Mercurial > emacs
changeset 82707:908e8993d113
Move tutorials from etc/ to etc/tutorials/
| author | Glenn Morris <rgm@gnu.org> |
|---|---|
| date | Wed, 22 Aug 2007 07:39:36 +0000 |
| parents | 7802bccd4370 |
| children | c479c43510db |
| files | etc/tutorials/TUTORIAL |
| diffstat | 1 files changed, 1131 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-) [+] |
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--- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 +++ b/etc/tutorials/TUTORIAL Wed Aug 22 07:39:36 2007 +0000 @@ -0,0 +1,1131 @@ +Emacs tutorial. See end for copying conditions. + +Emacs commands generally involve the CONTROL key (sometimes labeled +CTRL or CTL) or the META key (sometimes labeled EDIT or ALT). Rather than +write that in full each time, we'll use the following abbreviations: + + C-<chr> means hold the CONTROL key while typing the character <chr> + Thus, C-f would be: hold the CONTROL key and type f. + M-<chr> means hold the META or EDIT or ALT key down while typing <chr>. + If there is no META, EDIT or ALT key, instead press and release the + ESC key and then type <chr>. We write <ESC> for the ESC key. + +Important note: to end the Emacs session, type C-x C-c. (Two characters.) +The characters ">>" at the left margin indicate directions for you to +try using a command. For instance: +<<Blank lines inserted around following line by help-with-tutorial>> +[Middle of page left blank for didactic purposes. Text continues below] +>> Now type C-v (View next screen) to move to the next screen. + (go ahead, do it by holding down the CONTROL key while typing v). + From now on, you should do this again whenever you finish + reading the screen. + +Note that there is an overlap of two lines when you move from screen +to screen; this provides some continuity so you can continue reading +the text. + +The first thing that you need to know is how to move around from place +to place in the text. You already know how to move forward one screen, +with C-v. To move backwards one screen, type M-v (hold down the META key +and type v, or type <ESC>v if you do not have a META, EDIT, or ALT key). + +>> Try typing M-v and then C-v, a few times. + + +* SUMMARY +--------- + +The following commands are useful for viewing screenfuls: + + C-v Move forward one screenful + M-v Move backward one screenful + C-l Clear screen and redisplay all the text, + moving the text around the cursor + to the center of the screen. + (That's CONTROL-L, not CONTROL-1.) + +>> Find the cursor, and note what text is near it. + Then type C-l. + Find the cursor again and notice that the same text + is near the cursor now. + +You can also use the PageUp and PageDn keys to move by screenfuls, if +your terminal has them, but you can edit more efficiently if you use +C-v and M-v. + + +* BASIC CURSOR CONTROL +---------------------- + +Moving from screenful to screenful is useful, but how do you +move to a specific place within the text on the screen? + +There are several ways you can do this. You can use the arrow keys, +but it's more efficient to keep your hands in the standard position +and use the commands C-p, C-b, C-f, and C-n. These characters +are equivalent to the four arrow keys, like this: + + Previous line, C-p + : + : + Backward, C-b .... Current cursor position .... Forward, C-f + : + : + Next line, C-n + +>> Move the cursor to the line in the middle of that diagram + using C-n or C-p. Then type C-l to see the whole diagram + centered in the screen. + +You'll find it easy to remember these letters by words they stand for: +P for previous, N for next, B for backward and F for forward. You +will be using these basic cursor positioning commands all the time. + +>> Do a few C-n's to bring the cursor down to this line. + +>> Move into the line with C-f's and then up with C-p's. + See what C-p does when the cursor is in the middle of the line. + +Each line of text ends with a Newline character, which serves to +separate it from the following line. The last line in your file ought +to have a Newline at the end (but Emacs does not require it to have +one). + +>> Try to C-b at the beginning of a line. It should move to + the end of the previous line. This is because it moves back + across the Newline character. + +C-f can move across a Newline just like C-b. + +>> Do a few more C-b's, so you get a feel for where the cursor is. + Then do C-f's to return to the end of the line. + Then do one more C-f to move to the following line. + +When you move past the top or bottom of the screen, the text beyond +the edge shifts onto the screen. This is called "scrolling". It +enables Emacs to move the cursor to the specified place in the text +without moving it off the screen. + +>> Try to move the cursor off the bottom of the screen with C-n, and + see what happens. + +If moving by characters is too slow, you can move by words. M-f +(META-f) moves forward a word and M-b moves back a word. + +>> Type a few M-f's and M-b's. + +When you are in the middle of a word, M-f moves to the end of the word. +When you are in whitespace between words, M-f moves to the end of the +following word. M-b works likewise in the opposite direction. + +>> Type M-f and M-b a few times, interspersed with C-f's and C-b's + so that you can observe the action of M-f and M-b from various + places inside and between words. + +Notice the parallel between C-f and C-b on the one hand, and M-f and +M-b on the other hand. Very often Meta characters are used for +operations related to the units defined by language (words, sentences, +paragraphs), while Control characters operate on basic units that are +independent of what you are editing (characters, lines, etc). + +This parallel applies between lines and sentences: C-a and C-e move to +the beginning or end of a line, and M-a and M-e move to the beginning +or end of a sentence. + +>> Try a couple of C-a's, and then a couple of C-e's. + Try a couple of M-a's, and then a couple of M-e's. + +See how repeated C-a's do nothing, but repeated M-a's