comparison man/faq.texi @ 69133:1c9e76acce59

(Common requests): Move `Turning on auto-fill by default' after `Wrapping words automatically'. Move `Working with unprintable characters' before `Searching for/replacing newlines'. Move `Replacing highlighted text' after `Highlighting a region'. Merge `Repeating commands' and `Repeating a command as many times as possible' into the former. (Packages that do not come with Emacs): Add refs to Gmane and etc/MORE.STUFF.

69132:e4886b403acb

* Colors on a TTY::
* Debugging a customization file::
* Displaying the current line or column::
* Displaying the current file name in the titlebar::
* Turning on abbrevs by default::
* Turning on auto-fill by default::
* Associating modes with files::
* Working with unprintable characters::
* Highlighting a region::
* Controlling case sensitivity::
* Searching for/replacing newlines::
* Yanking text in isearch::
* Wrapping words automatically::
* Spell-checkers::
* Checking TeX and *roff documents::
* Changing load-path::
* Using an already running Emacs process::
* Compiler error messages::

* Valid X resources::
* Evaluating Emacs Lisp code::
* Changing the length of a Tab::
* Inserting text at the beginning of each line::
* Underlining paragraphs::
* Repeating a command as many times as possible::
* Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column::
* Forcing Emacs to iconify itself::
* Using regular expressions::
* Replacing text across multiple files::
* Documentation for etags::

* Going to a line by number::
* Modifying pull-down menus::
* Deleting menus and menu options::
* Turning on syntax highlighting::
* Scrolling only one line::
* Replacing highlighted text::
* Editing MS-DOS files::
* Filling paragraphs with a single space::
* Escape sequences in shell output::
@end menu

@lisp
(setq frame-title-format "%b")
@end lisp

@node Turning on abbrevs by default, Turning on auto-fill by default, Displaying the current file name in the titlebar, Common requests
@section How do I turn on abbrevs by default just in mode @var{mymode}?
@cindex Abbrevs, turning on by default

Put this in your @file{.emacs} file:

@end lisp

Starting with Emacs 22, the standard abbrevs file is read automatically
at startup, so the first of these two forms becomes unnecessary.

@node Turning on auto-fill by default, Associating modes with files, Turning on abbrevs by default, Common requests
@section How do I turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} by default?
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, activating automatically
@cindex Filling automatically
@cindex Automatic entry to @code{auto-fill-mode}

To turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} just once for one buffer, use @kbd{M-x
auto-fill-mode}.

To turn it on for every buffer in a certain mode, you must use the hook
for that mode.  For example, to turn on @code{auto-fill} mode for all
text buffers, including the following in your @file{.emacs} file:

@lisp
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
@end lisp

If you want @code{auto-fill} mode on in all major modes, do this:

@lisp
(setq-default auto-fill-function 'do-auto-fill)
@end lisp

@node Associating modes with files, Working with unprintable characters, Turning on auto-fill by default, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs use a certain major mode for certain files?
@cindex Associating modes with files
@cindex File extensions and modes
@cindex @code{auto-mode-alist}, modifying
@cindex Modes, associating with file extensions

determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of
the script.)  This feature only applies when the file name doesn't
indicate which mode to use.  Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x
describe-variable}) on @code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more.

@node Working with unprintable characters, Highlighting a region, Associating modes with files, Common requests
@section How do I search for, delete, or replace unprintable (eight-bit or control) characters?
@cindex Unprintable characters, working with
@cindex Working with unprintable characters
@cindex Control characters, working with
@cindex Eight-bit characters, working with

Replacing is similar to the above.  To replace all unprintable
characters with a colon, use:

M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} [^ @key{TAB} C-q @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~] @key{RET} : @key{RET}

@itemize @bullet

@item
You don't need to quote @key{TAB} with either isearch or typing
something in the minibuffer.

@end itemize

@node Highlighting a region, Controlling case sensitivity, Working with unprintable characters, Common requests
@section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs?
@cindex Highlighting text
@cindex Text, highlighting
@cindex @code{transient-mark-mode}
@cindex Region, highlighting a

You can cause the region to be highlighted when the mark is active by
including

@lisp
(transient-mark-mode t)
@end lisp

@noindent
in your @file{.emacs} file.

