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\input texinfo @c -*- mode: texinfo; -*-
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@c %**start of header
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@setfilename ../../info/efaq
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@settitle GNU Emacs FAQ
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@c %**end of header
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@include emacsver.texi
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@c This file is maintained by Romain Francoise <rfrancoise@gnu.org>.
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@c Feel free to install changes without prior permission (but I'd
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@c appreciate a notice if you do).
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@copying
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Copyright @copyright{} 2001-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.@*
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Copyright @copyright{} 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
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Reuven M. Lerner@*
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Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 1993 Steven Byrnes@*
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Copyright @copyright{} 1990, 1991, 1992 Joseph Brian Wells@*
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@quotation
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This list of frequently asked questions about GNU Emacs with answers
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(``FAQ'') may be translated into other languages, transformed into other
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formats (e.g. Texinfo, Info, WWW, WAIS), and updated with new information.
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The same conditions apply to any derivative of the FAQ as apply to the FAQ
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itself. Every copy of the FAQ must include this notice or an approved
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translation, information on who is currently maintaining the FAQ and how to
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contact them (including their e-mail address), and information on where the
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latest version of the FAQ is archived (including FTP information).
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The FAQ may be copied and redistributed under these conditions, except that
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the FAQ may not be embedded in a larger literary work unless that work
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itself allows free copying and redistribution.
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[This version has been heavily edited since it was included in the Emacs
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distribution.]
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@end quotation
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@end copying
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@dircategory Emacs
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@direntry
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* Emacs FAQ: (efaq). Frequently Asked Questions about Emacs.
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@end direntry
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@c The @titlepage stuff only appears in the printed version
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@titlepage
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@sp 10
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@center @titlefont{GNU Emacs FAQ}
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@c The following two commands start the copyright page.
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@page
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@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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@insertcopying
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@end titlepage
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@contents
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@node Top, FAQ notation, (dir), (dir)
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@top The GNU Emacs FAQ
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@c FIXME @today is just the day we ran `makeinfo'.
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This is the GNU Emacs FAQ, last updated on @today{}.
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This FAQ is maintained as a part of GNU Emacs. If you find any errors,
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or have any suggestions, please use @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug} to report
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them.
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This is the version of the FAQ distributed with Emacs @value{EMACSVER}, and
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mainly describes that version. Although there is some information on
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older versions, details about very old releases (now only of historical
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interest) have been removed. If you are interested in this, consult
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either the version of the FAQ distributed with older versions of Emacs,
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or the history of this document in the Emacs source repository.
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Since Emacs releases are very stable, we recommend always running the
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latest release.
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This FAQ is not updated very frequently. When you have a question about
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Emacs, the Emacs manual is often the best starting point.
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@ifnottex
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@insertcopying
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@end ifnottex
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@menu
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* FAQ notation::
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* General questions::
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* Getting help::
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* Status of Emacs::
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* Common requests::
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* Bugs and problems::
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* Compiling and installing Emacs::
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* Finding Emacs and related packages::
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* Key bindings::
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* Alternate character sets::
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* Mail and news::
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* Concept index::
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@end menu
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@c ------------------------------------------------------------
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@node FAQ notation
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@chapter FAQ notation
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@cindex FAQ notation
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This chapter describes notation used in the GNU Emacs FAQ, as well as in
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the Emacs documentation. Consult this section if this is the first time
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you are reading the FAQ, or if you are confused by notation or terms
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used in the FAQ.
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@menu
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* Basic keys::
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* Extended commands::
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* Emacs manual::
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* File-name conventions::
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* Common acronyms::
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@end menu
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@node Basic keys
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@section What do these mean: @kbd{C-h}, @kbd{C-M-a}, @key{RET}, @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, etc.?
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@cindex Basic keys
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@cindex Control key, notation for
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@cindex @key{Meta} key, notation for
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@cindex Control-Meta characters, notation for
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@cindex @kbd{C-h}, definition of
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@cindex @kbd{C-M-h}, definition of
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@cindex @key{DEL}, definition of
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@cindex @key{ESC}, definition of
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@cindex @key{LFD}, definition of
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@cindex @key{RET}, definition of
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@cindex @key{SPC}, definition of
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@cindex @key{TAB}, definition of
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@cindex Notation for keys
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@itemize @bullet
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@item
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@kbd{C-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down the @key{Control} key
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@item
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@kbd{M-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down the @key{Meta} key
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(if your computer doesn't have a @key{Meta} key, @pxref{No Meta key})
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@item
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@kbd{M-C-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down both @key{Control}
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and @key{Meta}
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@item
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@kbd{C-M-x}: a synonym for the above
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@item
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@key{LFD}: Linefeed or Newline; same as @kbd{C-j}
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@item
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@key{RET}: @key{Return}, sometimes marked @key{Enter}; same as @kbd{C-m}
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@item
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@key{DEL}: @key{Delete}, usually @strong{not} the same as
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@key{Backspace}; same as @kbd{C-?} (see @ref{Backspace invokes help}, if
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deleting invokes Emacs help)
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@item
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@key{ESC}: Escape; same as @kbd{C-[}
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@item
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@key{TAB}: Tab; same as @kbd{C-i}
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@item
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@key{SPC}: Space bar
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@end itemize
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Key sequences longer than one key (and some single-key sequences) are
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written inside quotes or on lines by themselves, like this:
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@display
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@kbd{M-x frobnicate-while-foo RET}
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@end display
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@noindent
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Any real spaces in such a key sequence should be ignored; only @key{SPC}
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really means press the space key.
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The @acronym{ASCII} code sent by @kbd{C-x} (except for @kbd{C-?}) is the value
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that would be sent by pressing just @key{x} minus 96 (or 64 for
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upper-case @key{X}) and will be from 0 to 31. On Unix and GNU/Linux
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terminals, the @acronym{ASCII} code sent by @kbd{M-x} is the sum of 128 and the
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@acronym{ASCII} code that would be sent by pressing just @key{x}. Essentially,
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@key{Control} turns off bits 5 and 6 and @key{Meta} turns on bit
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7@footnote{
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DOS and Windows terminals don't set bit 7 when the @key{Meta} key is
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pressed.}.
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@kbd{C-?} (aka @key{DEL}) is @acronym{ASCII} code 127. It is a misnomer to call
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@kbd{C-?} a ``control'' key, since 127 has both bits 5 and 6 turned ON.
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Also, on very few keyboards does @kbd{C-?} generate @acronym{ASCII} code 127.
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@c FIXME I cannot understand the previous sentence.
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@xref{Keys,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
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@node Extended commands
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@section What does @file{M-x @var{command}} mean?
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@cindex Extended commands
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@cindex Commands, extended
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@cindex M-x, meaning of
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@kbd{M-x @var{command}} means type @kbd{M-x}, then type the name of the
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command, then type @key{RET}. (@xref{Basic keys}, if you're not sure
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what @kbd{M-x} and @key{RET} mean.)
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@kbd{M-x} (by default) invokes the command
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@code{execute-extended-command}. This command allows you to run any
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Emacs command if you can remember the command's name. If you can't
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remember the command's name, you can type @key{TAB} and @key{SPC} for
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completion, @key{?} for a list of possibilities, and @kbd{M-p} and
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@kbd{M-n} (or up-arrow and down-arrow) to see previous commands entered.
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An Emacs @dfn{command} is an @dfn{interactive} Emacs function.
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@cindex @key{Do} key
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Your system administrator may have bound other key sequences to invoke
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@code{execute-extended-command}. A function key labeled @kbd{Do} is a
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good candidate for this, on keyboards that have such a key.
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If you need to run non-interactive Emacs functions, see @ref{Evaluating
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Emacs Lisp code}.
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@node Emacs manual
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@section How do I read topic XXX in the Emacs manual?
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@cindex Emacs manual, reading topics in
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@cindex Reading topics in the Emacs manual
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@cindex Finding topics in the Emacs manual
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@cindex Info, finding topics in
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When we refer you to some @var{topic} in the Emacs manual, you can
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read this manual node inside Emacs (assuming nothing is broken) by
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typing @kbd{C-h i m emacs @key{RET} m @var{topic} @key{RET}}.
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This invokes Info, the GNU hypertext documentation browser. If you don't
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already know how to use Info, type @key{?} from within Info.
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If we refer to @var{topic}:@var{subtopic}, type @kbd{C-h i m emacs
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@key{RET} m @var{topic} @key{RET} m @var{subtopic} @key{RET}}.
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If these commands don't work as expected, your system administrator may
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not have installed the Info files, or may have installed them
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improperly. In this case you should complain.
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If you are reading this FAQ in Info, you can simply press @key{RET} on a
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reference to follow it.
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@xref{Getting a printed manual}, if you would like a paper copy of the
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Emacs manual.
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@node File-name conventions
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@section What are @file{src/config.h}, @file{site-lisp/default.el}, etc.?
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@cindex File-name conventions
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@cindex Conventions for file names
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@cindex Directories and files that come with Emacs
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These are files that come with Emacs. The Emacs distribution is divided
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into subdirectories; e.g. @file{etc}, @file{lisp}, and @file{src}.
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Some of these (e.g. @file{etc} and @file{lisp}) are present both in
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an installed Emacs and in the sources, but some (e.g. @file{src}) are
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only found in the sources.
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If you use Emacs, but don't know where it is kept on your system, start
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Emacs, then type @kbd{C-h v data-directory @key{RET}}. The directory
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name displayed by this will be the full pathname of the installed
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@file{etc} directory. (This full path is recorded in the Emacs variable
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@code{data-directory}, and @kbd{C-h v} displays the value and the
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documentation of a variable.)
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The location of your Info directory (i.e., where Info documentation
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is stored) is kept in the variable @code{Info-default-directory-list}. Use
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@kbd{C-h v Info-default-directory-list @key{RET}} to see the value of
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this variable, which will be a list of directory names. The last
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directory in that list is probably where most Info files are stored. By
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default, Emacs Info documentation is placed in @file{/usr/local/share/info}.
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For information on some of the files in the @file{etc} directory,
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@pxref{Informational files for Emacs}.
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@node Common acronyms
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@section What are FSF, LPF, GNU, RMS, FTP, and GPL?
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@cindex FSF, definition of
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@cindex LPF, definition of
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@cindex GNU, definition of
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@cindex RMS, definition of
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@cindex Stallman, Richard, acronym for
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@cindex Richard Stallman, acronym for
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@cindex FTP, definition of
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@cindex GPL, definition of
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@cindex Acronyms, definitions for
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@cindex Common acronyms, definitions for
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@table @asis
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@item FSF
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Free Software Foundation
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@item LPF
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League for Programming Freedom
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@item GNU
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GNU's Not Unix
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@item RMS
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Richard Matthew Stallman
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@item FTP
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File Transfer Protocol
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@item GPL
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GNU General Public License
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@end table
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Avoid confusing the FSF and the LPF. The LPF opposes
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look-and-feel copyrights and software patents. The FSF aims to make
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high quality free software available for everyone.
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The word ``free'' in the title of the Free Software Foundation refers to
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``freedom,'' not ``zero cost.'' Anyone can charge any price for
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GPL-covered software that they want to. However, in practice, the
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freedom enforced by the GPL leads to low prices, because you can always
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get the software for less money from someone else, since everyone has
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the right to resell or give away GPL-covered software.
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@c ------------------------------------------------------------
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@node General questions
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@chapter General questions
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@cindex General questions
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This chapter contains general questions having to do with Emacs, the
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Free Software Foundation, and related organizations.
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@menu
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* The LPF::
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* Real meaning of copyleft::
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* Guidelines for newsgroup postings::
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* Newsgroup archives::
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* Reporting bugs::
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* Unsubscribing from Emacs lists::
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* Contacting the FSF::
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@end menu
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@node The LPF
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@section What is the LPF?
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@cindex LPF, description of
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@cindex League for Programming Freedom
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@cindex Software patents, opposition to
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@cindex Patents for software, opposition to
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The LPF opposes the expanding danger of software patents and
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look-and-feel copyrights. More information on the LPF's views is
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available at @uref{http://progfree.org/, the LPF home page}.
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@node Real meaning of copyleft
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@section What is the real legal meaning of the GNU copyleft?
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@cindex Copyleft, real meaning of
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@cindex GPL, real meaning of
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@cindex General Public License, real meaning of
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@cindex Discussion of the GPL
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The real legal meaning of the GNU General Public License (copyleft) will
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only be known if and when a judge rules on its validity and scope.
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There has never been a copyright infringement case involving the GPL to
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set any precedents. Although legal actions have been brought against
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companies for violating the terms of the GPL, so far all have been
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settled out of court (in favor of the plaintiffs). Please take any
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discussion regarding this issue to the newsgroup
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@uref{news:gnu.misc.discuss}, which was created to hold the extensive
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flame wars on the subject.
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RMS writes:
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@quotation
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The legal meaning of the GNU copyleft is less important than the spirit,
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which is that Emacs is a free software project and that work pertaining
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to Emacs should also be free software. ``Free'' means that all users
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have the freedom to study, share, change and improve Emacs. To make
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sure everyone has this freedom, pass along source code when you
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distribute any version of Emacs or a related program, and give the
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recipients the same freedom that you enjoyed.
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@end quotation
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@node Guidelines for newsgroup postings
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@section What are appropriate messages for the various Emacs newsgroups?
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@cindex Newsgroups, appropriate messages for
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@cindex GNU newsgroups, appropriate messages for
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@cindex Usenet groups, appropriate messages for
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@cindex Mailing lists, appropriate messages for
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@cindex Posting messages to newsgroups
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@cindex GNU mailing lists
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The file @file{etc/MAILINGLISTS} describes the purpose of each GNU
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mailing list (@pxref{Informational files for Emacs}). For those lists
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which are gatewayed with newsgroups, it lists both the newsgroup name
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and the mailing list address. The Emacs mailing lists are also
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described at @uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/mail/?group=emacs, the Emacs
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Savannah page}.
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The newsgroup @uref{news:comp.emacs} is for discussion of Emacs programs
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in general. The newsgroup @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} is specifically
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|
for GNU Emacs. It therefore makes no sense to cross-post to both
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groups, since only one can be appropriate to any question.
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|
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Messages advocating ``non-free'' software are considered unacceptable on
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any of the @code{gnu.*} newsgroups except for @uref{news:gnu.misc.discuss},
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which was created to hold the extensive flame-wars on the subject.
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``Non-free'' software includes any software for which the end user can't
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freely modify the source code and exchange enhancements. Be careful to
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remove the @code{gnu.*} groups from the @samp{Newsgroups:} line when
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|
posting a followup that recommends such software.
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|
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|
@uref{news:gnu.emacs.bug} is a place where bug reports appear, but avoid
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|
posting bug reports to this newsgroup directly (@pxref{Reporting bugs}).
|
|
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@node Newsgroup archives
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|
@section Where can I get old postings to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} and other GNU groups?
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|
@cindex Archived postings from @code{gnu.emacs.help}
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|
@cindex Usenet archives for GNU groups
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|
@cindex Old Usenet postings for GNU groups
|
|
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|
The FSF has maintained archives of all of the GNU mailing lists for many
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|
years, although there may be some unintentional gaps in coverage. The
|
|
archive can be browsed over the web at
|
|
@uref{http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/, the GNU mail archive}. Raw
|
|
files can be downloaded from @uref{ftp://lists.gnu.org/}.
|
|
|
|
Web-based Usenet search services, such as
|
|
@uref{http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?q=gnu&, Google}, also
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|
archive the @code{gnu.*} groups.
|
|
|
|
You can also read the archives of the @code{gnu.*} groups and post new
|
|
messages at @uref{http://gmane.org/, Gmane}. Gmane is a service that
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|
presents mailing lists as newsgroups (even those without a traditional
|
|
mail-to-news gateway).
|
|
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|
@node Reporting bugs
|
|
@section Where should I report bugs and other problems with Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Bug reporting
|
|
@cindex Good bug reports
|
|
@cindex How to submit a bug report
|
|
@cindex Reporting bugs
|
|
|
|
The correct way to report Emacs bugs is to use the command
|
|
@kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug}. It sets up a mail buffer with the
|
|
essential information and the correct e-mail address, which is
|
|
@email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} for the released versions of Emacs.
|
|
Anything sent to @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} also appears in the
|
|
newsgroup @uref{news:gnu.emacs.bug}, but please use e-mail instead of
|
|
news to submit the bug report. This ensures a reliable return address
|
|
so you can be contacted for further details.
|
|
|
|
Be sure to read the ``Bugs'' section of the Emacs manual before reporting
|
|
a bug! The manual describes in detail how to submit a useful bug
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|
report (@pxref{Bugs, , Reporting Bugs, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
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|
(@xref{Emacs manual}, if you don't know how to read the manual.)
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|
|
|
RMS says:
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|
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|
@quotation
|
|
Sending bug reports to @email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} (which has the
|
|
effect of posting on @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help}) is undesirable because
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|
it takes the time of an unnecessarily large group of people, most of
|
|
whom are just users and have no idea how to fix these problem.
|
|
@email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} reaches a much smaller group of people
|
|
who are more likely to know what to do and have expressed a wish to
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|
receive more messages about Emacs than the others.
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|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
RMS says it is sometimes fine to post to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help}:
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
If you have reported a bug and you don't hear about a possible fix,
|
|
then after a suitable delay (such as a week) it is okay to post on
|
|
@code{gnu.emacs.help} asking if anyone can help you.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
If you are unsure whether you have found a bug, consider the following
|
|
non-exhaustive list, courtesy of RMS:
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
If Emacs crashes, that is a bug. If Emacs gets compilation errors
|
|
while building, that is a bug. If Emacs crashes while building, that
|
|
is a bug. If Lisp code does not do what the documentation says it
|
|
does, that is a bug.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
@node Unsubscribing from Emacs lists
|
|
@section How do I unsubscribe from a mailing list?
|
|
@cindex Unsubscribing from GNU mailing lists
|
|
@cindex Removing yourself from GNU mailing lists
|
|
|
|
If you are receiving a GNU mailing list named @var{list}, you should be
|
|
able to unsubscribe from it by sending a request to the address
|
|
@email{@var{list}-request@@gnu.org}. Mailing lists mails normally
|
|
contain information in either the message header
|
|
(@samp{List-Unsubscribe:}) or as a footer that tells you how to
|
|
unsubscribe.
|
|
|
|
@node Contacting the FSF
|
|
@section How do I contact the FSF?
|
|
@cindex Contracting the FSF
|
|
@cindex Free Software Foundation, contacting
|
|
|
|
For up-to-date information, see
|
|
@uref{http://www.fsf.org/about/contact.html, the FSF contact web-page}.
|
|
You can send general correspondence to @email{info@@fsf.org}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Ordering GNU software
|
|
For details on how to order items directly from the FSF, see the
|
|
@uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}.
