this case, Emacs displays additional @samp{\} |
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|
549 characters in the ``empty'' columns, just before the @samp{\} |
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|
550 character that indicates continuation. |
25829 | 551 |
552 Sometimes it is nice to have Emacs insert newlines automatically when | |
553 a line gets too long. Continuation on the screen does not do that. Use | |
554 Auto Fill mode (@pxref{Filling}) if that's what you want. | |
555 | |
556 @cindex truncation | |
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557 @cindex line truncation, and fringes |
25829 | 558 As an alternative to continuation, Emacs can display long lines by |
35206 | 559 @dfn{truncation}. This means that all the characters that do not fit |
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|
560 in the width of the screen or window do not appear at all. @samp{$} |
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561 in the last column or a small straight arrow in the fringe to the |
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562 right of the window indicates a truncated line. |
25829 | 563 |
60102
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564 @xref{Display Custom}, for more information about line truncation, |
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565 and other variables that affect how text is displayed. |
25829 | 566 |
567 @node Position Info | |
568 @section Cursor Position Information | |
569 | |
570 Here are commands to get information about the size and position of | |
571 parts of the buffer, and to count lines. | |
572 | |
573 @table @kbd | |
574 @item M-x what-page | |
36140
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575 Display the page number of point, and the line number within the page. |
25829 | 576 @item M-x what-line |
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577 Display the line number of point in the buffer. |
25829 | 578 @item M-x line-number-mode |
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579 @itemx M-x column-number-mode |
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580 Toggle automatic display of current line number or column number. |
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581 @xref{Optional Mode Line}. |
25829 | 582 @item M-= |
36140
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583 Display the number of lines in the current region (@code{count-lines-region}). |
25829 | 584 @xref{Mark}, for information about the region. |
585 @item C-x = | |
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586 Display the character code of character after point, character position of |
25829 | 587 point, and column of point (@code{what-cursor-position}). |
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588 @item M-x hl-line-mode |
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589 Enable or disable highlighting of the current line. @xref{Cursor |
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590 Display}. |
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591 @item M-x size-indication-mode |
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592 Toggle automatic display of the size of the buffer. |
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593 @xref{Optional Mode Line}. |
25829 | 594 @end table |
595 | |
596 @findex what-page | |
597 @findex what-line | |
598 @cindex line number commands | |
599 @cindex location of point | |
600 @cindex cursor location | |
601 @cindex point location | |
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602 @kbd{M-x what-line} computes the current line number and displays it |
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603 in the echo area. You can also see the current line number in the |
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604 mode line; see @ref{Mode Line}. If you narrow the buffer, then the |
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605 line number in the mode line is relative to the accessible portion |
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606 (@pxref{Narrowing}). By contrast, @code{what-line} shows both the |
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607 line number relative to the narrowed region and the line number |
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608 relative to the whole buffer. |
25829 | 609 |
37152 | 610 @kbd{M-x what-page} counts pages from the beginning of the file, and |
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611 counts lines within the page, showing both numbers in the echo area. |
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612 @xref{Pages}. |
25829 | 613 |
614 @kindex M-= | |
615 @findex count-lines-region | |
616 While on this subject, we might as well mention @kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}), | |
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617 which displays the number of lines in the region (@pxref{Mark}). |
25829 | 618 @xref{Pages}, for the command @kbd{C-x l} which counts the lines in the |
619 current page. | |
620 | |
621 @kindex C-x = | |
622 @findex what-cursor-position | |
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623 The command @kbd{C-x =} (@code{what-cursor-position}) shows what |
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624 column the cursor is in, and other miscellaneous information about |
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625 point and the character after it. It displays a line in the echo area |
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626 that looks like this: |
25829 | 627 |
628 @smallexample | |
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629 Char: c (0143, 99, 0x63) point=21044 of 26883(78%) column 53 |
25829 | 630 @end smallexample |
631 | |
632 @noindent | |
633 (In fact, this is the output produced when point is before the | |
634 @samp{column} in the example.) | |
635 | |
636 The four values after @samp{Char:} describe the character that follows | |
637 point, first by showing it and then by giving its character code in | |
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638 octal, decimal and hex. For a non-@acronym{ASCII} multibyte character, these are |
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639 followed by @samp{file} and the character's representation, in hex, in |
25829 | 640 the buffer's coding system, if that coding system encodes the character |
641 safely and with a single byte (@pxref{Coding Systems}). If the | |
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642 character's encoding is longer than one byte, Emacs shows @samp{file ...}. |
ef089f655621
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643 |
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644 However, if the character displayed is in the range 0200 through |
66061
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645 0377 octal, it may actually stand for an invalid UTF-8 byte read from |
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646 a file. In Emacs, that byte is represented as a sequence of 8-bit |
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647 characters, but all of them together display as the original invalid |
