changeset 96338:adedca23247f

(Shift selection): New node. (Mark): Copyedits. (Persistent Mark): Move to the end of the chapter.

--- a/doc/emacs/mark.texi	Thu Jun 26 19:30:54 2008 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/mark.texi	Thu Jun 26 19:31:01 2008 +0000
@@ -13,13 +13,12 @@
 you set @dfn{the mark} at one end of it, and move point to the other
 end.  The text between point and the mark is called @dfn{the region}.
 
-  The region always extends between point and the mark, no matter
-which one comes earlier in the text---the region starts from point or
-the mark (whichever comes first), and ends at point or the mark
-(whichever comes last).  Every time you move point, the region
-changes.  When a region is active, Emacs highlights it using the
-@code{region} face.  You can customize the appearance of the
-highlighting by changing this face (@pxref{Face Customization}).
+  If the mark is active, the region always extends between point and
+the mark, no matter which one comes earlier in the text; each time you
+move point, the region changes.  Whenever the mark is active, Emacs
+highlights the region.  You can customize the appearance of this
+highlighting by changing the @code{region} face (@pxref{Face
+Customization}).
 
   The region persists only until you use it.  The mark is
 automatically @dfn{deactivated} after certain non-motion commands,
@@ -28,26 +27,23 @@
 (@pxref{Quitting}).
 
 @vindex highlight-nonselected-windows
-  Each Emacs buffer has its own mark, and setting the mark in one
-buffer has no effect on other buffers' marks.  When you return to a
-buffer with an active mark, the mark is at the same place as before.
-When multiple windows show the same buffer, they can have different
-values of point, and thus different regions (though they all share one
-common mark position).  @xref{Windows}.  Ordinarily, only the selected
-window highlights its region, if a region exists; however, if the
-variable @code{highlight-nonselected-windows} is non-@code{nil}, each
-window highlights its own region.
-
-  If Delete Selection mode is enabled, some commands delete the region
-when used while the mark is active.  @xref{Mouse Commands}.
+  Setting the mark in one buffer has no effect on the marks in other
+buffers.  When you return to a buffer with an active mark, the mark is
+at the same place as before.  When multiple windows show the same
+buffer, they can have different values of point, and thus different
+regions, but they all share one common mark position.  @xref{Windows}.
+Ordinarily, only the selected window highlights its region; however,
+if the variable @code{highlight-nonselected-windows} is
+non-@code{nil}, each window highlights its own region.
 
 @menu
 * Setting Mark::	Commands to set the mark.
 * Marking Objects::	Commands to put region around textual units.
 * Using Region::	Summary of ways to operate on contents of the region.
-* Persistent Mark::	Keeping the mark active all the time.
 * Mark Ring::   	Previous mark positions saved so you can go back there.
 * Global Mark Ring::    Previous mark positions in various buffers.
+* Shift selection::     Using shifted cursor motion keys.
+* Persistent Mark::	Keeping the mark active all the time.
 @end menu
 
 @node Setting Mark
@@ -57,67 +53,70 @@
 
 @table @kbd
 @item C-@key{SPC}
-Set the mark where point is (@code{set-mark-command}).
+Set the mark at point (@code{set-mark-command}).
 @item C-@@
 The same.
 @item C-x C-x
-Set the mark where point was, and move point where the mark was
+Set the mark at point, and move point where the mark was
 (@code{exchange-point-and-mark}).
 @item Drag-Mouse-1
 Set point and the mark around the text you drag across.
 @item Mouse-3
-Set the mark where point is, then move point to where you click
+Set the mark at point, then move point to where you click
 (@code{mouse-save-then-kill}).
+@item @samp{Shifted motion keys}
+Set the mark at point if the mark is inactive, then move point.
 @end table
 
 @kindex C-SPC
+@kindex C-@@
 @findex set-mark-command
   The most common way to set the mark is with @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}
-(@code{set-mark-command}).  This sets the mark where point is.  You
-can then move point away, leaving the mark behind.
+(@code{set-mark-command}), which sets the mark where point
+is@footnote{There is no @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} character in
+@acronym{ASCII}; usually, typing @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} on a text terminal
+gives the character @kbd{C-@@}.  This key is also bound to
+@code{set-mark-command}, so unless you are unlucky enough to have an
+text terminal that behaves differently, you might as well think of
+@kbd{C-@@} as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.}. You can then move point away,
+leaving the mark behind.
 
