@c This is part of the Emacs manual.@c Copyright (C) 1985,86,87,93,94,95,97,2000,2001@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.@node Dired, Calendar/Diary, Rmail, Top@chapter Dired, the Directory Editor@cindex Dired@cindex file management Dired makes an Emacs buffer containing a listing of a directory, andoptionally some of its subdirectories as well. You can use the normalEmacs commands to move around in this buffer, and special Dired commandsto operate on the files listed. The Dired buffer is ``read-only,'' and inserting text in it is notuseful, so ordinary printing characters such as @kbd{d} and @kbd{x} areused for special Dired commands. Some Dired commands @dfn{mark} or@dfn{flag} the @dfn{current file} (that is, the file on the currentline); other commands operate on the marked files or on the flaggedfiles. The Dired-X package provides various extra features for Dired mode.@xref{Top, Dired-X,,dired-x, Dired Extra Version 2 User's Manual}.@menu* Enter: Dired Enter. How to invoke Dired.* Navigation: Dired Navigation. Special motion commands in the Dired buffer.* Deletion: Dired Deletion. Deleting files with Dired.* Flagging Many Files:: Flagging files based on their names.* Visit: Dired Visiting. Other file operations through Dired.* Marks vs Flags:: Flagging for deletion vs marking.* Operating on Files:: How to copy, rename, print, compress, etc. either one file or several files.* Shell Commands in Dired:: Running a shell command on the marked files.* Transforming File Names:: Using patterns to rename multiple files.* Comparison in Dired:: Running `diff' by way of Dired.* Subdirectories in Dired:: Adding subdirectories to the Dired buffer.* Subdirectory Motion:: Moving across subdirectories, and up and down.* Hiding Subdirectories:: Making subdirectories visible or invisible.* Updating: Dired Updating. Discarding lines for files of no interest.* Find: Dired and Find. Using `find' to choose the files for Dired.@end menu@node Dired Enter@section Entering Dired@findex dired@kindex C-x d@vindex dired-listing-switches To invoke Dired, do @kbd{C-x d} or @kbd{M-x dired}. The command readsa directory name or wildcard file name pattern as a minibuffer argumentto specify which files to list. Where @code{dired} differs from@code{list-directory} is in putting the buffer into Dired mode so thatthe special commands of Dired are available. The variable @code{dired-listing-switches} specifies the options togive to @code{ls} for listing directory; this string @emph{must} contain@samp{-l}. If you use a numeric prefix argument with the @code{dired}command, you can specify the @code{ls} switches with the minibufferbefore you enter the directory specification.@findex dired-other-window@kindex C-x 4 d@findex dired-other-frame@kindex C-x 5 d To display the Dired buffer in another window rather than in theselected window, use @kbd{C-x 4 d} (@code{dired-other-window}) insteadof @kbd{C-x d}. @kbd{C-x 5 d} (@code{dired-other-frame}) uses aseparate frame to display the Dired buffer.@node Dired Navigation@section Navigation in the Dired Buffer@kindex C-n @r{(Dired)}@kindex C-p @r{(Dired)} All the usual Emacs cursor motion commands are available in Diredbuffers. Some special-purpose cursor motion commands are alsoprovided. The keys @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} are redefined to put thecursor at the beginning of the file name on the line, rather than at thebeginning of the line.@kindex SPC @r{(Dired)} For extra convenience, @key{SPC} and @kbd{n} in Dired are equivalentto @kbd{C-n}. @kbd{p} is equivalent to @kbd{C-p}. (Moving by lines isso common in Dired that it deserves to be easy to type.) @key{DEL}(move up and unflag) is often useful simply for moving up. Some additional navigation commands are available when the Diredbuffer includes several directories. @xref{Subdirectory Motion}.@node Dired Deletion@section Deleting Files with Dired@cindex flagging files (in Dired)@cindex deleting files (in Dired) One of the most frequent uses of Dired is to first @dfn{flag} files fordeletion, then delete the files that were flagged.@table @kbd@item dFlag this file for deletion.@item uRemove deletion flag on this line.@item @key{DEL}Move point to previous line and remove the deletion flag on that line.@item xDelete the files that are flagged for deletion.@end table@kindex d @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-flag-file-deletion You can flag a file for deletion by moving to the line describing thefile and typing @kbd{d} (@code{dired-flag-file-deletion}). The deletion flag is visible as a @samp{D} atthe beginning of the line. This command moves point to the next line,so that repeated @kbd{d} commands flag successive files. A numericargument serves as a repeat count.@cindex recursive deletion@vindex dired-recursive-deletes The variable @code{dired-recursive-deletes} controls whether thedelete command will delete non-empty directories (including theircontents). The default is to delete only empty directories.