emacs/doc/misc/dired-x.texi

\input texinfo  @comment -*-texinfo-*-

@c dired-x.texi --- Sebastian Kremer's Extra DIRED hacked up for GNU Emacs
@c
@c Author: Sebastian Kremer <sk@thp.uni-koeln.de>
@c      Lawrence R. Dodd <dodd@roebling.poly.edu>
@c [Dodd's address no longer valid.]

@comment %**start of header (This is for running Texinfo on a region.)
@setfilename ../../info/dired-x.info
@settitle Dired Extra User's Manual
@include docstyle.texi

@include emacsver.texi

@iftex
@finalout
@end iftex
@c @setchapternewpage odd               % For book style double sided manual.
@comment %**end of header (This is for running Texinfo on a region.)

@copying
Copyright @copyright{} 1994--1995, 1999, 2001--2024 Free Software
Foundation, Inc.

@quotation
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual'',
and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.  A copy of the license
is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.

(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have the freedom to copy and
modify this GNU manual.''
@end quotation
@end copying

@dircategory Emacs misc features
@direntry
* Dired-X: (dired-x).           Dired Extra Features.
@end direntry

@c      @smallbook
@tex
\overfullrule=0pt
%\global\baselineskip 30pt      % For printing in double spaces
@end tex

@titlepage
@sp 6
@center @titlefont{Dired Extra}
@sp 2
@center @titlefont{For The GNU Emacs}
@sp 1
@center @titlefont{Directory Editor}
@sp 4
@center Lawrence R@. Dodd
@c @center @t{dodd@@roebling.poly.edu}
@sp 5
@center (Based on @file{dired.texi} by Sebastian Kremer <sk@@thp.uni-koeln.de>)
@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
@insertcopying
@end titlepage

@contents


@ifnottex

@node Top
@top Dired Extra

@noindent
This documents the ``extra'' features for GNU Emacs's Dired Mode that are
provided by the file @file{dired-x.el}.

@itemize @bullet

@item
Based on @file{dired.texi} by Sebastian Kremer <sk@@thp.uni-koeln.de>

@item
For @file{dired-x.el} as distributed with GNU Emacs @value{EMACSVER}.

@end itemize

@insertcopying

@menu
* Introduction::
* Installation::
* Omitting Files in Dired::
* Virtual Dired::
* Advanced Mark Commands::
* Multiple Dired Directories::
* Find File At Point::
* Miscellaneous Commands::
* Bugs::

* GNU Free Documentation License::
* Concept Index::
* Command Index::
* Key Index::
* Variable Index::

@end menu

@end ifnottex

@node Introduction
@chapter Introduction

This documents some @emph{extra} features for GNU Emacs's Dired Mode
that are provided by @file{dired-x.el} (derived from Sebastian Kremer's
original @file{dired-x.el}).

@ifnottex
@menu
* Features::
* Technical Details::
@end menu
@end ifnottex

@node Features
@section Features
@cindex Dired-x features

Some features provided by Dired Extra:

@enumerate
@item
Omitting uninteresting files from Dired listing
(@pxref{Omitting Files in Dired}).
@item
Running Dired command in non-Dired buffers
(@pxref{Virtual Dired}).
@item
Finding a file mentioned in a buffer
(@pxref{Find File At Point}).
@item
Commands using file marking
(@pxref{Advanced Mark Commands}).
@end enumerate

@noindent
@file{dired-x.el} binds some functions to keys in Dired Mode (@pxref{Key
Index}).  Optionally, it also binds @kbd{C-x C-f} and @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}
to @code{dired-x-find-file} and @code{dired-x-find-file-other-window},
respectively (@pxref{Find File At Point}).

@node Technical Details
@section Technical Details
@cindex modified functions
@cindex @file{dired-aux.el}

When @file{dired-x.el} is loaded, some standard Dired functions from
@file{dired.el} and @file{dired-aux.el} offer additional features.
@code{dired-add-entry} obeys Dired Omit mode (@pxref{Omitting Files in
Dired}), if it is active.  @code{dired-find-buffer-nocreate} and
@code{dired-initial-position} respect the value of
@code{dired-find-subdir} (@pxref{Miscellaneous Commands}).