   For example, suppose you wish to convert part of the buffer to upper
-case.  To accomplish this, first go to the beginning of the text to be
-capitalized, type @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}, and move point until the desired
-portion of text is highlighted.  You can now type @kbd{C-x C-u}
-(@code{upcase-region}), which converts the text in the region to upper
-case.  This also automatically deactivates the mark.  (Alternatively,
-you could set the mark at the end, move to the beginning, and do
-@kbd{C-x C-u}.)
+case.  To accomplish this, go to the beginning of the desired text,
+type @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}, and move point until the desired portion of
+text is highlighted.  Now type @kbd{C-x C-u} (@code{upcase-region}).
+This converts the text in the region to upper case, and then
+deactivates the mark.
 
 @kindex C-x C-x
 @findex exchange-point-and-mark
-  The command @kbd{C-x C-x} (@code{exchange-point-and-mark}) puts the
-mark where point was and moves point where the mark was, keeping the
-region unchanged.  If no mark is active, Emacs reactivates the mark at
-the position where it was last set.  @kbd{C-x C-x} is useful when you
-are satisfied with the position of point but want to move the other
-end of the region (where the mark is); do @kbd{C-x C-x} to put point
-at that end of the region, and then move it.  Using @kbd{C-x C-x} a
-second time, if necessary, puts the mark at the new position with
-point back at its original position.
+  The command @kbd{C-x C-x} (@code{exchange-point-and-mark}) exchanges
+the positions of point and the mark, keeping the region unchanged.  If
+no mark is active, Emacs first reactivates the mark wherever it was
+last set.  @kbd{C-x C-x} is useful when you are satisfied with the
+position of point but want to move the other end of the region (where
+the mark is).  Using @kbd{C-x C-x} a second time, if necessary, puts
+the mark at the new position with point back at its original position.
 
-  You can also set the mark with the mouse.  In fact, there are two
-ways to do this.  You can press the left mouse button
-(@kbd{down-mouse-1}) and drag the mouse across a range of text while
-holding down the button; this sets the mark where you first pressed
-the mouse button, and point where you release it.  Alternatively, you
-can click the right mouse button (@kbd{mouse-3}), which sets the mark
-at point and then moves point to where you clicked.
+  You can also set the mark with the mouse (@pxref{Mouse Commands}).
+If you press the left mouse button (@kbd{down-mouse-1}) and drag the
+mouse across a range of text while holding down this button, this sets
+the mark where you first pressed the mouse button and puts point where
+you release it.  Alternatively, clicking the right mouse button
+(@kbd{mouse-3}) sets the mark at point and then moves point to where
+you clicked.  Using the mouse to mark a region also copies the region
+into the kill ring (@pxref{Kill Ring}).
 
-  Using the mouse to mark a region also copies the region into the
-kill ring (@pxref{Kill Ring}).  If you don't want to modify the kill
-ring, you must use keyboard commands to set the mark.  @xref{Mouse
-Commands}.
-
-@kindex C-@@
-  There is no such character as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} in @acronym{ASCII};
-when you type @key{SPC} while holding down @key{CTRL} on a text
-terminal, what you get is the character @kbd{C-@@}.  This key is also
-bound to @code{set-mark-command}---so unless you are unlucky enough to
-have a text terminal where typing @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} does not produce
-@kbd{C-@@}, you might as well think of this character as
-@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.
+@cindex shift-selection
+  Finally, you can set the mark by holding down the shift key while
+typing certain cursor motion commands (such as @kbd{S-@key{right}},
+@kbd{S-C-f}, @kbd{S-C-n}, etc.)  This is referred to as
+@dfn{shift-selection}.  This sets the mark at point before moving
+point, but only if there is no active mark set via shift-selection.
+The mark set by mouse commands and by shift-selection behaves slightly
+differently from the usual mark: any subsequent unshifted cursor
+motion command deactivates it automatically.  For details, @xref{Shift
+selection}.
 