@kindex u @r{(Dired deletion)}@kindex DEL @r{(Dired)} The files are flagged for deletion rather than deleted immediately toreduce the danger of deleting a file accidentally. Until you directDired to delete the flagged files, you can remove deletion flags usingthe commands @kbd{u} and @key{DEL}. @kbd{u} (@code{dired-unmark}) worksjust like @kbd{d}, but removes flags rather than making flags.@key{DEL} (@code{dired-unmark-backward}) moves upward, removing flags;it is like @kbd{u} with argument @minus{}1.@kindex x @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-flagged-delete@cindex expunging (Dired) To delete the flagged files, type @kbd{x} (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}).(This is also known as @dfn{expunging}.)This command first displays a list of all the file names flagged fordeletion, and requests confirmation with @kbd{yes}. If you confirm,Dired deletes the flagged files, then deletes their lines from the textof the Dired buffer. The shortened Dired buffer remains selected. If you answer @kbd{no} or quit with @kbd{C-g} when asked to confirm, youreturn immediately to Dired, with the deletion flags still present inthe buffer, and no files actually deleted.@node Flagging Many Files@section Flagging Many Files at Once@cindex flagging many files for deletion (in Dired)@table @kbd@item #Flag all auto-save files (files whose names start and end with @samp{#})for deletion (@pxref{Auto Save}).@item ~Flag all backup files (files whose names end with @samp{~}) for deletion(@pxref{Backup}).@item &Flag for deletion all files with certain kinds of names, names thatsuggest you could easily create the files again.@item .@: @r{(Period)}Flag excess numeric backup files for deletion. The oldest and newestfew backup files of any one file are exempt; the middle ones areflagged.@item % d @var{regexp} @key{RET}Flag for deletion all files whose names match the regular expression@var{regexp}.@end table The @kbd{#}, @kbd{~}, @kbd{&}, and @kbd{.} commands flag many files fordeletion, based on their file names. These commands are usefulprecisely because they do not themselves delete any files; you canremove the deletion flags from any flagged files that you really wish tokeep.@refill@kindex & @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-flag-garbage-files@vindex dired-garbage-files-regexp@cindex deleting some backup files @kbd{&} (@code{dired-flag-garbage-files}) flags files whose namesmatch the regular expression specified by the variable@code{dired-garbage-files-regexp}. By default, this matches certainfiles produced by @TeX{}, @samp{.bak} files, and the @samp{.orig} and@samp{.rej} files produced by @code{patch}.@kindex # @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-flag-auto-save-files@cindex deleting auto-save files @kbd{#} (@code{dired-flag-auto-save-files}) flags for deletion allfiles whose names look like auto-save files (@pxref{Auto Save})---thatis, files whose names begin and end with @samp{#}.@kindex ~ @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-flag-backup-files @kbd{~} (@code{dired-flag-backup-files}) flags for deletion all fileswhose names say they are backup files (@pxref{Backup})---that is, fileswhose names end in @samp{~}.@kindex . @r{(Dired)}@vindex dired-kept-versions@findex dired-clean-directory @kbd{.} (period, @code{dired-clean-directory}) flags just some of thebackup files for deletion: all but the oldest few and newest few backupsof any one file. Normally @code{dired-kept-versions} (@strong{not}@code{kept-new-versions}; that applies only when saving) specifies thenumber of newest versions of each file to keep, and@code{kept-old-versions} specifies the number of oldest versions tokeep. Period with a positive numeric argument, as in @kbd{C-u 3 .},specifies the number of newest versions to keep, overriding@code{dired-kept-versions}. A negative numeric argument overrides@code{kept-old-versions}, using minus the value of the argument tospecify the number of oldest versions of each file to keep.@findex dired-flag-files-regexp@kindex % d @r{(Dired)} The @kbd{% d} command flags all files whose names match a specifiedregular expression (@code{dired-flag-files-regexp}). Only thenon-directory part of the file name is used in matching. You can use@samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. You can exclude subdirectoriesby hiding them (@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}).@node Dired Visiting@section Visiting Files in Dired There are several Dired commands for visiting or examining the fileslisted in the Dired buffer. All of them apply to the current line'sfile; if that file is really a directory, these commands invoke Dired onthat subdirectory (making a separate Dired buffer).@table @kbd@item f@kindex f @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-find-fileVisit the file described on the current line, like typing @kbd{C-x C-f}and supplying that file name (@code{dired-find-file}). @xref{Visiting}.@item @key{RET}@itemx e@kindex RET @r{(Dired)}@kindex e @r{(Dired)}Equivalent to @kbd{f}.@item a@kindex a @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-find-alternate-fileLike @kbd{f}, but replaces the contents of the Dired buffer withthat of an alternate file or directory (@code{dired-find-alternate-file}).