Mercurial > emacs
changeset 84127:7217305d6e32
Move to ../doc/emacs/, misc/
| author | Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org> |
|---|---|
| date | Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:33:55 +0000 |
| parents | 82a32509b785 |
| children | b6ae2429108d |
| files | man/buffers.texi |
| diffstat | 1 files changed, 0 insertions(+), 665 deletions(-) [+] |
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line diff
--- a/man/buffers.texi Thu Sep 06 04:33:49 2007 +0000 +++ /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 @@ -1,665 +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 Buffers, Windows, Files, Top -@chapter Using Multiple Buffers - -@cindex buffers - The text you are editing in Emacs resides in an object called a -@dfn{buffer}. Each time you visit a file, a buffer is created to hold the -file's text. Each time you invoke Dired, a buffer is created to hold the -directory listing. If you send a message with @kbd{C-x m}, a buffer named -@samp{*mail*} is used to hold the text of the message. When you ask for a -command's documentation, that appears in a buffer called @samp{*Help*}. - -@cindex selected buffer -@cindex current buffer - At any time, one and only one buffer is @dfn{current}. It is also -called the @dfn{selected buffer}. Often we say that a command operates on -``the buffer'' as if there were only one; but really this means that the -command operates on the current buffer (most commands do). - - When Emacs has multiple windows, each window has its own chosen -buffer and displays it; at any time, only one of the windows is -selected, and its chosen buffer is the current buffer. Each window's -mode line normally displays the name of the window's chosen buffer -(@pxref{Windows}). - - Each buffer has a name, which can be of any length, and you can select -any buffer by giving its name. Most buffers are made by visiting files, -and their names are derived from the files' names. But you can also create -an empty buffer with any name you want. A newly started Emacs has a buffer -named @samp{*scratch*} which can be used for evaluating Lisp expressions in -Emacs. The distinction between upper and lower case matters in buffer -names. - - Each buffer records individually what file it is visiting, whether it is -modified, and what major mode and minor modes are in effect in it -(@pxref{Major Modes}). Any Emacs variable can be made @dfn{local to} a -particular buffer, meaning its value in that buffer can be different from -the value in other buffers. @xref{Locals}. - -@cindex buffer size, maximum - A buffer's size cannot be larger than some maximum, which is defined -by the largest buffer position representable by the @dfn{Emacs integer} -data type. This is because Emacs tracks buffer positions using that -data type. For 32-bit machines, the largest buffer size is 256 -megabytes. - -@menu -* Select Buffer:: Creating a new buffer or reselecting an old one. -* List Buffers:: Getting a list of buffers that exist. -* Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text. -* Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need. -* Several Buffers:: How to go through the list of all buffers - and operate variously on several of them. -* Indirect Buffers:: An indirect buffer shares the text of another buffer. -* Buffer Convenience:: Convenience and customization features for - buffer handling. -@end menu - -@node Select Buffer -@section Creating and Selecting Buffers -@cindex change buffers -@cindex switch buffers - -@table @kbd -@item C-x b @var{buffer} @key{RET} -Select or create a buffer named @var{buffer} (@code{switch-to-buffer}). -@item C-x 4 b @var{buffer} @key{RET} -Similar, but select @var{buffer} in another window -(@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window}). -@item C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET} -Similar, but select @var{buffer} in a separate frame -(@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}). -@item C-x @key{LEFT} -Select the previous buffer in the list of existing buffers. -@item C-x @key{RIGHT} -Select the next buffer in the list of existing buffers. -@item C-u M-g M-g -@itemx C-u M-g g -Read a number @var{n} and move to line @var{n} in the most recently -selected buffer other than the current buffer. -@end table - -@kindex C-x b -@findex switch-to-buffer - To select the buffer named @var{bufname}, type @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} -@key{RET}}. This runs the command @code{switch-to-buffer} with argument -@var{bufname}. You can use completion to enter the buffer -name (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b} -specifies the buffer that was current most recently among those not -now displayed in any window. - -@kindex C-x @key{LEFT} -@kindex C-x @key{RIGHT} -@findex next-buffer -@findex previous-buffer - For conveniently switching between a few buffers, use the commands -@kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}} and @kbd{C-x @key{RIGHT}}. @kbd{C-x @key{RIGHT}} -(@code{previous-buffer}) selects the previous buffer (following the order -of most recent selection in the current frame), while @kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}} -(@code{next-buffer}) moves through buffers in the reverse direction. - -@kindex C-x 4 b -@findex switch-to-buffer-other-window -@vindex even-window-heights - To select a buffer in a window other than the current one, type -@kbd{C-x 4 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This runs the command -@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window} which displays the buffer -@var{bufname} in another window. By default, if displaying the buffer -causes two vertically adjacent windows to be displayed, the heights of -those windows are evened out; to countermand that and preserve the -window configuration, set the variable @code{even-window-heights} to -@code{nil}. - -@kindex C-x 5 b -@findex switch-to-buffer-other-frame - Similarly, @kbd{C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}} runs the command -@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame} which selects a buffer in another -frame. - -@vindex display-buffer-reuse-frames - You can control how certain buffers are handled by these commands by -customizing the variables @code{special-display-buffer-names}, -@code{special-display-regexps}, @code{same-window-buffer-names}, and -@code{same-window-regexps}. See @ref{Force Same Window}, and -@ref{Special Buffer Frames}, for more about these variables. In -addition, if the value of @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is -non-@code{nil}, and the buffer you want to switch to is already -displayed in some frame, Emacs will just raise that frame. - - Most buffers are created by visiting files, or by Emacs commands that -want to display some text, but you can also create a buffer explicitly -by typing @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This makes a new, empty -buffer that is not visiting any file, and selects it for editing. Such -buffers are used for making notes to yourself. If you try to save one, -you are asked for the file name to use. The new buffer's major mode is -determined by the value of @code{default-major-mode} (@pxref{Major -Modes}). - - Note that @kbd{C-x C-f}, and any other command for visiting a file, -can also be used to switch to an existing file-visiting buffer. -@xref{Visiting}. - - @kbd{C-u M-g M-g}, that is @code{goto-line} with a prefix argument -of just @kbd{C-u}, reads a number @var{n} using the minibuffer, -selects the most recently selected buffer other than the current -buffer in another window, and then moves point to the beginning of -line number @var{n} in that buffer. This is mainly useful in a buffer -that refers to line numbers in another buffer: if point is on or just -after a number, @code{goto-line} uses that number as the default for -@var{n}. Note that prefix arguments other than just @kbd{C-u} behave -differently. @kbd{C-u 4 M-g M-g} goes to line 4 in the @emph{current} -buffer, without reading a number from the minibuffer. (Remember that -@kbd{M-g M-g} without prefix argument reads a number @var{n} and then -moves to line number @var{n} in the current buffer.) - - Emacs uses buffer names that start with a space for internal purposes. -It treats these buffers specially in minor ways---for example, by -default they do not record undo information. It is best to avoid using -such buffer names yourself. - -@node List Buffers -@section Listing Existing Buffers - -@table @kbd -@item C-x C-b -List the existing buffers (@code{list-buffers}). -@end table - -@cindex listing current buffers -@kindex C-x C-b -@findex list-buffers - To display a list of existing buffers, type @kbd{C-x C-b}. Each -line in the list shows one buffer's name, major mode and visited file. -The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the -buffers that were current most recently come first. - - @samp{*} in the first field of a line indicates the buffer is -``modified.'' If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save -some with @kbd{C-x s} (@pxref{Save Commands}). @samp{%} indicates a -read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the current buffer. Here is an -example of a buffer list:@refill - -@smallexample -CRM Buffer Size Mode File -. * .emacs 3294 Emacs-Lisp ~/.emacs - % *Help* 101 Help - search.c 86055 C ~/cvs/emacs/src/search.c - % src 20959 Dired by name ~/cvs/emacs/src/ - * *mail* 42 Mail - % HELLO 1607 Fundamental ~/cvs/emacs/etc/HELLO - % NEWS 481184 Outline ~/cvs/emacs/etc/NEWS - *scratch* 191 Lisp Interaction - * *Messages* 1554 Fundamental -@end smallexample - -@noindent -Note that the buffer @samp{*Help*} was made by a help request; it is -not visiting any file. The buffer @code{src} was made by Dired on the -directory @file{~/cvs/emacs/src/}. You can list only buffers that are -visiting files by giving the command a prefix argument, as in -@kbd{C-u C-x C-b}. - - @code{list-buffers} omits buffers whose names begin with a