comparison man/eshell.texi @ 32542:9b4c05d377c9

Fix markup and chapter structure of the document.

32541:97b47d019f1b

\input texinfo  @c -*-texinfo-*-

@c "@(#)$Name:  $:$Id: eshell.texi,v 1.1 2000/10/13 09:47:34 johnw Exp $"

@c Documentation for Eshell: The Emacs Shell.
@c Copyright (C) 1999-2000  Free Software Foundation, Inc.

@c This file is part of GNU Emacs

@c %**start of header
@setfilename ../info/eshell
@settitle Eshell: The Emacs Shell
@c %**end of header

@c @dircategory Emacs
@direntry
* Eshell: (eshell).	A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
@end direntry
@setchapternewpage on
     

except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' and this
permission notice may be included in translations approved by the Free
Software Foundation instead of in the original English.
@end titlepage

@c ================================================================
@c                   The real text starts here
@c ================================================================

@node Top, What is Eshell?, (dir), (dir)

@c This manual is updated to release 2.3.2 of Eshell.
@end ifinfo

@menu
* What is Eshell?::             A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
* Bugs and ideas::              
@end menu

@node What is Eshell?, Bugs and ideas, Top, Top
@chapter What is Eshell?
@cindex What is Eshell?

Eshell is a command shell written using Emacs Lisp.  All of what it does
it uses Emacs' facilities to do.  This means Eshell is as portable as
Emacs itself.  It also means that cooperation with other Lisp code is
natural and seamless.

So what is a command shell?  To properly understand the role of a shell,

do---or give it ``commands''.  These commands take many forms, such as
clicking with a mouse on certain parts of the screen.  But that is only
one form of command input.

By far the most versatile way to express what you want the computer to
do is using an abbreviated language, called script.  In script, instead
of telling the computer, ``list my files, please'', we write just
``list''.  In fact, this command is so commonly used that we abbreviate
it to ``ls''.  Typing @code{ls} in a command shell is a script way of
telling the computer to list your files.  This is comparable to viewing
the contents of a folder using a graphical display.

The real flexibility is apparent only when you realize that there are
many, many ways to list your files.  Perhaps you want them sorted by

As of Emacs 21, Eshell is part of the standard Emacs distribution.

@menu
* Contributors to Eshell::      
* Installation::                
@end menu

@node Contributors to Eshell, Installation, What is Eshell?, What is Eshell?
@section Contributors to Eshell
@cindex Contributors
@cindex Authors

Contributions to Eshell are welcome.  I have limited time to work on
this project, but I will gladly add any code you contribute to me to
this package.

Alex Schroeder contributed code for interactively querying the user
before overwriting files.@refill

@item
Sudish Joseph helped with some XEmacs compatibility issues.@refill

@end itemize

Apart from these, a lot of people have sent suggestions, ideas,
requests, bug reports and encouragement.  Thanks a lot!  Without you
there would be no new releases of Eshell.

@node Installation,  , Contributors to Eshell, What is Eshell?
@section Installation
@cindex Installation

As mentioned above, Eshell comes preinstalled since Emacs 21.  If you're
using Emacs 20.4 or later, or XEmacs 21, you can download the most
recent version of Eshell from
@url{http://www.gci-net.com/users/j/johnw/Emacs/eshell.tar.gz}.

If you are using Emacs 21, please skip this section.

@subsection Short Form

Here's exactly what to do, with no explanation why:

@enumerate
@item @samp{M-x load-file RET eshell-auto.el RET}
@item @samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Eshell resides>") RET}
@item @samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Pcomplete resides>") RET}
@item @samp{M-x eshell RET}

You should see a version banner displayed.

@item @samp{ls RET}

Confirm that you see a file listing.

@item @samp{eshell-test RET}

Confirm that everything runs correctly.  Use `M-x eshell-report-bug' if
not.

