1
0
mirror of https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/emacs.git synced 2025-02-05 20:43:08 +00:00

Comment out description of re-builder.

Clarify isearch highlighting info and input method info.
Rewrite descriptions of non-greedy repetition, \{...\},
and shy groups.
Rewrite "Other Repeating Search" node.
Other small clarifications.
This commit is contained in:
Richard M. Stallman 2001-02-19 01:57:45 +00:00
parent 6ebbcf5986
commit 91cf190988

View File

@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ the cursor move to after the first @samp{FO}. After another @kbd{O}, the
cursor is after the first @samp{FOO} after the place where you started the
search. At each step, the buffer text that matches the search string is
highlighted, if the terminal can do that; at each step, the current search
string is updated in the echo area. Multilingual text can be input by
toggling input methods with @kbd{C-\} or @kbd{C-^}, see below.
string is updated in the echo area.
If you make a mistake in typing the search string, you can cancel
characters with @key{DEL}. Each @key{DEL} cancels the last character of
@ -79,11 +78,11 @@ special within searches (@kbd{C-q}, @kbd{C-w}, @kbd{C-r}, @kbd{C-s},
@kbd{C-y}, @kbd{M-y}, @kbd{M-r}, or @kbd{M-s}).
Sometimes you search for @samp{FOO} and find it, but not the one you
expected to find. There was a second @samp{FOO} that you forgot about,
before the one you were aiming for. In this event, type another @kbd{C-s}
to move to the next occurrence of the search string. This can be done any
number of times. If you overshoot, you can cancel some @kbd{C-s}
characters with @key{DEL}.
expected to find. There was a second @samp{FOO} that you forgot
about, before the one you were aiming for. In this event, type
another @kbd{C-s} to move to the next occurrence of the search string.
You can repeat this any number of times. If you overshoot, you can
cancel some @kbd{C-s} characters with @key{DEL}.
After you exit a search, you can search for the same string again by
typing just @kbd{C-s C-s}: the first @kbd{C-s} is the key that invokes
@ -112,15 +111,24 @@ entirely, returning point to where it was when the search started.
case-sensitive. If you delete the upper-case character from the search
string, it ceases to have this effect. @xref{Search Case}.
To search for a newline, type @kbd{C-j}. To search for another
control character, such as control-S or carriage return, you must quote
it by typing @kbd{C-q} first. This function of @kbd{C-q} is analogous
to its use for insertion (@pxref{Inserting Text}): it causes the
following character to be treated the way any ``ordinary'' character is
treated in the same context. You can also specify a character by its
octal code: enter @kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits.
@cindex searching for non-ASCII characters
@cindex input method, during incremental search
If an input method (@pxref{Input Methods}) is turned on in the
current buffer when you start the search, that input method is used to
read the characters while you type the search string. Emacs indicates
that by including the input method mnemonic in its prompt, like this:
To search for non-ASCII characters, you must use an input method
(@pxref{Input Methods}). If an input method is turned on in the
current buffer when you start the search, you can use it while you
type the search string also. Emacs indicates that by including the
input method mnemonic in its prompt, like this:
@example
I-search [@var{im}]:
I-search [@var{im}]:
@end example
@noindent
@ -135,12 +143,13 @@ name of the input method. Note that the input method you turn on
during incremental search is turned on in the current buffer as well.
If a search is failing and you ask to repeat it by typing another
@kbd{C-s}, it starts again from the beginning of the buffer. Repeating
a failing reverse search with @kbd{C-r} starts again from the end. This
is called @dfn{wrapping around}. @samp{Wrapped} appears in the search
prompt once this has happened. If you keep on going past the original
starting point of the search, it changes to @samp{Overwrapped}, which
means that you are revisiting matches that you have already seen.
@kbd{C-s}, it starts again from the beginning of the buffer.
Repeating a failing reverse search with @kbd{C-r} starts again from
the end. This is called @dfn{wrapping around}, and @samp{Wrapped}
appears in the search prompt once this has happened. If you keep on
going past the original starting point of the search, it changes to
@samp{Overwrapped}, which means that you are revisiting matches that
you have already seen.