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Getting help
|
|
@chapter Getting help
|
|
@cindex Getting help
|
|
|
|
This chapter tells you how to get help with Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Basic editing::
|
|
* Learning how to do something::
|
|
* Getting a printed manual::
|
|
* Emacs Lisp documentation::
|
|
* Installing Texinfo documentation::
|
|
* Printing a Texinfo file::
|
|
* Viewing Info files outside of Emacs::
|
|
* Informational files for Emacs::
|
|
* Help installing Emacs::
|
|
* Obtaining the FAQ::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Basic editing
|
|
@section I'm just starting Emacs; how do I do basic editing?
|
|
@cindex Basic editing with Emacs
|
|
@cindex Beginning editing
|
|
@cindex Tutorial, invoking the
|
|
@cindex Self-paced tutorial, invoking the
|
|
@cindex Help system, entering the
|
|
|
|
Type @kbd{C-h t} to invoke the self-paced tutorial. Just typing
|
|
@kbd{C-h} enters the help system. Starting with Emacs 22, the tutorial
|
|
is available in many foreign languages such as French, German, Japanese,
|
|
Russian, etc. Use @kbd{M-x help-with-tutorial-spec-language @key{RET}}
|
|
to choose your language and start the tutorial.
|
|
|
|
Your system administrator may have changed @kbd{C-h} to act like
|
|
@key{DEL} to deal with local keyboards. You can use @kbd{M-x
|
|
help-for-help} instead to invoke help. To discover what key (if any)
|
|
invokes help on your system, type @kbd{M-x where-is @key{RET}
|
|
help-for-help @key{RET}}. This will print a comma-separated list of key
|
|
sequences in the echo area. Ignore the last character in each key
|
|
sequence listed. Each of the resulting key sequences (e.g. @key{F1} is
|
|
common) invokes help.
|
|
|
|
Emacs help works best if it is invoked by a single key whose value
|
|
should be stored in the variable @code{help-char}.
|
|
|
|
@node Learning how to do something
|
|
@section How do I find out how to do something in Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Help for Emacs
|
|
@cindex Learning to do something in Emacs
|
|
@cindex Reference card for Emacs
|
|
@cindex Overview of help systems
|
|
|
|
There are several methods for finding out how to do things in Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@cindex Reading the Emacs manual
|
|
@item
|
|
The complete text of the Emacs manual is available via the Info
|
|
hypertext reader. Type @kbd{C-h r} to display the manual in Info mode.
|
|
Typing @key{h} immediately after entering Info will provide a short
|
|
tutorial on how to use it.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Lookup a subject in a manual
|
|
@cindex Index search in a manual
|
|
@item
|
|
To quickly locate the section of the manual which discusses a certain
|
|
issue, or describes a command or a variable, type @kbd{C-h i m emacs
|
|
@key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET}}, where @var{topic} is the name of the
|
|
topic, the command, or the variable which you are looking for. If this
|
|
does not land you on the right place in the manual, press @kbd{,}
|
|
(comma) repeatedly until you find what you need. (The @kbd{i} and
|
|
@kbd{,} keys invoke the index-searching functions, which look for the
|
|
@var{topic} you type in all the indices of the Emacs manual.)
|
|
|
|
@cindex Apropos
|
|
@item
|
|
You can list all of the commands whose names contain a certain word
|
|
(actually which match a regular expression) using @kbd{C-h a} (@kbd{M-x
|
|
command-apropos}).
|
|
|
|
@cindex Command description in the manual
|
|
@item
|
|
The command @kbd{C-h F} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}) prompts
|
|
for the name of a command, and then attempts to find the section in the
|
|
Emacs manual where that command is described.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Finding commands and variables
|
|
@item
|
|
You can list all of the functions and variables whose names contain a
|
|
certain word using @kbd{M-x apropos}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You can list all of the functions and variables whose documentation
|
|
matches a regular expression or a string, using @kbd{M-x
|
|
apropos-documentation}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You can order a hardcopy of the manual from the FSF. @xref{Getting a
|
|
printed manual}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Reference cards, in other languages
|
|
@item
|
|
You can get a printed reference card listing commands and keys to
|
|
invoke them. You can order one from the FSF for $2 (or 10 for $18),
|
|
or you can print your own from the @file{etc/refcards/refcard.tex} or
|
|
@file{etc/refcards/refcard.pdf} files in the Emacs distribution.
|
|
Beginning with version 21.1, the Emacs distribution comes with
|
|
translations of the reference card into several languages; look for
|
|
files named @file{etc/refcards/@var{lang}-refcard.*}, where @var{lang}
|
|
is a two-letter code of the language. For example, the German version
|
|
of the reference card is in the files @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.tex}
|
|
and @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.pdf}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
There are many other commands in Emacs for getting help and
|
|
information. To get a list of these commands, type @samp{?} after
|
|
@kbd{C-h}.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Getting a printed manual
|
|
@section How do I get a printed copy of the Emacs manual?
|
|
@cindex Printed Emacs manual, obtaining
|
|
@cindex Manual, obtaining a printed or HTML copy of
|
|
@cindex Emacs manual, obtaining a printed or HTML copy of
|
|
|
|
You can order a printed copy of the Emacs manual from the FSF. For
|
|
details see the @uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}.
|
|
|
|
The full Texinfo source for the manual also comes in the @file{doc/emacs}
|
|
directory of the Emacs distribution, if you're daring enough to try to
|
|
print out this several-hundred-page manual yourself (@pxref{Printing a Texinfo
|
|
file}).
|
|
|
|
If you absolutely have to print your own copy, and you don't have @TeX{},
|
|
you can get a PostScript or PDF (or HTML) version from
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/}
|
|
|
|
@xref{Learning how to do something}, for how to view the manual from Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs Lisp documentation
|
|
@section Where can I get documentation on Emacs Lisp?
|
|
@cindex Documentation on Emacs Lisp
|
|
@cindex Function documentation
|
|
@cindex Variable documentation
|
|
@cindex Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
|
|
@cindex Reference manual for Emacs Lisp
|
|
|
|
Within Emacs, you can type @kbd{C-h f} to get the documentation for a
|
|
function, @kbd{C-h v} for a variable.
|
|
|
|
For more information, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual is available
|
|
in Info format (@pxref{Top, Emacs Lisp,, elisp, The
|
|
Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
|
|
|
|
You can also order a hardcopy of the manual from the FSF, for details
|
|
see the @uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}. (This manual is
|
|
not always in print.)
|
|
|
|
An HTML version of the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual is available at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/elisp-manual/elisp.html}
|
|
|
|
@node Installing Texinfo documentation
|
|
@section How do I install a piece of Texinfo documentation?
|
|
@cindex Texinfo documentation, installing
|
|
@cindex Installing Texinfo documentation
|
|
@cindex New Texinfo files, installing
|
|
@cindex Documentation, installing new Texinfo files
|
|
@cindex Info files, how to install
|
|
|
|
Emacs releases come with pre-built Info files, and the normal install
|
|
process places them in the correct location. This is true for most
|
|
applications that provide Info files. The following section is only
|
|
relevant if you want to install extra Info files by hand.
|
|
|
|
First, you must turn the Texinfo source files into Info files. You may
|
|
do this using the stand-alone @file{makeinfo} program, available as part
|
|
of the Texinfo package at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/}
|
|
|
|
For information about the Texinfo format, read the Texinfo manual which
|
|
comes with the Texinfo package. This manual also comes installed in
|
|
Info format, so you can read it from Emacs; type @kbd{C-h i m texinfo
|
|
@key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
@c FIXME is this a complete alternative?
|
|
@c Probably not, given that we require makeinfo to build Emacs.
|
|
Alternatively, you could use the Emacs command @kbd{M-x
|
|
texinfo-format-buffer}, after visiting the Texinfo source file of the
|
|
manual you want to convert.
|
|
|
|
Neither @code{texinfo-format-buffer} nor @file{makeinfo} installs the
|
|
resulting Info files in Emacs's Info tree. To install Info files,
|
|
perform these steps:
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Move the files to the @file{info} directory in the installed Emacs
|
|
distribution. @xref{File-name conventions}, if you don't know where that
|
|
is.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Run the @code{install-info} command, which is part of the Texinfo
|
|
distribution, to update the main Info directory menu, like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
install-info --info-dir=@var{dir-path} @var{dir-path}/@var{file}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
where @var{dir-path} is the full path to the directory where you copied
|
|
the produced Info file(s), and @var{file} is the name of the Info file
|
|
you produced and want to install.
|
|
|
|
If you don't have the @code{install-info} command installed, you can
|
|
edit the file @file{info/dir} in the installed Emacs distribution, and
|
|
add a line for the top level node in the Info package that you are
|
|
installing. Follow the examples already in this file. The format is:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
* Topic: (relative-pathname). Short description of topic.
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
If you want to install Info files and you don't have the necessary
|
|
privileges, you have several options:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
Info files don't actually need to be installed before being used.
|
|
You can use a prefix argument for the @code{info} command and specify
|
|
the name of the Info file in the minibuffer. This goes to the node
|
|
named @samp{Top} in that file. For example, to view a Info file named
|
|
@file{@var{info-file}} in your home directory, you can type this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{C-u C-h i ~/@var{info-file} @key{RET}}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Alternatively, you can feed a file name to the @code{Info-goto-node}
|
|
command (invoked by pressing @key{g} in Info mode) by typing the name
|
|
of the file in parentheses, like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
@kbd{C-h i g (~/@var{info-file}) @key{RET}}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You can create your own Info directory. You can tell Emacs where that
|
|
Info directory is by adding its pathname to the value of the variable
|
|
@code{Info-default-directory-list}. For example, to use a private Info
|
|
directory which is a subdirectory of your home directory named @file{Info},
|
|
you could put this in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-to-list 'Info-default-directory-list "~/Info")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
You will need a top-level Info file named @file{dir} in this directory
|
|
which has everything the system @file{dir} file has in it, except it
|
|
should list only entries for Info files in that directory. You might
|
|
not need it if (fortuitously) all files in this directory were
|
|
referenced by other @file{dir} files. The node lists from all
|
|
@file{dir} files in @code{Info-default-directory-list} are merged by the
|
|
Info system.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Printing a Texinfo file
|
|
@section How do I print a Texinfo file?
|
|
@cindex Printing a Texinfo file
|
|
@cindex Texinfo file, printing
|
|
@cindex Printing documentation
|
|
|
|
You can't get nicely printed output from Info files; you must still have
|
|
the original Texinfo source file for the manual you want to print.
|
|
|
|
Assuming you have @TeX{} installed on your system, follow these steps:
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Make sure the first line of the Texinfo file looks like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
\input texinfo
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
You may need to change @samp{texinfo} to the full pathname of the
|
|
@file{texinfo.tex} file, which comes with Emacs as
|
|
@file{doc/misc/texinfo.tex} (or copy or link it into the current directory).
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Type @kbd{texi2dvi @var{texinfo-source}}, where @var{texinfo-source} is
|
|
the name of the Texinfo source file for which you want to produce a
|
|
printed copy. The @samp{texi2dvi} script is part of the GNU Texinfo
|
|
distribution.
|
|
|
|
Alternatively, @samp{texi2pdf} produces PDF files.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Print the DVI file @file{@var{texinfo-source}.dvi} in the normal way for
|
|
printing DVI files at your site. For example, if you have a PostScript
|
|
printer, run the @code{dvips} program to print the DVI file on that
|
|
printer.
|
|
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
To get more general instructions, retrieve the latest Texinfo package
|
|
(@pxref{Installing Texinfo documentation}).
|
|
|
|
@node Viewing Info files outside of Emacs
|
|
@section Can I view Info files without using Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Viewing Info files
|
|
@cindex Info file viewers
|
|
@cindex Alternative Info file viewers
|
|
|
|
Yes. Here are some alternative programs:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@code{info}, a stand-alone version of the Info program, comes as part of
|
|
the Texinfo package. @xref{Installing Texinfo documentation}, for
|
|
details.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Tkinfo, an Info viewer that runs under X Window system and uses Tcl/Tk.
|
|
You can get Tkinfo at
|
|
@uref{http://math-www.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/tkinfo/}.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Informational files for Emacs
|
|
@section What informational files are available for Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Informational files included with Emacs
|
|
@cindex Files included with Emacs
|
|
@cindex @file{COPYING}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{DISTRIB}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{GNU}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{INTERVIEW}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{MACHINES}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{MAILINGLISTS}, description of file
|
|
@cindex @file{NEWS}, description of file
|
|
|
|
This isn't a frequently asked question, but it should be! A variety of
|
|
informational files about Emacs and relevant aspects of the GNU project
|
|
are available for you to read.
|
|
|
|
The following files (and others) are available in the @file{etc}
|
|
directory of the Emacs distribution (see @ref{File-name conventions}, if
|
|
you're not sure where that is). Many of these files are available via
|
|
the Emacs @samp{Help} menu, or by typing @kbd{C-h ?} (@kbd{M-x
|
|
help-for-help}).
|
|
|
|
@table @file
|
|
|
|
@item COPYING
|
|
GNU General Public License
|
|
|
|
@item DISTRIB
|
|
Emacs Availability Information
|
|
|
|
@item GNU
|
|
The GNU Manifesto
|
|
|
|
@item INTERVIEW
|
|
Richard Stallman discusses his public-domain UNIX-compatible software
|
|
system with BYTE editors
|
|
|
|
@item MACHINES
|
|
Status of Emacs on Various Machines and Systems
|
|
|
|
@item MAILINGLISTS
|
|
GNU Project Electronic Mailing Lists
|
|
|
|
@item NEWS
|
|
Emacs news, a history of recent user-visible changes
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
More GNU information, including back issues of the @cite{GNU's
|
|
Bulletin}, are at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bulletins.html} and
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/gnu/gnu.html}
|
|
|
|
@node Help installing Emacs
|
|
@section Where can I get help in installing Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Installation help
|
|
@cindex Help installing Emacs
|
|
|
|
@xref{Installing Emacs}, for some basic installation hints, and see
|
|
@ref{Problems building Emacs}, if you have problems with the installation.
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.fsf.org/resources/service/, The GNU Service directory}
|
|
lists companies and individuals willing to sell you help in installing
|
|
or using Emacs and other GNU software.
|
|
|
|
@node Obtaining the FAQ
|
|
@section Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ?
|
|
@cindex FAQ, obtaining the
|
|
@cindex Latest FAQ version, obtaining the
|
|
|
|
The Emacs FAQ is distributed with Emacs in Info format. You can read it
|
|
by selecting the @samp{Emacs FAQ} option from the @samp{Help} menu of
|
|
the Emacs menu bar at the top of any Emacs frame, or by typing @kbd{C-h
|
|
C-f} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-FAQ}). The very latest version is available
|
|
in the Emacs development repository (@pxref{Latest version of Emacs}).
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Status of Emacs
|
|
@chapter Status of Emacs
|
|
@cindex Status of Emacs
|
|
|
|
This chapter gives you basic information about Emacs, including the
|
|
status of its latest version.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Origin of the term Emacs::
|
|
* Latest version of Emacs::
|
|
* New in Emacs 24::
|
|
* New in Emacs 23::
|
|
* New in Emacs 22::
|
|
* New in Emacs 21::
|
|
* New in Emacs 20::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Origin of the term Emacs
|
|
@section Where does the name ``Emacs'' come from?
|
|
@cindex Origin of the term ``Emacs''
|
|
@cindex Emacs name origin
|
|
@cindex TECO
|
|
@cindex Original version of Emacs
|
|
|
|
Emacs originally was an acronym for Editor MACroS. RMS says he ``picked
|
|
the name Emacs because @key{E} was not in use as an abbreviation on ITS at
|
|
the time.'' The first Emacs was a set of macros written in 1976 at MIT
|
|
by RMS for the editor TECO (Text Editor and COrrector, originally Tape
|
|
Editor and COrrector) under ITS (the Incompatible Timesharing System) on
|
|
a PDP-10. RMS had already extended TECO with a ``real-time''
|
|
full-screen mode with reprogrammable keys. Emacs was started by
|
|
@email{gls@@east.sun.com, Guy Steele} as a project to unify the many
|
|
divergent TECO command sets and key bindings at MIT, and completed by
|
|
RMS.
|
|
|
|
Many people have said that TECO code looks a lot like line noise; you
|
|
can read more at @uref{news:alt.lang.teco}. Someone has written a TECO
|
|
implementation in Emacs Lisp (to find it, see @ref{Packages that do not
|
|
come with Emacs}); it would be an interesting project to run the
|
|
original TECO Emacs inside of Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Why Emacs?
|
|
For some not-so-serious alternative reasons for Emacs to have that
|
|
name, check out the file @file{etc/JOKES} (@pxref{File-name
|
|
conventions}).
|
|
|
|
@node Latest version of Emacs
|
|
@section What is the latest version of Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Version, latest
|
|
@cindex Latest version of Emacs
|
|
@cindex Development, Emacs
|
|
@cindex Repository, Emacs
|
|
@cindex Bazaar repository, Emacs
|
|
|
|
Emacs @value{EMACSVER} is the current version as of this writing. A version
|
|
number with two components (e.g. @samp{22.1}) indicates a released
|
|
version; three components indicate a development
|
|
version (e.g. @samp{23.0.50} is what will eventually become @samp{23.1}).
|
|
|
|
Emacs is under active development, hosted at
|
|
@uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/emacs/, Savannah}. The source
|
|
code can be retrieved anonymously following the
|
|
@uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/bzr/?group=emacs, instructions}.
|
|
The repository is GNU Bazaar.
|
|
|
|
Because Emacs undergoes many changes before a release, the version
|
|
number of a development version is not especially meaningful. It is
|
|
better to refer to the date on which the sources were retrieved from the
|
|
development repository. The development version is usually quite robust
|
|
for every-day use, but if stability is more important to you than the
|
|
latest features, you may want to stick to the releases.
|
|
|
|
The following sections list some of the major new features in the last
|
|
few Emacs releases. For full details of the changes in any version of
|
|
Emacs, type @kbd{C-h C-n} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-news}). As of Emacs 22,
|
|
you can give this command a prefix argument to read about which features
|
|
were new in older versions.
|
|
|
|
@node New in Emacs 24
|
|
@section What is different about Emacs 24?
|
|
@cindex Differences between Emacs 23 and Emacs 24
|
|
@cindex Emacs 24, new features in
|
|
|
|
@itemize
|
|
@cindex packages, installing more
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs now includes a package manager. Type @kbd{M-x list-packages} to
|
|
get started. You can use this to download and automatically install
|
|
many more Lisp packages.
|
|
|
|
@cindex lexical binding
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs Lisp now supports lexical binding on a per-file basis. In
|
|
@emph{lexical binding}, variable references must be located textually
|
|
within the binding construct. This contrasts with @emph{dynamic
|
|
binding}, where programs can refer to variables defined outside their
|
|
local textual scope. A Lisp file can use a local variable setting of
|
|
@code{lexical-binding: t} to indicate that the contents should be
|
|
interpreted using lexical binding. See the Emacs Lisp Reference
|
|
Manual for more details.
|
|
|
|
@cindex bidirectional display
|
|
@cindex right-to-left languages
|
|
@item
|
|
Some human languages, such as English, are written from left to right.
|
|
Others, such as Arabic, are written from right to left. Emacs now has
|
|
support for any mixture of these forms---this is ``bidirectional text''.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Handling of text selections has been improved, and now integrates
|
|
better with external clipboards.
|
|
|
|
@cindex themes
|
|
@item
|
|
A new command @kbd{customize-themes} allows you to easily change the
|
|
appearance of your Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs can be compiled with the GTK+ 3 toolkit.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Support for several new external libraries can be included at compile
|
|
time:
|
|
|
|
@itemize
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
``Security-Enhanced Linux'' (SELinux) is a Linux kernel feature that
|
|
provides more sophisticated file access controls than ordinary
|
|
``Unix-style'' file permissions.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The ImageMagick display library. This allows you to display many more
|
|
image format in Emacs, as well as carry out transformations such as
|
|
rotations.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The GnuTLS library for secure network communications. Emacs uses this
|
|
transparently for email if your mail server supports it.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The libxml2 library for parsing XML structures.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Much more flexibility in the handling of windows and buffer display.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
As always, consult the @file{NEWS} file for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node New in Emacs 23
|
|
@section What is different about Emacs 23?
|
|
@cindex Differences between Emacs 22 and Emacs 23
|
|
@cindex Emacs 23, new features in
|
|
|
|
@itemize
|
|
|
|
@cindex Anti-aliased fonts
|
|
@cindex Freetype fonts
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs has a new font code that can use multiple font backends,
|
|
including freetype and fontconfig. Emacs can use the Xft library for
|
|
anti-aliasing, and the otf and m17n libraries for complex text layout and
|
|
text shaping.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Unicode
|
|
@cindex Character sets
|
|
@item
|
|
The Emacs character set is now a superset of Unicode. Several new
|
|
language environments have been added.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Multi-tty support
|
|
@cindex X and tty displays
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs now supports using both X displays and ttys in the same session
|
|
(@samp{multi-tty}).
|
|
|
|
@cindex Daemon mode
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs can be started as a daemon in the background.
|
|
|
|
@cindex NeXTstep port
|
|
@cindex GNUstep port
|
|
@cindex Mac OS X Cocoa
|
|
@item
|
|
There is a new NeXTstep port of Emacs. This supports GNUstep and Mac OS
|
|
X (via the Cocoa libraries). The Carbon port of Emacs, which supported
|
|
Mac OS X in Emacs 22, has been removed.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Directory-local variables
|
|
@item
|
|
Directory-local variables can now be defined, in a similar manner to
|
|
file-local variables.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Transient Mark mode (@pxref{Highlighting a region}) is on by default.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
Other changes include: support for serial port access; D-Bus bindings; a
|
|
new Visual Line mode for line-motion; improved completion; a new mode
|
|
(@samp{DocView}) for viewing of PDF, PostScript, and DVI documents; nXML
|
|
mode (for editing XML documents) is included; VC has been updated for
|
|
newer version control systems; etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node New in Emacs 22
|
|
@section What is different about Emacs 22?