@node Installation
@chapter Installation

@noindent
This manual describes the Dired features provided by the file
@file{dired-x.el}.  To take advantage of these features, you must load the
file and (optionally) set some variables.

@noindent
In your @file{~/.emacs} file, or in the system-wide initialization file
@file{default.el} in the @file{site-lisp} directory, put

@example
(with-eval-after-load 'dired
  (require 'dired-x)
  ;; Set dired-x global variables here.  For example:
  ;; (setq dired-x-hands-off-my-keys nil)
  ))
(add-hook 'dired-mode-hook
          (lambda ()
            ;; Set dired-x buffer-local variables here.  For example:
            ;; (dired-omit-mode 1)
            ))
@end example

@noindent
This will load @file{dired-x.el} when Dired is first invoked (for example,
when you first type @kbd{C-x d}).

@ifnottex
@menu
* Optional Installation File At Point::
@end menu
@end ifnottex

@node Optional Installation File At Point
@section Optional Installation File At Point

@cindex binding @code{dired-x-find-file}
If you choose to have @file{dired-x.el} bind @code{dired-x-find-file} over
@code{find-file} (@pxref{Find File At Point}), then you will need to set
@code{dired-x-hands-off-my-keys}.  To do this, either set it
@emph{before} @file{dired-x.el} is loaded, or use @kbd{M-x customize-variable},
or call @code{dired-x-bind-find-file} after changing the value.

@example
(with-eval-after-load 'dired
  ;; Bind dired-x-find-file.
  (setq dired-x-hands-off-my-keys nil)
  (require 'dired-x))
@end example

@node Omitting Files in Dired
@chapter Omitting Files in Dired

@cindex omitting Files in Dired
@cindex uninteresting files
@dfn{Omitting} a file means removing it from the directory listing.  Omitting
is useful for keeping Dired buffers free of ``uninteresting'' files (for
instance, auto-save, auxiliary, backup, and revision control files) so that
the user can concentrate on the interesting files.  Like hidden files, omitted
files are never seen by Dired.  Omitting differs from hiding in several
respects:

@itemize @bullet

@item
Omitting works on individual files, not on directories; an entire directory
cannot be omitted (though each of its files could be).

@item
Omitting is wholesale; if omitting is turned on for a Dired buffer, then all
uninteresting files listed in that buffer are omitted.  The user does not omit
(or unomit) files one at a time.

@item
Omitting can be automatic; uninteresting file lines in the buffer can be
removed before the user ever sees them.

@item
Marked files are never omitted.
@end itemize

@table @kbd
@item C-x M-o
@kindex C-x M-o
@findex dired-omit-mode
(@code{dired-omit-mode}) Toggle between displaying and omitting
``uninteresting'' files.
@item * O
@kindex * O
@findex dired-mark-omitted
(@code{dired-mark-omitted}) Mark ``uninteresting'' files.
@end table

@noindent
In order to make Dired Omit work you need to load @file{dired-x}
after loading @file{dired} (@pxref{Installation}) and then evaluate
@code{(dired-omit-mode 1)} in some way (@pxref{Omitting Variables}).

@ifnottex
@menu
* Omitting Variables::
* Omitting Examples::
* Omitting Technical::
@end menu
@end ifnottex

@node Omitting Variables
@section Omitting Variables

@cindex customizing file omitting
The following variables can be used to customize omitting.

@cindex how to make omitting the default in Dired
@defvar dired-omit-mode
If non-@code{nil}, ``uninteresting'' files are not listed.
The default is @code{nil}.
Uninteresting files are files whose names match regexp
@code{dired-omit-files}, plus files whose names end with extension in
@code{dired-omit-extensions}.  @kbd{C-x M-o} (@code{dired-omit-mode})
toggles its value, which is buffer-local.  Put

@example
(dired-omit-mode 1)
@end example

@noindent
inside your @code{dired-mode-hook} to have omitting initially turned on in
@emph{every} Dired buffer (@pxref{Installation}).  You can then use
@kbd{C-x M-o} to unomit in that buffer.