keep moving one +more sentence. Although these are not quite analogous, each one seems +natural. + +The location of the cursor in the text is also called "point". To +paraphrase, the cursor shows on the screen where point is located in +the text. + +Here is a summary of simple cursor-moving operations, including the +word and sentence moving commands: + + C-f Move forward a character + C-b Move backward a character + + M-f Move forward a word + M-b Move backward a word + + C-n Move to next line + C-p Move to previous line + + C-a Move to beginning of line + C-e Move to end of line + + M-a Move back to beginning of sentence + M-e Move forward to end of sentence + +>> Try all of these commands now a few times for practice. + These are the most often used commands. + +Two other important cursor motion commands are M-< (META Less-than), +which moves to the beginning of the whole text, and M-> (META +Greater-than), which moves to the end of the whole text. + +On most terminals, the "<" is above the comma, so you must use the +shift key to type it. On these terminals you must use the shift key +to type M-< also; without the shift key, you would be typing M-comma. + +>> Try M-< now, to move to the beginning of the tutorial. + Then use C-v repeatedly to move back here. + +>> Try M-> now, to move to the end of the tutorial. + Then use M-v repeatedly to move back here. + +You can also move the cursor with the arrow keys, if your terminal has +arrow keys. We recommend learning C-b, C-f, C-n and C-p for three +reasons. First, they work on all kinds of terminals. Second, once +you gain practice at using Emacs, you will find that typing these Control +characters is faster than typing the arrow keys (because you do not +have to move your hands away from touch-typing position). Third, once +you form the habit of using these Control character commands, you can +easily learn to use other advanced cursor motion commands as well. + +Most Emacs commands accept a numeric argument; for most commands, this +serves as a repeat-count. The way you give a command a repeat count +is by typing C-u and then the digits before you type the command. If +you have a META (or EDIT or ALT) key, there is another, alternative way +to enter a numeric argument: type the digits while holding down the +META key. We recommend learning the C-u method because it works on +any terminal. The numeric argument is also called a "prefix argument", +because you type the argument before the command it applies to. + +For instance, C-u 8 C-f moves forward eight characters. + +>> Try using C-n or C-p with a numeric argument, to move the cursor + to a line near this one with just one command. + +Most commands use the numeric argument as a repeat count, but some +commands use it in some other way. Several commands (but none of +those you have learned so far) use it as a flag--the presence of a +prefix argument, regardless of its value, makes the command do +something different. + +C-v and M-v are another kind of exception. When given an argument, +they scroll the screen up or down by that many lines, rather than by a +screenful. For example, C-u 8 C-v scrolls the screen by 8 lines. + +>> Try typing C-u 8 C-v now. + +This should have scrolled the screen up by 8 lines. If you would like +to scroll it down again, you can give an argument to M-v. + +If you are using a windowed display, such as X11 or MS-Windows, there +should be a tall rectangular area called a scroll bar at the +side of the Emacs window. You can scroll the text by clicking the +mouse in the scroll bar. + +>> Try pressing the middle button at the top of the highlighted area + within the scroll bar. This should scroll the text to a position + determined by how high or low you click. + +>> Try moving the mouse up and down, while holding the middle button + pressed down. You'll see that the text scrolls up and down as + you move the mouse. + + +* WHEN EMACS IS HUNG +-------------------- + +If Emacs stops responding to your commands, you can stop it safely by +typing C-g. You can use C-g to stop a command which is taking too +long to execute. + +You can also use C-g to discard a numeric argument or the beginning of +a command that you do not want to finish. + +>> Type C-u 100 to make a numeric arg of 100, then type C-g. + Now type C-f. It should move just one character, + because you canceled the argument with C-g. + +If you have typed an <ESC> by mistake, you can get rid of it +with a C-g. + + +* DISABLED COMMANDS +------------------- + +Some Emacs commands are "disabled" so that beginning users cannot use +them by accident. + +If you type one of the disabled commands, Emacs displays a message +saying what the command was, and asking you whether you want to go +ahead and execute the command. + +If you really want to try the command, type <SPC> (the Space bar) in +answer to the question. Normally, if you do not want to execute the +disabled command, answer the question with "n". + +>> Type C-x C-l (which is a disabled command), + then type n to answer the question. + + +* WINDOWS +--------- + +Emacs can have several windows, each displaying its own text. We will +explain later on how to use multiple windows. Right now we want to +explain how to get rid of extra windows and go back to basic +one-window editing. It is simple: + + C-x 1 One window (i.e., kill all other windows). + +That is CONTROL-x followed by the digit 1. C-x 1 expands the window +which contains the cursor, to occupy the full screen. It deletes all +other windows. + +>> Move the cursor to this line and type C-u 0 C-l. +>> Type CONTROL-h k CONTROL-f. + See how this window shrinks, while a new one appears + to display documentation on the CONTROL-f command. + +>> Type C-x 1 and see the documentation listing window disappear. + +This command is unlike the other commands you have learned in that it +consists of two characters. It starts with the character CONTROL-x. +There is a whole series of commands that start with CONTROL-x; many of +them have to do with