Mercurial > emacs
diff man/faq.texi @ 90317:34c8b755296d
Revision: emacs@sv.gnu.org/emacs--unicode--0--patch-23
Merge from emacs--devo--0
Patches applied:
* emacs--devo--0 (patch 113-118)
- Update from CVS
- Merge from gnus--rel--5.10
* gnus--rel--5.10 (patch 38-39)
- Update from CVS
author | Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org> |
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date | Fri, 24 Feb 2006 08:08:56 +0000 |
parents | d1c5430c5bff 1c9e76acce59 |
children | e6bf73e43cf4 |
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--- a/man/faq.texi Fri Feb 24 06:32:18 2006 +0000 +++ b/man/faq.texi Fri Feb 24 08:08:56 2006 +0000 @@ -423,14 +423,17 @@ archive is not particularly well organized or easy to retrieve individual postings from, but pretty much everything is there. -The archive is at @uref{ftp://ftp-mailing-list-archives.gnu.org}. +The archive is at @uref{ftp://lists.gnu.org/}. The archive can be browsed over the web at -@uref{http://mail.gnu.org/archive/html/, the GNU mail archive}. +@uref{http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/, the GNU mail archive}. Web-based Usenet search services, such as -@uref{http://groups.google.com, Google}, also archive the -@code{gnu.*} groups. +@uref{http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?sel=33592484, Google}, also +archive the @code{gnu.*} groups. + +You can read the archives of the @code{gnu.*} groups and post new +messages at @uref{http://gmane.org/, Gmane}. @node Reporting bugs, Unsubscribing from Emacs lists, Newsgroup archives, General questions @section Where should I report bugs and other problems with Emacs? @@ -439,16 +442,19 @@ @cindex How to submit a bug report @cindex Reporting bugs -The correct way to report Emacs bugs is by e-mail to -@email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}. Anything sent here also appears in the +The correct way to report Emacs bugs is to use the command +@kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug}. It sets up a mail buffer with the +essential information and the correct e-mail address which is +@email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} for the released versions of Emacs. +Anything sent to @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} also appears in the newsgroup @uref{news:gnu.emacs.bug}, but please use e-mail instead of news to submit the bug report. This ensures a reliable return address so you can be contacted for further details. Be sure to read the ``Bugs'' section of the Emacs manual before reporting -a bug to bug-gnu-emacs! The manual describes in detail how to submit a -useful bug report. (@xref{On-line manual}, if you don't know how to read the -manual.) +a bug! The manual describes in detail how to submit a useful bug +report (@pxref{Bugs, , Reporting Bugs, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). +(@xref{On-line manual}, if you don't know how to read the manual.) RMS says: @@ -674,6 +680,10 @@ @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/emacs.html} +The manual is available in other formats at + +@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/} + @xref{Learning how to do something}, for how to view the manual on-line. @node Emacs Lisp documentation, Installing Texinfo documentation, Getting a printed manual, Getting help @@ -763,12 +773,19 @@ @itemize @bullet @item -Info files don't actually need to be installed before being used. You -can feed a file name to the @code{Info-goto-node} command (invoked by -pressing @key{g} in Info mode) by typing the name of the file in -parentheses. This goes to the node named ``Top'' in that file. For -example, to view a Info file named @file{@var{info-file}} in your home -directory, you can type this: +Info files don't actually need to be installed before being used. +You can use a prefix argument for the @code{info} command and specify +the name of the Info file in the minibuffer. This goes to the node +named @samp{Top} in that file. For example, to view a Info file named +@file{@var{info-file}} in your home directory, you can type this: + +@example +@kbd{C-u C-h i ~/@var{info-file} @key{RET}} +@end example + +Alternatively, you can feed a file name to the @code{Info-goto-node} +command (invoked by pressing @key{g} in Info mode) by typing the name +of the file in parentheses, like this: @example @kbd{C-h i g (~/@var{info-file}) @key{RET}} @@ -1074,7 +1091,7 @@ Emacs @value{VER} is the current version as of this writing. -@node New in Emacs 20, New in Emacs 21, Latest version of Emacs, Status of Emacs +@node New in Emacs 20, New in Emacs 21, Latest version of Emacs, Status of Emacs @section What is different about Emacs 20? @cindex Differences between Emacs 19 and Emacs 20 @cindex Emacs 20, new features in @@ -1122,7 +1139,7 @@ that you can now have colors when you run Emacs on a GNU/Linux console and on @code{xterm} with @kbd{emacs -nw}. -@node New in Emacs 22, , New in Emacs 21, Status of Emacs +@node New in Emacs 22, , New in Emacs 21, Status of Emacs @section What is different about Emacs 22? @cindex Differences between Emacs 21 and Emacs 22 @cindex Emacs 22, new features in @@ -1163,19 +1180,20 @@ @menu * Setting up a customization file:: * Using Customize:: +* Colors on a TTY:: * Debugging a customization file:: -* Colors on a TTY:: * 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:: +* Highlighting a region:: +* Replacing highlighted text:: +* Controlling case sensitivity:: * Working with unprintable characters:: -* Highlighting a region:: -* Controlling case sensitivity:: -* Wrapping words automatically:: * 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:: @@ -1196,7 +1214,6 @@ * 