To enable omitting automatically only in certain directories you can add
a directory local setting
(@pxref{Directory Variables,,,emacs,The GNU Emacs manual}) for Dired mode

@example
((dired-mode . ((dired-omit-mode . t))))
@end example

@noindent
to a @file{.dir-locals.el} file in that directory.  You can use the
command @code{add-dir-local-variable} to do this.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-omit-files
This buffer-local variable's value is a regexp, a string.  Files whose
names match this regexp will not be displayed.  This only has effect
when @code{dired-omit-mode}'s value is @code{t}.

The default value omits the special directories @file{.} and @file{..}  and
autosave files (plus other files ending in @file{.}) (@pxref{Omitting Examples}).
@end defvar

@defvar dired-omit-extensions
If non-@code{nil}, this variable's value is a list of extensions
(strings) to omit from Dired listings.  Its format is the same as that
of @code{completion-ignored-extensions}.  The default value is the
elements of @code{completion-ignored-extensions},
@code{dired-latex-unclean-extensions},
@code{dired-bibtex-unclean-extensions} and
@code{dired-texinfo-unclean-extensions}.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-omit-case-fold
Default:  @code{filesystem}
This variable controls whether file-name matching is case-insensitive.
By default, when @code{dired-omit-case-fold} is set to @code{filesystem},
@code{dired-omit-mode} will match filenames and extensions
case-sensitively on Dired buffers visiting case-sensitive filesystems,
and case-insensitively on case-insensitive filesystems.  Set it to
@code{nil} to be always case-sensitive, and to @code{t} to be always
case-insensitive.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-omit-localp
This variable determines the @var{localp} argument
@code{dired-omit-expunge} passes to @code{dired-get-filename}.  If it
is @code{no-dir}, the default, omitting is much faster, but you can
only match against the non-directory part of the file name.  Set it to
@code{nil} if you need to match the whole file name or @code{t} to
match the file name relative to the buffer's top-level directory.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-omit-size-limit
If non-@code{nil}, @code{dired-omit-mode} will be effectively disabled
in directories whose listing has size (in bytes) larger than the value
of this option.  Since omitting can be slow for very large directories,
this avoids having to wait before seeing the directory.  This variable
is ignored when @code{dired-omit-mode} is called interactively, such as
by @kbd{C-x M-o}, so you can still enable omitting in the directory
after the initial display.
@end defvar

@cindex omitting additional files
@defvar dired-omit-marker-char
Temporary marker used by Dired to implement omitting.  Should never be used
as marker by the user or other packages.  There is one exception to this rule:
by adding

@example
(setq dired-mark-keys "\C-o")
;; i.e., the value of dired-omit-marker-char
;; (which is not defined yet)
@end example

@noindent
to your @file{~/.emacs}, you can bind the @kbd{C-o} key to insert a
@kbd{C-o} marker, thus causing these files to be omitted in addition to the
usually omitted files.  Unfortunately the files you omitted manually this way
will show up again after reverting the buffer, unlike the others.
The default value is @kbd{C-o}.
@end defvar

@node Omitting Examples
@section Examples of Omitting Various File Types

@itemize @bullet

@item
@cindex RCS files, how to omit them in Dired
@cindex omitting RCS files in Dired
If you wish to avoid seeing RCS files and the @file{RCS} directory, then use

@example
(setq dired-omit-files
      (concat dired-omit-files "\\|^RCS$\\|,v$"))
@end example

@noindent
after loading @file{dired-x} (@pxref{Installation}).  This assumes
@code{dired-omit-localp} has its default value of @code{no-dir} to make the
@code{^}-anchored matches work.  As a slower alternative, with
@code{dired-omit-localp} set to @code{nil}, you can use @code{/} instead of
@code{^} in the regexp.

@item
@cindex tib files, how to omit them in Dired
@cindex omitting tib files in Dired
If you use @code{tib}, the bibliography program for use with @TeX{} and
@LaTeX{}, and you
want to omit the @file{INDEX} and the @file{*-t.tex} files, then use

@example
(setq dired-omit-files
      (concat dired-omit-files "\\|^INDEX$\\|-t\\.tex$"))
@end example

@noindent
after loading @file{dired-x} (@pxref{Installation}).