@node Controlling case sensitivity, Searching for/replacing newlines, Highlighting a region, Common requests
@section How do I control Emacs's case-sensitivity when searching/replacing?
@cindex @code{case-fold-search}
@cindex Case sensitivity of searches
@cindex Searching without case sensitivity
@cindex Ignoring case in searches

For searching, the value of the variable @code{case-fold-search}
determines whether they are case sensitive:

@lisp
(setq case-fold-search nil) ; make searches case sensitive
(setq case-fold-search t)   ; make searches case insensitive
@end lisp

@cindex Case sensitivity in replacements
@cindex Replacing, and case sensitivity
@cindex @code{case-replace}
Similarly, for replacing, the variable @code{case-replace} determines
whether replacements preserve case.

You can also toggle case sensitivity at will in isearch with @kbd{M-c}.

To change the case sensitivity just for one major mode, use the major
mode's hook.  For example:

@lisp
(add-hook '@var{foo}-mode-hook
          (lambda ()
           (setq case-fold-search nil)))
@end lisp

@node Searching for/replacing newlines, Yanking text in isearch, Controlling case sensitivity, Common requests
@section How do I input a newline character in isearch or query-replace?
@cindex Searching for newlines
@cindex Replacing newlines

Use @kbd{C-q C-j}.  For more information, see @inforef{Special Isearch,

@cindex Yanking text into the search string
@cindex isearch yanking

Use @kbd{M-y}.  @inforef{Isearch Yank, Isearch Yanking, emacs}.

@node Wrapping words automatically, Spell-checkers, Yanking text in isearch, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs wrap words for me?
@cindex Wrapping word automatically
@cindex Wrapping lines
@cindex Line wrap
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, introduction to

Use @code{auto-fill-mode}, activated by typing @kbd{M-x auto-fill-mode}.
The default maximum line width is 70, determined by the variable
@code{fill-column}.  To learn how to turn this on automatically, see
@ref{Turning on auto-fill by default}.

@node Spell-checkers, Checking TeX and *roff documents, Wrapping words automatically, Common requests
@section Where can I get a better spelling checker for Emacs?
@cindex Checking spelling
@cindex Spelling, checking text documents

Use Ispell.  @xref{Ispell}.

@kbd{M-x hide-ifdef-mode}.  (This is a minor mode.)  You might also want
to investigate @file{cpp.el}, which is distributed with Emacs.

@node Repeating commands, Valid X resources, Hiding #ifdef lines, Common requests
@section Is there an equivalent to the @code{.} (dot) command of vi?
@cindex Repeating commands as with @code{vi}
@cindex Command, repeat last
@cindex @code{.}, equivalent to @code{vi} command

(@code{.} is the redo command in @code{vi}.  It redoes the last
insertion/deletion.)

As of Emacs 20.3, there is indeed a @code{repeat} command (@kbd{C-x z})
that repeats the last command.  If you preface it with a prefix
argument, the prefix arg is applied to the command.

minibuffer to get arguments.  In @code{repeat-complex-command} you can
type @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-n} (and also up-arrow and down-arrow, if your
keyboard has these keys) to scan through all the different complex
commands you've typed.

To repeat a set of commands, use keyboard macros.  (@inforef{Keyboard
Macros, Keyboard Macros, emacs}.)

If you're really desperate for the @code{.} command, use VIPER, a
@code{vi} emulation mode which comes with Emacs, and which appears to
support it.  (@xref{VIPER}.)

@node Valid X resources, Evaluating Emacs Lisp code, Repeating commands, Common requests
@section What are the valid X resource settings (i.e., stuff in .Xdefaults)?
@cindex Resources, X
@cindex X resources

might want to set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}.  In Message
buffers, you can even use @kbd{M-;} to cite yanked messages (@kbd{M-;}
runs the function @code{comment-region}, it is a general-purpose
mechanism to comment regions) (@pxref{Changing the included text prefix}).

@node Underlining paragraphs, Repeating a command as many times as possible, Inserting text at the beginning of each line, Common requests
@section How do I insert @samp{_^H} before each character in a region to get an underlined paragraph?
@cindex Underlining a region of text
@cindex @code{underline-region}

Mark the region and then type @kbd{M-x underline-region @key{RET}}.

@node Repeating a command as many times as possible, Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column, Underlining paragraphs, Common requests
@section How do I repeat a command as many times as possible?
@cindex Repeating commands many times
@cindex Commands, repeating many times

Use @kbd{C-x (} and @kbd{C-x )} to make a keyboard macro that invokes
the command and then type @kbd{M-0 C-x e}.

Any messages your command prints in the echo area will be suppressed.

If you need to repeat a command a small number of times, you can use
@kbd{C-x z} (@pxref{Repeating commands}) or @kbd{C-x e}.