@cindex quitting (in search)
The @kbd{C-g} ``quit'' character does special things during searches;
@ -154,14 +163,6 @@ been found are discarded from the search string. With them gone, the
search is now successful and waiting for more input, so a second @kbd{C-g}
will cancel the entire search.
To search for a newline, type @kbd{C-j}. To search for another
control character, such as control-S or carriage return, you must quote
it by typing @kbd{C-q} first. This function of @kbd{C-q} is analogous
to its use for insertion (@pxref{Inserting Text}): it causes the
following character to be treated the way any ``ordinary'' character is
treated in the same context. You can also specify a character by its
octal code: enter @kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits.
You can change to searching backwards with @kbd{C-r}. If a search fails
because the place you started was too late in the file, you should do this.
Repeated @kbd{C-r} keeps looking for more occurrences backwards. A
@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ search remains case-insensitive.
The character @kbd{M-y} copies text from the kill ring into the search
string. It uses the same text that @kbd{C-y} as a command would yank.
@kbd{mouse-2} in the echo area does the same.
@kbd{Mouse-2} in the echo area does the same.
@xref{Yanking}.
When you exit the incremental search, it sets the mark to where point
@ -198,28 +199,20 @@ there. In Transient Mark mode, incremental search sets the mark without
activating it, and does so only if the mark is not already active.
@cindex lazy search highlighting
By default, Isearch uses @dfn{lazy highlighting}. All matches for
the current search string in the buffer after the point where searching
starts are highlighted. The extra highlighting makes it easier to
anticipate where the cursor will end up each time you press @kbd{C-s} or
@kbd{C-r} to repeat a pending search. Highlighting of these additional
matches happens in a deferred fashion so as not to rob Isearch of its
usual snappy response.
@vindex isearch-lazy-highlight-cleanup
@findex isearch-lazy-highlight-cleanup
By default the highlighting of matches is cleared when you end the
search. Customize the variable @code{isearch-lazy-highlight-cleanup} to
avoid cleaning up automatically. The command @kbd{M-x
isearch-lazy-highlight-cleanup} can be used to clean up manually.
@vindex isearch-lazy-highlight
Customize the variable @code{isearch-lazy-highlight} to turn off this
feature.
When you pause for a little while during incremental search, it
highlights all other possible matches for the search string. This
makes it easier to anticipate where you can get to by typing @kbd{C-s}
or @kbd{C-r} to repeat the search. The short delay before highlighting
other matches helps indicate which match is the current one.
If you don't like this feature, you can turn it off by setting
@code{isearch-lazy-highlight} to @code{nil}.
@vindex isearch-lazy-highlight-face
@cindex faces for highlighting search matches
You can control how does the highlighting of matches look like by
customizing the faces @code{isearch} (highlights the current match) and
@code{isearch-lazy-highlight-face} (highlights the other matches).
customizing the faces @code{isearch} (used for the current match) and
@code{isearch-lazy-highlight-face} (used for the other matches).
@vindex isearch-mode-map
To customize the special characters that incremental search understands,
@ -240,11 +233,6 @@ on the screen.
Then Emacs redisplays the window in which the search was done, to show
its new position of point.
@ignore
The three dots at the end of the search string, normally used to indicate
that searching is going on, are not displayed in slow style display.
@end ignore
@vindex search-slow-speed
The slow terminal style of display is used when the terminal baud rate is
less than or equal to the value of the variable @code{search-slow-speed},
@ -459,20 +447,31 @@ preceding expression either once or not at all. For example,
@item *?, +?, ??
@cindex non-greedy regexp matching
are non-greedy variants of the operators above. The normal operators
@samp{*}, @samp{+}, @samp{?} are @dfn{greedy} in that they match as much
as they can, while if you append a @samp{?} after them, it makes them
non-greedy: they will match as little as possible.
@samp{*}, @samp{+}, @samp{?} are @dfn{greedy} in that they match as
much as they can, as long as the overall regexp can still match. With
a following @samp{?}, they are non-greedy: they will match as little
as possible.