@item
@cindex dot files, how to omit them in Dired
@cindex omitting dot files in Dired
If you do not wish to see @samp{dot} files (files starting with a @file{.}),
then use

@example
(setq dired-omit-files
      (concat dired-omit-files "\\|^\\..+$"))
@end example

@noindent
after loading @file{dired-x} (@pxref{Installation}).  (Of course, a
better way to achieve this particular goal is simply to omit @samp{-a} from
@code{dired-listing-switches}.)

@end itemize

@node Omitting Technical
@section Some Technical Details of Omitting

Loading @file{dired-x.el} will install Dired Omit by putting
@code{dired-omit-expunge} on your @code{dired-after-readin-hook}, and will
call @code{dired-extra-startup}, which in turn calls @code{dired-omit-startup}
in your @code{dired-mode-hook}.

@node Virtual Dired
@chapter Virtual Dired

@cindex virtual Dired
@cindex perusing @code{ls} listings
@cindex @command{ls} listings, how to peruse them in Dired
Using @dfn{Virtual Dired} means putting a buffer with Dired-like
contents in Dired mode.  The files described by the buffer contents need
not actually exist.  This is useful if you want to peruse an @samp{ls -lR}
output file, for example one you got from an FTP server.  You can use
all motion commands usually available in Dired.  You can also use
it to save a Dired buffer in a file and resume it in a later session.

@findex dired-virtual
@kindex g
@findex dired-virtual-revert
Type @kbd{M-x dired-virtual} to put the current buffer into virtual
Dired mode.  You will be prompted for the top level directory of this
buffer, with a default value guessed from the buffer contents.  To
convert the virtual to a real Dired buffer again, type @kbd{g} (which
calls @code{dired-virtual-revert}) in the virtual Dired buffer and
answer @samp{y}.  You don't have to do this, though: you can relist
single subdirectories using @kbd{l} (@code{dired-do-redisplay}) on the subdirectory
headerline, leaving the buffer in virtual Dired mode all the time.

@findex dired-virtual-mode
@vindex auto-mode-alist
The function @samp{dired-virtual-mode} is specially designed to turn on
virtual Dired mode from the @code{auto-mode-alist}.  To edit all
@file{*.dired} files automatically in virtual Dired mode, put this into your
@file{~/.emacs}:

@example
(setq auto-mode-alist (cons '("[^/]\\.dired$" . dired-virtual-mode)
                              auto-mode-alist))
@end example

@noindent
The regexp is a bit more complicated than usual to exclude @file{.dired}
local-variable files.

@node Advanced Mark Commands
@chapter Advanced Mark Commands

@table @kbd
@item F
@kindex F
@cindex visiting several files at once
@cindex simultaneous visiting of several files
@findex dired-do-find-marked-files
(@code{dired-do-find-marked-files}) Find all marked files at once displaying
them simultaneously.  If optional @var{noselect} is non-@code{nil} then just
find the
files but do not select.  If you want to keep the Dired buffer displayed, type
@kbd{C-x 2} first.  If you want just the marked files displayed and nothing
else, type @kbd{C-x 1} first.

The current window is split across all files marked, as evenly as possible.
Remaining lines go to the bottom-most window.  The number of files that can be
displayed this way is restricted by the height of the current window and the
variable @code{window-min-height}.
@end table

@table @code
@item dired-mark-extension
@findex dired-mark-extension
Mark all files with a certain extension for use in later commands.  A @samp{.}
is automatically prepended to the string entered when not present.
If invoked with prefix argument @kbd{C-u}, this command unmarks files instead.
If called with the @kbd{C-u C-u} prefix, asks for a character to use
as the marker, and marks files with it.

When called from Lisp, @var{extension} may also be a list of extensions
and an optional argument @var{marker-char} specifies the marker used.

@item dired-mark-suffix
@findex dired-mark-suffix
Mark all files with a certain suffix for use in later commands.  A @samp{.}
is not automatically prepended to the string entered, you must type it
explicitly.  This is different from @code{dired-mark-extension} which prepends
a @samp{.} if not present.
If invoked with prefix argument @kbd{C-u}, this command unmarks files instead.
If called with the @kbd{C-u C-u} prefix, asks for a character to use
as the marker, and marks files with it.