@item @samp{cd $@{dirname (locate-library "eshell-auto")@} RET}
@item @samp{find-file Makefile RET}
@item Edit the Makefile to reflect your site.
@item @samp{M-x eshell RET}
@item @samp{make install RET}
@item @samp{find-file $user-init-file RET}
@item Add the following lines to your @file{.emacs} file:

@example
(add-to-list 'load-path "<directory where you install Eshell>")
(load "eshell-auto")
@end example

@item @samp{M-x eshell RET}
@item @samp{customize-option #'eshell-modules-list RET}
@item Select the extension modules you prefer.
@item Restart Emacs!
@item @samp{M-x info RET m Eshell RET}

Read the manual and enjoy!
@end enumerate

@subsection Long Form

@enumerate
@item
Before building and installing Eshell, it is important to test that it
will work properly on your system.  To do this, first load
@file{eshell-auto}, which will define certain autoloads required to run
Eshell.  This can be done using the command @kbd{M-x load-file}, and
then selecting the file @file{eshell-auto.el}.

@item

Start Eshell from the distributed sources, using default settings, by
typing @kbd{M-x eshell}.

@item
Verify that Eshell is functional by typing @command{ls} followed by
@kbd{RET}.  You should have already seen a version banner announcing the
version number of this release, followed by a prompt.

@item
Run the test suite by typing @command{eshell-test} followed by @kbd{RET}
in the Eshell buffer.  It is important that Emacs be left alone while
the tests are running, since extraneous command input may cause some of
the tests to fail (they were never intended to run in the background).
If all of the tests pass, Eshell should work just fine on your system.
If any of the tests fail, please send e-mail to the Eshell maintainer

site.  The only things you really have to change are the definitions of
@code{lispdir} and @code{infodir}.  The elisp files will be copied to
@code{lispdir}, and the info file to @code{infodir}.

@item
Type @code{make install} in the directory containing the Eshell sources.
This will byte-compile all of the @file{.el} files and copy both the
source and compiled versions to the directories specified in the
previous step.  It will also copy the info file, and add a corresponding
entry to your @file{dir} file----if @file{install-info} can be found.

If you only want to create the compiled elisp files, but don't want to
install them, you can type just @command{make} instead.

@item
Add the directory into which Eshell was installed to your
@code{load-path} variable.  This can be done by adding the following
line to your @file{.emacs} file:

@item
Restart Emacs.  After restarting, customize the variable
@code{eshell-modules-list}.  This variable selects which Eshell
extension modules you want to use.  You will find documentation on each
of those modules in the Info manual.

@end enumerate

If you have @TeX{} installed at your site, you can make a typeset manual
from @file{eshell.texi}.

@enumerate
@item
Run @TeX{} by typing @samp{texi2dvi eshell.texi}.
@item
Convert the resulting device independent file @file{eshell.dvi} to a
form which your printer can output and print it.  If you have a
postscript printer there is a program, @code{dvi2ps}, which does.  There
is also a program which comes together with @TeX{}, @code{dvips}, which
you can use.
@end enumerate

@c @node Forming commands, Known problems, What is Eshell?, Top
@c @chapter Forming commands

@c different forms.  There are textual arguments, numeric arguments,
@c even Lisp arguments.  Distinguishing among these different types of
@c arguments requires some special typing, because the computer needs
@c very specific directions to understand what you mean.

@node Bugs and ideas,  , What is Eshell?, Top
@chapter Bugs and ideas
@cindex Reporting bugs and ideas
@cindex Bugs, how to report them
@cindex Author, how to reach
@cindex Email to the author
@cindex Known bugs
@cindex Bugs, known
@cindex FAQ
@cindex Problems, list of common

If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to let me know!  Send
email to @samp{johnw@@gnu.org}.  Feature requests should also be sent
there.  I prefer discussing one thing at a time.  If you find several
unrelated bugs, please report them separately.