@node Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column, Forcing Emacs to iconify itself, Repeating a command as many times as possible, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs behave like this: when I go up or down, the cursor should stay in the same column even if the line is too short?
@cindex @code{picture-mode}
@cindex Remaining in the same column, regardless of contents
@cindex Vertical movement in empty documents

ps-print-region-with-faces}.  You will need a way to send text to a
PostScript printer, or a PostScript interpreter such as Ghostscript;
consult the documentation of the variables @code{ps-printer-name},
@code{ps-lpr-command}, and @code{ps-lpr-switches} for more details.

@node Scrolling only one line, Replacing highlighted text, Turning on syntax highlighting, Common requests
@section How can I force Emacs to scroll only one line when I move past the bottom of the screen?
@cindex Scrolling only one line
@cindex Reducing the increment when scrolling

Customize the @code{scroll-conservatively} variable with @kbd{M-x

@lisp
(setq scroll-conservatively most-positive-fixnum)
@end lisp

@node Replacing highlighted text, Editing MS-DOS files, Scrolling only one line, Common requests
@section How can I replace highlighted text with what I type?
@cindex @code{delete-selection-mode}
@cindex Replacing highlighted text
@cindex Highlighting and replacing text

Use @code{delete-selection-mode}, which you can start automatically by
placing the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs} file:

@lisp
(delete-selection-mode 1)
@end lisp

According to the documentation string for @code{delete-selection-mode}
(which you can read using @kbd{M-x describe-function @key{RET}
delete-selection-mode @key{RET}}):

@quotation
When ON, typed text replaces the selection if the selection is active.
When OFF, typed text is just inserted at point.
@end quotation

This mode also allows you to delete (not kill) the highlighted region by
pressing @key{DEL}.

@node Editing MS-DOS files, Filling paragraphs with a single space, Replacing highlighted text, Common requests
@section How can I edit MS-DOS files using Emacs?
@cindex Editing MS-DOS files
@cindex MS-DOS files, editing
@cindex Microsoft files, editing
@cindex Windows files, editing

from Emacs with @uref{http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/~stephen/emacs/ell.el,
the @file{ell} package}.

Many authors post their packages to the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources,
Emacs sources newsgroup}.  You can search the archives of this
group with @uref{http://groups.google.com, Google}, for example.

Several packages are stored in
@uref{http://emacswiki.org/elisp/, the Lisp area of the Emacs Wiki}.

For a long time, the Emacs Lisp Archive provided a central repository
for Emacs packages.  Sadly, it has not been active for some time,
although you can still access the old files at

@uref{ftp://ftp.cis.ohio-state.edu/pub/emacs-lisp/WWW/index.html}

@node Current GNU distributions, Difference between Emacs and XEmacs, Packages that do not come with Emacs, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get other up-to-date GNU stuff?
@cindex Current GNU distributions
@cindex Sources for current GNU distributions

69133:1c9e76acce59

* Colors on a TTY::
* Debugging a customization file::
* Displaying the current line or column::
* Displaying the current file name in the titlebar::
* Turning on abbrevs by default::
* Associating modes with files::
* Highlighting a region::
* Replacing highlighted text::
* Controlling case sensitivity::
* Working with unprintable characters::
* Searching for/replacing newlines::
* Yanking text in isearch::
* Wrapping words automatically::
* Turning on auto-fill by default::
* Spell-checkers::
* Checking TeX and *roff documents::
* Changing load-path::
* Using an already running Emacs process::
* Compiler error messages::

* Valid X resources::
* Evaluating Emacs Lisp code::
* Changing the length of a Tab::
* Inserting text at the beginning of each line::
* Underlining paragraphs::
* Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column::
* Forcing Emacs to iconify itself::
* Using regular expressions::
* Replacing text across multiple files::
* Documentation for etags::

* Going to a line by number::
* Modifying pull-down menus::
* Deleting menus and menu options::
* Turning on syntax highlighting::
* Scrolling only one line::
* Editing MS-DOS files::
* Filling paragraphs with a single space::
* Escape sequences in shell output::
@end menu

@lisp
(setq frame-title-format "%b")
@end lisp

@node Turning on abbrevs by default, Associating modes with files, Displaying the current file name in the titlebar, Common requests
@section How do I turn on abbrevs by default just in mode @var{mymode}?
@cindex Abbrevs, turning on by default

Put this in your @file{.emacs} file:

@end lisp

Starting with Emacs 22, the standard abbrevs file is read automatically
at startup, so the first of these two forms becomes unnecessary.