windows, files, buffers, and related things. +These commands are two, three or four characters long. + + +* INSERTING AND DELETING +------------------------ + +If you want to insert text, just type the text. Characters which you +can see, such as A, 7, *, etc. are taken by Emacs as text and inserted +immediately. Type <Return> (the carriage-return key) to insert a +Newline character. + +You can delete the last character you typed by typing <Delback>. +<Delback> is a key on the keyboard--the same one you normally use, +outside Emacs, for deleting the last character you typed. It is +normally a large key a couple of lines up from the <Return> key, and +it is usually labeled "Delete", "Del" or "Backspace". + +If the large key there is labeled "Backspace", then that's the one you +use for <Delback>. There may also be another key labeled "Delete" +somewhere else, but that's not <Delback>. + +More generally, <Delback> deletes the character immediately before the +current cursor position. + +>> Do this now--type a few characters, then delete them + by typing <Delback> a few times. Don't worry about this file + being changed; you will not alter the master tutorial. This is + your personal copy of it. + +When a line of text gets too big for one line on the screen, the line +of text is "continued" onto a second screen line. A backslash ("\") +(or, if you're using a windowed display, a little curved arrow) at the +right margin indicates a line which has been continued. + +>> Insert text until you reach the right margin, and keep on inserting. + You'll see a continuation line appear. + +>> Use <Delback>s to delete the text until the line fits on one screen + line again. The continuation line goes away. + +You can delete a Newline character just like any other character. +Deleting the Newline character between two lines merges them into +one line. If the resulting combined line is too long to fit in the +screen width, it will be displayed with a continuation line. + +>> Move the cursor to the beginning of a line and type <Delback>. This + merges that line with the previous line. + +>> Type <Return> to reinsert the Newline you deleted. + +Remember that most Emacs commands can be given a repeat count; +this includes text characters. Repeating a text character inserts +it several times. + +>> Try that now -- type C-u 8 * to insert ********. + +You've now learned the most basic way of typing something in +Emacs and correcting errors. You can delete by words or lines +as well. Here is a summary of the delete operations: + + <Delback> Delete the character just before the cursor + C-d Delete the next character after the cursor + + M-<Delback> Kill the word immediately before the cursor + M-d Kill the next word after the cursor + + C-k Kill from the cursor position to end of line + M-k Kill to the end of the current sentence + +Notice that <Delback> and C-d vs M-<Delback> and M-d extend the parallel +started by C-f and M-f (well, <Delback> is not really a control +character, but let's not worry about that). C-k and M-k are like C-e +and M-e, sort of, in that lines are opposite sentences. + +You can also kill any part of the text with one uniform method. Move +to one end of that part, and type C-@ or C-<SPC> (either one). (<SPC> +is the Space bar.) Move to the other end of that part, and type C-w. +That kills all the text between the two positions. + +>> Move the cursor to the Y at the start of the previous paragraph. +>> Type C-<SPC>. Emacs should display a message "Mark set" + at the bottom of the screen. +>> Move the cursor to the n in "end", on the second line of the + paragraph. +>> Type C-w. This will kill the text starting from the Y, + and ending just before the n. + +The difference between "killing" and "deleting" is that "killed" text +can be reinserted, whereas "deleted" things cannot be reinserted. +Reinsertion of killed text is called "yanking". Generally, the +commands that can remove a lot of text kill the text (they set up so +that you can yank the text), while the commands that remove just one +character, or only remove blank lines and spaces, do deletion (so you +cannot yank that text). <Delback> and C-d do deletion in the simplest +case, with no argument. When given an argument, they kill instead. + +>> Move the cursor to the beginning of a line which is not empty. + Then type C-k to kill the text on that line. +>> Type C-k a second time. You'll see that it kills the Newline + which follows that line. + +Note that a single C-k kills the contents of the line, and a second +C-k kills the line itself, and makes all the other lines move up. C-k +treats a numeric argument specially: it kills that many lines AND +their contents. This is not mere repetition. C-u 2 C-k kills two +lines and their newlines; typing C-k twice would not do that. + +Bringing back killed text is called "yanking". (Think of it as +yanking back, or pulling back, some text that was taken away.) You +can yank the killed text either at the same place where it was killed, +or at some other place in the text you are editing, or even in a +different file. You can yank the same text several times; that makes +multiple copies of it. + +The command for yanking is C-y. It reinserts the last killed text, +at the current cursor position. + +>> Try it; type C-y to yank the text back. + +If you do several C-k's in a row, all of the killed text is saved +together, so that one C-y will yank all of the lines at once. + +>> Do this now, type C-k several times. + +Now to retrieve that killed text: + +>> Type C-y. Then move the cursor down a few lines and type C-y + again. You now see how to copy some text. + +What do you do if you have some text you want to yank back, and then +you kill something else? C-y would yank the more recent kill. But +the previous text is not lost. You can get back to it using the M-y +command. After you have done C-y to get the most recent kill, typing +M-y replaces that yanked text with the previous kill. Typing M-y +again and again brings in earlier and