If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
extensions to this package, I would like to hear from you.  I hope you

* Known problems::              
@end menu

@node Known problems,  , Bugs and ideas, Bugs and ideas
@section Known problems

Below is a partial list of currently known problems with Eshell version
2.3.2, which is the version distribution with Emacs 21.1.

@table @asis
@item @samp{for i in 1 2 3 @{ grep -q a b && *echo has it @} | wc -l} fails

In fact, piping to a process from a looping construct doesn't work in

structured command thing is too complicated at present.

@item Error with @command{bc} in @code{eshell-test}

On some XEmacs system, the subprocess interaction test fails
inexplicably, since @command{bc} works fine at the command prompt.

@item @command{ls} in remote directories sometimes fails

For XEmacs users, using @command{ls} in a remote directory sometimes
fails.  The reason why has not yet been found.

In XEmacs 21.1.8, the @file{*Help*} buffer has been renamed such that
multiple instances of the @file{*Help*} buffer can exist.

@item Pcomplete sometimes gets stuck

When @kbd{TAB}, no completions appear, even though the directory has
them.  This behavior is rare.

@item @samp{grep python $<rpm -qa>} doesn't work, but using @samp{*grep} does

This happens because the @code{grep} Lisp function returns immediately,
and then the asynchronous @command{grep} process expects to examine the

@c doesn't show me anything.
@c @item M-RET during a long command doesn't quite work
@c Since it keeps the cursor up where the command was invoked.
@end table

@unnumbered Function and Variable Index

@printindex fn

@unnumbered Concept Index

@printindex cp

@unnumbered Key Index

@printindex ky

@setchapternewpage odd
@summarycontents
@contents
@bye

32542:9b4c05d377c9

\input texinfo  @c -*-texinfo-*-

@c "@(#)$Name:  $:$Id: eshell.texi,v 1.2 2000/10/13 10:32:23 johnw Exp $"

@c Documentation for Eshell: The Emacs Shell.
@c Copyright (C) 1999-2000  Free Software Foundation, Inc.

@c This file is part of GNU Emacs

@c %**start of header
@setfilename ../info/eshell
@settitle Eshell: The Emacs Shell
@c %**end of header

@dircategory Emacs
@direntry
* Eshell: (eshell).	A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
@end direntry
@setchapternewpage on
     

except that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' and this
permission notice may be included in translations approved by the Free
Software Foundation instead of in the original English.
@end titlepage

@contents

@c ================================================================
@c                   The real text starts here
@c ================================================================

@node Top, What is Eshell?, (dir), (dir)

@c This manual is updated to release 2.3.2 of Eshell.
@end ifinfo

@menu
* What is Eshell?::             A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
* Installation::                
* Bugs and ideas::              
* Concept Index::
* Function and Variable Index::
* Key Index::
@end menu

@node What is Eshell?, Installation, Top, Top
@chapter What is Eshell?
@cindex what is Eshell?
@cindex Eshell, what it is

Eshell is a @dfn{command shell} written using Emacs Lisp.  All of what it does
it uses Emacs' facilities to do.  This means Eshell is as portable as
Emacs itself.  It also means that cooperation with other Lisp code is
natural and seamless.

So what is a command shell?  To properly understand the role of a shell,

do---or give it ``commands''.  These commands take many forms, such as
clicking with a mouse on certain parts of the screen.  But that is only
one form of command input.

By far the most versatile way to express what you want the computer to
do is using an abbreviated language, called @dfn{a script}.  In a
script, instead
of telling the computer, ``list my files, please'', we write just
``list''.  In fact, this command is so commonly used that we abbreviate
it to ``ls''.  Typing @kbd{ls} in a command shell is a script way of
telling the computer to list your files.  This is comparable to viewing
the contents of a folder using a graphical display.

The real flexibility is apparent only when you realize that there are
many, many ways to list your files.  Perhaps you want them sorted by

As of Emacs 21, Eshell is part of the standard Emacs distribution.