@node Associating modes with files, Highlighting a region, Turning on abbrevs by default, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs use a certain major mode for certain files?
@cindex Associating modes with files
@cindex File extensions and modes
@cindex @code{auto-mode-alist}, modifying
@cindex Modes, associating with file extensions

determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of
the script.)  This feature only applies when the file name doesn't
indicate which mode to use.  Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x
describe-variable}) on @code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more.

@node Highlighting a region, Replacing highlighted text, Associating modes with files, Common requests
@section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs?
@cindex Highlighting text
@cindex Text, highlighting
@cindex @code{transient-mark-mode}
@cindex Region, highlighting a

You can cause the region to be highlighted when the mark is active by
including

@lisp
(transient-mark-mode t)
@end lisp

@noindent
in your @file{.emacs} file.

@node Replacing highlighted text, Controlling case sensitivity, Highlighting a region, Common requests
@section How can I replace highlighted text with what I type?
@cindex @code{delete-selection-mode}
@cindex Replacing highlighted text
@cindex Highlighting and replacing text

Use @code{delete-selection-mode}, which you can start automatically by
placing the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs} file:

@lisp
(delete-selection-mode 1)
@end lisp

According to the documentation string for @code{delete-selection-mode}
(which you can read using @kbd{M-x describe-function @key{RET}
delete-selection-mode @key{RET}}):

@quotation
When ON, typed text replaces the selection if the selection is active.
When OFF, typed text is just inserted at point.
@end quotation

This mode also allows you to delete (not kill) the highlighted region by
pressing @key{DEL}.

@node Controlling case sensitivity, Working with unprintable characters, Replacing highlighted text, Common requests
@section How do I control Emacs's case-sensitivity when searching/replacing?
@cindex @code{case-fold-search}
@cindex Case sensitivity of searches
@cindex Searching without case sensitivity
@cindex Ignoring case in searches

For searching, the value of the variable @code{case-fold-search}
determines whether they are case sensitive:

@lisp
(setq case-fold-search nil) ; make searches case sensitive
(setq case-fold-search t)   ; make searches case insensitive
@end lisp

@cindex Case sensitivity in replacements
@cindex Replacing, and case sensitivity
@cindex @code{case-replace}
Similarly, for replacing, the variable @code{case-replace} determines
whether replacements preserve case.

You can also toggle case sensitivity at will in isearch with @kbd{M-c}.

To change the case sensitivity just for one major mode, use the major
mode's hook.  For example:

@lisp
(add-hook '@var{foo}-mode-hook
          (lambda ()
           (setq case-fold-search nil)))
@end lisp

@node Working with unprintable characters, Searching for/replacing newlines, Controlling case sensitivity, Common requests
@section How do I search for, delete, or replace unprintable (eight-bit or control) characters?
@cindex Unprintable characters, working with
@cindex Working with unprintable characters
@cindex Control characters, working with
@cindex Eight-bit characters, working with

Replacing is similar to the above.  To replace all unprintable
characters with a colon, use:

M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} [^ @key{TAB} C-q @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~] @key{RET} : @key{RET}

@node Searching for/replacing newlines, Yanking text in isearch, Working with unprintable characters, Common requests
@section How do I input a newline character in isearch or query-replace?
@cindex Searching for newlines
@cindex Replacing newlines

Use @kbd{C-q C-j}.  For more information, see @inforef{Special Isearch,

@cindex Yanking text into the search string
@cindex isearch yanking

Use @kbd{M-y}.  @inforef{Isearch Yank, Isearch Yanking, emacs}.

@node Wrapping words automatically, Turning on auto-fill by default, Yanking text in isearch, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs wrap words for me?
@cindex Wrapping word automatically
@cindex Wrapping lines
@cindex Line wrap
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, introduction to

Use @code{auto-fill-mode}, activated by typing @kbd{M-x auto-fill-mode}.
The default maximum line width is 70, determined by the variable
@code{fill-column}.  To learn how to turn this on automatically, see
@ref{Turning on auto-fill by default}.

@node Turning on auto-fill by default, Spell-checkers, Wrapping words automatically, Common requests
@section How do I turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} by default?
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, activating automatically
@cindex Filling automatically
@cindex Automatic entry to @code{auto-fill-mode}

To turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} just once for one buffer, use @kbd{M-x
auto-fill-mode}.

To turn it on for every buffer in a certain mode, you must use the hook
for that mode.  For example, to turn on @code{auto-fill} mode for all
text buffers, including the following in your @file{.emacs} file:

@lisp
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
@end lisp

If you want @code{auto-fill} mode on in all major modes, do this:

@lisp
(setq-default auto-fill-function 'do-auto-fill)
@end lisp

@node Spell-checkers, Checking TeX and *roff documents, Turning on auto-fill by default, Common requests
@section Where can I get a better spelling checker for Emacs?
@cindex Checking spelling
@cindex Spelling, checking text documents

Use Ispell.  @xref{Ispell}.