earlier kills. When you have +reached the text you are looking for, you do not have to do anything to +keep it. Just go on with your editing, leaving the yanked text where +it is. + +If you M-y enough times, you come back to the starting point (the most +recent kill). + +>> Kill a line, move around, kill another line. + Then do C-y to get back the second killed line. + Then do M-y and it will be replaced by the first killed line. + Do more M-y's and see what you get. Keep doing them until + the second kill line comes back, and then a few more. + If you like, you can try giving M-y positive and negative + arguments. + + +* UNDO +------ + +If you make a change to the text, and then decide that it was a +mistake, you can undo the change with the undo command, C-x u. + +Normally, C-x u undoes the changes made by one command; if you repeat +the C-x u several times in a row, each repetition undoes one +additional command. + +But there are two exceptions: commands that do not change the text do +not count (this includes cursor motion commands and scrolling +command), and self-inserting characters are usually handled in groups +of up to 20. (This is to reduce the number of C-x u's you have to +type to undo insertion of text.) + +>> Kill this line with C-k, then type C-x u and it should reappear. + +C-_ is an alternative undo command; it works just the same as C-x u, +but it is easier to type several times in a row. The disadvantage of +C-_ is that on some keyboards it is not obvious how to type it. That +is why we provide C-x u as well. On some terminals, you can type C-_ +by typing / while holding down CONTROL. + +A numeric argument to C-_ or C-x u acts as a repeat count. + +You can undo deletion of text just as you can undo killing of text. +The distinction between killing something and deleting it affects +whether you can yank it with C-y; it makes no difference for undo. + + +* FILES +------- + +In order to make the text you edit permanent, you must put it in a +file. Otherwise, it will go away when your invocation of Emacs goes +away. In order to put your text in a file, you must "find" the file +before you enter the text. (This is also called "visiting" the file.) + +Finding a file means that you see the contents of the file within +Emacs. In many ways, it is as if you were editing the file itself. +However, the changes you make using Emacs do not become permanent +until you "save" the file. This is so you can avoid leaving a +half-changed file on the system when you do not want to. Even when +you save, Emacs leaves the original file under a changed name in case +you later decide that your changes were a mistake. + +If you look near the bottom of the screen you will see a line that +begins and ends with dashes, and starts with "--:-- TUTORIAL" or +something like that. This part of the screen normally shows the name +of the file that you are visiting. Right now, you are visiting a file +called "TUTORIAL" which is your personal scratch copy of the Emacs +tutorial. When you find a file with Emacs, that file's name will +appear in that precise spot. + +One special thing about the command for finding a file is that you +have to say what file name you want. We say the command "reads an +argument from the terminal" (in this case, the argument is the name of +the file). After you type the command + + C-x C-f Find a file + +Emacs asks you to type the file name. The file name you type appears +on the bottom line of the screen. The bottom line is called the +minibuffer when it is used for this sort of input. You can use +ordinary Emacs editing commands to edit the file name. + +While you are entering the file name (or any minibuffer input), +you can cancel the command with C-g. + +>> Type C-x C-f, then type C-g. This cancels the minibuffer, + and also cancels the C-x C-f command that was using the + minibuffer. So you do not find any file. + +When you have finished entering the file name, type <Return> to +terminate it. Then C-x C-f command goes to work, and finds the file +you chose. The minibuffer disappears when the C-x C-f command is +finished. + +In a little while the file contents appear on the screen, and you can +edit the contents. When you wish to make your changes permanent, +type the command + + C-x C-s Save the file + +This copies the text within Emacs into the file. The first time you +do this, Emacs renames the original file to a new name so that it is +not lost. The new name is made by adding "~" to the end of the +original file's name. + +When saving is finished, Emacs displays the name of the file written. +You should save fairly often, so that you will not lose very much +work if the system should crash. + +>> Type C-x C-s, saving your copy of the tutorial. + This should show "Wrote ...TUTORIAL" at the bottom of the screen. + +NOTE: On some systems, typing C-x C-s will freeze the screen and you +will see no further output from Emacs. This indicates that an +operating system "feature" called "flow control" is intercepting the +C-s and not letting it get through to Emacs. To unfreeze the screen, +type C-q. Then see the section "Spontaneous Entry to Incremental +Search" in the Emacs manual for advice on dealing with this "feature". + +You can find an existing file, to view it or edit it. You can also +find a file which does not already exist. This is the way to create a +file with Emacs: find the file, which will start out empty, and then +begin inserting the text for the file. When you ask to "save" the +file, Emacs will really create the file with the text that you have +inserted. From then on, you can consider yourself to be editing an +already existing file. + + +* BUFFERS +--------- + +If you find a second file with C-x C-f, the first file remains +inside Emacs. You can switch back to it by finding it again with +C-x C-f. This way you can get quite a number of files inside Emacs. + +>> Create a file named "foo" by typing C-x C-f foo <Return>. + Then insert some text, edit it, and save "foo" by typing C-x C-s. + Finally, type