Mercurial > emacs
changeset 84178:21ae5eccfd57
Move to ../doc/emacs/, misc/
author | Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org> |
---|---|
date | Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:38:38 +0000 |
parents | 41ca20bccfc6 |
children | 51005891840f |
files | man/mini.texi |
diffstat | 1 files changed, 0 insertions(+), 580 deletions(-) [+] |
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--- a/man/mini.texi Thu Sep 06 04:38:32 2007 +0000 +++ /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 @@ -1,580 +0,0 @@ -@c This is part of the Emacs manual. -@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, -@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. -@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. -@node Minibuffer, M-x, Basic, Top -@chapter The Minibuffer -@cindex minibuffer - - The @dfn{minibuffer} is where Emacs commands read complicated -arguments (anything more a single number). We call it the -``minibuffer'' because it's a special-purpose buffer with a small -amount of screen space. Minibuffer arguments can be file names, -buffer names, Lisp function names, Emacs command names, Lisp -expressions, and many other things---whatever the command wants to -read. You can use the usual Emacs editing commands in the minibuffer -to edit the argument text. - -@cindex prompt - When the minibuffer is in use, it appears in the echo area, with a -cursor. The minibuffer display starts with a @dfn{prompt} in a -distinct color; it says what kind of input is expected and how it will -be used. Often the prompt is derived from the name of the command -that is reading the argument. The prompt normally ends with a colon. - -@cindex default argument - Sometimes a @dfn{default argument} appears in the prompt, inside -parentheses before the colon. The default will be used as the -argument value if you just type @key{RET}. For example, commands that -read buffer names show a buffer name as the default. You can type -@key{RET} to operate on that default buffer. - - The simplest way to enter a minibuffer argument is to type the text, -then @key{RET} to exit the minibuffer. You can cancel the minibuffer, -and the command that wants the argument, by typing @kbd{C-g}. - - Since the minibuffer appears in the echo area, it can conflict with -other uses of the echo area. Here is how Emacs handles such -conflicts: - -@itemize @bullet -@item -An error occurs while the minibuffer is active. - -The error message hides the minibuffer for a few seconds, or until you -type something. Then the minibuffer comes back. - -@item -A command such as @kbd{C-x =} needs to display a message in the echo -area. - -The message hides the minibuffer for a few seconds, or until you type -something. Then the minibuffer comes back. - -@item -Keystrokes don't echo while the minibuffer is in use. -@end itemize - -@menu -* File: Minibuffer File. Entering file names with the minibuffer. -* Edit: Minibuffer Edit. How to edit in the minibuffer. -* Completion:: An abbreviation facility for minibuffer input. -* Minibuffer History:: Reusing recent minibuffer arguments. -* Repetition:: Re-executing commands that used the minibuffer. -@end menu - -@node Minibuffer File -@section Minibuffers for File Names - - When you use the minibuffer to enter a file name, it starts out with -some initial text---the @dfn{default directory}, ending in a slash. -The file you specify will be in this directory unless you alter or -replace it. - -@c Separate paragraph to clean up ugly page break--rms -@need 1500 - For example, if the minibuffer starts out with these contents: - -@example -Find File: /u2/emacs/src/ -@end example - -@noindent -(where @samp{Find File:@: } is the prompt), and you type -@kbd{buffer.c} as input, that specifies the file -@file{/u2/emacs/src/buffer.c}. You can specify the parent directory -by adding @file{..}; thus, if you type @kbd{../lisp/simple.el}, you -will get @file{/u2/emacs/lisp/simple.el}. Alternatively, you can use -@kbd{M-@key{DEL}} to kill the directory names you don't want -(@pxref{Words}). - - You can kill the entire default with @kbd{C-a C-k}, but there's no -need to do that. It's easier to ignore the default, and enter an -absolute file name starting with a slash or a tilde after the default -directory. For example, to specify @file{/etc/termcap}, just type -that name: - -@example -Find File: /u2/emacs/src//etc/termcap -@end example - -@noindent -@cindex // in file name -@cindex double slash in file name -@cindex slashes repeated in file name -@findex file-name-shadow-mode -GNU Emacs interprets a double slash (which is not normally useful in -file names) as, ``ignore everything before the second slash in the -pair.'' In the example above. @samp{/u2/emacs/src/} is ignored, so -you get @file{/etc/termcap}. The ignored part of the file name is -dimmed if the terminal allows it; to disable this dimming, turn off -File Name Shadow mode (a minor mode) with the command -@kbd{M-x file-name-shadow-mode}. - - If the variable @code{insert-default-directory} is @code{nil}, the -default directory is never inserted in the minibuffer---so the -minibuffer starts out empty. Nonetheless, relative file name -arguments