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648 byte, in octal code. In this case, @kbd{C-x =} shows @samp{part of |
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|
649 display ...} instead of @samp{file}. |
25829 | 650 |
651 @samp{point=} is followed by the position of point expressed as a character | |
652 count. The front of the buffer counts as position 1, one character later | |
653 as 2, and so on. The next, larger, number is the total number of characters | |
654 in the buffer. Afterward in parentheses comes the position expressed as a | |
655 percentage of the total size. | |
656 | |
657 @samp{column} is followed by the horizontal position of point, in | |
658 columns from the left edge of the window. | |
659 | |
660 If the buffer has been narrowed, making some of the text at the | |
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|
661 beginning and the end temporarily inaccessible, @kbd{C-x =} displays |
25829 | 662 additional text describing the currently accessible range. For example, it |
663 might display this: | |
664 | |
665 @smallexample | |
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|
666 Char: C (0103, 67, 0x43) point=252 of 889(28%) <231 - 599> column 0 |
25829 | 667 @end smallexample |
668 | |
669 @noindent | |
670 where the two extra numbers give the smallest and largest character | |
671 position that point is allowed to assume. The characters between those | |
672 two positions are the accessible ones. @xref{Narrowing}. | |
673 | |
674 If point is at the end of the buffer (or the end of the accessible | |
675 part), the @w{@kbd{C-x =}} output does not describe a character after | |
676 point. The output might look like this: | |
677 | |
678 @smallexample | |
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679 point=26957 of 26956(100%) column 0 |
25829 | 680 @end smallexample |
681 | |
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682 @cindex character set of character at point |
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683 @cindex font of character at point |
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684 @cindex text properties at point |
62193
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685 @w{@kbd{C-u C-x =}} displays the following additional information about a |
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686 character. |
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687 |
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|
688 @itemize @bullet |
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689 @item |
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690 The character set name, and the codes that identify the character |
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691 within that character set; @acronym{ASCII} characters are identified |
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692 as belonging to the @code{ascii} character set. |
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693 |
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694 @item |
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695 The character's syntax and categories. |
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696 |
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|
697 @item |
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|
698 The character's encodings, both internally in the buffer, and externally |
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|
699 if you were to save the file. |
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700 |
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|
701 @item |
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702 What to type to input the character in the current input method |
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703 (if it supports the character). |
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704 |
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705 @item |
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706 If you are running Emacs on a window system, the font name and glyph |
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707 code for the character. If you are running Emacs on a terminal, the |
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708 code(s) sent to the terminal. |
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709 |
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710 @item |
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|
711 The character's text properties (@pxref{Text Properties,,, |
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712 elisp, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}), and any overlays containing it |
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713 (@pxref{Overlays,,, elisp, the same manual}). |
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714 @end itemize |
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715 |
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716 Here's an example showing the Latin-1 character A with grave accent, |
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717 in a buffer whose coding system is @code{iso-latin-1}, whose |
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718 terminal coding system is @code{iso-latin-1} (so the terminal actually |
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719 displays the character as @samp{@`A}), and which has font-lock-mode |
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720 (@pxref{Font Lock}) enabled: |
25829 | 721 |
37152 | 722 @smallexample |
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723 character: @`A (04300, 2240, 0x8c0, U+00C0) |
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724 charset: latin-iso8859-1 |
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725 (Right-Hand Part of Latin Alphabet 1@dots{} |
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726 code point: 64 |
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727 syntax: w which means: word |
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728 category: l:Latin |
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729 to input: type "`A" |
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730 buffer code: 0x81 0xC0 |
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731 file code: ESC 2C 41 40 (encoded by coding system iso-2022-7bit) |
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732 display: terminal code 0xC0 |
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733 |
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734 There are text properties here: |
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735 fontified t |
37152 | 736 @end smallexample |
25829 | 737 |
738 @node Arguments | |
739 @section Numeric Arguments | |
740 @cindex numeric arguments | |
741 @cindex prefix arguments | |
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742 @cindex arguments to commands |
25829 | 743 |
744 In mathematics and computer usage, the word @dfn{argument} means | |
745 ``data provided to a function or operation.'' You can give any Emacs | |
746 command a @dfn{numeric argument} (also called a @dfn{prefix argument}). | |
