comparison man/trouble.texi @ 90294:c5406394f567

Revision: [e-mail]/emacs--unicode--0--patch-13 Merge from emacs--devo--0 Patches applied: * emacs--devo--0 (patch 43-57) - Update from CVS - Merge from erc--emacs--0 - Make constrain-to-field notice overlays - Merge from gnus--rel--5.10 * gnus--rel--5.10 (patch 18-21) - Update from CVS - Merge from emacs--devo--0

90293:275e0a144c1d

@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002,
@c   2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@iftex
@chapter Dealing with Common Problems

  If you type an Emacs command you did not intend, the results are often

last character that you typed.  We call this key @dfn{the usual
erasure key}.  In Emacs, it is supposed to be equivalent to @key{DEL},
and when Emacs is properly configured for your terminal, it translates
that key into the character @key{DEL}.

  When Emacs starts up using a window system, it determines
automatically which key should be @key{DEL}.  In some unusual cases
Emacs gets the wrong information from the system.  If the usual
erasure key deletes forwards instead of backwards, that is probably
what happened---Emacs ought to be treating the @key{DELETE} key as
@key{DEL}, but it isn't.

  With a window system, if the usual erasure key is labeled
@key{BACKSPACE} and there is a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere, but the
@key{DELETE} key deletes backward instead of forward, that too
suggests Emacs got the wrong information---but in the opposite sense.
It ought to be treating the @key{BACKSPACE} key as @key{DEL}, and
treating @key{DELETE} differently, but it isn't.

customize the variable @code{normal-erase-is-backspace}: the value
@code{t} specifies the mode where @key{BS} or @key{BACKSPACE} is
@key{DEL}, and @code{nil} specifies the other mode.  @xref{Easy
Customization}.

  With a window system, it can also happen that the usual erasure key
is labeled @key{BACKSPACE}, there is a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere, and
both keys delete forward.  This probably means that someone has
redefined your @key{BACKSPACE} key as a @key{DELETE} key.  With X,
this is typically done with a command to the @code{xmodmap} program
when you start the server or log in.  The most likely motive for this

@node Stuck Recursive
@subsection Recursive Editing Levels

  Recursive editing levels are important and useful features of Emacs, but
they can seem like malfunctions to the user who does not understand them.

  If the mode line has square brackets @samp{[@dots{}]} around the parentheses
that contain the names of the major and minor modes, you have entered a
recursive editing level.  If you did not do this on purpose, or if you
don't understand what that means, you should just get out of the recursive

90294:c5406394f567

@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002,
@c   2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@iftex
@chapter Dealing with Common Problems

  If you type an Emacs command you did not intend, the results are often

last character that you typed.  We call this key @dfn{the usual
erasure key}.  In Emacs, it is supposed to be equivalent to @key{DEL},
and when Emacs is properly configured for your terminal, it translates
that key into the character @key{DEL}.

  When Emacs starts up on a graphical display, it determines
automatically which key should be @key{DEL}.  In some unusual cases
Emacs gets the wrong information from the system.  If the usual
erasure key deletes forwards instead of backwards, that is probably
what happened---Emacs ought to be treating the @key{DELETE} key as
@key{DEL}, but it isn't.

  On a graphical display, if the usual erasure key is labeled
@key{BACKSPACE} and there is a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere, but the
@key{DELETE} key deletes backward instead of forward, that too
suggests Emacs got the wrong information---but in the opposite sense.
It ought to be treating the @key{BACKSPACE} key as @key{DEL}, and
treating @key{DELETE} differently, but it isn't.

customize the variable @code{normal-erase-is-backspace}: the value
@code{t} specifies the mode where @key{BS} or @key{BACKSPACE} is
@key{DEL}, and @code{nil} specifies the other mode.  @xref{Easy
Customization}.

  On a graphical display, it can also happen that the usual erasure key
is labeled @key{BACKSPACE}, there is a @key{DELETE} key elsewhere, and
both keys delete forward.  This probably means that someone has
redefined your @key{BACKSPACE} key as a @key{DELETE} key.  With X,
this is typically done with a command to the @code{xmodmap} program
when you start the server or log in.  The most likely motive for this

@node Stuck Recursive
@subsection Recursive Editing Levels

  Recursive editing levels are important and useful features of Emacs, but
they can seem like malfunctions if you do not understand them.

  If the mode line has square brackets @samp{[@dots{}]} around the parentheses
that contain the names of the major and minor modes, you have entered a
recursive editing level.  If you did not do this on purpose, or if you
don't understand what that means, you should just get out of the recursive