@menu
* Contributors to Eshell::      
@end menu

@node Contributors to Eshell, , What is Eshell?, What is Eshell?
@section Contributors to Eshell
@cindex contributors
@cindex authors

Contributions to Eshell are welcome.  I have limited time to work on
this project, but I will gladly add any code you contribute to me to
this package.

Alex Schroeder contributed code for interactively querying the user
before overwriting files.@refill

@item
Sudish Joseph helped with some XEmacs compatibility issues.@refill
@end itemize

Apart from these, a lot of people have sent suggestions, ideas,
requests, bug reports and encouragement.  Thanks a lot!  Without you
there would be no new releases of Eshell.

@node Installation,  Bugs and ideas, What is Eshell?, Top
@chapter Installation
@cindex installation

As mentioned above, Eshell comes preinstalled since Emacs 21.  If you're
using Emacs 20.4 or later, or XEmacs 21, you can download the most
recent version of Eshell from
@url{http://www.gci-net.com/users/j/johnw/Emacs/eshell.tar.gz}.

If you are using Emacs 21, please skip this section.

@section Short Form

Here's exactly what to do, with no explanation why:

@enumerate
@item
@samp{M-x load-file RET eshell-auto.el RET}.

@item
@samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Eshell resides>") RET}.

@item
@samp{ESC : (add-to-list 'load-path "<path where Pcomplete resides>") RET}.

@item
@samp{M-x eshell RET}.

You should see a version banner displayed.

@item
@samp{ls RET}.

Confirm that you see a file listing.

@item
@samp{eshell-test RET}.

Confirm that everything runs correctly.  Use @kbd{M-x eshell-report-bug} if
not.

@item
@samp{cd $@{dirname (locate-library "eshell-auto")@} RET}.

@item
@samp{find-file Makefile RET}.

@item
Edit the Makefile to reflect your site.

@item
@samp{M-x eshell RET}.

@item
@samp{make install RET}.

@item
@samp{find-file $user-init-file RET}.

@item
Add the following lines to your @file{.emacs} file:

@example
(add-to-list 'load-path "<directory where you install Eshell>")
(load "eshell-auto")
@end example

@item
@samp{M-x eshell RET}.

@item
@samp{customize-option #'eshell-modules-list RET}.

@item
Select the extension modules you prefer.

@item
Restart Emacs!

@item
@samp{M-x info RET m Eshell RET}.

Read the manual and enjoy!
@end enumerate

@section Long Form

@enumerate
@item
Before building and installing Eshell, it is important to test that it
will work properly on your system.  To do this, first load the file
@file{eshell-auto}, which will define certain autoloads required to run
Eshell.  This can be done using the command @kbd{M-x load-file}, and
then selecting the file @file{eshell-auto.el}.

@item

Start Eshell from the distributed sources, using default settings, by
typing @kbd{M-x eshell}.

@item
Verify that Eshell is functional by typing @command{ls} followed by
@key{RET}.  You should have already seen a version banner announcing the
version number of this release, followed by a prompt.

@item
Run the test suite by typing @command{eshell-test} followed by @key{RET}
in the Eshell buffer.  It is important that Emacs be left alone while
the tests are running, since extraneous command input may cause some of
the tests to fail (they were never intended to run in the background).
If all of the tests pass, Eshell should work just fine on your system.
If any of the tests fail, please send e-mail to the Eshell maintainer

site.  The only things you really have to change are the definitions of
@code{lispdir} and @code{infodir}.  The elisp files will be copied to
@code{lispdir}, and the info file to @code{infodir}.

@item
Type @kbd{make install} in the directory containing the Eshell sources.
This will byte-compile all of the @file{*.el} files and copy both the
source and compiled versions to the directories specified in the
previous step.  It will also copy the info file, and add a corresponding
entry to your @file{dir} file----if the program @code{install-info} can
be found on your system.

If you only want to create the compiled elisp files, but don't want to
install them, you can type just @kbd{make} instead.