space, -unless they visit files: such buffers are used internally by Emacs. - -@need 2000 -@node Misc Buffer -@section Miscellaneous Buffer Operations - -@table @kbd -@item C-x C-q -Toggle read-only status of buffer (@code{toggle-read-only}). -@item M-x rename-buffer @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET} -Change the name of the current buffer. -@item M-x rename-uniquely -Rename the current buffer by adding @samp{<@var{number}>} to the end. -@item M-x view-buffer @key{RET} @var{buffer} @key{RET} -Scroll through buffer @var{buffer}. -@end table - -@kindex C-x C-q -@vindex buffer-read-only -@cindex read-only buffer - A buffer can be @dfn{read-only}, which means that commands to change -its contents are not allowed. The mode line indicates read-only -buffers with @samp{%%} or @samp{%*} near the left margin. Read-only -buffers are usually made by subsystems such as Dired and Rmail that -have special commands to operate on the text; also by visiting a file -whose access control says you cannot write it. - -@findex toggle-read-only - If you wish to make changes in a read-only buffer, use the command -@kbd{C-x C-q} (@code{toggle-read-only}). It makes a read-only buffer -writable, and makes a writable buffer read-only. This -works by setting the variable @code{buffer-read-only}, which has a local -value in each buffer and makes the buffer read-only if its value is -non-@code{nil}. If you have files under version control, you may find -it convenient to bind @kbd{C-x C-q} to @code{vc-toggle-read-only} -instead. Then, typing @kbd{C-x C-q} not only changes the read-only -flag, but it also checks the file in or out. @xref{Version -Control}. - -@findex rename-buffer - @kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. You -specify the new name as a minibuffer argument; there is no default. -If you specify a name that is in use for some other buffer, an error -happens and no renaming is done. - -@findex rename-uniquely - @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} renames the current buffer to a similar -name with a numeric suffix added to make it both different and unique. -This command does not need an argument. It is useful for creating -multiple shell buffers: if you rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer, then -do @kbd{M-x shell} again, it makes a new shell buffer named -@samp{*shell*}; meanwhile, the old shell buffer continues to exist -under its new name. This method is also good for mail buffers, -compilation buffers, and most Emacs features that create special -buffers with particular names. (With some of these features, such as -@kbd{M-x compile}, @kbd{M-x grep} an @kbd{M-x info}, you need to -switch to some other buffer before using the command, in order for it -to make a different buffer.) - -@findex view-buffer - @kbd{M-x view-buffer} is much like @kbd{M-x view-file} (@pxref{Misc -File Ops}) except that it examines an already existing Emacs buffer. -View mode provides commands for scrolling through the buffer -conveniently but not for changing it. When you exit View mode with -@kbd{q}, that switches back to the buffer (and the position) which was -previously displayed in the window. Alternatively, if you exit View -mode with @kbd{e}, the buffer and the value of point that resulted from -your perusal remain in effect. - - The commands @kbd{M-x append-to-buffer} and @kbd{M-x insert-buffer} -can be used to copy text from one buffer to another. @xref{Accumulating -Text}. - -@node Kill Buffer -@section Killing Buffers - -@cindex killing buffers - If you continue an Emacs session for a while, you may accumulate a -large number of buffers. You may then find it convenient to @dfn{kill} -the buffers you no longer need. On most operating systems, killing a -buffer releases its space back to the operating system so that other -programs can use it. Here are some commands for killing buffers: - -@table @kbd -@item C-x k @var{bufname} @key{RET} -Kill buffer @var{bufname} (@code{kill-buffer}). -@item M-x kill-some-buffers -Offer to kill each buffer, one by one. -@end table - -@findex kill-buffer -@findex kill-some-buffers -@kindex C-x k - - @kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}) kills one buffer, whose name you -specify in the minibuffer. The default, used if you type just -@key{RET} in the minibuffer, is to kill the current buffer. If you -kill the current buffer, another buffer becomes current: one that was -current in the recent past but is not displayed in any window now. If -you ask to kill a file-visiting buffer that is modified (has unsaved -editing), then you must confirm with @kbd{yes} before the buffer is -killed. - - The command @kbd{M-x kill-some-buffers} asks about each buffer, one by -one. An answer of @kbd{y} means to kill the buffer. Killing the current -buffer or a buffer containing unsaved changes selects a new buffer or asks -for confirmation just like @code{kill-buffer}. - - The buffer menu feature (@pxref{Several Buffers}) is also convenient -for killing various