Thus, both @samp{ab*} and @samp{ab*?} can match the string @samp{a}
and the string @samp{abbbb}; but if you try to match them both against
the text @samp{abbb}, @samp{ab*} will match it all (the longest valid
match), while @samp{ab*?} will match just @samp{a} (the shortest
valid match).
@item \@{@var{n}\@}
is a postfix operator that specifies repetition @var{n} times---that
is, the preceding regular expression must match exactly @var{n} times
in a row. For example, @samp{x\@{4\@}} matches the string @samp{xxxx}
and nothing else.
@item \@{@var{n},@var{m}\@}
is another postfix operator that specifies an interval of iteration:
the preceding regular expression must match between @var{n} and
@var{m} times. If @var{m} is omitted, then there is no upper bound
and if @samp{,@var{m}} is omitted, then the regular expression must match
exactly @var{n} times. @*
@samp{\@{0,1\@}} is equivalent to @samp{?}. @*
@samp{\@{0,\@}} is equivalent to @samp{*}. @*
@samp{\@{1,\@}} is equivalent to @samp{+}. @*
@samp{\@{@var{n}\@}} is equivalent to @samp{\@{@var{n},@var{n}\@}}.
is a postfix operator that specifies repetition between @var{n} and
@var{m} times---that is, the preceding regular expression must match
at least @var{n} times, but no more than @var{m} times. If @var{m} is
omitted, then there is no upper limit, but the preceding regular
expression must match at least @var{n} times.@* @samp{\@{0,1\@}} is
equivalent to @samp{?}. @* @samp{\@{0,\@}} is equivalent to
@samp{*}. @* @samp{\@{1,\@}} is equivalent to @samp{+}.
@item [ @dots{} ]
is a @dfn{character set}, which begins with @samp{[} and is terminated
@ -591,15 +590,16 @@ To record a matched substring for future reference.
This last application is not a consequence of the idea of a
parenthetical grouping; it is a separate feature that is assigned as a
second meaning to the same @samp{\( @dots{} \)} construct. In practice
there is almost no conflict between the two meanings.
there is usually no conflict between the two meanings; when there is
a conflict, you can use a ``shy'' group.
@item \(?: @dots{} \)
is another grouping construct (often called ``shy'') that serves the same
first two purposes, but not the third:
it cannot be referred to later on by number. This is only useful
for mechanically constructed regular expressions where grouping
constructs need to be introduced implicitly and hence risk changing the
numbering of subsequent groups.
@cindex shy group, in regexp
specifies a ``shy'' group that does not record the matched substring;
you can't refer back to it with @samp{\@var{d}}. This is useful
in mechanically combining regular expressions, so that you
can add groups for syntactic purposes without interfering with
the numbering of the groups that were written by the user.
@item \@var{d}
matches the same text that matched the @var{d}th occurrence of a
@ -718,18 +718,26 @@ of times.
enter a tab, and @kbd{C-j} to enter a newline. You would also type
single backslashes as themselves, instead of doubling them for Lisp syntax.
@ignore
@c I commented this out because it is missing vital information
@c and therefore useless. For instance, what do you do to *use* the
@c regular expression when it is finished? What jobs is this good for?
@c -- rms
@findex re-builder
@cindex authoring regular expressions
For easier authoring of regular expressions, you can use the @kbd{M-x
re-builder} command. It provides a convenient interface for creating
regular expressions, by giving immediate visual feedback. The buffer
from which @code{re-builder} was invoked becomes the target for the
regexp editor, which pops in a separate window. Text that matches the
regular expression you typed so far is color marked in the target
buffer. Each parenthesized sub-expression of the regexp is shown in a
distinct face, which makes it easier to verify even very complex
regexps. (On displays that don't support colors, Emacs blinks the
cursor around the matched text, like it does for matching parens.)