C-x C-f TUTORIAL <Return> + to come back to the tutorial. + +Emacs stores each file's text inside an object called a "buffer". +Finding a file makes a new buffer inside Emacs. To see a list of the +buffers that currently exist in your Emacs job, type + + C-x C-b List buffers + +>> Try C-x C-b now. + +See how each buffer has a name, and it may also have a file name for +the file whose contents it holds. ANY text you see in an Emacs window +is always part of some buffer. + +>> Type C-x 1 to get rid of the buffer list. + +When you have several buffers, only one of them is "current" at any +time. That buffer is the one you edit. If you want to edit another +buffer, you need to "switch" to it. If you want to switch to a buffer +that corresponds to a file, you can do it by visiting the file again +with C-x C-f. But there is an easier way: use the C-x b command. +In that command, you have to type the buffer's name. + +>> Type C-x b foo <Return> to go back to the buffer "foo" which holds + the text of the file "foo". Then type C-x b TUTORIAL <Return> + to come back to this tutorial. + +Most of the time, the buffer's name is the same as the file name +(without the file directory part). However, this is not always true. +The buffer list you make with C-x C-b always shows you the name of +every buffer. + +ANY text you see in an Emacs window is always part of some buffer. +Some buffers do not correspond to files. For example, the buffer +named "*Buffer List*" does not have any file. It is the buffer which +contains the buffer list that you made with C-x C-b. The buffer named +"*Messages*" also does not correspond to any file; it contains the +messages that have appeared on the bottom line during your Emacs +session. + +>> Type C-x b *Messages* <Return> to look at the buffer of messages. + Then type C-x b TUTORIAL <Return> to come back to this tutorial. + +If you make changes to the text of one file, then find another file, +this does not save the first file. Its changes remain inside Emacs, +in that file's buffer. The creation or editing of the second file's +buffer has no effect on the first file's buffer. This is very useful, +but it also means that you need a convenient way to save the first +file's buffer. It would be a nuisance to have to switch back to +it with C-x C-f in order to save it with C-x C-s. So we have + + C-x s Save some buffers + +C-x s asks you about each buffer which contains changes that you have +not saved. It asks you, for each such buffer, whether to save the +buffer. + +>> Insert a line of text, then type C-x s. + It should ask you whether to save the buffer named TUTORIAL. + Answer yes to the question by typing "y". + + +* EXTENDING THE COMMAND SET +--------------------------- + +There are many, many more Emacs commands than could possibly be put +on all the control and meta characters. Emacs gets around this with +the X (eXtend) command. This comes in two flavors: + + C-x Character eXtend. Followed by one character. + M-x Named command eXtend. Followed by a long name. + +These are commands that are generally useful but used less than the +commands you have already learned about. You have already seen a few +of them: the file commands C-x C-f to Find and C-x C-s to Save, for +example. Another example is the command to end the Emacs +session--this is the command C-x C-c. (Do not worry about losing +changes you have made; C-x C-c offers to save each changed file before +it kills the Emacs.) + +If you are using a graphical display that supports multiple +applications in parallel, you don't need any special command to move +from Emacs to another application. You can do this with the mouse or +with window manager commands. However, if you're using a text +terminal which can only show one application at a time, you need to +"suspend" Emacs to move to any other program. + +C-z is the command to exit Emacs *temporarily*--so that you can go +back to the same Emacs session afterward. When Emacs is running on a +text terminal, C-z "suspends" Emacs; that is, it returns to the shell +but does not destroy the Emacs. In the most common shells, you can +resume Emacs with the `fg' command or with `%emacs'. + +The time to use C-x C-c is when you are about to log out. It's also +the right thing to use to exit an Emacs invoked under mail handling +programs and other miscellaneous utilities, since they may not know +how to cope with suspension of Emacs. In ordinary circumstances, +though, if you are not about to log out, it is better to suspend Emacs +with C-z instead of exiting Emacs. + +There are many C-x commands. Here is a list of the ones you have learned: + + C-x C-f Find file + C-x C-s Save file + C-x s Save some buffers + C-x C-b List buffers + C-x b Switch buffer + C-x C-c Quit Emacs + C-x 1 Delete all but one window + C-x u Undo + +Named eXtended commands are commands which are used even less +frequently, or commands which are used only in certain modes. An +example is the command replace-string, which globally replaces one +string with another. When you type M-x, Emacs prompts you at the +bottom of the screen with M-x and you should type the name of the +command; in this case, "replace-string". Just type "repl s<TAB>" and +Emacs will complete the name. (<TAB> is the Tab key, usually found +above the CapsLock or Shift key near the left edge of the keyboard.) +End the command name with <Return>. + +The replace-string command requires two arguments--the string to be +replaced, and the string to replace it with. You must end each +argument with <Return>. + +>> Move the cursor to the blank line two lines below this one. + Then type M-x repl s<Return>changed<Return>altered<Return>. + + Notice how this line has changed: you've replaced + the word c-h-a-n-g-e-d with "altered" wherever it occurred, + after the initial position of the cursor. + + +* AUTO SAVE +----------- + +When you have made changes in a file, but you have not saved them yet, +they could be lost if your computer crashes. To protect you from +this, Emacs periodically