@item o@kindex o @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-find-file-other-windowLike @kbd{f}, but uses another window to display the file's buffer(@code{dired-find-file-other-window}). The Dired buffer remains visiblein the first window. This is like using @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} to visit thefile. @xref{Windows}.@item C-o@kindex C-o @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-display-fileVisit the file described on the current line, and display the buffer inanother window, but do not select that window (@code{dired-display-file}).@item Mouse-2@findex dired-mouse-find-file-other-windowVisit the file named by the line you click on(@code{dired-mouse-find-file-other-window}). This uses another windowto display the file, like the @kbd{o} command.@item v@kindex v @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-view-fileView the file described on the current line, using @kbd{M-x view-file}(@code{dired-view-file}).Viewing a file is like visiting it, but is slanted toward moving aroundin the file conveniently and does not allow changing the file.@xref{Misc File Ops,View File, Miscellaneous File Operations}.@item ^@kindex ^ @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-up-directoryVisit the parent directory of the current directory(@code{dired-up-directory}). This is more convenient than moving tothe parent directory's line and typing @kbd{f} there.@end table@node Marks vs Flags@section Dired Marks vs. Flags@cindex marking many files (in Dired) Instead of flagging a file with @samp{D}, you can @dfn{mark} thefile with some other character (usually @samp{*}). Most Diredcommands to operate on files use the files marked with @samp{*}, theexception being @kbd{x} which deletes the flagged files. Here are some commands for marking with @samp{*}, or for unmarking oroperating on marks. (@xref{Dired Deletion}, for commands to flag andunflag files.)@table @kbd@item m@itemx * m@kindex m @r{(Dired)}@kindex * m @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-markMark the current file with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark}). With a numericargument @var{n}, mark the next @var{n} files starting with the currentfile. (If @var{n} is negative, mark the previous @minus{}@var{n}files.)@item * *@kindex * * @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-mark-executables@cindex marking executable files (in Dired)Mark all executable files with @samp{*}(@code{dired-mark-executables}). With a numeric argument, unmark allthose files.@item * @@@kindex * @@ @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-mark-symlinks@cindex marking symlinks (in Dired)Mark all symbolic links with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark-symlinks}).With a numeric argument, unmark all those files.@item * /@kindex * / @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-mark-directories@cindex marking subdirectories (in Dired)Mark with @samp{*} all files which are actually directories, except for@file{.} and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-directories}). With a numericargument, unmark all those files.@item * s@kindex * s @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-mark-subdir-filesMark all the files in the current subdirectory, aside from @file{.}and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-subdir-files}).@item u@itemx * u@kindex u @r{(Dired)}@kindex * u @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-unmarkRemove any mark on this line (@code{dired-unmark}).@item @key{DEL}@itemx * @key{DEL}@kindex * DEL @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-unmark-backward@cindex unmarking files (in Dired)Move point to previous line and remove any mark on that line(@code{dired-unmark-backward}).@item * !@kindex * ! @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-unmark-all-marksRemove all marks from all the files in this Dired buffer(@code{dired-unmark-all-marks}).@item * ? @var{markchar}@kindex * ? @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-unmark-all-filesRemove all marks that use the character @var{markchar}(@code{dired-unmark-all-files}). The argument is a singlecharacter---do not use @key{RET} to terminate it. See the descriptionof the @kbd{* c} command below, which lets you replace one markcharacter with another.With a numeric argument, this command queries about each marked file,asking whether to remove its mark. You can answer @kbd{y} meaning yes,@kbd{n} meaning no, or @kbd{!} to remove the marks from the remainingfiles without asking about them.@item * C-n@findex dired-next-marked-file@kindex * C-n @r{(Dired)}Move down to the next marked file (@code{dired-next-marked-file})A file is ``marked'' if it has any kind of mark.@item * C-p@findex dired-prev-marked-file@kindex * C-p @r{(Dired)}Move up to the previous marked file (@code{dired-prev-marked-file})@item * t@kindex * t @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-toggle@cindex toggling marks (in Dired)Toggle all marks (@code{dired-do-toggle}): files marked with @samp{*}become unmarked, and unmarked files are marked with @samp{*}. Filesmarked in any other way are not affected.