buffers. - -@vindex kill-buffer-hook - If you want to do something special every time a buffer is killed, you -can add hook functions to the hook @code{kill-buffer-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}). - -@findex clean-buffer-list - If you run one Emacs session for a period of days, as many people do, -it can fill up with buffers that you used several days ago. The command -@kbd{M-x clean-buffer-list} is a convenient way to purge them; it kills -all the unmodified buffers that you have not used for a long time. An -ordinary buffer is killed if it has not been displayed for three days; -however, you can specify certain buffers that should never be killed -automatically, and others that should be killed if they have been unused -for a mere hour. - -@cindex Midnight mode -@vindex midnight-mode -@vindex midnight-hook - You can also have this buffer purging done for you, every day at -midnight, by enabling Midnight mode. Midnight mode operates each day at -midnight; at that time, it runs @code{clean-buffer-list}, or whichever -functions you have placed in the normal hook @code{midnight-hook} -(@pxref{Hooks}). - - To enable Midnight mode, use the Customization buffer to set the -variable @code{midnight-mode} to @code{t}. @xref{Easy Customization}. - -@node Several Buffers -@section Operating on Several Buffers -@cindex buffer menu - - The @dfn{buffer-menu} facility is like a ``Dired for buffers''; it allows -you to request operations on various Emacs buffers by editing an Emacs -buffer containing a list of them. You can save buffers, kill them -(here called @dfn{deleting} them, for consistency with Dired), or display -them. - -@table @kbd -@item M-x buffer-menu -Begin editing a buffer listing all Emacs buffers. -@item M-x buffer-menu-other-window. -Similar, but do it in another window. -@end table - -@findex buffer-menu -@findex buffer-menu-other-window - The command @code{buffer-menu} writes a list of all Emacs -buffers@footnote{Buffers which don't visit files and whose names begin -with a space are omitted: these are used internally by Emacs.} into the -buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}, and selects that buffer in Buffer Menu -mode. - - The buffer is read-only, and can be -changed only through the special commands described in this section. -The usual Emacs cursor motion commands can be used in the @samp{*Buffer -List*} buffer. The following commands apply to the buffer described on -the current line. - -@table @kbd -@item d -Request to delete (kill) the buffer, then move down. The request -shows as a @samp{D} on the line, before the buffer name. Requested -deletions take place when you type the @kbd{x} command. -@item C-d -Like @kbd{d} but move up afterwards instead of down. -@item s -Request to save the buffer. The request shows as an @samp{S} on the -line. Requested saves take place when you type the @kbd{x} command. -You may request both saving and deletion for the same buffer. -@item x -Perform previously requested deletions and saves. -@item u -Remove any request made for the current line, and move down. -@item @key{DEL} -Move to previous line and remove any request made for that line. -@end table - - The @kbd{d}, @kbd{C-d}, @kbd{s} and @kbd{u} commands to add or remove -flags also move down (or up) one line. They accept a numeric argument -as a repeat count. - - These commands operate immediately on the buffer listed on the current -line: - -@table @kbd -@item ~ -Mark the buffer ``unmodified.'' The command @kbd{~} does this -immediately when you type it. -@item % -Toggle the buffer's read-only flag. The command @kbd{%} does -this immediately when you type it. -@item t -Visit the buffer as a tags table. @xref{Select Tags Table}. -@end table - - There are also commands to select another buffer or buffers: - -@table @kbd -@item q -Quit the buffer menu---immediately display the most recent formerly -visible buffer in its place. -@item @key{RET} -@itemx f -Immediately select this line's buffer in place of the @samp{*Buffer -List*} buffer. -@item o -Immediately select this line's buffer in another window as if by -@kbd{C-x 4 b}, leaving @samp{*Buffer List*} visible. -@item C-o -Immediately display this line's buffer in another window, but don't -select the window. -@item 1 -Immediately select this line's buffer in a full-screen window. -@item 2 -Immediately set up two windows, with this line's buffer selected in -one, and the previously current buffer (aside from the buffer -@samp{*Buffer List*}) displayed in the other. -@item b -Bury the buffer listed on this line. -@item m -Mark this line's buffer to be displayed in another window if you exit -with the @kbd{v} command. The request shows as a @samp{>} at the -beginning of the line. (A single buffer may not have both a delete -request and a display request.) -@item v -Immediately select this line's buffer, and also display in other windows -any buffers previously marked with the @kbd{m} command. If you have not -marked any buffers, this command is