@kbd{M-x hide-ifdef-mode}.  (This is a minor mode.)  You might also want
to investigate @file{cpp.el}, which is distributed with Emacs.

@node Repeating commands, Valid X resources, Hiding #ifdef lines, Common requests
@section How do I repeat a command as many times as possible?
@cindex Repeating commands many times
@cindex Commands, repeating many times
@cindex @code{.}, equivalent to @code{vi} command

As of Emacs 20.3, there is indeed a @code{repeat} command (@kbd{C-x z})
that repeats the last command.  If you preface it with a prefix
argument, the prefix arg is applied to the command.

minibuffer to get arguments.  In @code{repeat-complex-command} you can
type @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-n} (and also up-arrow and down-arrow, if your
keyboard has these keys) to scan through all the different complex
commands you've typed.

To repeat a set of commands, use keyboard macros.  Use @kbd{C-x (} and
@kbd{C-x )} to make a keyboard macro that invokes the command and then
type @kbd{C-x e}.  (@inforef{Keyboard Macros, Keyboard Macros, emacs}.)

If you're really desperate for the @code{.} command in @code{vi} that
redoes the last insertion/deletion, use VIPER, a @code{vi} emulation
mode which comes with Emacs, and which appears to support it.
(@xref{VIPER}.)

@node Valid X resources, Evaluating Emacs Lisp code, Repeating commands, Common requests
@section What are the valid X resource settings (i.e., stuff in .Xdefaults)?
@cindex Resources, X
@cindex X resources

might want to set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}.  In Message
buffers, you can even use @kbd{M-;} to cite yanked messages (@kbd{M-;}
runs the function @code{comment-region}, it is a general-purpose
mechanism to comment regions) (@pxref{Changing the included text prefix}).

@node Underlining paragraphs, Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column, Inserting text at the beginning of each line, Common requests
@section How do I insert @samp{_^H} before each character in a region to get an underlined paragraph?
@cindex Underlining a region of text
@cindex @code{underline-region}

Mark the region and then type @kbd{M-x underline-region @key{RET}}.

@node Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column, Forcing Emacs to iconify itself, Underlining paragraphs, Common requests
@section How do I make Emacs behave like this: when I go up or down, the cursor should stay in the same column even if the line is too short?
@cindex @code{picture-mode}
@cindex Remaining in the same column, regardless of contents
@cindex Vertical movement in empty documents

ps-print-region-with-faces}.  You will need a way to send text to a
PostScript printer, or a PostScript interpreter such as Ghostscript;
consult the documentation of the variables @code{ps-printer-name},
@code{ps-lpr-command}, and @code{ps-lpr-switches} for more details.

@node Scrolling only one line, Editing MS-DOS files, Turning on syntax highlighting, Common requests
@section How can I force Emacs to scroll only one line when I move past the bottom of the screen?
@cindex Scrolling only one line
@cindex Reducing the increment when scrolling

Customize the @code{scroll-conservatively} variable with @kbd{M-x

@lisp
(setq scroll-conservatively most-positive-fixnum)
@end lisp

@node Editing MS-DOS files, Filling paragraphs with a single space, Scrolling only one line, Common requests
@section How can I edit MS-DOS files using Emacs?
@cindex Editing MS-DOS files
@cindex MS-DOS files, editing
@cindex Microsoft files, editing
@cindex Windows files, editing

from Emacs with @uref{http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/~stephen/emacs/ell.el,
the @file{ell} package}.

Many authors post their packages to the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources,
Emacs sources newsgroup}.  You can search the archives of this
group with @uref{http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.emacs.sources, Google},
or @uref{http://dir.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.sources, Gmane}, for example.

Several packages are stored in
@uref{http://emacswiki.org/elisp/, the Lisp area of the Emacs Wiki}.

For a long time, the Emacs Lisp Archive provided a central repository
for Emacs packages.  Sadly, it has not been active for some time,
although you can still access the old files at

@uref{ftp://ftp.cis.ohio-state.edu/pub/emacs-lisp/WWW/index.html}

Read the file @file{etc/MORE.STUFF} for more information about
external packages.

@node Current GNU distributions, Difference between Emacs and XEmacs, Packages that do not come with Emacs, Finding Emacs and related packages
@section Where can I get other up-to-date GNU stuff?
@cindex Current GNU distributions
@cindex Sources for current GNU distributions