|
|
@cindex Differences between Emacs 21 and Emacs 22
|
|
@cindex Emacs 22, new features in
|
|
|
|
@itemize
|
|
@cindex GTK+ Toolkit
|
|
@cindex Drag-and-drop
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs can be built with GTK+ widgets, and supports drag-and-drop
|
|
operation on X.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Supported systems
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs 22 features support for GNU/Linux systems on S390 and x86-64
|
|
machines, as well as support for the Mac OS X and Cygwin operating
|
|
systems.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The native MS-Windows, and Mac OS X builds include full support
|
|
for images, toolbar, and tooltips.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Font Lock mode, Auto Compression mode, and File Name Shadow Mode are
|
|
enabled by default.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The maximum size of buffers is increased: on 32-bit machines, it is
|
|
256 MBytes for Emacs 23.1, and 512 MBytes for Emacs 23.2 and above.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Links can be followed with @kbd{mouse-1}, in addition to @kbd{mouse-2}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Mouse wheel
|
|
@item
|
|
Mouse wheel support is enabled by default.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Window fringes are customizable.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The mode line of the selected window is now highlighted.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The minibuffer prompt is displayed in a distinct face.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Abbrev definitions are read automatically at startup.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Grep mode is separate from Compilation mode and has many new options and
|
|
commands specific to grep.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The original Emacs macro system has been replaced by the new Kmacro
|
|
package, which provides many new commands and features and a simple
|
|
interface that uses the function keys F3 and F4. Macros are stored in a
|
|
macro ring, and can be debugged and edited interactively.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The Grand Unified Debugger (GUD) can be used with a full graphical user
|
|
interface to GDB; this provides many features found in traditional
|
|
development environments, making it easy to manipulate breakpoints, add
|
|
watch points, display the call stack, etc. Breakpoints are visually
|
|
indicated in the source buffer.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@cindex New modes
|
|
Many new modes and packages have been included in Emacs, such as Calc,
|
|
TRAMP, URL, IDO, CUA, ERC, rcirc, Table, Image-Dired, SES, Ruler, Org,
|
|
PGG, Flymake, Password, Printing, Reveal, wdired, t-mouse, longlines,
|
|
savehist, Conf mode, Python mode, DNS mode, etc.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Multilingual Environment
|
|
@item
|
|
Leim is now part of Emacs. Unicode support has been much improved, and
|
|
the following input methods have been added: belarusian, bulgarian-bds,
|
|
bulgarian-phonetic, chinese-sisheng, croatian, dutch, georgian,
|
|
latin-alt-postfix, latin-postfix, latin-prefix, latvian-keyboard,
|
|
lithuanian-numeric, lithuanian-keyboard, malayalam-inscript, rfc1345,
|
|
russian-computer, sgml, slovenian, tamil-inscript, ucs,
|
|
ukrainian-computer, vietnamese-telex, and welsh.
|
|
|
|
The following language environments have also been added: Belarusian,
|
|
Bulgarian, Chinese-EUC-TW, Croatian, French, Georgian, Italian, Latin-6,
|
|
Latin-7, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Russian, Slovenian, Swedish,
|
|
Tajik, Tamil, UTF-8, Ukrainian, Welsh, and Windows-1255.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Documentation
|
|
@cindex Emacs Lisp Manual
|
|
@item
|
|
In addition, Emacs 22 now includes the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual
|
|
(@pxref{Emacs Lisp documentation}) and the Emacs Lisp Intro.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node New in Emacs 21
|
|
@section What is different about Emacs 21?
|
|
@cindex Differences between Emacs 20 and Emacs 21
|
|
@cindex Emacs 21, new features in
|
|
|
|
@cindex Variable-size fonts
|
|
@cindex Toolbar support
|
|
Emacs 21 features a thorough rewrite of the display engine. The new
|
|
display engine supports variable-size fonts, images, and can play sounds
|
|
on platforms which support that. As a result, the visual appearance of
|
|
Emacs, when it runs on a windowed display, is much more reminiscent of
|
|
modern GUI programs, and includes 3D widgets (used for the mode line and
|
|
the scroll bars), a configurable and extensible toolbar, tooltips
|
|
(a.k.a.@: balloon help), and other niceties.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Colors on text-only terminals
|
|
@cindex TTY colors
|
|
In addition, Emacs 21 supports faces on text-only terminals. This means
|
|
that you can now have colors when you run Emacs on a GNU/Linux console
|
|
and on @code{xterm} with @kbd{emacs -nw}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node New in Emacs 20
|
|
@section What is different about Emacs 20?
|
|
@cindex Differences between Emacs 19 and Emacs 20
|
|
@cindex Emacs 20, new features in
|
|
|
|
The differences between Emacs versions 18 and 19 were rather dramatic;
|
|
the introduction of frames, faces, and colors on windowing systems was
|
|
obvious to even the most casual user.
|
|
|
|
There are differences between Emacs versions 19 and 20 as well, but many
|
|
are more subtle or harder to find. Among the changes are the inclusion
|
|
of MULE code for languages that use non-Latin characters and for mixing
|
|
several languages in the same document; the ``Customize'' facility for
|
|
modifying variables without having to use Lisp; and automatic conversion
|
|
of files from Macintosh, Microsoft, and Unix platforms.
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Common requests
|
|
@chapter Common requests
|
|
@cindex Common requests
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Setting up a customization file::
|
|
* Using Customize::
|
|
* Colors on a TTY::
|
|
* Debugging a customization file::
|
|
* Displaying the current line or column::
|
|
* Displaying the current file name in the titlebar::
|
|
* Turning on abbrevs by default::
|
|
* Associating modes with files::
|
|
* Highlighting a region::
|
|
* Replacing highlighted text::
|
|
* Controlling case sensitivity::
|
|
* Working with unprintable characters::
|
|
* Searching for/replacing newlines::
|
|
* Yanking text in isearch::
|
|
* Wrapping words automatically::
|
|
* Turning on auto-fill by default::
|
|
* Changing load-path::
|
|
* Using an already running Emacs process::
|
|
* Compiler error messages::
|
|
* Indenting switch statements::
|
|
* Customizing C and C++ indentation::
|
|
* Horizontal scrolling::
|
|
* Overwrite mode::
|
|
* Turning off beeping::
|
|
* Turning the volume down::
|
|
* Automatic indentation::
|
|
* Matching parentheses::
|
|
* Hiding #ifdef lines::
|
|
* Repeating commands::
|
|
* Valid X resources::
|
|
* Evaluating Emacs Lisp code::
|
|
* Changing the length of a Tab::
|
|
* Inserting text at the beginning of each line::
|
|
* Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column::
|
|
* Forcing Emacs to iconify itself::
|
|
* Using regular expressions::
|
|
* Replacing text across multiple files::
|
|
* Documentation for etags::
|
|
* Disabling backups::
|
|
* Disabling auto-save-mode::
|
|
* Going to a line by number::
|
|
* Modifying pull-down menus::
|
|
* Deleting menus and menu options::
|
|
* Turning on syntax highlighting::
|
|
* Scrolling only one line::
|
|
* Editing MS-DOS files::
|
|
* Filling paragraphs with a single space::
|
|
* Escape sequences in shell output::
|
|
* Fullscreen mode on MS-Windows::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Setting up a customization file
|
|
@section How do I set up a @file{.emacs} file properly?
|
|
@cindex @file{.emacs} file, setting up
|
|
@cindex @file{.emacs} file, locating
|
|
@cindex Init file, setting up
|
|
@cindex Customization file, setting up
|
|
|
|
@xref{Init File,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
In general, new Emacs users should not be provided with @file{.emacs}
|
|
files, because this can cause confusing non-standard behavior. Then
|
|
they send questions to @email{help-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org} asking why Emacs
|
|
isn't behaving as documented.
|
|
|
|
Emacs includes the Customize facility (@pxref{Using Customize}). This
|
|
allows users who are unfamiliar with Emacs Lisp to modify their
|
|
@file{.emacs} files in a relatively straightforward way, using menus
|
|
rather than Lisp code.
|
|
|
|
While Customize might indeed make it easier to configure Emacs,
|
|
consider taking a bit of time to learn Emacs Lisp and modifying your
|
|
@file{.emacs} directly. Simple configuration options are described
|
|
rather completely in @ref{Init File,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual},
|
|
for users interested in performing frequently requested, basic tasks.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes users are unsure as to where their @file{.emacs} file should
|
|
be found. Visiting the file as @file{~/.emacs} from Emacs will find
|
|
the correct file.
|
|
|
|
@node Using Customize
|
|
@section How do I start using Customize?
|
|
@cindex Customize groups
|
|
@cindex Customizing variables
|
|
@cindex Customizing faces
|
|
|
|
The main Customize entry point is @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET}}. This
|
|
command takes you to a buffer listing all the available Customize
|
|
groups. From there, you can access all customizable options and faces,
|
|
change their values, and save your changes to your init file.
|
|
@xref{Easy Customization,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
If you know the name of the group in advance (e.g. ``shell''), use
|
|
@kbd{M-x customize-group @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
If you wish to customize a single option, use @kbd{M-x customize-option
|
|
@key{RET}}. This command prompts you for the name of the option to
|
|
customize, with completion.
|
|
|
|
@node Colors on a TTY
|
|
@section How do I get colors and syntax highlighting on a TTY?
|
|
@cindex Colors on a TTY
|
|
@cindex Syntax highlighting on a TTY
|
|
@cindex Console, colors
|
|
|
|
In Emacs 21.1 and later, colors and faces are supported in non-windowed mode,
|
|
i.e.@: on Unix and GNU/Linux text-only terminals and consoles, and when
|
|
invoked as @samp{emacs -nw} on X, and MS-Windows. (Colors and faces were
|
|
supported in the MS-DOS port since Emacs 19.29.) Emacs automatically
|
|
detects color support at startup and uses it if available. If you think
|
|
that your terminal supports colors, but Emacs won't use them, check the
|
|
@code{termcap} entry for your display type for color-related
|
|
capabilities.
|
|
|
|
The command @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} pops up a window which
|
|
exhibits all the colors Emacs knows about on the current display.
|
|
|
|
Syntax highlighting is on by default since version 22.1.
|
|
|
|
@node Debugging a customization file
|
|
@section How do I debug a @file{.emacs} file?
|
|
@cindex Debugging @file{.emacs} file
|
|
@cindex @file{.emacs} debugging
|
|
@cindex Init file debugging
|
|
@cindex @samp{-debug-init} option
|
|
|
|
Start Emacs with the @samp{-debug-init} command-line option. This
|
|
enables the Emacs Lisp debugger before evaluating your @file{.emacs}
|
|
file, and places you in the debugger if something goes wrong. The top
|
|
line in the @file{trace-back} buffer will be the error message, and the
|
|
second or third line of that buffer will display the Lisp code from your
|
|
@file{.emacs} file that caused the problem.
|
|
|
|
You can also evaluate an individual function or argument to a function
|
|
in your @file{.emacs} file by moving the cursor to the end of the
|
|
function or argument and typing @kbd{C-x C-e} (@kbd{M-x
|
|
eval-last-sexp}).
|
|
|
|
Use @kbd{C-h v} (@kbd{M-x describe-variable}) to check the value of
|
|
variables which you are trying to set or use.
|
|
|
|
@node Displaying the current line or column
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs display the current line (or column) number?
|
|
@cindex @code{line-number-mode}
|
|
@cindex Displaying the current line or column
|
|
@cindex Line number, displaying the current
|
|
@cindex Column, displaying the current
|
|
@cindex @code{mode-line-format}
|
|
|
|
By default, Emacs displays the current line number of the point in the
|
|
mode line. You can toggle this feature off or on with the command
|
|
@kbd{M-x line-number-mode}, or by setting the variable
|
|
@code{line-number-mode}. Note that Emacs will not display the line
|
|
number if the buffer's size in bytes is larger than the value of the
|
|
variable @code{line-number-display-limit}.
|
|
|
|
You can similarly display the current column with
|
|
@kbd{M-x column-number-mode}, or by putting the form
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq column-number-mode t)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
in your @file{.emacs} file. This feature is off by default.
|
|
|
|
The @code{"%c"} format specifier in the variable @code{mode-line-format}
|
|
will insert the current column's value into the mode line. See the
|
|
documentation for @code{mode-line-format} (using @kbd{C-h v
|
|
mode-line-format @key{RET}}) for more information on how to set and use
|
|
this variable.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Set number capability in @code{vi} emulators
|
|
The @samp{linum} package (distributed with Emacs since version 23.1)
|
|
displays line numbers in the left margin, like the ``set number''
|
|
capability of @code{vi}. The packages @samp{setnu} and
|
|
@samp{wb-line-number} (not distributed with Emacs) also implement this
|
|
feature.
|
|
|
|
@node Displaying the current file name in the titlebar
|
|
@section How can I modify the titlebar to contain the current file name?
|
|
@cindex Titlebar, displaying the current file name in
|
|
@cindex File name, displaying in the titlebar
|
|
@cindex @code{frame-title-format}
|
|
|
|
The contents of an Emacs frame's titlebar is controlled by the variable
|
|
@code{frame-title-format}, which has the same structure as the variable
|
|
@code{mode-line-format}. (Use @kbd{C-h v} or @kbd{M-x
|
|
describe-variable} to get information about one or both of these
|
|
variables.)
|
|
|
|
By default, the titlebar for a frame does contain the name of the buffer
|
|
currently being visited, except if there is a single frame. In such a
|
|
case, the titlebar contains Emacs invocation name and the name of the
|
|
machine at which Emacs was invoked. This is done by setting
|
|
@code{frame-title-format} to the default value of
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(multiple-frames "%b" ("" invocation-name "@@" system-name))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
To modify the behavior such that frame titlebars contain the buffer's
|
|
name regardless of the number of existing frames, include the following
|
|
in your @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq frame-title-format "%b")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Turning on abbrevs by default
|
|
@section How do I turn on abbrevs by default just in mode @var{mymode}?
|
|
@cindex Abbrevs, turning on by default
|
|
|
|
Abbrev mode expands abbreviations as you type them. To turn it on in a
|
|
specific buffer, use @kbd{M-x abbrev-mode}. To turn it on in every
|
|
buffer by default, put this in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq-default abbrev-mode t)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent To turn it on in a specific mode, use:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook '@var{mymode}-mode-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(setq abbrev-mode t)))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent If your Emacs version is older then 22.1, you will also need to use:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(condition-case ()
|
|
(quietly-read-abbrev-file)
|
|
(file-error nil))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Associating modes with files
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs use a certain major mode for certain files?
|
|
@cindex Associating modes with files
|
|
@cindex File extensions and modes
|
|
@cindex @code{auto-mode-alist}, modifying
|
|
@cindex Modes, associating with file extensions
|
|
|
|
If you want to use a certain mode @var{foo} for all files whose names end
|
|
with the extension @file{.@var{bar}}, this will do it for you:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.@var{bar}\\'" . @var{foo}-mode))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Alternatively, put this somewhere in the first line of any file you want to
|
|
edit in the mode @var{foo} (in the second line, if the first line begins
|
|
with @samp{#!}):
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
-*- @var{foo} -*-
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@cindex Major mode for shell scripts
|
|
The variable @code{interpreter-mode-alist} specifies which mode to use
|
|
when loading an interpreted script (e.g. shell, python, etc.). Emacs
|
|
determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of
|
|
the script. Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x describe-variable}) on
|
|
@code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more.
|
|
|
|
@node Highlighting a region
|
|
@section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Highlighting text
|
|
@cindex Text, highlighting
|
|
@cindex @code{transient-mark-mode}
|
|
@cindex Region, highlighting a
|
|
|
|
You can cause the region to be highlighted when the mark is active by
|
|
including
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(transient-mark-mode 1)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
in your @file{.emacs} file. Since Emacs 23.1, this feature is on by default.
|
|
|
|
@node Replacing highlighted text
|
|
@section How can I replace highlighted text with what I type?
|
|
@cindex @code{delete-selection-mode}
|
|
@cindex Replacing highlighted text
|
|
@cindex Highlighting and replacing text
|
|
|
|
Use @code{delete-selection-mode}, which you can start automatically by
|
|
placing the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(delete-selection-mode 1)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
According to the documentation string for @code{delete-selection-mode}
|
|
(which you can read using @kbd{M-x describe-function @key{RET}
|
|
delete-selection-mode @key{RET}}):
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
When Delete Selection mode is enabled, Transient Mark mode is also
|
|
enabled and typed text replaces the selection if the selection is
|
|
active. Otherwise, typed text is just inserted at point regardless of
|
|
any selection.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
This mode also allows you to delete (not kill) the highlighted region by
|
|
pressing @key{DEL}.
|
|
|
|
@node Controlling case sensitivity
|
|
@section How do I control Emacs's case-sensitivity when searching/replacing?
|
|
@cindex @code{case-fold-search}
|
|
@cindex Case sensitivity of searches
|
|
@cindex Searching without case sensitivity
|
|
@cindex Ignoring case in searches
|
|
|
|
@c FIXME
|
|
The value of the variable @code{case-fold-search} determines whether
|
|
searches are case sensitive:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq case-fold-search nil) ; make searches case sensitive
|
|
(setq case-fold-search t) ; make searches case insensitive
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@cindex Case sensitivity in replacements
|
|
@cindex Replacing, and case sensitivity
|
|
@cindex @code{case-replace}
|
|
Similarly, for replacing, the variable @code{case-replace} determines
|
|
whether replacements preserve case.
|
|
|
|
You can also toggle case sensitivity at will in isearch with @kbd{M-c}.
|
|
|
|
To change the case sensitivity just for one major mode, use the major
|
|
mode's hook. For example:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook '@var{foo}-mode-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(setq case-fold-search nil)))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Working with unprintable characters
|
|
@section How do I search for, delete, or replace unprintable (eight-bit or control) characters?
|
|
@cindex Unprintable characters, working with
|
|
@cindex Working with unprintable characters
|
|
@cindex Control characters, working with
|
|
@cindex Eight-bit characters, working with
|
|
@cindex Searching for unprintable characters
|
|
@cindex Regexps and unprintable characters
|
|
|
|
To search for a single character that appears in the buffer as, for
|
|
example, @samp{\237}, you can type @kbd{C-s C-q 2 3 7}.
|
|
Searching for @strong{all} unprintable characters is best done with a
|
|
regular expression (@dfn{regexp}) search. The easiest regexp to use for
|
|
the unprintable chars is the complement of the regexp for the printable
|
|
chars.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Regexp for the printable chars: @samp{[\t\n\r\f -~]}
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Regexp for the unprintable chars: @samp{[^\t\n\r\f -~]}
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
To type these special characters in an interactive argument to
|
|
@code{isearch-forward-regexp} or @code{re-search-forward}, you need to
|
|
use @kbd{C-q}. (@samp{\t}, @samp{\n}, @samp{\r}, and @samp{\f} stand
|
|
respectively for @key{TAB}, @key{LFD}, @key{RET}, and @kbd{C-l}.) So,
|
|
to search for unprintable characters using @code{re-search-forward}:
|
|
|
|
@kbd{M-x re-search-forward @key{RET} [^ @key{TAB} C-q @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~] @key{RET}}
|
|
|
|
Using @code{isearch-forward-regexp}:
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-M-s [^ @key{TAB} @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~]}
|
|
|
|
To delete all unprintable characters, simply use replace-regexp:
|
|
|
|
@kbd{M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} [^ @key{TAB} C-q @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~] @key{RET} @key{RET}}
|
|
|
|
Replacing is similar to the above. To replace all unprintable
|
|
characters with a colon, use:
|
|
|
|
M-x replace-regexp @key{RET} [^ @key{TAB} C-q @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~] @key{RET} : @key{RET}
|
|
|
|
@node Searching for/replacing newlines
|
|
@section How do I input a newline character in isearch or query-replace?
|
|
@cindex Searching for newlines
|
|
@cindex Replacing newlines
|
|
|
|
Use @kbd{C-q C-j}. For more information,
|
|
@pxref{Special Isearch,, Special Input for Incremental Search, emacs,
|
|
The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Yanking text in isearch
|
|
@section How do I copy text from the kill ring into the search string?
|
|
@cindex Yanking text into the search string
|
|
@cindex isearch yanking
|
|
|
|
Use @kbd{M-y}. @xref{Isearch Yank,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Wrapping words automatically
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs wrap words for me?
|
|
@cindex Wrapping word automatically
|
|
@cindex Wrapping lines
|
|
@cindex Line wrap
|
|
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, introduction to
|
|
@cindex Maximum line width, default value
|
|
@cindex @code{fill-column}, default value
|
|
|
|
Use @code{auto-fill-mode}, activated by typing @kbd{M-x auto-fill-mode}.
|
|
The default maximum line width is 70, determined by the variable
|
|
@code{fill-column}. To learn how to turn this on automatically, see
|
|
@ref{Turning on auto-fill by default}.
|
|
|
|
@node Turning on auto-fill by default
|
|
@section How do I turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} by default?