@item * c @var{old-markchar} @var{new-markchar}@kindex * c @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-change-marksReplace all marks that use the character @var{old-markchar} with marksthat use the character @var{new-markchar} (@code{dired-change-marks}).This command is the primary way to create or use marks other than@samp{*} or @samp{D}. The arguments are single characters---do not use@key{RET} to terminate them.You can use almost any character as a mark character by means of thiscommand, to distinguish various classes of files. If @var{old-markchar}is a space (@samp{ }), then the command operates on all unmarked files;if @var{new-markchar} is a space, then the command unmarks the files itacts on.To illustrate the power of this command, here is how to put @samp{D}flags on all the files that have no marks, while unflagging all thosethat already have @samp{D} flags:@example* c D t * c SPC D * c t SPC@end exampleThis assumes that no files were already marked with @samp{t}.@item % m @var{regexp} @key{RET}@itemx * % @var{regexp} @key{RET}@findex dired-mark-files-regexp@kindex % m @r{(Dired)}@kindex * % @r{(Dired)}Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose names match the regular expression@var{regexp} (@code{dired-mark-files-regexp}). This command is like@kbd{% d}, except that it marks files with @samp{*} instead of flaggingwith @samp{D}. @xref{Flagging Many Files}.Only the non-directory part of the file name is used in matching. Use@samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. Exclude subdirectories byhiding them (@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}).@item % g @var{regexp} @key{RET}@findex dired-mark-files-containing-regexp@kindex % g @r{(Dired)}@cindex finding files containing regexp matches (in Dired)Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose @emph{contents} contain a match forthe regular expression @var{regexp}(@code{dired-mark-files-containing-regexp}). This command is like@kbd{% m}, except that it searches the file contents instead of the filename.@item C-_@kindex C-_ @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-undoUndo changes in the Dired buffer, such as adding or removingmarks (@code{dired-undo}). @emph{This command does not revert theactual file operations, nor recover lost files!} It just undoeschanges in the buffer itself. For example, if used after renaming oneor more files, @code{dired-undo} restores the original names, whichwill get the Dired buffer out of sync with the actual contents of thedirectory.@end table@node Operating on Files@section Operating on Files@cindex operating on files in Dired This section describes the basic Dired commands to operate on one fileor several files. All of these commands are capital letters; all ofthem use the minibuffer, either to read an argument or to ask forconfirmation, before they act. All of them give you several ways tospecify which files to manipulate:@itemize @bullet@itemIf you give the command a numeric prefix argument @var{n}, it operateson the next @var{n} files, starting with the current file. (If @var{n}is negative, the command operates on the @minus{}@var{n} files precedingthe current line.)@itemOtherwise, if some files are marked with @samp{*}, the command operateson all those files.@itemOtherwise, the command operates on the current file only.@end itemize@vindex dired-dwim-target@cindex two directories (in Dired) Commands which ask for a destination directory, such as those whichcopy and rename files or create links for them, try to guess the defaulttarget directory for the operation. Normally, they suggest the Diredbuffer's default directory, but if the variable @code{dired-dwim-target}is non-@code{nil}, and if there is another Dired buffer displayed in thenext window, that other buffer's directory is suggested instead. Here are the file-manipulating commands that operate on files in thisway. (Some other Dired commands, such as @kbd{!} and the @samp{%}commands, also use these conventions to decide which files to work on.)@table @kbd@findex dired-do-copy@kindex C @r{(Dired)}@cindex copying files (in Dired)@item C @var{new} @key{RET}Copy the specified files (@code{dired-do-copy}). The argument @var{new}is the directory to copy into, or (if copying a single file) the newname.@vindex dired-copy-preserve-timeIf @code{dired-copy-preserve-time} is non-@code{nil}, then copying withthis command sets the modification time of the new file to be the sameas that of the old file.@vindex dired-recursive-copies@cindex recursive copyingThe variable @code{dired-recursive-copies} controls whetherdirectories are copied recursively. The default is to not copyrecursively, which means that directories cannot be copied.@item D@findex dired-do-delete@kindex D @r{(Dired)}Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}). Like the othercommands in this section, this command operates on the @emph{marked}files, or the next @var{n} files. By contrast, @kbd{x}(@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}) deletes all @dfn{flagged} files.