For convenient interactive development of regular expressions, you
can use the @kbd{M-x re-builder} command. It provides a convenient
interface for creating regular expressions, by giving immediate visual
feedback. The buffer from which @code{re-builder} was invoked becomes
the target for the regexp editor, which pops in a separate window. At
all times, all the matches in the target buffer for the current
regular expression are highlighted. Each parenthesized sub-expression
of the regexp is shown in a distinct face, which makes it easier to
verify even very complex regexps. (On displays that don't support
colors, Emacs blinks the cursor around the matched text, as it does
for matching parens.)
@end ignore
@node Search Case, Replace, Regexps, Search
@section Searching and Case
@ -972,13 +980,16 @@ to delete the occurrence, and then enter a recursive editing level as in
occurrence of @var{string}. When done, exit the recursive editing level
with @kbd{C-M-c} to proceed to the next occurrence.
@item e
to edit the replacement string in the minibuffer. When you exit the
minibuffer by typing @key{RET}, the minibuffer contents replace the
current occurrence of the pattern. They also become the new
replacement string for any further occurrences.
@item C-l
to redisplay the screen. Then you must type another character to
specify what to do with this occurrence.
@item e
to let you edit the replacement string.
@item C-h
to display a message summarizing these options. Then you must type
another character to specify what to do with this occurrence.
@ -1005,9 +1016,10 @@ copy, or link files by replacing regexp matches in file names.
@section Other Search-and-Loop Commands
Here are some other commands that find matches for a regular
expression. They all operate from point to the end of the buffer, and
all ignore case in matching, if the pattern contains no upper-case
letters and @code{case-fold-search} is non-@code{nil}.
expression. They all ignore case in matching, if the pattern contains
no upper-case letters and @code{case-fold-search} is non-@code{nil}.
Aside from @code{occur}, all operate on the text from point to the end
of the buffer, or on the active region in Transient Mark mode.
@findex list-matching-lines
@findex occur
@ -1019,11 +1031,11 @@ letters and @code{case-fold-search} is non-@code{nil}.
@table @kbd
@item M-x occur @key{RET} @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Display a list showing each line in the buffer that contains a match for
@var{regexp}. A numeric argument specifies the number of context lines
to print before and after each matching line; the default is none.
To limit the search to part of the buffer, narrow to that part
(@pxref{Narrowing}).
Display a list showing each line in the buffer that contains a match
for @var{regexp}. To limit the search to part of the buffer, narrow
to that part (@pxref{Narrowing}). A numeric argument @var{n}
specifies to display @var{n} lines of context before and after each
matching line.
@kindex RET @r{(Occur mode)}
The buffer @samp{*Occur*} containing the output serves as a menu for
@ -1036,22 +1048,23 @@ moves point to the original of the chosen occurrence.
Synonym for @kbd{M-x occur}.
@item M-x how-many @key{RET} @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Print the number of matches for @var{regexp} after point, or in the
active region in Transient Mark mode.
Print the number of matches for @var{regexp} that exist in the buffer
after point. In Transient Mark mode, if the region is active, the
command operates on the region instead.
@item M-x flush-lines @key{RET} @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Delete each line after point, or in the active region in Transient Mark
mode, that contains a match for @var{regexp}.
Delete each line that contains a match for @var{regexp}, operating on
the text after point. In Transient Mark mode, if the region is
active, the command operates on the region instead.
@item M-x keep-lines @key{RET} @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Delete each line that follows point, or is in the active region in
Transient Mark mode, and @emph{does not} contain a match for
@var{regexp}.
Delete each line that @emph{does not} contain a match for
@var{regexp}, operating on the text after point. In Transient Mark
mode, if the region is active, the command operates on the region
instead.
@end table
Searching and replacing can be performed under the control of tags
files (@pxref{Tags Search}) and Dired (@pxref{Operating on Files}).
In addition, you can use @code{grep} from Emacs to search a collection
of files for matches for a regular expression, then visit the matches
either sequentially or in arbitrary order. @xref{Grep Searching}.
You can also search multiple files under control of a tags table
(@pxref{Tags Search}) or through Dired @kbd{A} command
(@pxref{Operating on Files}), or ask the @code{grep} program to do it
(@pxref{Grep Searching}).