changeset 61047:bcda0fe75703

(Wdired): New node.

--- a/man/dired.texi	Mon Mar 28 21:01:11 2005 +0000
+++ b/man/dired.texi	Mon Mar 28 21:01:31 2005 +0000
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 * Hiding Subdirectories::     Making subdirectories visible or invisible.
 * Updating: Dired Updating.   Discarding lines for files of no interest.
 * Find: Dired and Find.	      Using `find' to choose the files for Dired.
+* Wdired::                    Operating on files by editing the Dired buffer.
 * Misc: Misc Dired Features.  Various other features.
 @end menu
 
@@ -1103,6 +1104,39 @@
 Reverting the buffer with @kbd{g} deletes all inserted subdirectories,
 and erases all flags and marks.
 
+@node Wdired
+@section Editing the Dired Buffer
+
+@cindex wdired mode
+@findex wdired-change-to-wdired-mode
+  Wdired is a special mode that allows you to perform file operations
+by editing the Dired buffer directly (the ``W'' in ``Wdired'' stands
+for ``writable''.)  To enter Wdired mode, type @kbd{M-x
+wdired-change-to-wdired-mode} while in a Dired buffer.  Alternatively,
+use @samp{Edit File Names} in the @samp{Immediate} menu bar menu.
+
+@findex wdired-finish-edit
+  While in Wdired mode, you can rename files by editing the file names
+displayed in the Dired buffer.  All the ordinary Emacs editing
+commands, including rectangle operations and @code{query-replace}, are
+available for this.  Once you are done editing, type @kbd{C-c C-c}
+(@code{wdired-finish-edit}).  This applies your changes and switches
+back to ordinary Dired mode.
+
+  Apart from simply renaming files, you can move a file to another
+directory by typing in the new file name (either absolute or
+relative).  To mark a file for deletion, delete the entire filename.
+To change the target of a symbolic link, just edit the target name
+displayed next to the link name.
+
+  The rest of the text in the buffer, such as the file sizes and
+modification dates, is marked read-only, so you can't edit it.
+However, if you set @code{wdired-allow-to-change-permissions} to
+@code{t}, the file permission bits can also be edited.  For example,
+you can change @samp{-rw-r--r--} to @samp{-rw-rw-rw-} to make a file
+world-writable.  These changes also take effect when you type @kbd{C-c
+C-c}.
+
 @node Misc Dired Features
 @section Other Dired Features