equivalent to @kbd{1}. -@end table - - There is also a command that affects the entire buffer list: - -@table @kbd -@item T -Delete, or reinsert, lines for non-file buffers. This command toggles -the inclusion of such buffers in the buffer list. -@end table - - What @code{buffer-menu} actually does is create and switch to a -suitable buffer, and turn on Buffer Menu mode in it. Everything else -described above is implemented by the special commands provided in -Buffer Menu mode. One consequence of this is that you can switch from -the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer to another Emacs buffer, and edit -there. You can reselect the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer later, to -perform the operations already requested, or you can kill it, or pay -no further attention to it. - - The list in the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer looks exactly like the -buffer list described in @ref{List Buffers}, because they really are -the same. The only difference between @code{buffer-menu} and -@code{list-buffers} is that @code{buffer-menu} switches to the -@samp{*Buffer List*} buffer in the selected window; -@code{list-buffers} displays the same buffer in another window. If -you run @code{list-buffers} (that is, type @kbd{C-x C-b}) and select -the buffer list manually, you can use all of the commands described -here. - - Normally, the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated -automatically when buffers are created and killed; its contents are -just text. If you have created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way -to update @samp{*Buffer List*} to show what you have done is to type -@kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). You can make this happen regularly -every @code{auto-revert-interval} seconds if you enable Auto Revert -mode in this buffer, as long as it is not marked modified. Global -Auto Revert mode applies to the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer only if -@code{global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers} is non-@code{nil}. -@iftex -@inforef{Autorevert,, emacs-xtra}, for details. -@end iftex -@ifnottex -@xref{Autorevert, global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers}, for details. -@end ifnottex - - - The command @code{buffer-menu-other-window} works the same as -@code{buffer-menu}, except that it displays the buffers list in -another window. - -@node Indirect Buffers -@section Indirect Buffers -@cindex indirect buffer -@cindex base buffer - - An @dfn{indirect buffer} shares the text of some other buffer, which -is called the @dfn{base buffer} of the indirect buffer. In some ways it -is the analogue, for buffers, of a symbolic link between files. - -@table @kbd -@findex make-indirect-buffer -@item M-x make-indirect-buffer @key{RET} @var{base-buffer} @key{RET} @var{indirect-name} @key{RET} -Create an indirect buffer named @var{indirect-name} whose base buffer -is @var{base-buffer}. -@findex clone-indirect-buffer -@item M-x clone-indirect-buffer @key{RET} -Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer. -@item C-x 4 c -@kindex C-x 4 c -@findex clone-indirect-buffer-other-window -Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer, and -select it in another window (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}). -@end table - - The text of the indirect buffer is always identical to the text of its -base buffer; changes made by editing either one are visible immediately -in the other. But in all other respects, the indirect buffer and its -base buffer are completely separate. They have different names, -different values of point, different narrowing, different markers, -different major modes, and different local variables. - - An indirect buffer cannot visit a file, but its base buffer can. If -you try to save the indirect buffer, that actually works by saving the -base buffer. Killing the base buffer effectively kills the indirect -buffer, but killing an indirect buffer has no effect on its base buffer. - - One way to use indirect buffers is to display multiple views of an -outline. @xref{Outline Views}. - - A quick and handy way to make an indirect buffer is with the command -@kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}. It creates and selects an indirect -buffer whose base buffer is the current buffer. With a numeric -argument, it prompts for the name of the indirect buffer; otherwise it -uses the name of the current buffer, with a @samp{<@var{n}>} suffix -added. @kbd{C-x 4 c} (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}) -works like @kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}, but it selects the new -buffer in another window. - - The more general way to make an indirect buffer is with the command -@kbd{M-x make-indirect-buffer}. It creates an indirect buffer from -buffer @var{base-buffer}, under the name @var{indirect-name}. It -prompts for both @var{base-buffer} and @var{indirect-name} using the -minibuffer. - -@node Buffer