@findex dired-do-rename@kindex R @r{(Dired)}@cindex renaming files (in Dired)@item R @var{new} @key{RET}Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}). The argument@var{new} is the directory to rename into, or (if renaming a singlefile) the new name.Dired automatically changes the visited file name of buffers associatedwith renamed files so that they refer to the new names.@findex dired-do-hardlink@kindex H @r{(Dired)}@cindex hard links (in Dired)@item H @var{new} @key{RET}Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}). Theargument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (if makingjust one link) the name to give the link.@findex dired-do-symlink@kindex S @r{(Dired)}@cindex symlinks (in Dired)@item S @var{new} @key{RET}Make symbolic links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-symlink}).The argument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (ifmaking just one link) the name to give the link.@findex dired-do-chmod@kindex M @r{(Dired)}@cindex changing file permissions (in Dired)@item M @var{modespec} @key{RET}Change the mode (also called ``permission bits'') of the specified files(@code{dired-do-chmod}). This uses the @code{chmod} program, so@var{modespec} can be any argument that @code{chmod} can handle.@findex dired-do-chgrp@kindex G @r{(Dired)}@cindex changing file group (in Dired)@item G @var{newgroup} @key{RET}Change the group of the specified files to @var{newgroup}(@code{dired-do-chgrp}).@findex dired-do-chown@kindex O @r{(Dired)}@cindex changing file owner (in Dired)@item O @var{newowner} @key{RET}Change the owner of the specified files to @var{newowner}(@code{dired-do-chown}). (On most systems, only the superuser can dothis.)@vindex dired-chown-programThe variable @code{dired-chown-program} specifies the name of theprogram to use to do the work (different systems put @code{chown} indifferent places).@findex dired-do-print@kindex P @r{(Dired)}@cindex printing files (in Dired)@item P @var{command} @key{RET}Print the specified files (@code{dired-do-print}). You must specify thecommand to print them with, but the minibuffer starts out with asuitable guess made using the variables @code{lpr-command} and@code{lpr-switches} (the same variables that @code{lpr-buffer} uses;@pxref{Hardcopy}).@findex dired-do-compress@kindex Z @r{(Dired)}@cindex compressing files (in Dired)@item ZCompress the specified files (@code{dired-do-compress}). If the fileappears to be a compressed file already, it is uncompressed instead.@findex dired-do-load@kindex L @r{(Dired)}@cindex loading several files (in Dired)@item LLoad the specified Emacs Lisp files (@code{dired-do-load}).@xref{Lisp Libraries}.@findex dired-do-byte-compile@kindex B @r{(Dired)}@cindex byte-compiling several files (in Dired)@item BByte compile the specified Emacs Lisp files(@code{dired-do-byte-compile}). @xref{Byte Compilation,, ByteCompilation, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.@kindex A @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-search@cindex search multiple files (in Dired)@item A @var{regexp} @key{RET}Search all the specified files for the regular expression @var{regexp}(@code{dired-do-search}).This command is a variant of @code{tags-search}. The search stops atthe first match it finds; use @kbd{M-,} to resume the search and findthe next match. @xref{Tags Search}.@kindex Q @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-query-replace-regexp@cindex search and replace in multiple files (in Dired)@item Q @var{regexp} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}Perform @code{query-replace-regexp} on each of the specified files,replacing matches for @var{regexp} with the string@var{to} (@code{dired-do-query-replace-regexp}).This command is a variant of @code{tags-query-replace}. If you exit thequery replace loop, you can use @kbd{M-,} to resume the scan and replacemore matches. @xref{Tags Search}.@end table@kindex + @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-create-directory One special file-operation command is @kbd{+}(@code{dired-create-directory}). This command reads a directory name andcreates the directory if it does not already exist.@node Shell Commands in Dired@section Shell Commands in Dired@cindex shell commands, Dired@findex dired-do-shell-command@kindex ! @r{(Dired)}@kindex X @r{(Dired)}The Dired command @kbd{!} (@code{dired-do-shell-command}) reads a shellcommand string in the minibuffer and runs that shell command on all thespecified files. @kbd{X} is a synonym for @kbd{!}. You can specify thefiles to operate on in the usual ways for Dired commands(@pxref{Operating on Files}). There are two ways of applying a shellcommand to multiple files:@itemize @bullet@itemIf you use @samp{*} in the shell command, then it runs just once, withthe list of file names substituted for the @samp{*}. The order of filenames is the order of appearance in the Dired buffer.Thus, @kbd{! tar cf foo.tar * @key{RET}} runs @code{tar} on the entirelist of file names, putting them into one tar file @file{foo.tar}.@itemIf the command string doesn't contain @samp{*}, then it runs once@emph{for each file}, with the file name added at the end.For example, @kbd{! uudecode @key{RET}} runs @code{uudecode} on eachfile.