comparison man/files.texi @ 28671:678e1643ac82

ffap, filecache, locate

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visited by the current buffer, based on customizable patterns.
Typically this will be the header file corresponding to a C/C++ source
file, or vice versa.  The patterns describing the corresponding files
are customizable via @code{ff-other-file-alist}.

@c The Shadowfile package provides automatic file copying, allowing you to
@c keep identical copies of files in more than one place---possibly on
@c different machines.  When you save a file, it checks whether it is on
@c the list of files with `shadows', and if so, it tries to copy it when
@c you exit emacs (or use the @kbd{M-x shadow-copy-files} command).

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visited by the current buffer, based on customizable patterns.
Typically this will be the header file corresponding to a C/C++ source
file, or vice versa.  The patterns describing the corresponding files
are customizable via @code{ff-other-file-alist}.

@findex ffap
@findex find-file-at-point
@cindex finding file at point
The command @kbd{M-x find-file-at-point} (or @kbd{M-x ffap}) can be used
as a replacement for @kbd{M-x find-file}.  With a prefix argument it
behaves as @kbd{M-x find-file}.  Otherwise it tries to guess a default
file or URL from the text around point.  This is useful for following
references in mail or news buffers, @file{README}s, @file{MANIFEST}s,
and so on.  @kbd{M-x ffap-bindings} makes these global key bindings:

@table @kbd
@item C-x C-f
@kbd{find-file-at-point};
@item C-x 4 f
@kbd{ffap-other-window}, analagous to @kbd{find-file-other-window};
@item C-x 5 f
@kbd{ffap-other-frame}, analagous to @kbd{find-file-other-frame};
@item S-mouse-3
@kbd{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
of a mouse click;
@item C-S-mouse-3
@kbd{ffap-menu} puts up a selectable menu of files and URLs mentioned in
the current buffer.
@end table

Partial Completion mode offers other features extending @kbd{M-x
find-file} which can be used with @code{ffap}.  @xref{Completion
Options}.

@cindex filename caching
@cindex cache of file names
@pindex find
@pindex locate
@vindex file-cache-delete-regexps
The Filecache package attempts to make it easy to locate files by name
without having to remember exactly where they are.  When typing a
filename in the minibuffer you can use @kbd{C-tab} to complete it using
the filename cache and to cycle through possible completions.  (The
@kbd{C-tab} binding assumes a window system; otherwise you can make
another binding for @code{file-cache-minibuffer-complete}.)  @kbd{M-x
file-cache-add-directory} adds the files in a directory to the cache and
@kbd{file-cache-add-directory-list} acts on a list of directories like
@kbd{load-path} or @kbd{exec-path}.
@kbd{file-cache-add-directory-using-find} uses the @code{find} program
to add a directory tree to the cache and
@kbd{file-cache-add-directory-using-locate} uses the @kbd{locate}
program to add files matching a pattern.  Use @kbd{M-x
file-cache-clear-cache} to remove all items from the cache and @kbd{M-x
file-cache-delete-regexps} and similar functions to remove items from it
selectively.

@pindex locate
@findex locate
@findex locate-with-filter
@cindex file database (locate)
@vindex locate-command
@kbd{M-x locate} runs an interface to the @code{locate} program for
searching a pre-built database of file names; most Dired commands are
avilable for use on the result.  @xref{Top, , Overview, find, GNU
Findutils}.  @kbd{M-x locate-with-filter} is similar, but keeps only
lines matching a regular expression.  Customize the option
@code{locate-command} to use another program than the default, GNU
@code{locate}.

@c The Shadowfile package provides automatic file copying, allowing you to
@c keep identical copies of files in more than one place---possibly on
@c different machines.  When you save a file, it checks whether it is on
@c the list of files with `shadows', and if so, it tries to copy it when
@c you exit emacs (or use the @kbd{M-x shadow-copy-files} command).