|
|
@cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, activating automatically
|
|
@cindex Filling automatically
|
|
@cindex Automatic entry to @code{auto-fill-mode}
|
|
|
|
To turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} just once for one buffer, use @kbd{M-x
|
|
auto-fill-mode}.
|
|
|
|
To turn it on for every buffer in a certain mode, you must use the hook
|
|
for that mode. For example, to turn on @code{auto-fill} mode for all
|
|
text buffers, including the following in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
If you want @code{auto-fill} mode on in all major modes, do this:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq-default auto-fill-function 'do-auto-fill)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Changing load-path
|
|
@section How do I change @code{load-path}?
|
|
@cindex @code{load-path}, modifying
|
|
@cindex Modifying @code{load-path}
|
|
@cindex Adding to @code{load-path}
|
|
|
|
In general, you should only add to the @code{load-path}. You can add
|
|
directory @var{/dir/subdir} to the load path like this:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-to-list 'load-path "/dir/subdir/")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
To do this relative to your home directory:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-to-list 'load-path "~/mysubdir/")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Using an already running Emacs process
|
|
@section How do I use an already running Emacs from another window?
|
|
@cindex @code{emacsclient}
|
|
@cindex Emacs server functions
|
|
@cindex Using an existing Emacs process
|
|
|
|
@code{emacsclient}, which comes with Emacs, is for editing a file using
|
|
an already running Emacs rather than starting up a new Emacs. It does
|
|
this by sending a request to the already running Emacs, which must be
|
|
expecting the request.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Setup:
|
|
|
|
Emacs must have executed the @code{server-start} function for
|
|
@samp{emacsclient} to work. This can be done either by a command line
|
|
option:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
emacs -f server-start
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
or by invoking @code{server-start} from @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(if (@var{some conditions are met}) (server-start))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
When this is done, Emacs creates a Unix domain socket named
|
|
@file{server} in @file{/tmp/emacs@var{userid}}. See
|
|
@code{server-socket-dir}.
|
|
|
|
To get your news reader, mail reader, etc., to invoke
|
|
@samp{emacsclient}, try setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR}
|
|
(or sometimes @code{VISUAL}) to the value @samp{emacsclient}. You may
|
|
have to specify the full pathname of the @samp{emacsclient} program
|
|
instead. Examples:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
# csh commands:
|
|
setenv EDITOR emacsclient
|
|
|
|
# using full pathname
|
|
setenv EDITOR /usr/local/emacs/etc/emacsclient
|
|
|
|
# sh command:
|
|
EDITOR=emacsclient ; export EDITOR
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Normal use:
|
|
|
|
When @samp{emacsclient} is run, it connects to the socket and passes its
|
|
command line options to Emacs, which at the next opportunity will visit
|
|
the files specified. (Line numbers can be specified just like with
|
|
Emacs.) The user will have to switch to the Emacs window by hand. When
|
|
the user is done editing a file, the user can type @kbd{C-x #} (or
|
|
@kbd{M-x server-edit}) to indicate this. If there is another buffer
|
|
requested by @code{emacsclient}, Emacs will switch to it; otherwise
|
|
@code{emacsclient} will exit, signaling the calling program to continue.
|
|
|
|
@cindex @code{gnuserv}
|
|
There is an alternative version of @samp{emacsclient} called
|
|
@samp{gnuserv}, written by @email{ange@@hplb.hpl.hp.com, Andy Norman}
|
|
(@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). @samp{gnuserv} uses
|
|
Internet domain sockets, so it can work across most network connections.
|
|
|
|
The most recent @samp{gnuserv} package is available at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://meltin.net/hacks/emacs/}
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Compiler error messages
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs recognize my compiler's funny error messages?
|
|
@cindex Compiler error messages, recognizing
|
|
@cindex Recognizing non-standard compiler errors
|
|
@cindex Regexps for recognizing compiler errors
|
|
@cindex Errors, recognizing compiler
|
|
|
|
Customize the @code{compilation-error-regexp-alist} variable.
|
|
|
|
@node Indenting switch statements
|
|
@section How do I change the indentation for @code{switch}?
|
|
@cindex @code{switch}, indenting
|
|
@cindex Indenting of @code{switch}
|
|
|
|
Many people want to indent their @code{switch} statements like this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
f()
|
|
@{
|
|
switch(x) @{
|
|
case A:
|
|
x1;
|
|
break;
|
|
case B:
|
|
x2;
|
|
break;
|
|
default:
|
|
x3;
|
|
@}
|
|
@}
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent To achieve this, add the following line to your @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(c-set-offset 'case-label '+)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Customizing C and C++ indentation
|
|
@section How to customize indentation in C, C@t{++}, and Java buffers?
|
|
@cindex Indentation, how to customize
|
|
@cindex Customize indentation
|
|
|
|
The Emacs @code{cc-mode} features an interactive procedure for
|
|
customizing the indentation style, which is fully explained in the
|
|
@cite{CC Mode} manual that is part of the Emacs distribution, see
|
|
@ref{Customizing Indentation, , Customization Indentation, ccmode,
|
|
The CC Mode Manual}. Here's a short summary of the procedure:
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
@item
|
|
Go to the beginning of the first line where you don't like the
|
|
indentation and type @kbd{C-c C-o}. Emacs will prompt you for the
|
|
syntactic symbol; type @key{RET} to accept the default it suggests.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs now prompts for the offset of this syntactic symbol, showing the
|
|
default (the current definition) inside parentheses. You can choose
|
|
one of these:
|
|
|
|
@table @code
|
|
@item 0
|
|
No extra indentation.
|
|
@item +
|
|
Indent one basic offset.
|
|
@item -
|
|
Outdent one basic offset.
|
|
@item ++
|
|
Indent two basic offsets
|
|
@item --
|
|
Outdent two basic offsets.
|
|
@item *
|
|
Indent half basic offset.
|
|
@item /
|
|
Outdent half basic offset.
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
After choosing one of these symbols, type @kbd{C-c C-q} to reindent
|
|
the line or the block according to what you just specified.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you don't like the result, go back to step 1. Otherwise, add the
|
|
following line to your @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(c-set-offset '@var{syntactic-symbol} @var{offset})
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
where @var{syntactic-symbol} is the name Emacs shows in the minibuffer
|
|
when you type @kbd{C-c C-o} at the beginning of the line, and
|
|
@var{offset} is one of the indentation symbols listed above (@code{+},
|
|
@code{/}, @code{0}, etc.) that you've chosen during the interactive
|
|
procedure.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Go to the next line whose indentation is not to your liking and repeat
|
|
the process there.
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
It is recommended to put all the resulting @code{(c-set-offset ...)}
|
|
customizations inside a C mode hook, like this:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(defun my-c-mode-hook ()
|
|
(c-set-offset ...)
|
|
(c-set-offset ...))
|
|
(add-hook 'c-mode-hook 'my-c-mode-hook)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
Using @code{c-mode-hook} avoids the need to put a @w{@code{(require
|
|
'cc-mode)}} into your @file{.emacs} file, because @code{c-set-offset}
|
|
might be unavailable when @code{cc-mode} is not loaded.
|
|
|
|
Note that @code{c-mode-hook} runs for C source files only; use
|
|
@code{c++-mode-hook} for C@t{++} sources, @code{java-mode-hook} for
|
|
Java sources, etc. If you want the same customizations to be in
|
|
effect in @emph{all} languages supported by @code{cc-mode}, use
|
|
@code{c-mode-common-hook}.
|
|
|
|
@node Horizontal scrolling
|
|
@section How can I make Emacs automatically scroll horizontally?
|
|
@cindex @code{hscroll-mode}
|
|
@cindex Horizontal scrolling
|
|
@cindex Scrolling horizontally
|
|
|
|
In Emacs 21 and later, this is on by default: if the variable
|
|
@code{truncate-lines} is non-@code{nil} in the current buffer, Emacs
|
|
automatically scrolls the display horizontally when point moves off the
|
|
left or right edge of the window.
|
|
|
|
Note that this is overridden by the variable
|
|
@code{truncate-partial-width-windows} if that variable is non-nil
|
|
and the current buffer is not full-frame width.
|
|
|
|
In Emacs 20, use @code{hscroll-mode}.
|
|
|
|
@node Overwrite mode
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs ``typeover'' or ``overwrite'' instead of inserting?
|
|
@cindex @key{Insert}
|
|
@cindex @code{overwrite-mode}
|
|
@cindex Overwriting existing text
|
|
@cindex Toggling @code{overwrite-mode}
|
|
|
|
@kbd{M-x overwrite-mode} (a minor mode). This toggles
|
|
@code{overwrite-mode} on and off, so exiting from @code{overwrite-mode}
|
|
is as easy as another @kbd{M-x overwrite-mode}.
|
|
|
|
On some systems, @key{Insert} toggles @code{overwrite-mode} on and off.
|
|
|
|
@node Turning off beeping
|
|
@section How do I stop Emacs from beeping on a terminal?
|
|
@cindex Beeping, turning off
|
|
@cindex Visible bell
|
|
@cindex Bell, visible
|
|
|
|
@email{martin@@cc.gatech.edu, Martin R. Frank} writes:
|
|
|
|
Tell Emacs to use the @dfn{visible bell} instead of the audible bell,
|
|
and set the visible bell to nothing.
|
|
|
|
That is, put the following in your @code{TERMCAP} environment variable
|
|
(assuming you have one):
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
... :vb=: ...
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
And evaluate the following Lisp form:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
(setq visible-bell t)
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@node Turning the volume down
|
|
@section How do I turn down the bell volume in Emacs running under X?
|
|
@cindex Bell, volume of
|
|
@cindex Volume of bell
|
|
|
|
On X Window system, you can adjust the bell volume and duration for all
|
|
programs with the shell command @code{xset}.
|
|
|
|
Invoking @code{xset} without any arguments produces some basic
|
|
information, including the following:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
usage: xset [-display host:dpy] option ...
|
|
To turn bell off:
|
|
-b b off b 0
|
|
To set bell volume, pitch and duration:
|
|
b [vol [pitch [dur]]] b on
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@node Automatic indentation
|
|
@section How do I tell Emacs to automatically indent a new line to the indentation of the previous line?
|
|
@cindex Indenting new lines
|
|
@cindex New lines, indenting of
|
|
@cindex Previous line, indenting according to
|
|
@cindex Text indentation
|
|
|
|
Such behavior is automatic (in Text mode) in Emacs 20 and later. From the
|
|
@file{etc/NEWS} file for Emacs 20.2:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
** In Text mode, now only blank lines separate paragraphs. This makes
|
|
it possible to get the full benefit of Adaptive Fill mode in Text mode,
|
|
and other modes derived from it (such as Mail mode). @key{TAB} in Text
|
|
mode now runs the command @code{indent-relative}; this makes a practical
|
|
difference only when you use indented paragraphs.
|
|
|
|
If you want spaces at the beginning of a line to start a paragraph, use
|
|
the new mode, Paragraph Indent Text mode.
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@cindex Prefixing lines
|
|
@cindex Fill prefix
|
|
If you have @code{auto-fill-mode} turned on (@pxref{Turning on auto-fill
|
|
by default}), you can tell Emacs to prefix every line with a certain
|
|
character sequence, the @dfn{fill prefix}. Type the prefix at the
|
|
beginning of a line, position point after it, and then type @kbd{C-x .}
|
|
(@code{set-fill-prefix}) to set the fill prefix. Thereafter,
|
|
auto-filling will automatically put the fill prefix at the beginning of
|
|
new lines, and @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph}) will maintain any fill
|
|
prefix when refilling the paragraph.
|
|
|
|
If you have paragraphs with different levels of indentation, you will
|
|
have to set the fill prefix to the correct value each time you move to a
|
|
new paragraph. There are many packages available to deal with this
|
|
(@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). Look for ``fill'' and
|
|
``indent'' keywords for guidance.
|
|
|
|
@node Matching parentheses
|
|
@section How do I show which parenthesis matches the one I'm looking at?
|
|
@cindex Parentheses, matching
|
|
@cindex @file{paren.el}
|
|
@cindex Highlighting matching parentheses
|
|
@cindex Pairs of parentheses, highlighting
|
|
@cindex Matching parentheses
|
|
|
|
Call @code{show-paren-mode} in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(show-paren-mode 1)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
You can also enable this mode by selecting the @samp{Paren Match
|
|
Highlighting} option from the @samp{Options} menu of the Emacs menu bar
|
|
at the top of any Emacs frame.
|
|
|
|
Alternatives to this mode include:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you're looking at a right parenthesis (or brace or bracket) you can
|
|
delete it and reinsert it. Emacs will momentarily move the cursor to
|
|
the matching parenthesis.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
@kbd{C-M-f} (@code{forward-sexp}) and @kbd{C-M-b} (@code{backward-sexp})
|
|
will skip over one set of balanced parentheses, so you can see which
|
|
parentheses match. (You can train it to skip over balanced brackets
|
|
and braces at the same time by modifying the syntax table.)
|
|
|
|
@cindex Show matching paren as in @code{vi}
|
|
@item
|
|
Here is some Emacs Lisp that will make the @key{%} key show the matching
|
|
parenthesis, like in @code{vi}. In addition, if the cursor isn't over a
|
|
parenthesis, it simply inserts a % like normal.
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
;; By an unknown contributor
|
|
|
|
(global-set-key "%" 'match-paren)
|
|
|
|
(defun match-paren (arg)
|
|
"Go to the matching paren if on a paren; otherwise insert %."
|
|
(interactive "p")
|
|
(cond ((looking-at "\\s\(") (forward-list 1) (backward-char 1))
|
|
((looking-at "\\s\)") (forward-char 1) (backward-list 1))
|
|
(t (self-insert-command (or arg 1)))))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Hiding #ifdef lines
|
|
@section In C mode, can I show just the lines that will be left after @code{#ifdef} commands are handled by the compiler?
|
|
@cindex @code{#ifdef}, selective display of
|
|
@cindex @code{hide-ifdef-mode}
|
|
@cindex Hiding @code{#ifdef} text
|
|
@cindex Selectively displaying @code{#ifdef} code
|
|
|
|
@kbd{M-x hide-ifdef-mode}. (This is a minor mode.) You might also want
|
|
to investigate @file{cpp.el}, which is distributed with Emacs.
|
|
|
|
@node Repeating commands
|
|
@section How do I repeat a command as many times as possible?
|
|
@cindex Repeating commands many times
|
|
@cindex Commands, repeating many times
|
|
@cindex @code{.}, equivalent to @code{vi} command
|
|
|
|
As of Emacs 20.3, there is indeed a @code{repeat} command (@kbd{C-x z})
|
|
that repeats the last command. If you preface it with a prefix
|
|
argument, the prefix arg is applied to the command.
|
|
|
|
You can also type @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}}
|
|
(@code{repeat-complex-command}) to reinvoke commands that used the
|
|
minibuffer to get arguments. In @code{repeat-complex-command} you can
|
|
type @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-n} (and also up-arrow and down-arrow, if your
|
|
keyboard has these keys) to scan through all the different complex
|
|
commands you've typed.
|
|
|
|
To repeat a set of commands, use keyboard macros. Use @kbd{C-x (} and
|
|
@kbd{C-x )} to make a keyboard macro that invokes the command and then
|
|
type @kbd{C-x e}. @xref{Keyboard Macros,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
If you're really desperate for the @code{.} command in @code{vi} that
|
|
redoes the last insertion/deletion, use VIPER, a @code{vi} emulation
|
|
mode which comes with Emacs, and which appears to support it.
|
|
|
|
@node Valid X resources
|
|
@section What are the valid X resource settings (i.e., stuff in .Xdefaults)?
|
|
@cindex Resources, X
|
|
@cindex X resources
|
|
@cindex Setting X resources
|
|
|
|
@xref{X Resources,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
You can also use a resource editor, such as editres (for X11R5 and
|
|
onwards), to look at the resource names for the menu bar, assuming Emacs
|
|
was compiled with the X toolkit.
|
|
|
|
@node Evaluating Emacs Lisp code
|
|
@section How do I execute (``evaluate'') a piece of Emacs Lisp code?
|
|
@cindex Evaluating Lisp code
|
|
@cindex Lisp forms, evaluating
|
|
|
|
There are a number of ways to execute (@dfn{evaluate}, in Lisp lingo) an
|
|
Emacs Lisp @dfn{form}:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you want it evaluated every time you run Emacs, put it in a file
|
|
named @file{.emacs} in your home directory. This is known as ``your
|
|
@file{.emacs} file,'' and contains all of your personal customizations.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You can type the form in the @file{*scratch*} buffer, and then type
|
|
@key{LFD} (or @kbd{C-j}) after it. The result of evaluating the form
|
|
will be inserted in the buffer.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
In @code{emacs-lisp-mode}, typing @kbd{C-M-x} evaluates a top-level form
|
|
before or around point.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Typing @kbd{C-x C-e} in any buffer evaluates the Lisp form immediately
|
|
before point and prints its value in the echo area.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Typing @kbd{M-:} or @kbd{M-x eval-expression} allows you to type a Lisp
|
|
form in the minibuffer which will be evaluated once you press @key{RET}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You can use @kbd{M-x load-file} to have Emacs evaluate all the Lisp
|
|
forms in a file. (To do this from Lisp use the function @code{load}
|
|
instead.)
|
|
|
|
The functions @code{load-library}, @code{eval-region},
|
|
@code{eval-buffer}, @code{require}, and @code{autoload} are also
|
|
useful; see @ref{Emacs Lisp documentation}, if you want to learn more
|
|
about them.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Changing the length of a Tab
|
|
@section How do I change Emacs's idea of the @key{TAB} character's length?
|
|
@cindex Tab length
|
|
@cindex Length of tab character
|
|
|
|
Set the default value of the variable @code{tab-width}. For example, to set
|
|
@key{TAB} stops every 10 characters, insert the following in your
|
|
@file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq-default tab-width 10)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Do not confuse variable @code{tab-width} with variable
|
|
@code{tab-stop-list}. The former is used for the display of literal
|
|
@key{TAB} characters. The latter controls what characters are inserted
|
|
when you press the @key{TAB} character in certain modes.
|
|
|
|
@node Inserting text at the beginning of each line
|
|
@section How do I insert <some text> at the beginning of every line?
|
|
@cindex Prefixing a region with some text
|
|
@cindex Prefix character, inserting in mail/news replies
|
|
@cindex Replies to mail/news, inserting a prefix character
|
|
@cindex @code{mail-yank-prefix}
|
|
@cindex Mail replies, inserting a prefix character
|
|
@cindex News replies, inserting a prefix character
|
|
|
|
To do this to an entire buffer, type @kbd{M-< M-x replace-regexp
|
|
@key{RET} ^ @key{RET} your text @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
To do this to a region, use @code{string-insert-rectangle}.
|
|
Set the mark (@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}) at the beginning of the first line you
|
|
want to prefix, move the cursor to last line to be prefixed, and type
|
|
@kbd{M-x string-insert-rectangle @key{RET}}. To do this for the whole
|
|
buffer, type @kbd{C-x h M-x string-insert-rectangle @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
If you are trying to prefix a yanked mail message with @samp{>}, you
|
|
might want to set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}. In Message
|
|
buffers, you can even use @kbd{M-;} to cite yanked messages (@kbd{M-;}
|
|
runs the function @code{comment-region}, it is a general-purpose
|
|
mechanism to comment regions) (@pxref{Changing the included text prefix}).
|
|
|
|
@node Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs behave like this: when I go up or down, the cursor should stay in the same column even if the line is too short?
|
|
@cindex @code{picture-mode}
|
|
@cindex Remaining in the same column, regardless of contents
|
|
@cindex Vertical movement in empty documents
|
|
|
|
Use @kbd{M-x picture-mode}.
|
|
|
|
See also the variable @code{track-eol} and the command
|
|
@code{set-goal-column} bound to @kbd{C-x C-n}
|
|
(@pxref{Moving Point, , , emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}).
|
|
|
|
@node Forcing Emacs to iconify itself
|
|
@section How do I tell Emacs to iconify itself?
|
|
@cindex Iconification under the X Window System
|
|
@cindex X Window System and iconification
|
|
@cindex Suspending Emacs
|
|
|
|
@kbd{C-z} iconifies Emacs when running under X and suspends Emacs
|
|
otherwise. @xref{Frame Commands,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Using regular expressions
|
|
@section How do I use regexps (regular expressions) in Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Regexps
|
|
@cindex Regular expressions
|
|
@cindex Differences between Unix and Emacs regexps
|
|
@cindex Unix regexps, differences from Emacs
|
|
@cindex Text strings, putting regexps in
|
|
|
|
@xref{Regexp Backslash,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
The @code{or} operator is @samp{\|}, not @samp{|}, and the grouping operators
|
|
are @samp{\(} and @samp{\)}. Also, the string syntax for a backslash is
|
|
@samp{\\}. To specify a regular expression like @samp{xxx\(foo\|bar\)}
|
|
in a Lisp string, use @samp{xxx\\(foo\\|bar\\)}.
|
|
|
|
Note the doubled backslashes!