are still interpreted based on the same default directory. - -@node Minibuffer Edit -@section Editing in the Minibuffer - - The minibuffer is an Emacs buffer (albeit a peculiar one), and the -usual Emacs commands are available for editing the argument text. - - Since @key{RET} in the minibuffer is defined to exit the minibuffer, -you can't use it to insert a newline in the minibuffer. To do that, -type @kbd{C-o} or @kbd{C-q C-j}. (The newline character is really the -@acronym{ASCII} character control-J.) - - The minibuffer has its own window, which normally has space in the -frame at all times, but it only acts like an Emacs window when the -minibuffer is active. When active, this window is much like any other -Emacs window; for instance, you can switch to another window (with -@kbd{C-x o}), edit text there, then return to the minibuffer window to -finish the argument. You can even kill text in another window, return -to the minibuffer window, and then yank the text into the argument. -@xref{Windows}. - -@cindex height of minibuffer -@cindex size of minibuffer -@cindex growing minibuffer -@cindex resizing minibuffer - There are some restrictions on the minibuffer window, however: you -cannot kill it, or split it, or switch buffers in it---the minibuffer -and its window are permanently attached. - -@vindex resize-mini-windows - The minibuffer window expands vertically as necessary to hold the -text that you put in the minibuffer. If @code{resize-mini-windows} is -@code{t} (the default), the window always resizes as needed by its -contents. If its value is the symbol @code{grow-only}, the window -grows automatically as needed, but shrinks (back to the normal size) -only when the minibuffer becomes inactive. If its value is -@code{nil}, you have to adjust the height yourself. - -@vindex max-mini-window-height - The variable @code{max-mini-window-height} controls the maximum -height for resizing the minibuffer window: a floating-point number -specifies a fraction of the frame's height; an integer specifies the -maximum number of lines; @code{nil} means do not resize the minibuffer -window automatically. The default value is 0.25. - - The @kbd{C-M-v} command in the minibuffer scrolls the help text from -commands that display help text of any sort in another window. -@kbd{M-@key{PAGEUP}} and @kbd{M-@key{PAGEDOWN}} also operate on that -help text. This is especially useful with long lists of possible -completions. @xref{Other Window}. - -@vindex enable-recursive-minibuffers - Emacs normally disallows most commands that use the minibuffer while -the minibuffer is active. (Entering the minibuffer from the -minibuffer can be confusing.) To allow such commands in the -minibuffer, set the variable @code{enable-recursive-minibuffers} to -@code{t}. - -@node Completion -@section Completion -@cindex completion - - Some arguments allow @dfn{completion} to enter their value. This -means that after you type part of the argument, Emacs can fill in the -rest, or some of it, based on what you have typed so far. - - When completion is available, certain keys---@key{TAB}, @key{RET}, -and @key{SPC}---are rebound to complete the text in the minibuffer -before point into a longer string chosen from a set of @dfn{completion -alternatives} provided by the command that requested the argument. -(@key{SPC} does not do completion in reading file names, because it is -common to use spaces in file names on some systems.) @kbd{?} displays -a list of the possible completions at any time. - - For example, @kbd{M-x} uses the minibuffer to read the name of a -command, so it provides a list of all Emacs command names for -completion candidates. The completion keys match the minibuffer text -against these candidates, find any additional name characters implied -by the text already present in the minibuffer, and add those -characters. This makes it possible to type @kbd{M-x ins @key{SPC} b -@key{RET}} instead of @kbd{M-x insert-buffer @key{RET}}, for example. - - Case is significant in completion when it is significant in the -argument you are entering (buffer names, file names, command names, -for instance). Thus, @samp{fo} does not complete to @samp{Foo}. -Completion ignores case distinctions for certain arguments in which -case does not matter. - - Completion acts only on the text before point. If there is text in -the minibuffer after point---i.e., if you move point backward after -typing some text into the minibuffer---it remains unchanged. - -@menu -* Example: Completion Example. Examples of using completion. -* Commands: Completion Commands. A list of completion commands. -* Strict Completion:: Different types of completion. -* Options: Completion Options. Options for completion. -@end menu - -@node Completion Example -@subsection Completion Example - -@kindex TAB @r{(completion)} - A concrete example may help here. If you type @kbd{M-x au -@key{TAB}}, the @key{TAB} looks for alternatives (in this case, -command names) that start with @samp{au}. There are several, -including @code{auto-fill-mode} and @code{auto-save-mode}, but they -all begin with @code{auto-}, so the @samp{au} in the minibuffer -completes to @samp{auto-}. - - If you type @key{TAB} again immediately, it cannot determine the -next character; it could be any of @samp{cfilrs}. So it does not add -any characters; instead, @key{TAB} displays a list of all possible -completions in another window. - - Now type @kbd{f @key{TAB}}. This @key{TAB} sees @samp{auto-f}. The -only command name starting with that is @code{auto-fill-mode}, so -completion fills in the rest of that. You have been able to enter -@samp{auto-fill-mode} by typing just @kbd{au @key{TAB} f @key{TAB}}. - -@node Completion Commands -@subsection Completion Commands - - Here is a list of the completion commands defined in the minibuffer -when completion is allowed. - -@table @kbd -@item @key{TAB} -@findex minibuffer-complete -Complete the text before point in the minibuffer as much as possible -(@code{minibuffer-complete}). -@item @key{SPC} -Complete up to one word from the minibuffer text before point -(@code{minibuffer-complete-word}). @key{SPC} for completion is not -available when entering a file name, since file names often include -spaces. -@item @key{RET} -Submit the text in the minibuffer as the argument, possibly completing -first as described -@iftex -in the next subsection (@code{minibuffer-complete-and-exit}). -@end iftex -@ifnottex -in the next node (@code{minibuffer-complete-and-exit}). @xref{Strict -Completion}. -@end ifnottex -@item ? -Display a list of possible completions of the text before point -(@code{minibuffer-completion-help}). -@end table - -@kindex SPC -@findex minibuffer-complete-word - @key{SPC} completes like @key{TAB}, but only up to the next hyphen -or space. If you have @samp{auto-f} in the minibuffer and type -@key{SPC}, it finds that the completion is @samp{auto-fill-mode}, but -it only inserts @samp{ill-}, giving @samp{auto-fill-}. Another -@key{SPC} at this point completes all the way to -@samp{auto-fill-mode}. The command that implements this behavior is -called @code{minibuffer-complete-word}. - - When you display a list of possible completions, you can choose -one from it: - -@table @kbd -@findex mouse-choose-completion -@item Mouse-1 -@itemx Mouse-2 -Clicking mouse button 1 or 2 on a completion possibility chooses that -completion (@code{mouse-choose-completion}). You must click in the -list of completions, not in the minibuffer. - -@findex switch-to-completions -@item @key{PRIOR} -@itemx M-v -Typing @key{PRIOR} or @key{PAGE-UP}, or @kbd{M-v}, while in the -minibuffer, selects the window showing the completion list buffer -(@code{switch-to-completions}). This paves the way for using the -commands below. (Selecting that window in other ways has the same -effect.) - -@findex choose-completion -@item @key{RET} -Typing @key{RET} @emph{in the completion list buffer} chooses the -completion that point is in or next to (@code{choose-completion}). To -use this command, you must first switch to the completion list window. - -@findex next-completion -@item @key{RIGHT} -Typing the right-arrow key @key{RIGHT} @emph{in the completion list -buffer} moves point to the following completion possibility -(@code{next-completion}). - -@findex previous-completion -@item @key{LEFT} -Typing the left-arrow key @key{LEFT} @emph{in the completion list -buffer} moves point to the previous completion possibility -(@code{previous-completion}). -@end table - -@node Strict Completion -@subsection Strict Completion - - There are three different ways that @key{RET} can do completion, -depending on how the argument will be used. - -@itemize @bullet -@item -@dfn{Strict} completion accepts only known completion candidates. For -example, when @kbd{C-x k} reads the name of a buffer to kill, only the -name of an existing buffer makes sense. In strict completion, -@key{RET} refuses to exit if the text in the minibuffer does not -complete to an exact match. - -@item -@dfn{Cautious} completion is similar to strict completion, except that -@key{RET} exits only if the text is an already exact match. -Otherwise, @key{RET} does not exit, but it does complete the text. If -that completes to an exact match, a second @key{RET} will exit. - -Cautious completion is used for reading file names for files that must -already exist, for example. - -@item -@dfn{Permissive} completion allows any input; the completion -candidates are just suggestions. For example, when @kbd{C-x C-f} -reads the name of a file to visit, any file name is allowed, including -nonexistent file (in case you want to create a file). In permissive -completion, @key{RET} does not complete, it just submits the argument -as you have entered it. -@end itemize - - The completion commands display a list of all possible completions -whenever they can't determine even one more character by completion. -Also, typing @kbd{?