   Whenever the mark is active, you can deactivate it by typing
 @kbd{C-g} (@pxref{Quitting}).  The mark is also automatically
@@ -132,24 +131,27 @@
 
 @table @kbd
 @item M-@@
-Set mark after end of next word (@code{mark-word}).  This command and
-the following one do not move point.
+Set mark after end of next word (@code{mark-word}).  This does not
+move point.
 @item C-M-@@
-Set mark after end of following balanced expression (@code{mark-sexp}).
+Set mark after end of following balanced expression
+(@code{mark-sexp}).  This does not move point.
 @item M-h
 Move point to the beginning of the current paragraph, and set mark at
 the end (@code{mark-paragraph}).
 @item C-M-h
 Move point to the beginning of the current defun, and set mark at the
 end (@code{mark-defun}).
+@item C-x C-p
+Move point to the beginning of the current page, and set mark at the
+end (@code{mark-page}).
 @item C-x h
 Move point to the beginning of the buffer, and set mark at the end
 (@code{mark-whole-buffer}).
-@item C-x C-p
-Move point to the beginning of the current page, and set mark at the
-end (@code{mark-page}).
 @end table
 
+@findex mark-word
+@findex mark-sexp
 @kbd{M-@@} (@code{mark-word}) puts the mark at the end of the next
 word, while @kbd{C-M-@@} (@code{mark-sexp}) puts it at the end of the
 next balanced expression (@pxref{Expressions}).  These commands handle
@@ -157,38 +159,32 @@
 
 @kindex C-x h
 @findex mark-whole-buffer
-   Other commands set both point and mark, to delimit an object in the
-buffer.  For example, @kbd{M-h} (@code{mark-paragraph}) moves point to
-the beginning of the paragraph that surrounds or follows point, and
-puts the mark at the end of that paragraph (@pxref{Paragraphs}).  It
-prepares the region so you can indent, case-convert, or kill a whole
-paragraph.  With a prefix argument, if the argument's value is positive,
-@kbd{M-h} marks that many paragraphs starting with the one surrounding
-point.  If the prefix argument is @minus{}@var{n}, @kbd{M-h} also
-marks @var{n} paragraphs, running back form the one surrounding point.
-In that last case, point moves forward to the end of that paragraph,
-and the mark goes at the start of the region.
+   The other commands in the above list set both point and mark, so as
+to delimit an object in the buffer.  @kbd{M-h} (@code{mark-paragraph})
+moves point to the beginning of the paragraph that surrounds or
+follows point, and sets the mark at the end of that paragraph
+(@pxref{Paragraphs}).  As a special exception, repeated invocations of
+@kbd{M-h} extend the region to subsequent paragraphs.  This is
+convenient for indenting, case-converting, or killing entire
+paragraphs.
 
-  @kbd{C-M-h} (@code{mark-defun}) similarly puts point before, and the
-mark after, the current (or following) major top-level definition, or
-defun (@pxref{Moving by Defuns}).  Repeating @kbd{C-M-h} extends
-the region to subsequent defuns.
+  The @kbd{M-h} command accepts prefix arguments.  If the argument's
+value is positive, @kbd{M-h} marks that many paragraphs starting with
+the one surrounding point; therefore, @kbd{C-u M-h} is equivalent to
+@kbd{M-h M-h M-h M-h}.  If the prefix argument is @minus{}@var{n},
+@kbd{M-h} marks @var{n} paragraphs running back from the one
+surrounding point; in this case, point moves forward to the end of
+that paragraph, and the mark goes at the start of the region.
 