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Unlike in Unix @file{grep}, @file{sed}, etc., a complement character set
|
|
(@samp{[^...]}) can match a newline character (@key{LFD} a.k.a.@:
|
|
@kbd{C-j} a.k.a.@: @samp{\n}), unless newline is mentioned as one of the
|
|
characters not to match.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The character syntax regexps (e.g., @samp{\sw}) are not
|
|
meaningful inside character set regexps (e.g., @samp{[aeiou]}). (This
|
|
is actually typical for regexp syntax.)
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Replacing text across multiple files
|
|
@section How do I perform a replace operation across more than one file?
|
|
@cindex Replacing strings across files
|
|
@cindex Multiple files, replacing across
|
|
@cindex Files, replacing strings across multiple
|
|
@cindex Recursive search/replace operations
|
|
|
|
Dired mode (@kbd{M-x dired @key{RET}}, or @kbd{C-x d}) supports the
|
|
command @code{dired-do-query-replace-regexp} (@kbd{Q}), which allows
|
|
users to replace regular expressions in multiple files.
|
|
|
|
You can use this command to perform search/replace operations on
|
|
multiple files by following the following steps:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
@item
|
|
Assemble a list of files you want to operate on with either
|
|
@code{find-dired}, @code{find-name-dired} or @code{find-grep-dired}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Mark all files in the resulting Dired buffer using @kbd{t}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Use @kbd{Q} to start a @code{query-replace-regexp} session on the marked
|
|
files.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
To accept all replacements in each file, hit @kbd{!}.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
Another way to do the same thing is to use the ``tags'' feature of
|
|
Emacs: it includes the command @code{tags-query-replace} which performs
|
|
a query-replace across all the files mentioned in the @file{TAGS} file.
|
|
@xref{Tags Search,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Documentation for etags
|
|
@section Where is the documentation for @code{etags}?
|
|
@cindex Documentation for @code{etags}
|
|
@cindex @code{etags}, documentation for
|
|
|
|
The @code{etags} man page should be in the same place as the
|
|
@code{emacs} man page.
|
|
|
|
Quick command-line switch descriptions are also available. For example,
|
|
@samp{etags -H}.
|
|
|
|
@node Disabling backups
|
|
@section How do I disable backup files?
|
|
@cindex Backups, disabling
|
|
@cindex Disabling backups
|
|
|
|
You probably don't want to do this, since backups are useful, especially
|
|
when something goes wrong.
|
|
|
|
To avoid seeing backup files (and other ``uninteresting'' files) in Dired,
|
|
load @code{dired-x} by adding the following to your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'dired-load-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(require 'dired-x)))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
With @code{dired-x} loaded, @kbd{M-o} toggles omitting in each dired buffer.
|
|
You can make omitting the default for new dired buffers by putting the
|
|
following in your @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'dired-mode-hook 'dired-omit-toggle)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
If you're tired of seeing backup files whenever you do an @samp{ls} at
|
|
the Unix shell, try GNU @code{ls} with the @samp{-B} option. GNU
|
|
@code{ls} is part of the GNU Fileutils package, available from
|
|
@samp{ftp.gnu.org} and its mirrors (@pxref{Current GNU distributions}).
|
|
|
|
To disable or change the way backups are made,
|
|
@pxref{Backup Names,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Backup files in a single directory
|
|
Beginning with Emacs 21.1, you can control where Emacs puts backup files
|
|
by customizing the variable @code{backup-directory-alist}. This
|
|
variable's value specifies that files whose names match specific patters
|
|
should have their backups put in certain directories. A typical use is
|
|
to add the element @code{("." . @var{dir})} to force Emacs to put
|
|
@strong{all} backup files in the directory @file{dir}.
|
|
|
|
@node Disabling auto-save-mode
|
|
@section How do I disable @code{auto-save-mode}?
|
|
@cindex Disabling @code{auto-save-mode}
|
|
@cindex Auto-saving
|
|
@cindex Saving at frequent intervals
|
|
|
|
You probably don't want to do this, since auto-saving is useful,
|
|
especially when Emacs or your computer crashes while you are editing a
|
|
document.
|
|
|
|
Instead, you might want to change the variable
|
|
@code{auto-save-interval}, which specifies how many keystrokes Emacs
|
|
waits before auto-saving. Increasing this value forces Emacs to wait
|
|
longer between auto-saves, which might annoy you less.
|
|
|
|
You might also want to look into Sebastian Kremer's @code{auto-save}
|
|
package (@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). This
|
|
package also allows you to place all auto-save files in one directory,
|
|
such as @file{/tmp}.
|
|
|
|
To disable or change how @code{auto-save-mode} works,
|
|
@pxref{Auto Save,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Going to a line by number
|
|
@section How can I go to a certain line given its number?
|
|
@cindex Going to a line by number
|
|
@cindex Compilation error messages
|
|
@cindex Recompilation
|
|
|
|
Are you sure you indeed need to go to a line by its number? Perhaps all
|
|
you want is to display a line in your source file for which a compiler
|
|
printed an error message? If so, compiling from within Emacs using the
|
|
@kbd{M-x compile} and @kbd{M-x recompile} commands is a much more
|
|
effective way of doing that. Emacs automatically intercepts the compile
|
|
error messages, inserts them into a special buffer called
|
|
@code{*compilation*}, and lets you visit the locus of each message in
|
|
the source. Type @kbd{C-x `} to step through the offending lines one by
|
|
one (starting with Emacs 22, you can also use @kbd{M-g M-p} and
|
|
@kbd{M-g M-n} to go to the previous and next matches directly). Click
|
|
@kbd{Mouse-2} or press @key{RET} on a message text in the
|
|
@code{*compilation*} buffer to go to the line whose number is mentioned
|
|
in that message.
|
|
|
|
But if you indeed need to go to a certain text line, type @kbd{M-g M-g}
|
|
(which is the default binding of the @code{goto-line} function starting
|
|
with Emacs 22). Emacs will prompt you for the number of the line and go
|
|
to that line.
|
|
|
|
You can do this faster by invoking @code{goto-line} with a numeric
|
|
argument that is the line's number. For example, @kbd{C-u 286 M-g M-g}
|
|
will jump to line number 286 in the current buffer.
|
|
|
|
@node Modifying pull-down menus
|
|
@section How can I create or modify new pull-down menu options?
|
|
@cindex Pull-down menus, creating or modifying
|
|
@cindex Menus, creating or modifying
|
|
@cindex Creating new menu options
|
|
@cindex Modifying pull-down menus
|
|
@cindex Menus and keymaps
|
|
@cindex Keymaps and menus
|
|
|
|
Each menu title (e.g., @samp{File}, @samp{Edit}, @samp{Buffers})
|
|
represents a local or global keymap. Selecting a menu title with the
|
|
mouse displays that keymap's non-@code{nil} contents in the form of a menu.
|
|
|
|
So to add a menu option to an existing menu, all you have to do is add a
|
|
new definition to the appropriate keymap. Adding a @samp{Forward Word}
|
|
item to the @samp{Edit} menu thus requires the following Lisp code:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key global-map
|
|
[menu-bar edit forward]
|
|
'("Forward word" . forward-word))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
The first line adds the entry to the global keymap, which includes
|
|
global menu bar entries. Replacing the reference to @code{global-map}
|
|
with a local keymap would add this menu option only within a particular
|
|
mode.
|
|
|
|
The second line describes the path from the menu-bar to the new entry.
|
|
Placing this menu entry underneath the @samp{File} menu would mean
|
|
changing the word @code{edit} in the second line to @code{file}.
|
|
|
|
The third line is a cons cell whose first element is the title that will
|
|
be displayed, and whose second element is the function that will be
|
|
called when that menu option is invoked.
|
|
|
|
To add a new menu, rather than a new option to an existing menu, we must
|
|
define an entirely new keymap:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key global-map [menu-bar words]
|
|
(cons "Words" (make-sparse-keymap "Words")))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
The above code creates a new sparse keymap, gives it the name
|
|
@samp{Words}, and attaches it to the global menu bar. Adding the
|
|
@samp{Forward Word} item to this new menu would thus require the
|
|
following code:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key global-map
|
|
[menu-bar words forward]
|
|
'("Forward word" . forward-word))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
Note that because of the way keymaps work, menu options are displayed
|
|
with the more recently defined items at the top. Thus if you were to
|
|
define menu options @samp{foo}, @samp{bar}, and @samp{baz} (in that
|
|
order), the menu option @samp{baz} would appear at the top, and
|
|
@samp{foo} would be at the bottom.
|
|
|
|
One way to avoid this problem is to use the function @code{define-key-after},
|
|
which works the same as @code{define-key}, but lets you modify where items
|
|
appear. The following Lisp code would insert the @samp{Forward Word}
|
|
item in the @samp{Edit} menu immediately following the @samp{Undo} item:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key-after
|
|
(lookup-key global-map [menu-bar edit])
|
|
[forward]
|
|
'("Forward word" . forward-word)
|
|
'undo)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Note how the second and third arguments to @code{define-key-after} are
|
|
different from those of @code{define-key}, and that we have added a new
|
|
(final) argument, the function after which our new key should be
|
|
defined.
|
|
|
|
To move a menu option from one position to another, simply evaluate
|
|
@code{define-key-after} with the appropriate final argument.
|
|
|
|
More detailed information---and more examples of how to create and
|
|
modify menu options---are in the @cite{Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, under
|
|
``Menu Keymaps.'' (@xref{Emacs Lisp documentation}, for information on
|
|
this manual.)
|
|
|
|
@node Deleting menus and menu options
|
|
@section How do I delete menus and menu options?
|
|
@cindex Deleting menus and menu options
|
|
@cindex Menus, deleting
|
|
|
|
The simplest way to remove a menu is to set its keymap to @samp{nil}.
|
|
For example, to delete the @samp{Words} menu (@pxref{Modifying pull-down
|
|
menus}), use:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key global-map [menu-bar words] nil)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Similarly, removing a menu option requires redefining a keymap entry to
|
|
@code{nil}. For example, to delete the @samp{Forward word} menu option
|
|
from the @samp{Edit} menu (we added it in @ref{Modifying pull-down
|
|
menus}), use:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key global-map [menu-bar edit forward] nil)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Turning on syntax highlighting
|
|
@section How do I turn on syntax highlighting?
|
|
@cindex Syntax highlighting
|
|
@cindex @code{font-lock-mode}
|
|
@cindex Highlighting based on syntax
|
|
@cindex Colorizing text
|
|
@cindex FAQ, @code{font-lock-mode}
|
|
|
|
@code{font-lock-mode} is the standard way to have Emacs perform syntax
|
|
highlighting in the current buffer. It is enabled by default in Emacs
|
|
22.1 and later.
|
|
|
|
With @code{font-lock-mode} turned on, different types of text will
|
|
appear in different colors. For instance, in a programming mode,
|
|
variables will appear in one face, keywords in a second, and comments in
|
|
a third.
|
|
|
|
To turn @code{font-lock-mode} off within an existing buffer, use
|
|
@kbd{M-x font-lock-mode @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
In Emacs 21 and earlier versions, you could use the following code in
|
|
your @file{.emacs} file to turn on @code{font-lock-mode} globally:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-font-lock-mode 1)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Highlighting a buffer with @code{font-lock-mode} can take quite a while,
|
|
and cause an annoying delay in display, so several features exist to
|
|
work around this.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Just-In-Time syntax highlighting
|
|
In Emacs 21 and later, turning on @code{font-lock-mode} automatically
|
|
activates the new @dfn{Just-In-Time fontification} provided by
|
|
@code{jit-lock-mode}. @code{jit-lock-mode} defers the fontification of
|
|
portions of buffer until you actually need to see them, and can also
|
|
fontify while Emacs is idle. This makes display of the visible portion
|
|
of a buffer almost instantaneous. For details about customizing
|
|
@code{jit-lock-mode}, type @kbd{C-h f jit-lock-mode @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Levels of syntax highlighting
|
|
@cindex Decoration level, in @code{font-lock-mode}
|
|
In versions of Emacs before 21, different levels of decoration are
|
|
available, from slight to gaudy. More decoration means you need to wait
|
|
more time for a buffer to be fontified (or a faster machine). To
|
|
control how decorated your buffers should become, set the value of
|
|
@code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} in your @file{.emacs} file, with a
|
|
@code{nil} value indicating default (usually minimum) decoration, and a
|
|
@code{t} value indicating the maximum decoration. For the gaudiest
|
|
possible look, then, include the line
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq font-lock-maximum-decoration t)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
in your @file{.emacs} file. You can also set this variable such that
|
|
different modes are highlighted in a different ways; for more
|
|
information, see the documentation for
|
|
@code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} with @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x
|
|
describe-variable @key{RET}}).
|
|
|
|
Also see the documentation for the function @code{font-lock-mode},
|
|
available by typing @kbd{C-h f font-lock-mode} (@kbd{M-x
|
|
describe-function @key{RET} font-lock-mode @key{RET}}).
|
|
|
|
To print buffers with the faces (i.e., colors and fonts) intact, use
|
|
@kbd{M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces} or @kbd{M-x
|
|
ps-print-region-with-faces}. You will need a way to send text to a
|
|
PostScript printer, or a PostScript interpreter such as Ghostscript;
|
|
consult the documentation of the variables @code{ps-printer-name},
|
|
@code{ps-lpr-command}, and @code{ps-lpr-switches} for more details.
|
|
|
|
@node Scrolling only one line
|
|
@section How can I force Emacs to scroll only one line when I move past the bottom of the screen?
|
|
@cindex Scrolling only one line
|
|
@cindex Reducing the increment when scrolling
|
|
|
|
Customize the @code{scroll-conservatively} variable with @kbd{M-x
|
|
customize-variable @key{RET} scroll-conservatively @key{RET}} and set it
|
|
to a large value like, say, 10000. For an explanation of what this
|
|
means, @pxref{Auto Scrolling,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
Alternatively, use the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq scroll-conservatively most-positive-fixnum)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Editing MS-DOS files
|
|
@section How can I edit MS-DOS files using Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Editing MS-DOS files
|
|
@cindex MS-DOS files, editing
|
|
@cindex Microsoft files, editing
|
|
@cindex Windows files, editing
|
|
|
|
As of Emacs 20, detection and handling of MS-DOS (and Windows) files is
|
|
performed transparently. You can open MS-DOS files on a Unix system,
|
|
edit it, and save it without having to worry about the file format.
|
|
|
|
When editing an MS-DOS style file, the mode line will indicate that it
|
|
is a DOS file. On Unix and GNU/Linux systems, and also on a Macintosh,
|
|
the string @samp{(DOS)} will appear near the left edge of the mode line;
|
|
on DOS and Windows, where the DOS end-of-line (EOL) format is the
|
|
default, a backslash (@samp{\}) will appear in the mode line.
|
|
|
|
@node Filling paragraphs with a single space
|
|
@section How can I tell Emacs to fill paragraphs with a single space after each period?
|
|
@cindex One space following periods
|
|
@cindex Single space following periods
|
|
@cindex Periods, one space following
|
|
|
|
Add the following line to your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq sentence-end-double-space nil)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Escape sequences in shell output
|
|
@section Why these strange escape sequences from @code{ls} from the Shell mode?
|
|
@cindex Escape sequences in @code{ls} output
|
|
@cindex @code{ls} in Shell mode
|
|
|
|
In many systems, @code{ls} is aliased to @samp{ls --color}, which
|
|
prints using ANSI color escape sequences. Emacs version 21.1 and
|
|
later includes the @code{ansi-color} package, which lets Shell mode
|
|
recognize these escape sequences. In Emacs 23.2 and later, the
|
|
package is enabled by default; in earlier versions you can enable it
|
|
by typing @kbd{M-x ansi-color-for-comint-mode} in the Shell buffer, or
|
|
by adding @code{(add-hook 'shell-mode-hook
|
|
'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)} to your init file.
|
|
|
|
In Emacs versions before 21.1, the @code{ansi-color} package is not
|
|
included. In that case, you need to unalias @code{ls} for interactive
|
|
shells running in Emacs; this can be done by checking the @code{EMACS}
|
|
variable in the environment.
|
|
|
|
@node Fullscreen mode on MS-Windows
|
|
@section How can I start Emacs in fullscreen mode on MS-Windows?
|
|
@cindex Maximize frame
|
|
@cindex Fullscreen mode
|
|
|
|
Use the function @code{w32-send-sys-command}. For example, you can
|
|
put the following in your @file{.emacs} file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'term-setup-hook
|
|
#'(lambda () (w32-send-sys-command ?\xF030)))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
To avoid the slightly distracting visual effect of Emacs starting with
|
|
its default frame size and then growing to fullscreen, you can add an
|
|
@samp{Emacs.Geometry} entry to the Windows registry settings.
|
|
@xref{X Resources,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
To compute the correct values for width and height, first maximize the
|
|
Emacs frame and then evaluate @code{(frame-height)} and
|
|
@code{(frame-width)} with @kbd{M-:}.
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Bugs and problems
|
|
@chapter Bugs and problems
|
|
@cindex Bugs and problems
|
|
|
|
The Emacs manual lists some common kinds of trouble users could get
|
|
into, see @ref{Lossage, , Dealing with Emacs Trouble, emacs, The GNU
|
|
Emacs Manual}, so you might look there if the problem you encounter
|
|
isn't described in this chapter. If you decide you've discovered a bug,
|
|
see @ref{Bugs, , Reporting Bugs, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for
|
|
instructions how to do that.
|
|
|
|
The file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} in the Emacs distribution lists various
|
|
known problems with building and using Emacs on specific platforms;
|
|
type @kbd{C-h C-p} to read it.