} explicitly requests such a list. You can scroll -the list with @kbd{C-M-v} (@pxref{Other Window}). - -@node Completion Options -@subsection Completion Options - -@vindex completion-ignored-extensions -@cindex ignored file names, in completion - When completing file names, certain file names are usually ignored. -The variable @code{completion-ignored-extensions} contains a list of -strings; a file name ending in any of those strings is ignored as a -completion candidate. The standard value of this variable has several -elements including @code{".o"}, @code{".elc"}, @code{".dvi"} and -@code{"~"}. The effect is that, for example, @samp{foo} can complete -to @samp{foo.c} even though @samp{foo.o} exists as well. However, if -@emph{all} the possible completions end in ``ignored'' strings, then -they are not ignored. Displaying a list of possible completions -disregards @code{completion-ignored-extensions}; it shows them all. - - If an element of @code{completion-ignored-extensions} ends in a -slash (@file{/}), it's a subdirectory name; then that directory and -its contents are ignored. Elements of -@code{completion-ignored-extensions} which do not end in a slash are -ordinary file names, and do not apply to names of directories. - -@vindex completion-auto-help - If @code{completion-auto-help} is set to @code{nil}, the completion -commands never display a list of possibilities; you must type @kbd{?} -to display the list. - -@cindex Partial Completion mode -@vindex partial-completion-mode -@findex partial-completion-mode - Partial Completion mode implements a more powerful kind of -completion that can complete multiple words in parallel. For example, -it can complete the command name abbreviation @code{p-b} into -@code{print-buffer} if no other command starts with two words whose -initials are @samp{p} and @samp{b}. - - To enable this mode, use @kbd{M-x partial-completion-mode}, or -customize the variable @code{partial-completion-mode}. This mode -binds special partial completion commands to @key{TAB}, @key{SPC}, -@key{RET}, and @kbd{?} in the minibuffer. The usual completion -commands are available on @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} (or @kbd{C-M-i}), -@kbd{M-@key{SPC}}, @kbd{M-@key{RET}} and @kbd{M-?}. - - Partial completion of directories in file names uses @samp{*} to -indicate the places for completion; thus, @file{/u*/b*/f*} might -complete to @file{/usr/bin/foo}. For remote files, partial completion -enables completion of methods, user names and host names. -@xref{Remote Files}. - -@vindex PC-include-file-path -@vindex PC-disable-includes - Partial Completion mode also extends @code{find-file} so that -@samp{<@var{include}>} looks for the file named @var{include} in the -directories in the path @code{PC-include-file-path}. If you set -@code{PC-disable-includes} to non-@code{nil}, this feature is -disabled. - -@cindex Icomplete mode -@findex icomplete-mode - Icomplete mode presents a constantly-updated display that tells you -what completions are available for the text you've entered so far. The -command to enable or disable this minor mode is @kbd{M-x -icomplete-mode}. - -@node Minibuffer History -@section Minibuffer History -@cindex minibuffer history -@cindex history of minibuffer input - - Every argument that you enter with the minibuffer is saved on a -@dfn{minibuffer history list} so you can easily use it again later. -Special commands fetch the text of an earlier argument into the -minibuffer, replacing the old minibuffer contents. You can think of -them as moving through the history of previous arguments. - -@table @kbd -@item @key{UP} -@itemx M-p -Move to the previous item in the minibuffer history, an earlier argument -(@code{previous-history-element}). -@item @key{DOWN} -@itemx M-n -Move to the next item in the minibuffer history -(@code{next-history-element}). -@item M-r @var{regexp} @key{RET} -Move to an earlier item in the minibuffer history that -matches @var{regexp} (@code{previous-matching-history-element}). -@item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET} -Move to a later item in the minibuffer history that matches -@var{regexp} (@code{next-matching-history-element}). -@end table - -@kindex M-p @r{(minibuffer history)} -@kindex M-n @r{(minibuffer history)} -@findex next-history-element -@findex previous-history-element - To move through the minibuffer history list one item at a time, use -@kbd{M-p} or up-arrow (@code{previous-history-element}) to fetch the -next earlier minibuffer input, and use @kbd{M-n} or down-arrow -(@code{next-history-element}) to fetch the next later input. These -commands don't move the cursor, they pull different saved strings into -the minibuffer. But you can think of them as ``moving'' through the -history list. - - The input that you fetch from the history entirely replaces the -contents of the minibuffer. To use it again unchanged, just type -@key{RET}. You can also edit the text before you reuse it; this does -not change the history element that you ``moved'' to, but your new -argument does go at the end of the history list in its own right. - - For many minibuffer arguments there is a ``default'' value. You can -insert the default value into the minibuffer as text by using -@kbd{M-n}. You can think of this as moving ``into the future'' in the -history. - -@findex previous-matching-history-element -@findex next-matching-history-element -@kindex M-r @r{(minibuffer history)} -@kindex M-s @r{(minibuffer history)} - There are also commands to search forward or backward through the -history; they search for history elements that match a regular -expression. @kbd{M-r} (@code{previous-matching-history-element}) -searches