-  @kbd{C-x C-p} (@code{mark-page}) puts point before the current page,
-and mark at the end (@pxref{Pages}).  The mark goes after the
-terminating page delimiter (to include it in the region), while point
-goes after the preceding page delimiter (to exclude it).  A numeric
-argument specifies a later page (if positive) or an earlier page (if
-negative) instead of the current page.
-
-  While the mark is active, repeating the above commands extends the
-region accordingly.  For example, you can type either @kbd{C-u 2 M-@@}
-or @kbd{M-@@ M-@@} to mark the next two words.  Similarly, repeating
-the @kbd{M-h} command extends the region to subsequent paragraphs.
+  Similarly, @kbd{C-M-h} (@code{mark-defun}) sets mark and point
+around major top-level definitions (@pxref{Moving by Defuns}), and
+@kbd{C-x C-p} (@code{mark-page}) does the same for pages
+(@pxref{Pages}).  These treat repeated invokations and prefix
+arguments similarly to @code{mark-paragraph}.
 
   Finally, @kbd{C-x h} (@code{mark-whole-buffer}) sets up the entire
-buffer as the region, by putting point at the beginning and the mark at
-the end.  (In some programs this is called ``select all.'')
+buffer as the region, by putting point at the beginning and the mark
+at the end.  (In some programs this is called ``select all.'')
 
 @node Using Region
 @section Operating on the Region
@@ -225,6 +221,124 @@
   Most commands that operate on the text in the region have the word
 @code{region} in their names.
 