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Problems with very large files::
|
|
* ^M in the shell buffer::
|
|
* Problems with Shell Mode::
|
|
* Termcap/Terminfo entries for Emacs::
|
|
* Errors with init files::
|
|
* Emacs ignores X resources::
|
|
* Emacs ignores frame parameters::
|
|
* Editing files with $ in the name::
|
|
* Shell mode loses the current directory::
|
|
* Security risks with Emacs::
|
|
* Dired claims that no file is on this line::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Problems with very large files
|
|
@section Does Emacs have problems with files larger than 8 megabytes?
|
|
@cindex Very large files, opening
|
|
@cindex Large files, opening
|
|
@cindex Opening very large files
|
|
@cindex Maximum file size
|
|
@cindex Files, maximum size
|
|
|
|
Old versions (i.e., anything before 19.29) of Emacs had problems editing
|
|
files larger than 8 megabytes. In versions 19.29 and later, the maximum
|
|
buffer size is at least 2^27-1, or 134,217,727 bytes, or 132 MBytes.
|
|
The maximum buffer size on 32-bit machines increased to 256 MBytes in
|
|
Emacs 22, and again to 512 MBytes in Emacs 23.2.
|
|
|
|
Emacs compiled on a 64-bit machine can handle much larger buffers.
|
|
|
|
@node ^M in the shell buffer
|
|
@section How do I get rid of @samp{^M} or echoed commands in my shell buffer?
|
|
@cindex Shell buffer, echoed commands and @samp{^M} in
|
|
@cindex Echoed commands in @code{shell-mode}
|
|
|
|
Try typing @kbd{M-x shell-strip-ctrl-m @key{RET}} while in @code{shell-mode} to
|
|
make them go away. If that doesn't work, you have several options:
|
|
|
|
For @code{tcsh}, put this in your @file{.cshrc} (or @file{.tcshrc})
|
|
file:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
if ($?EMACS) then
|
|
if ("$EMACS" =~ /*) then
|
|
if ($?tcsh) unset edit
|
|
stty nl
|
|
endif
|
|
endif
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Or put this in your @file{.emacs_tcsh} or @file{~/.emacs.d/init_tcsh.sh} file:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
unset edit
|
|
stty nl
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Alternatively, use @code{csh} in your shell buffers instead of
|
|
@code{tcsh}. One way is:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq explicit-shell-file-name "/bin/csh")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
and another is to do this in your @file{.cshrc} (or @file{.tcshrc})
|
|
file:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
setenv ESHELL /bin/csh
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
(You must start Emacs over again with the environment variable properly
|
|
set for this to take effect.)
|
|
|
|
You can also set the @code{ESHELL} environment variable in Emacs Lisp
|
|
with the following Lisp form,
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setenv "ESHELL" "/bin/csh")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
The above solutions try to prevent the shell from producing the
|
|
@samp{^M} characters in the first place. If this is not possible
|
|
(e.g., if you use a Windows shell), you can get Emacs to remove these
|
|
characters from the buffer by adding this to your @file{.emacs} init
|
|
file:
|
|
|
|
@smalllisp
|
|
(add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions 'shell-strip-ctrl-m)
|
|
@end smalllisp
|
|
|
|
On a related note: if your shell is echoing your input line in the shell
|
|
buffer, you might want to customize the @code{comint-process-echoes}
|
|
variable in your shell buffers, or try the following command in your
|
|
shell start-up file:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
stty -icrnl -onlcr -echo susp ^Z
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@node Problems with Shell Mode
|
|
@section Why do I get an error message when I try to run @kbd{M-x shell}?
|
|
|
|
@cindex Shell Mode, problems
|
|
@cindex @code{explicit-shell-file-name}
|
|
This might happen because Emacs tries to look for the shell in a wrong
|
|
place. If you know where your shell executable is, set the variable
|
|
@code{explicit-shell-file-name} in your @file{.emacs} file to point to
|
|
its full file name.
|
|
|
|
@cindex Antivirus programs, and Shell Mode
|
|
Some people have trouble with Shell Mode on MS-Windows because of
|
|
intrusive antivirus software; disabling the resident antivirus program
|
|
solves the problems in those cases.
|
|
|
|
@node Termcap/Terminfo entries for Emacs
|
|
@section Where is the termcap/terminfo entry for terminal type @samp{emacs}?
|
|
@cindex Termcap
|
|
@cindex Terminfo
|
|
@cindex Emacs entries for termcap/terminfo
|
|
|
|
The termcap entry for terminal type @samp{emacs} is ordinarily put in
|
|
the @samp{TERMCAP} environment variable of subshells. It may help in
|
|
certain situations (e.g., using rlogin from shell buffer) to add an
|
|
entry for @samp{emacs} to the system-wide termcap file. Here is a
|
|
correct termcap entry for @samp{emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
emacs:tc=unknown:
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
To make a terminfo entry for @samp{emacs}, use @code{tic} or
|
|
@code{captoinfo}. You need to generate
|
|
@file{/usr/lib/terminfo/e/emacs}. It may work to simply copy
|
|
@file{/usr/lib/terminfo/d/dumb} to @file{/usr/lib/terminfo/e/emacs}.
|
|
|
|
Having a termcap/terminfo entry will not enable the use of full screen
|
|
programs in shell buffers. Use @kbd{M-x terminal-emulator} for that
|
|
instead.
|
|
|
|
A workaround to the problem of missing termcap/terminfo entries is to
|
|
change terminal type @samp{emacs} to type @samp{dumb} or @samp{unknown}
|
|
in your shell start up file. @code{csh} users could put this in their
|
|
@file{.cshrc} files:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
if ("$term" == emacs) set term=dumb
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@node Errors with init files
|
|
@section Why does Emacs say @samp{Error in init file}?
|
|
@cindex Error in @file{.emacs}
|
|
@cindex Error in init file
|
|
@cindex Init file, errors in
|
|
@cindex @file{.emacs} file, errors in
|
|
@cindex Debugging @file{.emacs} file
|
|
|
|
An error occurred while loading either your @file{.emacs} file or the
|
|
system-wide file @file{site-lisp/default.el}. Emacs 21.1 and later pops the
|
|
@file{*Messages*} buffer, and puts there some additional information
|
|
about the error, to provide some hints for debugging.
|
|
|
|
For information on how to debug your @file{.emacs} file, see
|
|
@ref{Debugging a customization file}.
|
|
|
|
It may be the case that you need to load some package first, or use a
|
|
hook that will be evaluated after the package is loaded. A common case
|
|
of this is explained in @ref{Terminal setup code works after Emacs has
|
|
begun}.
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs ignores X resources
|
|
@section Why does Emacs ignore my X resources (my .Xdefaults file)?
|
|
@cindex X resources being ignored
|
|
@cindex Ignored X resources
|
|
@cindex @file{.Xdefaults}
|
|
|
|
As of version 19, Emacs searches for X resources in the files specified
|
|
by the following environment variables:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item @code{XFILESEARCHPATH}
|
|
@item @code{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH}
|
|
@item @code{XAPPLRESDIR}
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
This emulates the functionality provided by programs written using the
|
|
Xt toolkit.
|
|
|
|
@code{XFILESEARCHPATH} and @code{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH} should be a list
|
|
of file names separated by colons. @code{XAPPLRESDIR} should be a list
|
|
of directory names separated by colons.
|
|
|
|
Emacs searches for X resources:
|
|
|
|
@enumerate
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
specified on the command line, with the @samp{-xrm RESOURCESTRING} option,
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
then in the value of the @samp{XENVIRONMENT} environment variable,
|
|
|
|
@itemize @minus
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
or if that is unset, in the file named
|
|
@file{~/.Xdefaults-@var{hostname}} if it exists (where @var{hostname} is
|
|
the name of the machine Emacs is running on),
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
then in the screen-specific and server-wide resource properties provided
|
|
by the server,
|
|
|
|
@itemize @minus
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
or if those properties are unset, in the file named @file{~/.Xdefaults}
|
|
if it exists,
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
then in the files listed in @samp{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH},
|
|
|
|
@itemize @minus
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
or in files named @file{@var{lang}/Emacs} in directories listed in
|
|
@samp{XAPPLRESDIR} (where @var{lang} is the value of the @code{LANG}
|
|
environment variable), if the @samp{LANG} environment variable is set,
|
|
@item
|
|
or in files named Emacs in the directories listed in @samp{XAPPLRESDIR}
|
|
@item
|
|
or in @file{~/@var{lang}/Emacs} (if the @code{LANG} environment variable
|
|
is set),
|
|
@item
|
|
or in @file{~/Emacs},
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
then in the files listed in @code{XFILESEARCHPATH}.
|
|
|
|
@end enumerate
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs ignores frame parameters
|
|
@section Why don't my customizations of the frame parameters work?
|
|
@cindex Frame parameters
|
|
|
|
This probably happens because you have set the frame parameters in the
|
|
variable @code{initial-frame-alist}. That variable holds parameters
|
|
used only for the first frame created when Emacs starts. To customize
|
|
the parameters of all frames, change the variable
|
|
@code{default-frame-alist} instead.
|
|
|
|
These two variables exist because many users customize the initial frame
|
|
in a special way. For example, you could determine the position and
|
|
size of the initial frame, but would like to control the geometry of the
|
|
other frames by individually positioning each one of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Editing files with $ in the name
|
|
@section How do I edit a file with a @samp{$} in its name?
|
|
@cindex Editing files with @samp{$} in the name
|
|
@cindex @samp{$} in file names
|
|
@cindex File names containing @samp{$}, editing
|
|
|
|
When entering a file name in the minibuffer, Emacs will attempt to expand
|
|
a @samp{$} followed by a word as an environment variable. To suppress
|
|
this behavior, type @kbd{$$} instead.
|
|
|
|
@node Shell mode loses the current directory
|
|
@section Why does shell mode lose track of the shell's current directory?
|
|
@cindex Current directory and @code{shell-mode}
|
|
@cindex @code{shell-mode} and current directory
|
|
@cindex Directory, current in @code{shell-mode}
|
|
|
|
Emacs has no way of knowing when the shell actually changes its
|
|
directory. This is an intrinsic limitation of Unix. So it tries to
|
|
guess by recognizing @samp{cd} commands. If you type @kbd{cd} followed
|
|
by a directory name with a variable reference (@kbd{cd $HOME/bin}) or
|
|
with a shell metacharacter (@kbd{cd ../lib*}), Emacs will fail to
|
|
correctly guess the shell's new current directory. A huge variety of
|
|
fixes and enhancements to shell mode for this problem have been written
|
|
to handle this problem (@pxref{Finding a package with particular
|
|
functionality}).
|
|
|
|
You can tell Emacs the shell's current directory with the command
|
|
@kbd{M-x dirs}.
|
|
|
|
@node Security risks with Emacs
|
|
@section Are there any security risks in Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Security with Emacs
|
|
@cindex @samp{movemail} and security
|
|
@cindex @code{file-local-variable} and security
|
|
@cindex Synthetic X events and security
|
|
@cindex X events and security
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @file{movemail} incident. (No, this is not a risk.)
|
|
|
|
In his book @cite{The Cuckoo's Egg}, Cliff Stoll describes this in
|
|
chapter 4. The site at LBL had installed the @file{/etc/movemail}
|
|
program setuid root. (As of version 19, @file{movemail} is in your
|
|
architecture-specific directory; type @kbd{C-h v exec-directory
|
|
@key{RET}} to see what it is.) Since @code{movemail} had not been
|
|
designed for this situation, a security hole was created and users could
|
|
get root privileges.
|
|
|
|
@code{movemail} has since been changed so that this security hole will
|
|
not exist, even if it is installed setuid root. However,
|
|
@code{movemail} no longer needs to be installed setuid root, which
|
|
should eliminate this particular risk.
|
|
|
|
We have heard unverified reports that the 1988 Internet worm took
|
|
advantage of this configuration problem.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The @code{file-local-variable} feature. (Yes, a risk, but easy to
|
|
change.)
|
|
|
|
There is an Emacs feature that allows the setting of local values for
|
|
variables when editing a file by including specially formatted text near
|
|
the end of the file. This feature also includes the ability to have
|
|
arbitrary Emacs Lisp code evaluated when the file is visited.
|
|
Obviously, there is a potential for Trojan horses to exploit this
|
|
feature.
|
|
|
|
As of Emacs 22, Emacs has a list of local variables that are known to
|
|
be safe to set. If a file tries to set any variable outside this
|
|
list, it asks the user to confirm whether the variables should be set.
|
|
You can also tell Emacs whether to allow the evaluation of Emacs Lisp
|
|
code found at the bottom of files by setting the variable
|
|
@code{enable-local-eval}.
|
|
|
|
@xref{File Variables,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Synthetic X events. (Yes, a risk; use @samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1} or
|
|
better.)
|
|
|
|
Emacs accepts synthetic X events generated by the @code{SendEvent}
|
|
request as though they were regular events. As a result, if you are
|
|
using the trivial host-based authentication, other users who can open X
|
|
connections to your X workstation can make your Emacs process do
|
|
anything, including run other processes with your privileges.
|
|
|
|
The only fix for this is to prevent other users from being able to open
|
|
X connections. The standard way to prevent this is to use a real
|
|
authentication mechanism, such as @samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1}. If using
|
|
the @code{xauth} program has any effect, then you are probably using
|
|
@samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1}. Your site may be using a superior
|
|
authentication method; ask your system administrator.
|
|
|
|
If real authentication is not a possibility, you may be satisfied by
|
|
just allowing hosts access for brief intervals while you start your X
|
|
programs, then removing the access. This reduces the risk somewhat by
|
|
narrowing the time window when hostile users would have access, but
|
|
@emph{does not eliminate the risk}.
|
|
|
|
On most computers running Unix and X, you enable and disable
|
|
access using the @code{xhost} command. To allow all hosts access to
|
|
your X server, use
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
xhost +
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
at the shell prompt, which (on an HP machine, at least) produces the
|
|
following message:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
access control disabled, clients can connect from any host
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
To deny all hosts access to your X server (except those explicitly
|
|
allowed by name), use
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
xhost -
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
On the test HP computer, this command generated the following message:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Dired claims that no file is on this line
|
|
@section Dired says, @samp{no file on this line} when I try to do something.
|
|
@cindex Dired does not see a file
|
|
|
|
Dired uses a regular expression to find the beginning of a file name.
|
|
In a long Unix-style directory listing (@samp{ls -l}), the file name
|
|
starts after the date. The regexp has thus been written to look for the
|
|
date. By default, it should understand dates and times regardless of
|
|
the language, but if your directory listing has an unusual format, Dired
|
|
may get confused.
|
|
|
|
There are two approaches to solving this. The first one involves
|
|
setting things up so that @samp{ls -l} outputs a more standard format.
|
|
See your OS manual for more information.
|
|
|
|
The second approach involves changing the regular expression used by
|
|
dired, @code{directory-listing-before-filename-regexp}.
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Compiling and installing Emacs
|
|
@chapter Compiling and installing Emacs
|
|
@cindex Compiling and installing Emacs
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Installing Emacs::
|
|
* Problems building Emacs::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Installing Emacs
|
|
@section How do I install Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Installing Emacs
|
|
@cindex Unix systems, installing Emacs on
|
|
@cindex Downloading and installing Emacs
|
|
@cindex Building Emacs from source
|
|
@cindex Source code, building Emacs from
|
|
|
|
This answer is meant for users of Unix and Unix-like systems. Users of
|
|
other operating systems should see the series of questions beginning
|
|
with @ref{Emacs for MS-DOS}, which describe where to get non-Unix source
|
|
and binaries, and how to install Emacs on those systems.
|
|
|
|
Most GNU/Linux distributions provide pre-built Emacs packages.
|
|
If Emacs is not installed already, you can install it by running (as
|
|
root) a command such as @samp{yum install emacs} (Red Hat and
|
|
derivatives) or @samp{apt-get install emacs} (Debian and derivatives).
|
|
|
|
If you want to compile Emacs yourself, read the file @file{INSTALL} in
|
|
the source distribution. In brief:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
First download the Emacs sources. @xref{Current GNU distributions}, for
|
|
a list of ftp sites that make them available. On @file{ftp.gnu.org},
|
|
the main GNU distribution site, sources are available as
|
|
|
|
@c Don't include VER in the file name, because pretests are not there.
|
|
@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-VERSION.tar.gz}
|
|
|
|
(Replace @samp{VERSION} with the relevant version number, e.g. @samp{23.1}.)
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Next uncompress and extract the source files. This requires
|
|
the @code{gzip} and @code{tar} programs, which are standard utilities.
|
|
If your system does not have them, these can also be downloaded from
|
|
@file{ftp.gnu.org}.
|
|
|
|
GNU @code{tar} can uncompress and extract in a single-step:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
tar -zxvf emacs-VERSION.tar.gz
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
At this point, the Emacs sources should be sitting in a directory called
|
|
@file{emacs-VERSION}. On most common Unix and Unix-like systems,
|
|
you should be able to compile Emacs with the following commands:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
cd emacs-VERSION
|
|
./configure # configure Emacs for your particular system
|
|
make # use Makefile to build components, then Emacs
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
If the @code{make} completes successfully, the odds are fairly good that
|
|
the build has gone well. (@xref{Problems building Emacs}, if you weren't
|
|
successful.)
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
By default, Emacs is installed in @file{/usr/local}. To actually
|
|
install files, become the superuser and type
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
make install
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
Note that @samp{make install} will overwrite @file{/usr/local/bin/emacs}
|
|
and any Emacs Info files that might be in @file{/usr/local/share/info/}.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Problems building Emacs
|
|
@section What should I do if I have trouble building Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Problems building Emacs
|
|
@cindex Errors when building Emacs
|
|
|
|
First look in the file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} (where you unpack the Emacs
|
|
source) to see if there is already a solution for your problem. Next,
|
|
look for other questions in this FAQ that have to do with Emacs
|
|
installation and compilation problems.
|
|
|
|
If you'd like to have someone look at your problem and help solve it,
|
|
see @ref{Help installing Emacs}.
|
|
|
|
If you cannot find a solution in the documentation, please report the
|
|
problem (@pxref{Reporting bugs}).
|
|
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Finding Emacs and related packages
|
|
@chapter Finding Emacs and related packages
|
|
@cindex Finding Emacs and related packages
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Finding Emacs on the Internet::
|
|
* Finding a package with particular functionality::
|
|
* Packages that do not come with Emacs::
|
|
* Spell-checkers::
|
|
* Current GNU distributions::
|
|
* Difference between Emacs and XEmacs::
|
|
* Emacs for minimalists::
|
|
* Emacs for MS-DOS::
|
|
* Emacs for MS-Windows::
|
|
* Emacs for GNUstep::
|
|
* Emacs for Mac OS X::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Finding Emacs on the Internet
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs on the net?
|
|
@cindex Finding Emacs on the Internet
|
|
@cindex Downloading Emacs
|
|
|
|
Information on downloading Emacs is available at
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/, the Emacs home-page}.
|
|
|
|
@xref{Installing Emacs}, for information on how to obtain and build the latest
|
|
version of Emacs, and see @ref{Current GNU distributions}, for a list of
|
|
archive sites that make GNU software available.
|
|
|
|
@node Finding a package with particular functionality
|
|
@section How do I find a Emacs Lisp package that does XXX?
|
|
@cindex Package, finding
|
|
@cindex Finding an Emacs Lisp package
|
|
@cindex Functionality, finding a particular package
|
|
|
|
First of all, you should check to make sure that the package isn't
|
|
already available. For example, typing @kbd{M-x apropos @key{RET}
|
|
wordstar @key{RET}} lists all functions and variables containing the
|
|
string @samp{wordstar}.
|
|
|
|
It is also possible that the package is on your system, but has not been
|
|
loaded. To see which packages are available for loading, look through
|
|
your computer's lisp directory (@pxref{File-name conventions}). The Lisp
|
|
source to most packages contains a short description of how they
|
|
should be loaded, invoked, and configured---so before you use or
|
|
modify a Lisp package, see if the author has provided any hints in the
|
|
source code.
|
|
|
|
The command @kbd{C-h p} (@code{finder-by-keyword}) allows you to browse
|
|
the constituent Emacs packages.
|
|
|
|
For advice on how to find extra packages that are not part of Emacs,
|
|
see @ref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}.
|
|
|
|
@node Packages that do not come with Emacs
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs Lisp packages that don't come with Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Unbundled packages
|
|
@cindex Finding other packages
|
|
@cindex Lisp packages that do not come with Emacs
|
|
@cindex Packages, those that do not come with Emacs
|
|
@cindex Emacs Lisp List
|
|
@cindex Emacs Lisp Archive
|
|
|
|
Your first port of call should be the @kbd{M-x list-packages} command.
|
|
This connects to the @uref{http:///elpa.gnu.org, GNU ELPA} (``Emacs
|
|
Lisp Package Archive'') server and fetches the list of additional
|
|
packages that it offers. These are GNU packages that are available
|
|
for use with Emacs, but are distributed separately. Select a package
|
|
to get more details about the features that it offers, and then if you
|
|
wish, Emacs can download and automatically install it for you.
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/ell.html, The Emacs Lisp
|
|
List (ELL)}, maintained by @email{S.J.Eglen@@damtp.cam.ac.uk, Stephen Eglen},
|
|
aims to provide one compact list with links to all of the current Emacs
|
|
Lisp files on the Internet. The ELL can be browsed over the web, or
|
|
from Emacs with @uref{http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/ell.el,
|
|
the @file{ell} package}.
|
|
|
|
Many authors post their packages to the @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources,
|
|
Emacs sources newsgroup}. You can search the archives of this
|
|
group with @uref{http://groups.google.com/group/gnu.emacs.sources, Google},
|
|
or @uref{http://dir.gmane.org/gmane.emacs.sources, Gmane}, for example.
|
|
|
|
Several packages are stored in
|
|
@uref{http://emacswiki.org/elisp/, the Lisp area of the Emacs Wiki}.
|
|
|
|
Read the file @file{etc/MORE.STUFF} for more information about
|
|
external packages.
|
|
|
|
@node Spell-checkers
|
|
@section Spell-checkers
|
|
@cindex Spell-checker
|
|
@cindex Checking spelling
|
|
@cindex Ispell
|
|
@cindex Aspell
|
|
@cindex Hunspell
|
|
|
|
Various spell-checkers are compatible with Emacs, including:
|
|
|
|
@table @b
|
|
|
|
@item GNU Aspell
|
|
@uref{http://aspell.net/}
|
|
|
|
@item Ispell
|
|
@uref{http://fmg-www.cs.ucla.edu/geoff/ispell.html}
|
|
|
|
@item Hunspell
|
|
@uref{http://hunspell.sourceforge.net/}
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
@node Current GNU distributions
|
|
@section Where can I get other up-to-date GNU stuff?
|
|
@cindex Current GNU distributions
|
|
@cindex Sources for current GNU distributions
|
|
@cindex Stuff, current GNU
|
|
@cindex Up-to-date GNU stuff
|
|
@cindex Finding current GNU software
|
|
@cindex Official GNU software sites
|
|
|
|
The most up-to-date official GNU software is normally kept at
|
|
|
|
@uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu}
|
|
|
|
A list of sites mirroring @samp{ftp.gnu.org} can be found at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/order/ftp.html}
|
|
|
|
@node Difference between Emacs and XEmacs
|
|
@section What is the difference between Emacs and XEmacs (formerly Lucid Emacs)?
|
|
@cindex XEmacs
|
|
@cindex Difference Emacs and XEmacs
|
|
@cindex Lucid Emacs
|
|
@cindex Epoch
|
|
|
|
XEmacs is a branch version of Emacs. It was first called Lucid Emacs,
|
|
and was initially derived from a prerelease version of Emacs 19. In
|
|
this FAQ, we use the name ``Emacs'' only for the official version.
|
|
|
|
Emacs and XEmacs each come with Lisp packages that are lacking in the
|
|
other. The two versions have some significant differences at the Lisp
|
|
programming level. Their current features are roughly comparable,
|
|
though the support for some operating systems, character sets and
|
|
specific packages might be quite different.
|
|
|
|
Some XEmacs code has been contributed to Emacs, and we would like to
|
|
use other parts, but the earlier XEmacs maintainers did not always
|
|
keep track of the authors of contributed code, which makes it
|
|
impossible for the FSF to get copyright papers signed for that code.
|
|
(The FSF requires these papers for all the code included in the Emacs
|
|
release, aside from generic C support packages that retain their
|
|
separate identity and are not integrated into the code of Emacs
|
|
proper.)
|
|
|
|
If you want to talk about these two versions and distinguish them,
|
|
please call them ``Emacs'' and ``XEmacs.'' To contrast ``XEmacs''
|
|
with ``GNU Emacs'' would be misleading, since XEmacs too has its
|
|
origin in the work of the GNU Project. Terms such as ``Emacsen'' and
|
|
``(X)Emacs'' are not wrong, but they are not very clear, so it
|
|
is better to write ``Emacs and XEmacs.''