@end itemizeWhat if you want to run the shell command once for each file, with thefile name inserted in the middle? You can use @samp{?} in the commandinstead of @samp{*}. The current file name is substituted for@samp{?}. You can use @samp{?} more than once. For instance, here ishow to uuencode each file, making the output file name by appending@samp{.uu} to the input file name:@exampleuuencode ? ? > ?.uu@end exampleTo use the file names in a more complicated fashion, you can use ashell loop. For example, this shell command is another way touuencode each file:@examplefor file in *; do uuencode "$file" "$file" >"$file".uu; done@end exampleThe working directory for the shell command is the top-level directoryof the Dired buffer.The @kbd{!} command does not attempt to update the Dired buffer to shownew or modified files, because it doesn't really understand shellcommands, and does not know what files the shell command changed. Usethe @kbd{g} command to update the Dired buffer (@pxref{DiredUpdating}).@node Transforming File Names@section Transforming File Names in Dired This section describes Dired commands which alter file names in asystematic way. Like the basic Dired file-manipulation commands (@pxref{Operating onFiles}), the commands described here operate either on the next@var{n} files, or on all files marked with @samp{*}, or on the currentfile. (To mark files, use the commands described in @ref{Marks vsFlags}.) All of the commands described in this section work@emph{interactively}: they ask you to confirm the operation for eachcandidate file. Thus, you can select more files than you actuallyneed to operate on (e.g., with a regexp that matches many files), andthen refine the selection by typing @kbd{y} or @kbd{n} when thecommand prompts for confirmation.@table @kbd@findex dired-upcase@kindex % u @r{(Dired)}@cindex upcase file names@item % uRename each of the selected files to an upper-case name(@code{dired-upcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo}and @file{bar}, the new names are @file{FOO} and @file{BAR}.@item % l@findex dired-downcase@kindex % l @r{(Dired)}@cindex downcase file namesRename each of the selected files to a lower-case name(@code{dired-downcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo} and@file{bar}, the new names are @file{foo} and @file{bar}.@item % R @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}@kindex % R @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-rename-regexp@itemx % C @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}@kindex % C @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-copy-regexp@itemx % H @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}@kindex % H @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-hardlink-regexp@itemx % S @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}@kindex % S @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-symlink-regexpThese four commands rename, copy, make hard links and make soft links,in each case computing the new name by regular-expression substitutionfrom the name of the old file.@end table The four regular-expression substitution commands effectively performa search-and-replace on the selected file names in the Dired buffer.They read two arguments: a regular expression @var{from}, and asubstitution pattern @var{to}. The commands match each ``old'' file name against the regularexpression @var{from}, and then replace the matching part with @var{to}.You can use @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{digit}} in @var{to} to refer toall or part of what the pattern matched in the old file name, as in@code{replace-regexp} (@pxref{Regexp Replace}). If the regular expressionmatches more than once in a file name, only the first match is replaced. For example, @kbd{% R ^.*$ @key{RET} x-\& @key{RET}} renames eachselected file by prepending @samp{x-} to its name. The inverse of this,removing @samp{x-} from the front of each file name, is also possible:one method is @kbd{% R ^x-\(.*\)$ @key{RET} \1 @key{RET}}; another is@kbd{% R ^x- @key{RET} @key{RET}}. (Use @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchormatches that should span the whole filename.) Normally, the replacement process does not consider the files'directory names; it operates on the file name within the directory. Ifyou specify a numeric argument of zero, then replacement affects theentire absolute file name including directory name. (Non-zeroargument specifies the number of files to operate on.) Often you will want to select the set of files to operate on using thesame @var{regexp} that you will use to operate on them. To do this,mark those files with @kbd{% m @var{regexp} @key{RET}}, then use thesame regular expression in the command to operate on the files. To makethis easier, the @kbd{%} commands to operate on files use the lastregular expression specified in any @kbd{%} command as a default.@node Comparison in Dired@section File Comparison with Dired@cindex file comparison (in Dired)@cindex compare files (in Dired) Here are two Dired commands that compare specified files using@code{diff}.