+  If Delete Selection mode is enabled, some commands delete the region
+when used while the mark is active.  @xref{Mouse Commands}.
+
+@node Mark Ring
+@section The Mark Ring
+
+@cindex mark ring
+  Aside from delimiting the region, the mark is also useful for
+remembering spots that you may want to go back to.  Each buffer
+remembers 16 previous locations of the mark, in the @dfn{mark ring}.
+Commands that set the mark also push the old mark onto this ring.
+
+@table @kbd
+@item C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC}
+Set the mark, pushing it onto the mark ring, without activating it.
+@item C-u C-@key{SPC}
+Move point to where the mark was, and restore the mark from the ring
+of former marks.
+@end table
+
+@kindex C-SPC C-SPC
+  The command C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC} is handy when you want to use
+the mark to remember a position to which you may wish to return.  It
+pushes the current point onto the mark ring, without activating the
+mark (which would cause Emacs to highlight the region).  This is
+actually two consecutive invocations of @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}
+(@code{set-mark-command}); the first @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} sets the mark,
+and the second @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} deactivates it.  (When Transient Mark
+mode is off, C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC} instead activates Transient Mark
+mode temporarily.  @xref{Persistent Mark}.)
+
+@kindex C-u C-SPC
+  To return to a marked position, use @code{set-mark-command} with a
+prefix argument: @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}.  This moves point to where the
+mark was, and deactivates the mark if it was active.  Each subsequent
+@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} jumps to a prior position stored in the mark
+ring.  The positions you move through in this way are not lost; they
+go to the end of the ring.
+
+@vindex set-mark-command-repeat-pop
+  If you set @code{set-mark-command-repeat-pop} to non-@code{nil},
+then immediately after you type @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}, you can type
+@kbd{C-@key{SPC}} instead of @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} to cycle through
+the mark ring.  By default, @code{set-mark-command-repeat-pop} is
+@code{nil}.
+
+  Each buffer has its own mark ring.  All editing commands use the
+current buffer's mark ring.  In particular, @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}
+always stays in the same buffer.
+
+@vindex mark-ring-max
+  The variable @code{mark-ring-max} specifies the maximum number of
+entries to keep in the mark ring.  If that many entries exist and
+another one is pushed, the earliest one in the list is discarded.  Repeating
+@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} cycles through the positions currently in the
+ring.
+
+@vindex mark-even-if-inactive
+  If the variable @code{mark-even-if-inactive} is @code{nil}, commands
+can only use the mark and the region when it is active.  This variable
+is non-@code{nil} by default.
+
+  If you want to move back to the same place over and over, the mark
+ring may not be convenient enough.  If so, you can record the position
+in a register for later retrieval (@pxref{RegPos,, Saving Positions in
+Registers}).
+
+@node Global Mark Ring
+@section The Global Mark Ring
+@cindex global mark ring
+
+  In addition to the ordinary mark ring that belongs to each buffer,
+Emacs has a single @dfn{global mark ring}.  Each time you set a mark,
+in any buffer, this is recorded in the global mark ring in addition to
+the current buffer's own mark ring.
+
+@kindex C-x C-@key{SPC}
+@findex pop-global-mark
+  The command @kbd{C-x C-@key{SPC}} (@code{pop-global-mark}) jumps to
+the buffer and position of the latest entry in the global ring.  It also
+rotates the ring, so that successive uses of @kbd{C-x C-@key{SPC}} take
+you to earlier buffers and mark positions.
+
+@node Shift selection
+@section Shift selection
+@cindex shift-selection
+
+  If you hold down the shift key while typing a cursor motion command,
+this sets the mark before moving point, so that the region extends
+from the original position of point to its new position.  This
+feature, newly introduced in Emacs 23, is referred to as
+@dfn{shift-selection}.  It is similar to the way text is selected in
+other editors.
+
+  The mark set via shift-selection behaves a little differently from
+what we have described above.  Firstly, in addition to the usual ways
+of deactivating the mark (such as changing the buffer text or typing
+@kbd{C-g}), the mark is deactivated by any @emph{unshifted} cursor
+motion command.  Secondly, any subsequent @emph{shifted} cursor motion
+command avoids setting the mark anew.  Therefore, a series of shifted
+cursor motion commands will continuously extend the region.
+
+  Shift-selection only works if the shifted cursor motion key is not
+already bound to a separate command (@pxref{Customization}).  For
+example, if you bind @kbd{S-C-f} to another command, typing
+@kbd{S-C-f} runs that command instead of performing a shift-selected
+version of @kbd{C-f} (@code{forward-char}).
+
+  A mark set via mouse commands behaves the same as a mark set via
+shift-selection (@pxref{Setting Mark}).  For example, if you specify a
+region by dragging the mouse, you can continue to extend the region
+using shifted cursor motion commands.  In either case, any unshifted
+cursor motion command deactivates the mark.
+
+  To turn off shift-selection, set @code{shift-select-mode} to
+@code{nil}.  Doing this does not disable setting the mark via mouse
+commands.
+
 @node Persistent Mark
 @section Persistent Marks
 @cindex mode, Transient Mark
@@ -233,7 +347,7 @@
 @cindex region highlighting
 @cindex Zmacs mode
 
-  By default, the region is highlighted whenever it exists, and it
+  By default, the region is highlighted whenever it exists, and
 disappears once you use it or explicitly deactivate the mark.  This
 behavior is called Transient Mark mode@footnote{It is also sometimes
 called @dfn{Zmacs mode}, because the Zmacs editor on the MIT Lisp
@@ -246,15 +360,15 @@
 deactivated, but can be set to different locations using commands such
 as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.  After the first time you set the mark in a
 buffer, there is always a region in that buffer.  Emacs will not
-highlight the region, because that would be a nuisance.  As an
+highlight the region, because that would be a nuisance.  As a special
 exception, the region is temporarily highlighted after it is set with
 the mouse.
 
   To turn off Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}.
 This command toggles the mode; you can use the same command to turn
-Transient Mark mode on again.  You can also toggle Transient Mark mode
-using the menu bar: in the @samp{Options} menu, use the @samp{Active
-Region Highlighting} menu item.
+Transient Mark mode on again.  You can also turn off Transient Mark
+mode using the menu bar: in the @samp{Options} menu, toggle the
+@samp{Active Region Highlighting} menu item.
 