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs for minimalists
|
|
@section I don't have enough disk space to install Emacs
|
|
@cindex Zile
|
|
@cindex Not enough disk space to install Emacs
|
|
|
|
GNU Zile is a lightweight Emacs clone. Zile is short for @samp{Zile Is
|
|
Lossy Emacs}. It has all of Emacs's basic editing features. The Zile
|
|
binary typically has a size of about 130 kbytes, so this can be useful
|
|
if you are in an extremely space-restricted environment. More
|
|
information is available from
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/zile/}
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs for MS-DOS
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs for MS-DOS?
|
|
@cindex MS-DOS, Emacs for
|
|
@cindex DOS, Emacs for
|
|
@cindex Compiling Emacs for DOS
|
|
@cindex Emacs for MS-DOS
|
|
|
|
To build Emacs from source for MS-DOS, see the instructions in the file
|
|
@file{msdos/INSTALL} in the distribution. The DOS port builds and runs
|
|
on plain DOS, and also on all versions of MS-Windows from version 3.X
|
|
onwards, including Windows XP and Vista.
|
|
|
|
The file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} contains some additional information
|
|
regarding Emacs under MS-DOS.
|
|
|
|
A pre-built binary distribution of the old Emacs 20 is available, as
|
|
described at
|
|
|
|
@uref{ftp://ftp.delorie.com/pub/djgpp/current/v2gnu/emacs.README}
|
|
|
|
For a list of other MS-DOS implementations of Emacs (and Emacs
|
|
look-alikes), consult the list of ``Emacs implementations and literature,''
|
|
available at
|
|
|
|
@uref{http://www.finseth.com/emacs.html}
|
|
|
|
Note that while many of these programs look similar to Emacs, they often
|
|
lack certain features, such as the Emacs Lisp extension language.
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs for MS-Windows
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs for Microsoft Windows?
|
|
@cindex FAQ for Emacs on MS-Windows
|
|
@cindex Emacs for MS-Windows
|
|
@cindex Microsoft Windows, Emacs for
|
|
|
|
There is a @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs.html,
|
|
separate FAQ} for Emacs on MS-Windows. For MS-DOS, @pxref{Emacs for MS-DOS}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs for GNUstep
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs for GNUstep?
|
|
@cindex GNUstep, Emacs for
|
|
|
|
Beginning with version 23.1, Emacs supports GNUstep natively.
|
|
See the file @file{nextstep/INSTALL} in the distribution.
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs for Mac OS X
|
|
@section Where can I get Emacs for Mac OS X?
|
|
@cindex Apple computers, Emacs for
|
|
@cindex Macintosh, Emacs for
|
|
@cindex Mac OS X, Emacs for
|
|
|
|
Beginning with version 22.1, Emacs supports Mac OS X natively.
|
|
See the file @file{nextstep/INSTALL} in the distribution.
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Key bindings
|
|
@chapter Key bindings
|
|
@cindex Key bindings
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Binding keys to commands::
|
|
* Invalid prefix characters::
|
|
* Terminal setup code works after Emacs has begun::
|
|
* Working with function and arrow keys::
|
|
* X key translations for Emacs::
|
|
* Backspace invokes help::
|
|
* Swapping keys::
|
|
* Producing C-XXX with the keyboard::
|
|
* No Meta key::
|
|
* No Escape key::
|
|
* Compose Character::
|
|
* Binding combinations of modifiers and function keys::
|
|
* Meta key does not work in xterm::
|
|
* ExtendChar key does not work as Meta::
|
|
* SPC no longer completes file names::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Binding keys to commands
|
|
@section How do I bind keys (including function keys) to commands?
|
|
@cindex Binding keys to commands
|
|
@cindex Keys, binding to commands
|
|
@cindex Commands, binding keys to
|
|
|
|
Keys can be bound to commands either interactively or in your
|
|
@file{.emacs} file. To interactively bind keys for all modes, type
|
|
@kbd{M-x global-set-key @key{RET} @var{key} @var{cmd} @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
To bind a key just in the current major mode, type @kbd{M-x
|
|
local-set-key @key{RET} @var{key} @var{cmd} @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
@xref{Key Bindings,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
To make the process of binding keys interactively easier, use the
|
|
following ``trick'': First bind the key interactively, then immediately
|
|
type @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC} C-a C-k C-g}. Now, the command needed
|
|
to bind the key is in the kill ring, and can be yanked into your
|
|
@file{.emacs} file. If the key binding is global, no changes to the
|
|
command are required. For example,
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-set-key (quote [f1]) (quote help-for-help))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
can be placed directly into the @file{.emacs} file. If the key binding is
|
|
local, the command is used in conjunction with the @samp{add-hook} function.
|
|
For example, in TeX mode, a local binding might be
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'tex-mode-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(local-set-key (quote [f1]) (quote help-for-help))))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Control characters in key sequences, in the form yanked from the kill
|
|
ring are given in their graphic form---i.e., @key{CTRL} is shown as
|
|
@samp{^}, @key{TAB} as a set of spaces (usually 8), etc. You may want
|
|
to convert these into their vector or string forms.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If a prefix key of the character sequence to be bound is already
|
|
bound as a complete key, then you must unbind it before the new
|
|
binding. For example, if @kbd{ESC @{} is previously bound:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-unset-key [?\e ?@{]) ;; or
|
|
(local-unset-key [?\e ?@{])
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Aside from commands and ``lambda lists,'' a vector or string also
|
|
can be bound to a key and thus treated as a macro. For example:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-set-key [f10] [?\C-x?\e?\e?\C-a?\C-k?\C-g]) ;; or
|
|
(global-set-key [f10] "\C-x\e\e\C-a\C-k\C-g")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Invalid prefix characters
|
|
@section Why does Emacs say @samp{Key sequence XXX uses invalid prefix characters}?
|
|
@cindex Prefix characters, invalid
|
|
@cindex Invalid prefix characters
|
|
@cindex Misspecified key sequences
|
|
|
|
Usually, one of two things has happened. In one case, the control
|
|
character in the key sequence has been misspecified (e.g. @samp{C-f}
|
|
used instead of @samp{\C-f} within a Lisp expression). In the other
|
|
case, a @dfn{prefix key} in the keystroke sequence you were trying to bind
|
|
was already bound as a @dfn{complete key}. Historically, the @samp{ESC [}
|
|
prefix was usually the problem, in which case you should evaluate either
|
|
of these forms before attempting to bind the key sequence:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-unset-key [?\e ?[]) ;; or
|
|
(global-unset-key "\e[")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Terminal setup code works after Emacs has begun
|
|
@section Why doesn't this [terminal or window-system setup] code work in my @file{.emacs} file, but it works just fine after Emacs starts up?
|
|
@cindex Terminal setup code in @file{.emacs}
|
|
|
|
During startup, Emacs initializes itself according to a given code/file
|
|
order. If some of the code executed in your @file{.emacs} file needs to
|
|
be postponed until the initial terminal or window-system setup code has
|
|
been executed but is not, then you will experience this problem (this
|
|
code/file execution order is not enforced after startup).
|
|
|
|
To postpone the execution of Emacs Lisp code until after terminal or
|
|
window-system setup, treat the code as a @dfn{lambda list} and set the
|
|
value of either the @code{term-setup-hook} or @code{window-setup-hook}
|
|
variable to this lambda function. For example,
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'term-setup-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(when (string-match "\\`vt220" (or (getenv "TERM") ""))
|
|
;; Make vt220's "Do" key behave like M-x:
|
|
(global-set-key [do] 'execute-extended-command))))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
For information on what Emacs does every time it is started, see the
|
|
@file{lisp/startup.el} file.
|
|
|
|
@node Working with function and arrow keys
|
|
@section How do I tell what characters or symbols my function or arrow keys emit?
|
|
@cindex Working with arrow keys
|
|
@cindex Arrow keys, symbols generated by
|
|
@cindex Working with function keys
|
|
@cindex Function keys, symbols generated by
|
|
@cindex Symbols generated by function keys
|
|
|
|
Type @kbd{C-h c} then the function or arrow keys. The command will
|
|
return either a function key symbol or character sequence (see the
|
|
Emacs documentation for an explanation). This works for other
|
|
keys as well.
|
|
|
|
@node X key translations for Emacs
|
|
@section How do I set the X key ``translations'' for Emacs?
|
|
@cindex X key translations
|
|
@cindex Key translations under X
|
|
@cindex Translations for keys under X
|
|
|
|
Emacs is not written using the Xt library by default, so there are no
|
|
``translations'' to be set. (We aren't sure how to set such translations
|
|
if you do build Emacs with Xt; please let us know if you've done this!)
|
|
|
|
The only way to affect the behavior of keys within Emacs is through
|
|
@code{xmodmap} (outside Emacs) or @code{define-key} (inside Emacs). The
|
|
@code{define-key} command should be used in conjunction with the
|
|
@code{function-key-map} map. For instance,
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key function-key-map [M-@key{TAB}] [?\M-\t])
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
defines the @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} key sequence.
|
|
|
|
@node Backspace invokes help
|
|
@section Why does the @key{Backspace} key invoke help?
|
|
@cindex Backspace key invokes help
|
|
@cindex Help invoked by Backspace
|
|
@cindex DEL key does not delete
|
|
|
|
The @key{Backspace} key (on most keyboards) generates @acronym{ASCII} code 8.
|
|
@kbd{C-h} sends the same code. In Emacs by default @kbd{C-h} invokes
|
|
help-command. This is intended to be easy to remember since the first
|
|
letter of @samp{help} is @samp{h}. The easiest solution to this problem
|
|
is to use @kbd{C-h} (and @key{Backspace}) for help and @key{DEL} (the
|
|
@key{Delete} key) for deleting the previous character.
|
|
|
|
For many people this solution may be problematic:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
They normally use @key{Backspace} outside of Emacs for deleting the
|
|
previous character. This can be solved by making @key{DEL} the command
|
|
for deleting the previous character outside of Emacs. On many Unix
|
|
systems, this command will remap @key{DEL}:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
stty erase `^?'
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
The user may prefer the @key{Backspace} key for deleting the
|
|
previous character because it is more conveniently located on their
|
|
keyboard or because they don't even have a separate @key{Delete} key.
|
|
In this case, the @key{Backspace} key should be made to behave like
|
|
@key{Delete}. There are several methods.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @minus
|
|
@item
|
|
Some terminals (e.g., VT3## terminals) and terminal emulators (e.g.,
|
|
TeraTerm) allow the character generated by the @key{Backspace} key to be
|
|
changed from a setup menu.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You may be able to get a keyboard that is completely programmable, or a
|
|
terminal emulator that supports remapping of any key to any other key.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
With Emacs 21.1 and later, you can control the effect of the
|
|
@key{Backspace} and @key{Delete} keys, on both dumb terminals and a
|
|
windowed displays, by customizing the option
|
|
@code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode}, or by invoking @kbd{M-x
|
|
normal-erase-is-backspace}. See the documentation of these symbols
|
|
(@pxref{Emacs Lisp documentation}) for more info.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
It is possible to swap the @key{Backspace} and @key{DEL} keys inside
|
|
Emacs:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
This is the recommended method of forcing @key{Backspace} to act as
|
|
@key{DEL}, because it works even in modes which bind @key{DEL} to
|
|
something other than @code{delete-backward-char}.
|
|
|
|
Similarly, you could remap @key{DEL} to act as @kbd{C-d}, which by
|
|
default deletes forward:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(keyboard-translate ?\C-? ?\C-d)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@xref{Swapping keys}, for further details about @code{keyboard-translate}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Another approach is to switch key bindings and put help on @kbd{C-x h}
|
|
instead:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-set-key "\C-h" 'delete-backward-char)
|
|
|
|
;; overrides mark-whole-buffer
|
|
(global-set-key "\C-xh" 'help-command)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
This method is not recommended, though: it only solves the problem for
|
|
those modes which bind @key{DEL} to @code{delete-backward-char}. Modes
|
|
which bind @key{DEL} to something else, such as @code{view-mode}, will
|
|
not work as you expect when you press the @key{Backspace} key. For this
|
|
reason, we recommend the @code{keyboard-translate} method, shown
|
|
above.
|
|
|
|
Other popular key bindings for help are @kbd{M-?} and @kbd{C-x ?}.
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
Don't try to bind @key{DEL} to @code{help-command}, because there are
|
|
many modes that have local bindings of @key{DEL} that will interfere.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
When Emacs 21 or later runs on a windowed display, it binds the
|
|
@key{Delete} key to a command which deletes the character at point, to
|
|
make Emacs more consistent with keyboard operation on these systems.
|
|
|
|
For more information about troubleshooting this problem, see @ref{DEL
|
|
Does Not Delete, , If @key{DEL} Fails to Delete, emacs, The GNU Emacs
|
|
Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Swapping keys
|
|
@section How do I swap two keys?
|
|
@cindex Swapping keys
|
|
@cindex Keys, swapping
|
|
@cindex @code{keyboard-translate}
|
|
|
|
You can swap two keys (or key sequences) by using the
|
|
@code{keyboard-translate} function. For example, to turn @kbd{C-h}
|
|
into @key{DEL} and @key{DEL} to @kbd{C-h}, use
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?) ; translate `C-h' to DEL
|
|
(keyboard-translate ?\C-? ?\C-h) ; translate DEL to `C-h'.
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
The first key sequence of the pair after the function identifies what is
|
|
produced by the keyboard; the second, what is matched for in the
|
|
keymaps.
|
|
|
|
However, in the specific case of @kbd{C-h} and @key{DEL}, you should
|
|
toggle @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} instead of calling
|
|
@code{keyboard-translate}.
|
|
@xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
Keyboard translations are not the same as key bindings in keymaps.
|
|
Emacs contains numerous keymaps that apply in different situations, but
|
|
there is only one set of keyboard translations, and it applies to every
|
|
character that Emacs reads from the terminal. Keyboard translations
|
|
take place at the lowest level of input processing; the keys that are
|
|
looked up in keymaps contain the characters that result from keyboard
|
|
translation.
|
|
|
|
@node Producing C-XXX with the keyboard
|
|
@section How do I produce C-XXX with my keyboard?
|
|
@cindex Producing control characters
|
|
@cindex Generating control characters
|
|
@cindex Control characters, generating
|
|
|
|
On terminals (but not under X), some common ``aliases'' are:
|
|
|
|
@table @asis
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-2} or @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}
|
|
@kbd{C-@@}
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-6}
|
|
@kbd{C-^}
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-7} or @kbd{C-S--}
|
|
@kbd{C-_}
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-4}
|
|
@kbd{C-\}
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-5}
|
|
@kbd{C-]}
|
|
|
|
@item @kbd{C-/}
|
|
@kbd{C-?}
|
|
|
|
@end table
|
|
|
|
Often other aliases exist; use the @kbd{C-h c} command and try
|
|
@key{CTRL} with all of the digits on your keyboard to see what gets
|
|
generated. You can also try the @kbd{C-h w} command if you know the
|
|
name of the command.
|
|
|
|
@node No Meta key
|
|
@section What if I don't have a @key{Meta} key?
|
|
@cindex No @key{Meta} key
|
|
@cindex @key{Meta} key, what to do if you lack it
|
|
|
|
On many keyboards, the @key{Alt} key acts as @key{Meta}, so try it.
|
|
|
|
Instead of typing @kbd{M-a}, you can type @kbd{@key{ESC} a}. In fact,
|
|
Emacs converts @kbd{M-a} internally into @kbd{@key{ESC} a} anyway
|
|
(depending on the value of @code{meta-prefix-char}). Note that you
|
|
press @key{Meta} and @key{a} together, but with @key{ESC}, you press
|
|
@key{ESC}, release it, and then press @key{a}.
|
|
|
|
@node No Escape key
|
|
@section What if I don't have an @key{Escape} key?
|
|
@cindex No Escape key
|
|
@cindex Lacking an Escape key
|
|
@cindex Escape key, lacking
|
|
|
|
Type @kbd{C-[} instead. This should send @acronym{ASCII} code 27 just like an
|
|
Escape key would. @kbd{C-3} may also work on some terminal (but not
|
|
under X). For many terminals (notably DEC terminals) @key{F11}
|
|
generates @key{ESC}. If not, the following form can be used to bind it:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
;; F11 is the documented ESC replacement on DEC terminals.
|
|
(define-key function-key-map [f11] [?\e])
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Compose Character
|
|
@section Can I make my @key{Compose Character} key behave like a @key{Meta} key?
|
|
@cindex @key{Compose Character} key, using as @key{Meta}
|
|
@cindex @key{Meta}, using @key{Compose Character} for
|
|
|
|
On a dumb terminal such as a VT220, no. It is rumored that certain
|
|
VT220 clones could have their @key{Compose} key configured this way. If
|
|
you're using X, you might be able to do this with the @code{xmodmap}
|
|
command.
|
|
|
|
@node Binding combinations of modifiers and function keys
|
|
@section How do I bind a combination of modifier key and function key?
|
|
@cindex Modifiers and function keys
|
|
@cindex Function keys and modifiers
|
|
@cindex Binding modifiers and function keys
|
|
|
|
You can represent modified function keys in vector format by adding
|
|
prefixes to the function key symbol. For example (from the Emacs
|
|
documentation):
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-set-key [?\C-x right] 'forward-page)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
where @samp{?\C-x} is the Lisp character constant for the character @kbd{C-x}.
|
|
|
|
You can use the modifier keys @key{Control}, @key{Meta}, @key{Hyper},
|
|
@key{Super}, @key{Alt}, and @key{Shift} with function keys. To
|
|
represent these modifiers, prepend the strings @samp{C-}, @samp{M-},
|
|
@samp{H-}, @samp{s-}, @samp{A-}, and @samp{S-} to the symbol name. Here
|
|
is how to make @kbd{H-M-RIGHT} move forward a word:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(global-set-key [H-M-right] 'forward-word)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Not all modifiers are permitted in all situations. @key{Hyper},
|
|
@key{Super}, and @key{Alt} are not available on Unix character
|
|
terminals. Non-@acronym{ASCII} keys and mouse events (e.g. @kbd{C-=} and
|
|
@kbd{Mouse-1}) also fall under this category.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@xref{Binding keys to commands}, for general key binding instructions.
|
|
|
|
@node Meta key does not work in xterm
|
|
@section Why doesn't my @key{Meta} key work in an @code{xterm} window?
|
|
@cindex @key{Meta} key and @code{xterm}
|
|
@cindex Xterm and @key{Meta} key
|
|
|
|
@xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-Byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
If the advice in the Emacs manual fails, try all of these methods before
|
|
asking for further help:
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
You may have big problems using @code{mwm} as your window manager.
|
|
(Does anyone know a good generic solution to allow the use of the
|
|
@key{Meta} key in Emacs with @file{mwm}?)