older elements in the history, while @kbd{M-s} -(@code{next-matching-history-element}) searches newer elements. These -commands are unusual; they use the minibuffer to read the regular -expression even though they are invoked from the minibuffer. As with -incremental searching, an upper-case letter in the regular expression -makes the search case-sensitive (@pxref{Search Case}). - -@ignore - We may change the precise way these commands read their arguments. -Perhaps they will search for a match for the string given so far in the -minibuffer; perhaps they will search for a literal match rather than a -regular expression match; perhaps they will only accept matches at the -beginning of a history element; perhaps they will read the string to -search for incrementally like @kbd{C-s}. To find out what interface is -actually available, type @kbd{C-h f previous-matching-history-element}. -@end ignore - - All uses of the minibuffer record your input on a history list, but -there are separate history lists for different kinds of arguments. -For example, there is a list for file names, used by all the commands -that read file names. (As a special feature, this history list -records the absolute file name, even if the name you entered was not -absolute.) - - There are several other specific history lists, including one for -buffer names, one for arguments of commands like @code{query-replace}, -one used by @kbd{M-x} for command names, and one used by -@code{compile} for compilation commands. Finally, there is one -``miscellaneous'' history list that most minibuffer arguments use. - -@vindex history-length - The variable @code{history-length} specifies the maximum length of a -minibuffer history list; adding a new element deletes the oldest -element if the list gets too long. If the value of -@code{history-length} is @code{t}, though, there is no maximum length. - -@vindex history-delete-duplicates - The variable @code{history-delete-duplicates} specifies whether to -delete duplicates in history. If it is @code{t}, adding a new element -deletes from the list all other elements that are equal to it. - -@node Repetition -@section Repeating Minibuffer Commands -@cindex command history -@cindex history of commands - - Every command that uses the minibuffer once is recorded on a special -history list, the @dfn{command history}, together with the values of -its arguments, so that you can repeat the entire command. In -particular, every use of @kbd{M-x} is recorded there, since @kbd{M-x} -uses the minibuffer to read the command name. - -@findex list-command-history -@table @kbd -@item C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC} -Re-execute a recent minibuffer command from the command history - (@code{repeat-complex-command}). -@item M-x list-command-history -Display the entire command history, showing all the commands -@kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} can repeat, most recent first. -@end table - -@kindex C-x ESC ESC -@findex repeat-complex-command - @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} is used to re-execute a recent command -that used the minibuffer. With no argument, it repeats the last such -command. A numeric argument specifies which command to repeat; 1 -means the last one, 2 the previous, and so on. - - @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} works by turning the previous command -into a Lisp expression and then entering a minibuffer initialized with -the text for that expression. Even if you don't understand Lisp -syntax, it will probably be obvious which command is displayed for -repetition. If you type just @key{RET}, that repeats the command -unchanged. You can also change the command by editing the Lisp -expression before you execute it. The repeated command is added to -the front of the command history unless it is identical to the most -recently item. - - Once inside the minibuffer for @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}}, you can -use the minibuffer history commands (@kbd{M-p}, @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r}, -@kbd{M-s}; @pxref{Minibuffer History}) to move through the history list -of saved entire commands. After finding the desired previous command, -you can edit its expression as usual and then repeat it by typing -@key{RET}. - -@vindex isearch-resume-in-command-history - Incremental search does not, strictly speaking, use the minibuffer. -Therefore, although it behaves like a complex command, it normally -does not appear in the history list for @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}}. -You can make incremental search commands appear in the history by -setting @code{isearch-resume-in-command-history} to a non-@code{nil} -value. @xref{Incremental Search}. - -@vindex command-history - The list of previous minibuffer-using commands is stored as a Lisp -list in the variable @code{command-history}. Each element is a Lisp -expression which describes one command and its arguments. Lisp programs -can re-execute a command by calling @code{eval} with the -@code{command-history} element. - -@ignore - arch-tag: ba913cfd-b70e-400f-b663-22b2c309227f -@end ignore