   Here are the details of how Emacs behaves when Transient Mark mode
 is off:
@@ -311,92 +425,6 @@
 the region when Transient Mark mode is off.  Enabling Transient Mark
 mode momentarily gives you a way to use these commands on the region.
 
-@node Mark Ring
-@section The Mark Ring
-
-@cindex mark ring
-  Aside from delimiting the region, the mark is also useful for
-remembering spots that you may want to go back to.  Each buffer
-remembers 16 previous locations of the mark, in the @dfn{mark ring}.
-Commands that set the mark also push the old mark onto this ring.
-
-@table @kbd
-@item C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC}
-Set the mark, pushing it onto the mark ring, without activating it.
-@item C-u C-@key{SPC}
-Move point to where the mark was, and restore the mark from the ring
-of former marks.
-@end table
-
-@kindex C-SPC C-SPC
-  The command C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC} is handy when you want to use
-the mark to remember a position to which you may want to return.  It
-pushes the current point onto the mark ring, without activating the
-mark (which would cause Emacs to highlight the region).  This is
-actually two consecutive invocations of @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}
-(@code{set-mark-command}); the first @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} sets the mark,
-and the second @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} deactivates it.  (When Transient Mark
-mode is off, C-@key{SPC} C-@key{SPC} instead activates Transient Mark
-mode temporarily.  @xref{Persistent Mark}.)
-
-@kindex C-u C-SPC
-  To return to a marked position, use @code{set-mark-command} with a
-prefix argument: @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}.  This moves point to where the
-mark was, and deactivates the mark if it was active.  Each subsequent
-@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} jumps to a prior position stored in the mark
-ring.  The positions you move through in this way are not lost; they
-go to the end of the ring.
-
-@vindex set-mark-command-repeat-pop
-  If you set @code{set-mark-command-repeat-pop} to non-@code{nil},
-then immediately after you type @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}, you can type
-@kbd{C-@key{SPC}} instead of @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} to cycle through
-the mark ring.  By default, @code{set-mark-command-repeat-pop} is
-@code{nil}.
-
-  Each buffer has its own mark ring.  All editing commands use the
-current buffer's mark ring.  In particular, @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}
-always stays in the same buffer.
-
-@vindex mark-ring-max
-  The variable @code{mark-ring-max} specifies the maximum number of
-entries to keep in the mark ring.  If that many entries exist and
-another one is pushed, the earliest one in the list is discarded.  Repeating
-@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} cycles through the positions currently in the
-ring.
-
-@vindex mark-even-if-inactive
-  If the variable @code{mark-even-if-inactive} is @code{nil}, commands
-can only use the mark and the region when it is active.  This variable
-is non-@code{nil} by default.
-
-  If you want to move back to the same place over and over, the mark
-ring may not be convenient enough.  If so, you can record the position
-in a register for later retrieval (@pxref{RegPos,, Saving Positions in
-Registers}).
-
-@node Global Mark Ring
-@section The Global Mark Ring
-@cindex global mark ring
-
-  In addition to the ordinary mark ring that belongs to each buffer,
-Emacs has a single @dfn{global mark ring}.  It records a sequence of
-buffers in which you have recently set the mark, so you can go back
-to those buffers.
-
-  Setting the mark always makes an entry on the current buffer's mark
-ring.  If you have switched buffers since the previous mark setting, the
-new mark position makes an entry on the global mark ring also.  The
-result is that the global mark ring records a sequence of buffers that
-you have been in, and, for each buffer, a place where you set the mark.
-
-@kindex C-x C-@key{SPC}
-@findex pop-global-mark
-  The command @kbd{C-x C-@key{SPC}} (@code{pop-global-mark}) jumps to
-the buffer and position of the latest entry in the global ring.  It also
-rotates the ring, so that successive uses of @kbd{C-x C-@key{SPC}} take
-you to earlier and earlier buffers.
-
 @ignore
    arch-tag: f35e4d82-911b-4cfc-a3d7-3c87b2abba20
 @end ignore