Convenience -@section Convenience Features and Customization of Buffer Handling - - This section describes several modes and features that make it more -convenient to switch between buffers. - -@menu -* Uniquify:: Making buffer names unique with directory parts. -* Iswitchb:: Switching between buffers with substrings. -* Buffer Menus:: Configurable buffer menu. -@end menu - -@node Uniquify -@subsection Making Buffer Names Unique - -@cindex unique buffer names -@cindex directories in buffer names - When several buffers visit identically-named files, Emacs must give -the buffers distinct names. The usual method for making buffer names -unique adds @samp{<2>}, @samp{<3>}, etc. to the end of the buffer -names (all but one of them). - -@vindex uniquify-buffer-name-style - Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the -buffer name. To select one, customize the variable -@code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} (@pxref{Easy Customization}). - - To begin with, the @code{forward} naming method includes part of the -file's directory name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this -method, buffers visiting the files @file{/u/rms/tmp/Makefile} and -@file{/usr/projects/zaphod/Makefile} would be named -@samp{tmp/Makefile} and @samp{zaphod/Makefile}, respectively (instead -of @samp{Makefile} and @samp{Makefile<2>}). - - In contrast, the @code{post-forward} naming method would call the -buffers @samp{Makefile|tmp} and @samp{Makefile|zaphod}, and the -@code{reverse} naming method would call them @samp{Makefile\tmp} and -@samp{Makefile\zaphod}. The nontrivial difference between -@code{post-forward} and @code{reverse} occurs when just one directory -name is not enough to distinguish two files; then @code{reverse} puts -the directory names in reverse order, so that @file{/top/middle/file} -becomes @samp{file\middle\top}, while @code{post-forward} puts them in -forward order after the file name, as in @samp{file|top/middle}. - - Which rule to follow for putting the directory names in the buffer -name is not very important if you are going to @emph{look} at the -buffer names before you type one. But as an experienced user, if you -know the rule, you won't have to look. And then you may find that one -rule or another is easier for you to remember and apply quickly. - -@node Iswitchb -@subsection Switching Between Buffers using Substrings - -@findex iswitchb-mode -@cindex Iswitchb mode -@cindex mode, Iswitchb -@kindex C-x b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} -@kindex C-x 4 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} -@kindex C-x 5 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)} -@kindex C-x 4 C-o @r{(Iswitchb mode)} - - Iswitchb global minor mode provides convenient switching between -buffers using substrings of their names. It replaces the normal -definitions of @kbd{C-x b}, @kbd{C-x 4 b}, @kbd{C-x 5 b}, and @kbd{C-x -4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter.'' - - When one of these commands prompts you for a buffer name, you can -type in just a substring of the name you want to choose. As you enter -the substring, Iswitchb mode continuously displays a list of buffers -that match the substring you have typed. - - At any time, you can type @key{RET} to select the first buffer in -the list. So the way to select a particular buffer is to make it the -first in the list. There are two ways to do this. You can type more -of the buffer name and thus narrow down the list, excluding unwanted -buffers above the desired one. Alternatively, you can use @kbd{C-s} -and @kbd{C-r} to rotate the list until the desired buffer is first. - - @key{TAB} while entering the buffer name performs completion on the -string you have entered, based on the displayed list of buffers. - - To enable Iswitchb mode, type @kbd{M-x iswitchb-mode}, or customize -the variable @code{iswitchb-mode} to @code{t} (@pxref{Easy -Customization}). - -@node Buffer Menus -@subsection Customizing Buffer Menus - -@findex bs-show -@cindex buffer list, customizable -@table @kbd -@item M-x bs-show -Make a list of buffers similarly to @kbd{M-x list-buffers} but -customizable. -@end table - - @kbd{M-x bs-show} pops up a buffer list similar to the one normally -displayed by @kbd{C-x C-b} but which you can customize. If you prefer -this to the usual buffer list, you can bind this command to @kbd{C-x -C-b}. To customize this buffer list, use the @code{bs} Custom group -(@pxref{Easy Customization}). - -@findex msb-mode -@cindex mode, MSB -@cindex MSB mode -@cindex buffer menu -@findex mouse-buffer-menu -@kindex C-Down-Mouse-1 - MSB global minor mode (``MSB'' stands for ``mouse select buffer'') -provides a different and customizable mouse buffer menu which you may -prefer. It replaces the bindings of @code{mouse-buffer-menu}, -normally on @kbd{C-Down-Mouse-1}, and the menu bar buffer menu. You -can customize the menu in the @code{msb} Custom group. - -@ignore - arch-tag: 08c43460-f4f4-4b43-9cb5-1ea9ad991695 -@end ignore