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:: @@ -1209,7 +1226,6 @@ * 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:: @@ -1387,7 +1403,7 @@ (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 +@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 @@ -1406,30 +1422,7 @@ 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 +@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 @@ -1459,7 +1452,81 @@ 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 +@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 @@ -1507,65 +1574,7 @@ 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. (Also see @ref{Turning on syntax -highlighting}.) - -@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 +@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 @@ -1581,7 +1590,7 @@ Use @kbd{M-y}. @inforef{Isearch Yank, Isearch Yanking, emacs}. -@node Wrapping words automatically, Spell-checkers, Yanking text in isearch, Common requests +@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 @@ -1595,7 +1604,30 @@ @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 +@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 @@ -1845,6 +1877,10 @@ automatically scrolls the display horizontally when point moves off the left or right edge of the window. +Note that this is overridden by the variable +@code{truncate-partial-width-windows} if that variable is non-nil +and the current buffer is not full-frame width. + In Emacs 20, use the @code{hscroll-mode}. Here is some information from the documentation, available by typing @kbd{C-h f hscroll-mode @key{RET}}: @@ -2035,14 +2071,11 @@ 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 +@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 -(@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. @@ -2054,12 +2087,14 @@ 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}.) +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)? @@ -2158,35 +2193,26 @@ 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). - -@node Underlining paragraphs, Repeating a command as many times as possible, Inserting text at the beginning of each line, Common requests +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 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 +@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 -@kbd{M-x picture-mode}. +Use @kbd{M-x picture-mode}. + +See also the variable @code{track-eol} and the command +@code{set-goal-column} bound to @kbd{C-x C-n} +(@pxref{Moving Point, , , emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). @node Forcing Emacs to iconify itself, Using regular expressions, Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column, Common requests @section How do I tell Emacs to iconify itself? @@ -2240,8 +2266,8 @@ files mentioned in the @file{TAGS} file. @inforef{Tags Search, Tags Search, emacs}. -As of Emacs 19.29, Dired mode (@kbd{M-x dired @key{RET}}, or @kbd{C-x -d}) supports the command @code{dired-do-query-replace}, which allows +As of Emacs 19.29, Dired mode (@kbd{M-x dired @key{RET}}, or @kbd{C-x d}) +supports the command @code{dired-do-query-replace} (@kbd{Q}), which allows users to replace regular expressions in multiple files. @node Documentation for etags, Disabling backups, Replacing text across multiple files, Common requests @@ -2537,7 +2563,7 @@ 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 +@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 @@ -2553,32 +2579,7 @@ (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 +@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 @@ -2601,7 +2602,7 @@ and saved, allowing you to ignore the different conventions that Unix and MS-DOS have for delineating the end of a line. -@node Filling paragraphs with a single space, Escape sequences in shell output, Editing MS-DOS files, Common requests +@node Filling paragraphs with a single space, Escape sequences in shell output, Editing MS-DOS files, Common requests @section How can I tell Emacs to fill paragraphs with a single space after each period? @cindex One space following periods @cindex Single space following periods @@ -2613,7 +2614,7 @@ (setq sentence-end-double-space nil) @end lisp -@node Escape sequences in shell output, , Filling paragraphs with a single space, Common requests +@node Escape sequences in shell output, , Filling paragraphs with a single space, Common requests @section Why these strange escape sequences from @code{ls} from the Shell mode? @cindex Escape sequences in @code{ls} output @cindex @code{ls} in Shell mode @@ -3478,7 +3479,8 @@ 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. +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}. @@ -3489,6 +3491,9 @@ @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 @@ -3715,7 +3720,7 @@ Up-to-date information about GNU software (including Emacs) for VMS is available at @uref{http://vms.gnu.org/}. -@node Modes for various languages, , Emacs for VMS and DECwindows, Finding Emacs and related packages +@node Modes for various languages, , Emacs for VMS and DECwindows, Finding Emacs and related packages @section Where can I get modes for Lex, Yacc/Bison, Bourne shell, csh, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Pascal, Java, and Awk? @cindex Awk, mode for @cindex @code{awk-mode} @@ -4782,7 +4787,7 @@ This will disable the use of the extra keysyms systemwide, which may be undesirable if you actually intend to use them. -@node SPC no longer completes file names, , ExtendChar key does not work as Meta, Key bindings +@node SPC no longer completes file names, , ExtendChar key does not work as Meta, Key bindings @section Why doesn't SPC complete file names anymore? @cindex @kbd{SPC} file name completion