writes an "auto save" file for each file that +you are editing. The auto save file name has a # at the beginning and +the end; for example, if your file is named "hello.c", its auto save +file's name is "#hello.c#". When you save the file in the normal way, +Emacs deletes its auto save file. + +If the computer crashes, you can recover your auto-saved editing by +finding the file normally (the file you were editing, not the auto +save file) and then typing M-x recover file<Return>. When it asks for +confirmation, type yes<Return> to go ahead and recover the auto-save +data. + + +* ECHO AREA +----------- + +If Emacs sees that you are typing multicharacter commands slowly, it +shows them to you at the bottom of the screen in an area called the +"echo area". The echo area contains the bottom line of the screen. + + +* MODE LINE +----------- + +The line immediately above the echo area is called the "mode line". +The mode line says something like this: + +--:** TUTORIAL 63% L749 (Fundamental)----------------------- + +This line gives useful information about the status of Emacs and +the text you are editing. + +You already know what the filename means--it is the file you have +found. NN% indicates your current position in the text; it means that +NN percent of the text is above the top of the screen. If the top of +the file is on the screen, it will say "Top" instead of " 0%". If the +bottom of the text is on the screen, it will say "Bot". If you are +looking at text so small that all of it fits on the screen, the mode +line says "All". + +The L and digits indicate position in another way: they give the +current line number of point. + +The stars near the front mean that you have made changes to the text. +Right after you visit or save a file, that part of the mode line shows +no stars, just dashes. + +The part of the mode line inside the parentheses is to tell you what +editing modes you are in. The default mode is Fundamental which is +what you are using now. It is an example of a "major mode". + +Emacs has many different major modes. Some of them are meant for +editing different languages and/or kinds of text, such as Lisp mode, +Text mode, etc. At any time one and only one major mode is active, +and its name can always be found in the mode line just where +"Fundamental" is now. + +Each major mode makes a few commands behave differently. For example, +there are commands for creating comments in a program, and since each +programming language has a different idea of what a comment should +look like, each major mode has to insert comments differently. Each +major mode is the name of an extended command, which is how you can +switch to that mode. For example, M-x fundamental-mode is a command to +switch to Fundamental mode. + +If you are going to be editing human-language text, such as this file, you +should probably use Text Mode. + +>> Type M-x text mode<Return>. + +Don't worry, none of the Emacs commands you have learned changes in +any great way. But you can observe that M-f and M-b now treat +apostrophes as part of words. Previously, in Fundamental mode, +M-f and M-b treated apostrophes as word-separators. + +Major modes usually make subtle changes like that one: most commands +do "the same job" in each major mode, but they work a little bit +differently. + +To view documentation on your current major mode, type C-h m. + +>> Use C-u C-v once or more to bring this line near the top of screen. +>> Type C-h m, to see how Text mode differs from Fundamental mode. +>> Type C-x 1 to remove the documentation from the screen. + +Major modes are called major because there are also minor modes. +Minor modes are not alternatives to the major modes, just minor +modifications of them. Each minor mode can be turned on or off by +itself, independent of all other minor modes, and independent of your +major mode. So you can use no minor modes, or one minor mode, or any +combination of several minor modes. + +One minor mode which is very useful, especially for editing +human-language text, is Auto Fill mode. When this mode is on, Emacs +breaks the line in between words automatically whenever you insert +text and make a line that is too wide. + +You can turn Auto Fill mode on by doing M-x auto fill mode<Return>. +When the mode is on, you can turn it off again by doing M-x +auto fill mode<Return>. If the mode is off, this command turns it on, +and if the mode is on, this command turns it off. We say that the +command "toggles the mode". + +>> Type M-x auto fill mode<Return> now. Then insert a line of "asdf " + over again until you see it divide into two lines. You must put in + spaces between them because Auto Fill breaks lines only at spaces. + +The margin is usually set at 70 characters, but you can change it +with the C-x f command. You should give the margin setting you want +as a numeric argument. + +>> Type C-x f with an argument of 20. (C-u 2 0 C-x f). + Then type in some text and see Emacs fill lines of 20 + characters with it. Then set the margin back to 70 using + C-x f again. + +If you make changes in the middle of a paragraph, Auto Fill mode +does not re-fill it for you. +To re-fill the paragraph, type M-q (META-q) with the cursor inside +that paragraph. + +>> Move the cursor into the previous paragraph and type M-q. + + +* SEARCHING +----------- + +Emacs can do searches for strings (these are groups of contiguous +characters or words) either forward through the text or backward +through it. Searching for a string is a cursor motion command; +it moves the cursor to the next place where that string appears. + +The Emacs search command is different from the search commands +of most editors, in that it is "incremental". This means that the +search happens while you type in the string to search for. + +The command to initiate a search is C-s for forward search, and C-r +for reverse search. BUT WAIT! Don't try them now. + +When you type C-s you'll notice that the string "I-search" appears as +a prompt in the echo area. This tells you