@item
Add the directory into which Eshell was installed to your
@code{load-path} variable.  This can be done by adding the following
line to your @file{.emacs} file:

@item
Restart Emacs.  After restarting, customize the variable
@code{eshell-modules-list}.  This variable selects which Eshell
extension modules you want to use.  You will find documentation on each
of those modules in the Info manual.
@end enumerate

@cindex documentation, printed version
@cindex printed version of documentation
If you have @TeX{} installed at your site, you can make a typeset manual
from @file{eshell.texi}.

@enumerate
@item
Run @TeX{} by typing @kbd{texi2dvi eshell.texi}.  (With Emacs 21.1 or
later, typing @kbd{make eshell.dvi} in the @file{man/} subdirectory of
the Emacs source distribution will do that.)

@item
Convert the resulting device independent file @file{eshell.dvi} to a
form which your printer can output and print it.  If you have a
postscript printer, there is a program, @code{dvi2ps}, which does that; there
is also a program which comes together with @TeX{}, @code{dvips}, which
you can use.  For other printers, use a suitable DVI driver,
e.g., @code{dvilj4} for LaserJet-compatible printers.
@end enumerate

@c @node Forming commands, Known problems, What is Eshell?, Top
@c @chapter Forming commands

@c different forms.  There are textual arguments, numeric arguments,
@c even Lisp arguments.  Distinguishing among these different types of
@c arguments requires some special typing, because the computer needs
@c very specific directions to understand what you mean.

@node Bugs and ideas,  Concept Index, Installation, Top
@chapter Bugs and ideas
@cindex reporting bugs and ideas
@cindex bugs, how to report them
@cindex author, how to reach
@cindex email to the author
@cindex FAQ
@cindex problems, list of common

If you find a bug or misfeature, don't hesitate to let me know!  Send
email to @email{johnw@@gnu.org}.  Feature requests should also be sent
there.  I prefer discussing one thing at a time.  If you find several
unrelated bugs, please report them separately.

If you have ideas for improvements, or if you have written some
extensions to this package, I would like to hear from you.  I hope you

* Known problems::              
@end menu

@node Known problems,  , Bugs and ideas, Bugs and ideas
@section Known problems
@cindex known bugs
@cindex bugs, known

Below is a partial list of currently known problems with Eshell version
2.3.2, which is the version distributed with Emacs 21.1.

@table @asis
@item @samp{for i in 1 2 3 @{ grep -q a b && *echo has it @} | wc -l} fails

In fact, piping to a process from a looping construct doesn't work in

structured command thing is too complicated at present.

@item Error with @command{bc} in @code{eshell-test}

On some XEmacs system, the subprocess interaction test fails
inexplicably, although @command{bc} works fine at the command prompt.

@item @command{ls} in remote directories sometimes fails

For XEmacs users, using @command{ls} in a remote directory sometimes
fails.  The reason why has not yet been found.

In XEmacs 21.1.8, the @file{*Help*} buffer has been renamed such that
multiple instances of the @file{*Help*} buffer can exist.

@item Pcomplete sometimes gets stuck

You press @key{TAB}, but no completions appear, even though the
directory has matching files.  This behavior is rare.

@item @samp{grep python $<rpm -qa>} doesn't work, but using @samp{*grep} does

This happens because the @code{grep} Lisp function returns immediately,
and then the asynchronous @command{grep} process expects to examine the

@c doesn't show me anything.
@c @item M-RET during a long command doesn't quite work
@c Since it keeps the cursor up where the command was invoked.
@end table

@node Concept Index, Function and Variable Index, Bugs and ideas, Top
@unnumbered Concept Index

@printindex cp

@node Function and Variable Index, Key Index, Concept Index, Top
@unnumbered Function and Variable Index

@printindex fn

@node Key Index, , Function and Variable Index, Top
@unnumbered Key Index

@printindex ky
@bye