@table @kbd@item =@findex dired-diff@kindex = @r{(Dired)}Compare the current file (the file at point) with another file (the fileat the mark) using the @code{diff} program (@code{dired-diff}). Thefile at the mark is the first argument of @code{diff}, and the file atpoint is the second argument. Use @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}(@code{set-mark-command}) to set the mark at the first file's line(@pxref{Setting Mark}), since @code{dired-diff} ignores the files markedwith the Dired's @kbd{m} command.@findex dired-backup-diff@kindex M-= @r{(Dired)}@item M-=Compare the current file with its latest backup file(@code{dired-backup-diff}). If the current file is itself a backup,compare it with the file it is a backup of; this way, you can comparea file with any backup version of your choice.The backup file is the first file given to @code{diff}.@end table@node Subdirectories in Dired@section Subdirectories in Dired@cindex subdirectories in Dired@cindex expanding subdirectories in Dired A Dired buffer displays just one directory in the normal case;but you can optionally include its subdirectories as well. The simplest way to include multiple directories in one Dired buffer isto specify the options @samp{-lR} for running @code{ls}. (If you give anumeric argument when you run Dired, then you can specify these optionsin the minibuffer.) That produces a recursive directory listing showingall subdirectories at all levels. But usually all the subdirectories are too many; usually you willprefer to include specific subdirectories only. You can do this withthe @kbd{i} command:@table @kbd@findex dired-maybe-insert-subdir@kindex i @r{(Dired)}@item i@cindex inserted subdirectory (Dired)@cindex in-situ subdirectory (Dired)Insert the contents of a subdirectory later in the buffer.@end tableUse the @kbd{i} (@code{dired-maybe-insert-subdir}) command on a linethat describes a file which is a directory. It inserts the contents ofthat directory into the same Dired buffer, and moves there. Insertedsubdirectory contents follow the top-level directory of the Diredbuffer, just as they do in @samp{ls -lR} output.If the subdirectory's contents are already present in the buffer, the@kbd{i} command just moves to it.In either case, @kbd{i} sets the Emacs mark before moving, so @kbd{C-uC-@key{SPC}} takes you back to the old position in the buffer (the linedescribing that subdirectory).Use the @kbd{l} command (@code{dired-do-redisplay}) to update thesubdirectory's contents. Use @kbd{C-u k} on the subdirectory headerline to delete the subdirectory. @xref{Dired Updating}.@node Subdirectory Motion@section Moving Over Subdirectories When a Dired buffer lists subdirectories, you can use the page motioncommands @kbd{C-x [} and @kbd{C-x ]} to move by entire directories(@pxref{Pages}).@cindex header line (Dired)@cindex directory header lines The following commands move across, up and down in the tree ofdirectories within one Dired buffer. They move to @dfn{directory headerlines}, which are the lines that give a directory's name, at thebeginning of the directory's contents.@table @kbd@findex dired-next-subdir@kindex C-M-n @r{(Dired)}@item C-M-nGo to next subdirectory header line, regardless of level(@code{dired-next-subdir}).@findex dired-prev-subdir@kindex C-M-p @r{(Dired)}@item C-M-pGo to previous subdirectory header line, regardless of level(@code{dired-prev-subdir}).@findex dired-tree-up@kindex C-M-u @r{(Dired)}@item C-M-uGo up to the parent directory's header line (@code{dired-tree-up}).@findex dired-tree-down@kindex C-M-d @r{(Dired)}@item C-M-dGo down in the directory tree, to the first subdirectory's header line(@code{dired-tree-down}).@findex dired-prev-dirline@kindex < @r{(Dired)}@item <Move up to the previous directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).These lines are the ones that describe a directory as a file in itsparent directory.@findex dired-next-dirline@kindex > @r{(Dired)}@item >Move down to the next directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).@end table@node Hiding Subdirectories@section Hiding Subdirectories@cindex hiding in Dired (Dired) @dfn{Hiding} a subdirectory means to make it invisible, except for itsheader line, via selective display (@pxref{Selective Display}).@table @kbd@item $@findex dired-hide-subdir@kindex $ @r{(Dired)}Hide or reveal the subdirectory that point is in, and move point to thenext subdirectory (@code{dired-hide-subdir}). A numeric argument servesas a repeat count.@item M-$@findex dired-hide-all@kindex M-$ @r{(Dired)}Hide all subdirectories in this Dired buffer, leaving only their headerlines (@code{dired-hide-all}). Or, if any subdirectory is currentlyhidden, make all subdirectories visible again. You can use this commandto get an overview in very deep directory trees or to move quickly tosubdirectories far away.@end table Ordinary Dired commands never consider files inside a hiddensubdirectory. For example, the commands to operate on marked filesignore files in hidden directories even if they are marked. Thus youcan use hiding to temporarily exclude subdirectories from operationswithout having to remove the markers. The subdirectory hiding commands toggle; that is, they hide what wasvisible, and show what was hidden.