that Emacs is in what is +called an incremental search waiting for you to type the thing that +you want to search for. <Return> terminates a search. + +>> Now type C-s to start a search. SLOWLY, one letter at a time, + type the word 'cursor', pausing after you type each + character to notice what happens to the cursor. + Now you have searched for "cursor", once. +>> Type C-s again, to search for the next occurrence of "cursor". +>> Now type <Delback> four times and see how the cursor moves. +>> Type <Return> to terminate the search. + +Did you see what happened? Emacs, in an incremental search, tries to +go to the occurrence of the string that you've typed out so far. To +go to the next occurrence of 'cursor' just type C-s again. If no such +occurrence exists, Emacs beeps and tells you the search is currently +"failing". C-g would also terminate the search. + +NOTE: On some systems, typing C-s will freeze the screen and you will +see no further output from Emacs. This indicates that an operating +system "feature" called "flow control" is intercepting the C-s and not +letting it get through to Emacs. To unfreeze the screen, type C-q. +Then see the section "Spontaneous Entry to Incremental Search" in the +Emacs manual for advice on dealing with this "feature". + +If you are in the middle of an incremental search and type <Delback>, +you'll notice that the last character in the search string is erased +and the search backs up to the last place of the search. For +instance, suppose you have typed "c", to search for the first +occurrence of "c". Now if you type "u", the cursor will move +to the first occurrence of "cu". Now type <Delback>. This erases +the "u" from the search string, and the cursor moves back to +the first occurrence of "c". + +If you are in the middle of a search and type a control or meta +character (with a few exceptions--characters that are special in +a search, such as C-s and C-r), the search is terminated. + +The C-s starts a search that looks for any occurrence of the search +string AFTER the current cursor position. If you want to search for +something earlier in the text, type C-r instead. Everything that we +have said about C-s also applies to C-r, except that the direction of +the search is reversed. + + +* MULTIPLE WINDOWS +------------------ + +One of the nice features of Emacs is that you can display more than one +window on the screen at the same time. + +>> Move the cursor to this line and type C-u 0 C-l (that's CONTROL-L, not + CONTROL-1). + +>> Now type C-x 2 which splits the screen into two windows. + Both windows display this tutorial. The cursor stays in the top window. + +>> Type C-M-v to scroll the bottom window. + (If you do not have a real META key, type <ESC> C-v.) + +>> Type C-x o ("o" for "other") to move the cursor to the bottom window. +>> Use C-v and M-v in the bottom window to scroll it. + Keep reading these directions in the top window. + +>> Type C-x o again to move the cursor back to the top window. + The cursor in the top window is just where it was before. + +You can keep using C-x o to switch between the windows. Each +window has its own cursor position, but only one window actually +shows the cursor. All the ordinary editing commands apply to the +window that the cursor is in. We call this the "selected window". + +The command C-M-v is very useful when you are editing text in one +window and using the other window just for reference. You can keep +the cursor always in the window where you are editing, and advance +through the other window sequentially with C-M-v. + +C-M-v is an example of a CONTROL-META character. If you have a real +META key, you can type C-M-v by holding down both CONTROL and META while +typing v. It does not matter whether CONTROL or META "comes first," +because both of these keys act by modifying the characters you type. + +If you do not have a real META key, and you use <ESC> instead, the +order does matter: you must type <ESC> followed by CONTROL-v, because +CONTROL-<ESC> v will not work. This is because <ESC> is a character +in its own right, not a modifier key. + +>> Type C-x 1 (in the top window) to get rid of the bottom window. + +(If you had typed C-x 1 in the bottom window, that would get rid +of the top one. Think of this command as "Keep just one +window--the window I am already in.") + +You do not have to display the same buffer in both windows. If you +use C-x C-f to find a file in one window, the other window does not +change. You can find a file in each window independently. + +Here is another way to use two windows to display two different +things: + +>> Type C-x 4 C-f followed by the name of one of your files. + End with <Return>. See the specified file appear in the bottom + window. The cursor goes there, too. + +>> Type C-x o to go back to the top window, and C-x 1 to delete + the bottom window. + + +* RECURSIVE EDITING LEVELS +-------------------------- + +Sometimes you will get into what is called a "recursive editing +level". This is indicated by square brackets in the mode line, +surrounding the parentheses around the major mode name. For +example, you might see [(Fundamental)] instead of (Fundamental). + +To get out of the recursive editing level, type <ESC> <ESC> <ESC>. +That is an all-purpose "get out" command. You can also use it for +eliminating extra windows, and getting out of the minibuffer. + +>> Type M-x to get into a minibuffer; then type <ESC> <ESC> <ESC> to + get out. + +You cannot use C-g to get out of a recursive editing level. This is +because C-g is used for canceling commands and arguments WITHIN the +recursive editing level. + + +* GETTING MORE HELP +------------------- + +In this tutorial we have tried to supply just enough information to +get you started using Emacs. There is so much available in Emacs that +it would be impossible to explain it all here. However, you may want +to learn more about Emacs since it has many other useful features. +Emacs provides commands for reading documentation about Emacs +commands. These "help" commands all start with the character +CONTROL-h, which is called "the Help character". + +To use the Help features, type the C-h character, and then a +character saying what kind of help you want. If you are REALLY lost, +type C-h ? and Emacs will tell you what kinds of help it can give. +If you have typed C-h and decide you do not want any help, just +type C-g to cancel it. + +(Some sites change the meaning of the character C-h. They really +should not do this as a blanket measure for all users, so you have +grounds to complain to the system administrator. Meanwhile, if C-h +does not display a message about help at the bottom of the screen, try +typing the F1 key or M-x help <Return> instead.) + +The most basic HELP feature is C-h c. Type C-h, the character c, and +a command character or sequence; then Emacs displays a very brief +description of the command. + +>> Type C-h c C-p. + +The message should be something like this: + + C-p runs the command previous-line + +This tells you the "name of the function". Function names are used +mainly for customizing and extending Emacs. But since function names +are chosen to indicate what the command does, they can serve also as +very brief documentation--sufficient to remind you of commands you +have already learned. + +Multi-character commands such as C-x C-s and (if you have no META or +EDIT or ALT key) <ESC>v are also allowed after C-h c. + +To get more information about a command, use C-h k instead of C-h c. + +>> Type C-h k C-p. + +This displays the documentation of the function, as well as its +name, in an Emacs window. When you are finished reading the +output, type C-x 1 to get rid of the help text. You do not have +to do this right away. You can do some editing while referring +to the help text, and then type C-x 1. + +Here are some other useful C-h options: + + C-h f Describe a function. You type in the name of the + function. + +>> Try typing C-h f previous-line<Return>. + This displays all the information Emacs has about the + function which implements the C-p command. + +A similar command C-h v displays the documentation of variables whose +values you can set to customize Emacs behavior. You need to type in +the name of the variable when Emacs prompts for it. + + C-h a Command Apropos. Type in a keyword and Emacs will list + all the commands whose names contain that keyword. + These commands can all be invoked with META-x. + For some commands, Command Apropos will also list a one + or two character sequence which runs the same command. + +>> Type C-h a file<Return>. + +This displays in another window a list of all M-x commands with "file" +in their names. You will see character-commands like C-x C-f listed +beside the corresponding command names such as find-file. + +>> Type C-M-v to scroll the help window. Do this a few times. + +>> Type C-x 1 to delete the help window. + + C-h i Read On-line Manuals (a.k.a. Info). This command puts + you into a special buffer called `*info*' where you + can read on-line manuals for the packages installed on + your system. Type m emacs <Return> to read the Emacs + manual. If you have never before used Info, type ? + and Emacs will take you on a guided tour of Info mode + facilities. Once you are through with this tutorial, + you should consult the Emacs Info manual as your + primary documentation. + + +* MORE FEATURES +--------------- + +You can learn more about Emacs by reading its manual, either as a book +or on-line in Info (use the Help menu or type F10 h r). Two features +that you may like especially are completion, which saves typing, and +dired, which simplifies file handling. + +Completion is a way to avoid unnecessary typing. For instance, if you +want to switch to the *Messages* buffer, you can type C-x b *M<Tab> +and Emacs will fill in the rest of the buffer name as far as it can +determine from what you have already typed. Completion is described +in Info in the Emacs manual in the node called "Completion". + +Dired enables you to list files in a directory (and optionally its +subdirectories), move around that list, visit, rename, delete and +otherwise operate on the files. Dired is described in Info in the +Emacs manual in the node called "Dired". + +The manual also describes many other Emacs features. + + +* CONCLUSION +------------ + +Remember, to exit Emacs permanently use C-x C-c. To exit to a shell +temporarily, so that you can come back to Emacs afterward, use C-z. + +This tutorial is meant to be understandable to all new users, so if +you found something unclear, don't sit and blame yourself - complain! + + +* COPYING +--------- + +This tutorial descends from a long line of Emacs tutorials +starting with the one written by Stuart Cracraft for the original Emacs. + +This version of the tutorial is a part of GNU Emacs. It is copyrighted +and comes with permission to distribute copies on certain conditions: + + Copyright (C) 1985, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, + 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. + + This file is part of GNU Emacs. + + GNU Emacs is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify + it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by + the Free Software Foundation; either version 3, or (at your option) + any later version. + + GNU Emacs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, + but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of + MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the + GNU General Public License for more details. + + You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License + along with GNU Emacs; see the file COPYING. If not, write to the + Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, + Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA. + +Please read the file COPYING and then do give copies of GNU Emacs to +your friends. Help stamp out software obstructionism ("ownership") by +using, writing, and sharing free software! + +;;; arch-tag: a0f84628-777f-4238-8865-451a73167f55