747 Some commands interpret the argument as a repetition count. For | |
748 example, @kbd{C-f} with an argument of ten moves forward ten characters | |
749 instead of one. With these commands, no argument is equivalent to an | |
750 argument of one. Negative arguments tell most such commands to move or | |
751 act in the opposite direction. | |
752 | |
753 @kindex M-1 | |
754 @kindex M-@t{-} | |
755 @findex digit-argument | |
756 @findex negative-argument | |
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757 If your terminal keyboard has a @key{META} key (labeled @key{ALT} on |
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758 PC keyboards), the easiest way to specify a numeric argument is to |
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759 type digits and/or a minus sign while holding down the @key{META} key. |
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760 For example, |
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761 |
25829 | 762 @example |
763 M-5 C-n | |
764 @end example | |
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765 |
25829 | 766 @noindent |
767 would move down five lines. The characters @kbd{Meta-1}, @kbd{Meta-2}, | |
768 and so on, as well as @kbd{Meta--}, do this because they are keys bound | |
769 to commands (@code{digit-argument} and @code{negative-argument}) that | |
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770 are defined to contribute to an argument for the next command. |
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771 @kbd{Meta--} without digits normally means @minus{}1. Digits and |
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772 @kbd{-} modified with Control, or Control and Meta, also specify numeric |
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773 arguments. |
25829 | 774 |
775 @kindex C-u | |
776 @findex universal-argument | |
777 Another way of specifying an argument is to use the @kbd{C-u} | |
778 (@code{universal-argument}) command followed by the digits of the | |
779 argument. With @kbd{C-u}, you can type the argument digits without | |
780 holding down modifier keys; @kbd{C-u} works on all terminals. To type a | |
781 negative argument, type a minus sign after @kbd{C-u}. Just a minus sign | |
782 without digits normally means @minus{}1. | |
783 | |
784 @kbd{C-u} followed by a character which is neither a digit nor a minus | |
785 sign has the special meaning of ``multiply by four.'' It multiplies the | |
786 argument for the next command by four. @kbd{C-u} twice multiplies it by | |
787 sixteen. Thus, @kbd{C-u C-u C-f} moves forward sixteen characters. This | |
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788 is a good way to move forward ``fast,'' since it moves about 1/5 of a line |
25829 | 789 in the usual size screen. Other useful combinations are @kbd{C-u C-n}, |
790 @kbd{C-u C-u C-n} (move down a good fraction of a screen), @kbd{C-u C-u | |
791 C-o} (make ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four | |
792 lines).@refill | |
793 | |
794 Some commands care only about whether there is an argument, and not about | |
795 its value. For example, the command @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph}) with | |
796 no argument fills text; with an argument, it justifies the text as well. | |
797 (@xref{Filling}, for more information on @kbd{M-q}.) Plain @kbd{C-u} is a | |
798 handy way of providing an argument for such commands. | |
799 | |
800 Some commands use the value of the argument as a repeat count, but do | |
801 something peculiar when there is no argument. For example, the command | |
802 @kbd{C-k} (@code{kill-line}) with argument @var{n} kills @var{n} lines, | |
803 including their terminating newlines. But @kbd{C-k} with no argument is | |
804 special: it kills the text up to the next newline, or, if point is right at | |
805 the end of the line, it kills the newline itself. Thus, two @kbd{C-k} | |
806 commands with no arguments can kill a nonblank line, just like @kbd{C-k} | |
807 with an argument of one. (@xref{Killing}, for more information on | |
808 @kbd{C-k}.)@refill | |
809 | |
810 A few commands treat a plain @kbd{C-u} differently from an ordinary | |
811 argument. A few others may treat an argument of just a minus sign | |
812 differently from an argument of @minus{}1. These unusual cases are | |
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813 described when they come up; they are always for reasons of |
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814 convenience of use of the individual command, and they are documented |
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815 in the command's documentation string. |
25829 | 816 |
817 You can use a numeric argument to insert multiple copies of a | |
818 character. This is straightforward unless the character is a digit; for | |
819 example, @kbd{C-u 6 4 a} inserts 64 copies of the character @samp{a}. | |
820 But this does not work for inserting digits; @kbd{C-u 6 4 1} specifies | |
821 an argument of 641, rather than inserting anything. To separate the | |
822 digit to insert from the argument, type another @kbd{C-u}; for example, | |
823 @kbd{C-u 6 4 C-u 1} does insert 64 copies of the character @samp{1}. | |
824 | |
825 We use the term ``prefix argument'' as well as ``numeric argument'' to | |
826 emphasize that you type the argument before the command, and to | |
827 distinguish these arguments from minibuffer arguments that come after | |
828 the command. | |
829 | |
830 @node Repeating | |
831 @section Repeating a Command | |
832 @cindex repeating a command | |
833 | |
38738 | 834 Many simple commands, such as those invoked with a single key or |
835 with @kbd{M-x @var{command-name} @key{RET}}, can be repeated by | |
836 invoking them with a numeric argument that serves as a repeat count | |
837 (@pxref{Arguments}). However, if the command you want to repeat | |
838 prompts for some input, or uses a numeric argument in another way, | |
839 repetition using a numeric argument might be problematical. | |
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840 |
25829 | 841 @kindex C-x z |
842 @findex repeat | |
843 The command @kbd{C-x z} (@code{repeat}) provides another way to repeat | |
844 an Emacs command many times. This command repeats the previous Emacs | |
845 command, whatever that was. Repeating a command uses the same arguments | |
846 that were used before; it does not read new arguments each time. | |
847 | |
848 To repeat the command more than once, type additional @kbd{z}'s: each | |
849 @kbd{z} repeats the command one more time. Repetition ends when you | |
850 type a character other than @kbd{z}, or press a mouse button. | |
851 | |
852 For example, suppose you type @kbd{C-u 2 0 C-d} to delete 20 | |
853 characters. You can repeat that command (including its argument) three | |
854 additional times, to delete a total of 80 characters, by typing @kbd{C-x | |
855 z z z}. The first @kbd{C-x z} repeats the command once, and each | |
856 subsequent @kbd{z} repeats it once again. | |
857 | |
52401 | 858 @ignore |
859 arch-tag: cda8952a-c439-41c1-aecf-4bc0d6482956 | |
860 @end ignore |