@node Dired Updating@section Updating the Dired Buffer@cindex updating Dired buffer@cindex refreshing displayed files This section describes commands to update the Dired buffer to reflectoutside (non-Dired) changes in the directories and files, and to deletepart of the Dired buffer.@table @kbd@item gUpdate the entire contents of the Dired buffer (@code{revert-buffer}).@item lUpdate the specified files (@code{dired-do-redisplay}).@item kDelete the specified @emph{file lines}---not the files, just the lines(@code{dired-do-kill-lines}).@item sToggle between alphabetical order and date/time order(@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}).@item C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}Refresh the Dired buffer using @var{switches} as@code{dired-listing-switches}.@end table@kindex g @r{(Dired)}@findex revert-buffer @r{(Dired)} Type @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}) to update the contents of theDired buffer, based on changes in the files and directories listed.This preserves all marks except for those on files that have vanished.Hidden subdirectories are updated but remain hidden.@kindex l @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-redisplay To update only some of the files, type @kbd{l}(@code{dired-do-redisplay}). Like the Dired file-operating commands,this command operates on the next @var{n} files (or previous@minus{}@var{n} files), or on the marked files if any, or on thecurrent file. Updating the files means reading their current status,then updating their lines in the buffer to indicate that status. If you use @kbd{l} on a subdirectory header line, it updates thecontents of the corresponding subdirectory.@kindex k @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-do-kill-lines To delete the specified @emph{file lines} from the buffer---notdelete the files---type @kbd{k} (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}). Likethe file-operating commands, this command operates on the next @var{n}files, or on the marked files if any; but it does not operate on thecurrent file as a last resort. If you kill the line for a file that is a directory, the directory'scontents are also deleted from the buffer. Typing @kbd{C-u k} on theheader line for a subdirectory is another way to delete a subdirectoryfrom the Dired buffer. The @kbd{g} command brings back any individual lines that you havekilled in this way, but not subdirectories---you must use @kbd{i} toreinsert a subdirectory.@cindex Dired sorting@cindex sorting Dired buffer@kindex s @r{(Dired)}@findex dired-sort-toggle-or-edit The files in a Dired buffers are normally listed in alphabetical orderby file names. Alternatively Dired can sort them by date/time. TheDired command @kbd{s} (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}) switchesbetween these two sorting modes. The mode line in a Dired bufferindicates which way it is currently sorted---by name, or by date. @kbd{C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}} lets you specify a new value for@code{dired-listing-switches}.@node Dired and Find@section Dired and @code{find}@cindex @code{find} and Dired You can select a set of files for display in a Dired buffer moreflexibly by using the @code{find} utility to choose the files.@findex find-name-dired To search for files with names matching a wildcard pattern use@kbd{M-x find-name-dired}. It reads arguments @var{directory} and@var{pattern}, and chooses all the files in @var{directory} or itssubdirectories whose individual names match @var{pattern}. The files thus chosen are displayed in a Dired buffer in which theordinary Dired commands are available.@findex find-grep-dired If you want to test the contents of files, rather than their names,use @kbd{M-x find-grep-dired}. This command reads two minibufferarguments, @var{directory} and @var{regexp}; it chooses all the files in@var{directory} or its subdirectories that contain a match for@var{regexp}. It works by running the programs @code{find} and@code{grep}. See also @kbd{M-x grep-find}, in @ref{Compilation}.Remember to write the regular expression for @code{grep}, not for Emacs.(An alternative method of showing files whose contents match a givenregexp is the @kbd{% g @var{regexp}} command, see @ref{Marks vs Flags}.)@findex find-dired The most general command in this series is @kbd{M-x find-dired}, whichlets you specify any condition that @code{find} can test. It takes twominibuffer arguments, @var{directory} and @var{find-args}; it runs@code{find} in @var{directory}, passing @var{find-args} to tell@code{find} what condition to test. To use this command, you need toknow how to use @code{find}.@findex locate@findex locate-with-filter@cindex file database (locate)@vindex locate-command @kbd{M-x locate} provides a similar interface to the @code{locate}program. @kbd{M-x locate-with-filter} is similar, but keeps only linesmatching a given regular expression.@vindex find-ls-option The format of listing produced by these commands is controlled by thevariable @code{find-ls-option}, whose default value specifies usingoptions @samp{-ld} for @code{ls}. If your listings are corrupted, youmay need to change the value of this variable.