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
For X11: Make sure it really is a @key{Meta} key. Use @code{xev} to
|
|
find out what keysym your @key{Meta} key generates. It should be either
|
|
@code{Meta_L} or @code{Meta_R}. If it isn't, use @file{xmodmap} to fix
|
|
the situation. If @key{Meta} does generate @code{Meta_L} or
|
|
@code{Meta_R}, but @kbd{M-x} produces a non-@acronym{ASCII} character, put this in
|
|
your @file{~/.Xdefaults} file:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
XTerm*eightBitInput: false
|
|
XTerm*eightBitOutput: true
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Make sure the @code{pty} the @code{xterm} is using is passing 8 bit
|
|
characters. @samp{stty -a} (or @samp{stty everything}) should show
|
|
@samp{cs8} somewhere. If it shows @samp{cs7} instead, use @samp{stty
|
|
cs8 -istrip} (or @samp{stty pass8}) to fix it.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If there is an @code{rlogin} connection between @code{xterm} and Emacs, the
|
|
@samp{-8} argument may need to be given to rlogin to make it pass all 8 bits
|
|
of every character.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If Emacs is running on Ultrix, it is reported that evaluating
|
|
@code{(set-input-mode t nil)} helps.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If all else fails, you can make @code{xterm} generate @kbd{@key{ESC} W} when
|
|
you type @kbd{M-W}, which is the same conversion Emacs would make if it
|
|
got the @kbd{M-W} anyway. In X11R4, the following resource
|
|
specification will do this:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
XTerm.VT100.EightBitInput: false
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
(This changes the behavior of the @code{insert-eight-bit} action.)
|
|
|
|
With older @code{xterm}s, you can specify this behavior with a translation:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
XTerm.VT100.Translations: #override \
|
|
Meta<KeyPress>: string(0x1b) insert()
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
You might have to replace @samp{Meta} with @samp{Alt}.
|
|
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node ExtendChar key does not work as Meta
|
|
@section Why doesn't my @key{ExtendChar} key work as a @key{Meta} key under HP-UX 8.0 and 9.x?
|
|
@cindex @key{ExtendChar} key as @key{Meta}
|
|
@cindex @key{Meta}, using @key{ExtendChar} for
|
|
@cindex HP-UX, the @key{ExtendChar} key
|
|
|
|
This is a result of an internationalization extension in X11R4 and the
|
|
fact that HP is now using this extension. Emacs assumes that the
|
|
@code{XLookupString} function returns the same result regardless of the
|
|
@key{Meta} key state which is no longer necessarily true. Until Emacs
|
|
is fixed, the temporary kludge is to run this command after each time
|
|
the X server is started but preferably before any xterm clients are:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
xmodmap -e 'remove mod1 = Mode_switch'
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@c FIXME: Emacs 21 supports I18N in X11; does that mean that this bug is
|
|
@c solved?
|
|
|
|
This will disable the use of the extra keysyms systemwide, which may be
|
|
undesirable if you actually intend to use them.
|
|
|
|
@node SPC no longer completes file names
|
|
@section Why doesn't SPC complete file names anymore?
|
|
@cindex @kbd{SPC} file name completion
|
|
|
|
Starting with Emacs 22.1, @kbd{SPC} no longer completes file names in
|
|
the minibuffer, so that file names with embedded spaces could be typed
|
|
without the need to quote the spaces.
|
|
|
|
You can get the old behavior by binding @kbd{SPC} to
|
|
@code{minibuffer-complete-word} in the minibuffer, as follows:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(define-key minibuffer-local-filename-completion-map (kbd "SPC")
|
|
'minibuffer-complete-word)
|
|
|
|
(define-key minibuffer-local-must-match-filename-map (kbd "SPC")
|
|
'minibuffer-complete-word)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Alternate character sets
|
|
@chapter Alternate character sets
|
|
@cindex Alternate character sets
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Emacs does not display 8-bit characters::
|
|
* Inputting eight-bit characters::
|
|
* Right-to-left alphabets::
|
|
* How to add fonts::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Emacs does not display 8-bit characters
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs display 8-bit characters?
|
|
@cindex Displaying eight-bit characters
|
|
@cindex Eight-bit characters, displaying
|
|
|
|
@xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU
|
|
Emacs Manual}. On a Unix, when Emacs runs on a text-only terminal
|
|
display or is invoked with @samp{emacs -nw}, you typically need to use
|
|
@code{set-terminal-coding-system} to tell Emacs what the terminal can
|
|
display, even after setting the language environment; otherwise
|
|
non-@acronym{ASCII} characters will display as @samp{?}. On other operating
|
|
systems, such as MS-DOS and MS-Windows, Emacs queries the OS about the
|
|
character set supported by the display, and sets up the required
|
|
terminal coding system automatically.
|
|
|
|
@node Inputting eight-bit characters
|
|
@section How do I input eight-bit characters?
|
|
@cindex Entering eight-bit characters
|
|
@cindex Eight-bit characters, entering
|
|
@cindex Input, 8-bit characters
|
|
|
|
Various methods are available for input of eight-bit characters.
|
|
@xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU
|
|
Emacs Manual}. For more sophisticated methods,
|
|
@pxref{Input Methods,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@node Right-to-left alphabets
|
|
@section Where is an Emacs that can handle Semitic (right-to-left) alphabets?
|
|
@cindex Right-to-left alphabets
|
|
@cindex Hebrew, handling with Emacs
|
|
@cindex Semitic alphabets
|
|
@cindex Arabic alphabets
|
|
@cindex Bidirectional text
|
|
|
|
Emacs supports Hebrew characters (ISO 8859-8) since version 20, but does
|
|
not yet support right-to-left character entry and display. The
|
|
@uref{http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/emacs-bidi, emacs-bidi
|
|
mailing list} discusses development of support for this feature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node How to add fonts
|
|
@section How do I add fonts for use with Emacs?
|
|
@cindex add fonts for use with Emacs
|
|
@cindex intlfonts
|
|
|
|
First, download and install the BDF font files and any auxiliary
|
|
packages they need. The GNU Intlfonts distribution can be found on
|
|
@uref{http://directory.fsf.org/localization/intlfonts.html, the GNU
|
|
Software Directory Web site}.
|
|
|
|
Next, if you are on X Window system, issue the following two commands
|
|
from the shell's prompt:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
xset +fp /usr/local/share/emacs/fonts
|
|
xset fp rehash
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
(Modify the first command if you installed the fonts in a directory
|
|
that is not @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts}.) You also need to
|
|
arrange for these two commands to run whenever you log in, e.g., by
|
|
adding them to your window-system startup file, such as
|
|
@file{~/.xsessionrc} or @file{~/.gnomerc}.
|
|
|
|
Now, add the following line to your @file{~/.emacs} init file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-to-list 'bdf-directory-list "/usr/share/emacs/fonts/bdf")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
(Again, modify the file name if you installed the fonts elsewhere.)
|
|
|
|
Finally, if you wish to use the installed fonts with @code{ps-print},
|
|
add the following line to your @file{~/.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq ps-multibyte-buffer 'bdf-font-except-latin)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
A few additional steps are necessary for MS-Windows; they are listed
|
|
below.
|
|
|
|
First, make sure @emph{all} the directories with BDF font files are
|
|
mentioned in @code{bdf-directory-list}. On Unix and GNU/Linux
|
|
systems, one normally runs @kbd{make install} to install the BDF fonts
|
|
in the same directory. By contrast, Windows users typically don't run
|
|
the Intlfonts installation command, but unpack the distribution in
|
|
some directory, which leaves the BDF fonts in its subdirectories. For
|
|
example, assume that you unpacked Intlfonts in @file{C:/Intlfonts};
|
|
then you should set @code{bdf-directory-list} as follows:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq bdf-directory-list
|
|
'("C:/Intlfonts/Asian"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/Chinese" "C:/Intlfonts/Chinese.X"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/Chinese.BIG" "C:/Intlfonts/Ethiopic"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/European" "C:/Intlfonts/European.BIG"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/Japanese" "C:/Intlfonts/Japanese.X"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/Japanese.BIG" "C:/Intlfonts/Korean.X"
|
|
"C:/Intlfonts/Misc"))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@cindex @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist}
|
|
@cindex @code{w32-find-bdf-fonts}
|
|
Next, you need to set up the variable @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist} to
|
|
an alist of the BDF fonts and their corresponding file names.
|
|
Assuming you have set @code{bdf-directory-list} to name all the
|
|
directories with the BDF font files, the following Lisp snippet will
|
|
set up @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq w32-bdf-filename-alist
|
|
(w32-find-bdf-fonts bdf-directory-list))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Now, create fontsets for the BDF fonts:
|
|
|
|
@smallexample
|
|
(create-fontset-from-fontset-spec
|
|
"-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-fontset-bdf,
|
|
japanese-jisx0208:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0208.1983-*,
|
|
katakana-jisx0201:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0201*-*,
|
|
latin-jisx0201:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0201*-*,
|
|
japanese-jisx0208-1978:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0208.1978-*,
|
|
thai-tis620:-misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-tis620.2529-1,
|
|
lao:-misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-MuleLao-1,
|
|
tibetan-1-column:-TibMdXA-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-MuleTibetan-1,
|
|
ethiopic:-Admas-Ethiomx16f-Medium-R-Normal--16-150-100-100-M-160-Ethiopic-Unicode,
|
|
tibetan:-TibMdXA-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-160-MuleTibetan-0")
|
|
@end smallexample
|
|
|
|
Many of the international bdf fonts from Intlfonts are type 0, and
|
|
therefore need to be added to font-encoding-alist:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq font-encoding-alist
|
|
(append '(("MuleTibetan-0" (tibetan . 0))
|
|
("GB2312" (chinese-gb2312 . 0))
|
|
("JISX0208" (japanese-jisx0208 . 0))
|
|
("JISX0212" (japanese-jisx0212 . 0))
|
|
("VISCII" (vietnamese-viscii-lower . 0))
|
|
("KSC5601" (korean-ksc5601 . 0))
|
|
("MuleArabic-0" (arabic-digit . 0))
|
|
("MuleArabic-1" (arabic-1-column . 0))
|
|
("MuleArabic-2" (arabic-2-column . 0)))
|
|
font-encoding-alist))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
You can now use the Emacs font menu to select the @samp{bdf: 16-dot medium}
|
|
fontset, or you can select it by setting the default font in your
|
|
@file{~/.emacs}:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(set-default-font "fontset-bdf")
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
|
|
@c ------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
@node Mail and news
|
|
@chapter Mail and news
|
|
@cindex Mail and news
|
|
|
|
@menu
|
|
* Changing the included text prefix::
|
|
* Saving a copy of outgoing mail::
|
|
* Expanding aliases when sending mail::
|
|
* Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder::
|
|
* Rmail writes to /var/spool/mail::
|
|
* Replying to the sender of a message::
|
|
* Automatically starting a mail or news reader::
|
|
* Reading news with Emacs::
|
|
* Gnus does not work with NNTP::
|
|
* Making Gnus faster::
|
|
* Catching up in all newsgroups::
|
|
@end menu
|
|
|
|
@node Changing the included text prefix
|
|
@section How do I change the included text prefix in mail/news followups?
|
|
@cindex Prefix in mail/news followups, changing
|
|
@cindex Included text prefix, changing
|
|
@cindex Setting the included text character
|
|
@cindex Quoting in mail messages
|
|
|
|
If you read mail with Rmail, set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}.
|
|
For Gnus, set @code{message-yank-prefix}. For VM, set
|
|
@code{vm-included-text-prefix}. For mh-e, set @code{mh-ins-buf-prefix}.
|
|
|
|
For fancier control of citations, use Supercite (@pxref{Top,, the Supercite
|
|
Manual, sc, The Supercite Manual}).
|
|
|
|
To prevent Emacs from including various headers of the replied-to
|
|
message, set the value of @code{mail-yank-ignored-headers} to an
|
|
appropriate regexp.
|
|
|
|
@node Saving a copy of outgoing mail
|
|
@section How do I save a copy of outgoing mail?
|
|
@cindex Saving a copy of outgoing mail
|
|
@cindex Copying outgoing mail to a file
|
|
@cindex Filing outgoing mail
|
|
@cindex Automatic filing of outgoing mail
|
|
@cindex Mail, saving outgoing automatically
|
|
|
|
You can either mail yourself a copy by including a @samp{BCC} header in the
|
|
mail message, or store a copy of the message directly to a file by
|
|
including an @samp{FCC} header.
|
|
|
|
If you use standard mail, you can automatically create a @samp{BCC} to
|
|
yourself by putting
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq mail-self-blind t)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
in your @file{.emacs} file. You can automatically include an @samp{FCC}
|
|
field by putting something like the following in your @file{.emacs}
|
|
file:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq mail-archive-file-name (expand-file-name "~/outgoing"))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
The output file will be in Unix mail format.
|
|
|
|
If you use @code{mh-e}, add an @samp{FCC} or @samp{BCC} field to your
|
|
components file.
|
|
|
|
It does not work to put @samp{set record filename} in the @file{.mailrc}
|
|
file.
|
|
|
|
@node Expanding aliases when sending mail
|
|
@section Why doesn't Emacs expand my aliases when sending mail?
|
|
@cindex Expanding aliases when sending mail
|
|
@cindex Mail alias expansion
|
|
@cindex Sending mail with aliases
|
|
|
|
@xref{Mail Aliases,, The Emacs Manual, emacs, The Emacs Manual}.
|
|
|
|
@itemize @bullet
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Normally, Emacs expands aliases when you send the message.
|
|
To expand them before this, use @kbd{M-x expand-mail-aliases}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
Emacs normally only reads the @file{.mailrc} file once per session, when
|
|
you start to compose your first mail message. If you edit the file
|
|
after this, you can use @kbd{M-x build-mail-aliases} to make Emacs
|
|
reread it. Prior to Emacs 24.1, this is not an interactive command, so
|
|
you must instead type @kbd{M-: (build-mail-aliases) @key{RET}}.
|
|
|
|
@item
|
|
If you like, you can expand mail aliases as abbrevs, as soon as you
|
|
type them in. To enable this feature, execute the following:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
Note that the aliases are expanded automatically only after you type
|
|
a word-separator character (e.g. @key{RET} or @kbd{,}). You can force their
|
|
expansion by moving point to the end of the alias and typing @kbd{C-x a e}
|
|
(@kbd{M-x expand-abbrev}).
|
|
@end itemize
|
|
|
|
@node Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder
|
|
@section How can I sort the messages in my Rmail folder?
|
|
@cindex Rmail, sorting messages in
|
|
@cindex Folder, sorting messages in an Rmail
|
|
@cindex Sorting messages in an Rmail folder
|
|
|
|
In Rmail, type @kbd{C-c C-s C-h} to get a list of sorting functions
|
|
and their key bindings.
|
|
|
|
@node Rmail writes to /var/spool/mail
|
|
@section Why does Rmail need to write to @file{/var/spool/mail}?
|
|
@cindex Rmail and @file{/var/spool/mail}
|
|
@cindex @file{/var/spool/mail} and Rmail
|
|
|
|
This is the behavior of the @code{movemail} program which Rmail uses.
|
|
This indicates that @code{movemail} is configured to use lock files.
|
|
|
|
RMS writes:
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
Certain systems require lock files to interlock access to mail files.
|
|
On these systems, @code{movemail} must write lock files, or you risk losing
|
|
mail. You simply must arrange to let @code{movemail} write them.
|
|
|
|
Other systems use the @code{flock} system call to interlock access. On
|
|
these systems, you should configure @code{movemail} to use @code{flock}.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
@node Replying to the sender of a message
|
|
@section How can I force Rmail to reply to the sender of a message, but not the other recipients?
|
|
@cindex Replying only to the sender of a message
|
|
@cindex Sender, replying only to
|
|
@cindex Rmail, replying to the sender of a message in
|
|
|
|
@email{isaacson@@seas.upenn.edu, Ron Isaacson} says: When you hit
|
|
@key{r} to reply in Rmail, by default it CCs all of the original
|
|
recipients (everyone on the original @samp{To} and @samp{CC}
|
|
lists). With a prefix argument (i.e., typing @kbd{C-u} before @key{r}),
|
|
it replies only to the sender. However, going through the whole
|
|
@kbd{C-u} business every time you want to reply is a pain. This is the
|
|
best fix I've been able to come up with:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(defun rmail-reply-t ()
|
|
"Reply only to the sender of the current message. (See rmail-reply.)"
|
|
(interactive)
|
|
(rmail-reply t))
|
|
|
|
(add-hook 'rmail-mode-hook
|
|
(lambda ()
|
|
(define-key rmail-mode-map "r" 'rmail-reply-t)
|
|
(define-key rmail-mode-map "R" 'rmail-reply)))
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
@node Automatically starting a mail or news reader
|
|
@section How do I make Emacs automatically start my mail/news reader?
|
|
@cindex Mail reader, starting automatically
|
|
@cindex News reader, starting automatically
|
|
@cindex Starting mail/news reader automatically
|
|
|
|
To start Emacs in Gnus:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
emacs -f gnus
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
@noindent
|
|
in Rmail:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
emacs -f rmail
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
A more convenient way to start with Gnus:
|
|
|
|
@example
|
|
alias gnus 'emacs -f gnus'
|
|
gnus
|
|
@end example
|
|
|
|
It is probably unwise to automatically start your mail or news reader
|
|
from your @file{.emacs} file. This would cause problems if you needed to run
|
|
two copies of Emacs at the same time. Also, this would make it difficult for
|
|
you to start Emacs quickly when you needed to.
|
|
|
|
@node Reading news with Emacs
|
|
@section How do I read news under Emacs?
|
|
@cindex Reading news under Emacs
|
|
@cindex Usenet reader in Emacs
|
|
@cindex Gnus newsreader
|
|
@cindex FAQ for Gnus
|
|
@cindex Gnus FAQ
|
|
@cindex Learning more about Gnus
|
|
|
|
Use @kbd{M-x gnus}. For more information on Gnus, @pxref{Top,, the Gnus
|
|
Manual, gnus, The Gnus Manual}, which includes @ref{Frequently Asked
|
|
Questions,, the Gnus FAQ, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@node Gnus does not work with NNTP
|
|
@section Why doesn't Gnus work via NNTP?
|
|
@cindex Gnus and NNTP
|
|
@cindex NNTP, Gnus fails to work with
|
|
|
|
There is a bug in NNTP version 1.5.10, such that when multiple requests
|
|
are sent to the NNTP server, the server only handles the first one
|
|
before blocking waiting for more input which never comes. NNTP version
|
|
1.5.11 claims to fix this.
|
|
|
|
You can work around the bug inside Emacs like this:
|
|
|
|
@lisp
|
|
(setq nntp-maximum-request 1)
|
|
@end lisp
|
|
|
|
You can find out what version of NNTP your news server is running by
|
|
telnetting to the NNTP port (usually 119) on the news server machine
|
|
(i.e., @kbd{telnet server-machine 119}). The server should give its
|
|
version number in the welcome message. Type @kbd{quit} to get out.
|
|
|
|
@node Making Gnus faster
|
|
@section How do I make Gnus faster?
|
|
@cindex Faster, starting Gnus
|
|
@cindex Starting Gnus faster
|
|
@cindex Gnus, starting faster
|
|
@cindex Slow catch up in Gnus
|
|
@cindex Gnus is slow when catching up
|
|
@cindex Crosspostings make Gnus catching up slow
|
|
|
|
From the Gnus FAQ (@pxref{Reading news with Emacs}):
|
|
|
|
@quotation
|
|
If you have a slow machine, or are just really impatient, there are a
|
|
few things you can do to make Gnus run faster.
|
|
|
|
Set @code{gnus-check-new-newsgroups} and
|
|
@code{gnus-check-bogus-newsgroups} to @code{nil} to make startup faster.
|
|
|
|
Set @code{gnus-show-threads}, @code{gnus-use-cross-reference} and
|
|
@code{gnus-nov-is-evil} to @code{nil} to make entering and exiting the
|
|
summary buffer faster.
|
|
@end quotation
|
|
|
|
@node Catching up in all newsgroups
|
|
@section How do I catch up all newsgroups in Gnus?
|
|
@cindex Catching up all newsgroups in Gnus
|
|
@cindex Gnus, Catching up all newsgroups in
|
|
|
|
In the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer, type @kbd{M-< C-x ( c y C-x ) M-0 C-x e}
|
|
|
|
Leave off the initial @kbd{M-<} if you only want to catch up from point
|
|
to the end of the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer.
|
|
|
|
@node Concept index
|
|
@unnumbered Concept Index
|
|
@printindex cp
|
|
|
|
@bye
|