When called from Lisp, @var{suffix} may also be a list of suffixes
and an optional argument @var{marker-char} specifies the marker used.

@item dired-flag-extension
@findex dired-flag-extension
Flag all files with a certain extension for deletion.  A @samp{.} is
@emph{not} automatically prepended to the string entered.
@end table

@ifnottex
@menu
* Advanced Cleaning Functions::
* Advanced Cleaning Variables::
* Special Marking Function::
@end menu
@end ifnottex

@node Advanced Cleaning Functions
@section Advanced Cleaning Functions

@table @code
@item dired-clean-patch
@findex dired-clean-patch
Flag dispensable files created by the @samp{patch} program for deletion.  See
variable @code{dired-patch-unclean-extensions}.

@item dired-clean-tex
@findex dired-clean-tex
Flag dispensable files created by @TeX{}, @LaTeX{}, and @samp{texinfo} for
deletion.  See the following variables (@pxref{Advanced Cleaning Variables}):

@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{dired-tex-unclean-extensions}
@item
@code{dired-texinfo-unclean-extensions}
@item
@code{dired-latex-unclean-extensions}
@item
@code{dired-bibtex-unclean-extensions}
@end itemize

@item dired-very-clean-tex
@findex dired-very-clean-tex
Flag dispensable files created by @TeX{}, @LaTeX{}, @samp{texinfo},
and @file{*.dvi} files for deletion.
@end table

@node Advanced Cleaning Variables
@section Advanced Cleaning Variables

Variables used by the above cleaning commands (and in the default value for
variable @code{dired-omit-extensions}, @pxref{Omitting Variables}):

@defvar dired-patch-unclean-extensions
This variable specifies the list of extensions of dispensable files
created by the @samp{patch} program.  The default is @w{@code{(".rej"
".orig")}}.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-tex-unclean-extensions
This variable specifies the list of extensions of dispensable files
created by @TeX{}.  The default is @w{@code{(".toc" ".log" ".aux")}}.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-texinfo-unclean-extensions
This variable holds the list of extensions of dispensable files
created by @samp{texinfo}.  The default is @w{@code{(".cp" ".cps" ".fn"
".fns" ".ky" ".kys"} @code{".pg" ".pgs" ".tp" ".tps" ".vr" ".vrs")}}
@end defvar

@defvar dired-latex-unclean-extensions
This variable specifies the list of extensions of dispensable files
created by @LaTeX{}.  The default is @w{@code{(".idx" ".lof" ".lot"
".glo")}}.
@end defvar

@defvar dired-bibtex-unclean-extensions
This variable specifies the list of extensions of dispensable files
created by Bib@TeX{}.  The default is @w{@code{(".blg" ".bbl")}}.
@end defvar

@node Special Marking Function
@section Special Marking Function

@table @kbd
@item M-(
@kindex M-(
@findex dired-mark-sexp
@cindex lisp expression, marking files with in Dired
@cindex mark file by Lisp expression
Mark files for which @var{predicate} returns non-@code{nil}
(@code{dired-mark-sexp}).  With a prefix argument, unflag those files
instead.

The @var{predicate} is a Lisp expression that can refer to the following
symbols:
@table @code
@item inode
[@i{integer}] the inode of the file (only for @samp{ls -i} output)
@item s
[@i{integer}] the size of the file for @samp{ls -s} output (usually in blocks or,
with @samp{-k}, in KBytes)
@item mode
[@i{string}]  file permission bits, e.g., @samp{-rw-r--r--}
@item nlink
[@i{integer}] number of links to file
@item uid
[@i{string}]  owner
@item gid
[@i{string}]  group  (If the gid is not displayed by @samp{ls}, this
will still be set (to the same as uid))
@item size
[@i{integer}] file size in bytes
@item time
[@i{string}]  the time that @samp{ls} displays, e.g., @samp{Feb 12 14:17}
@item name
[@i{string}]  the name of the file
@item sym
[@i{string}]  if file is a symbolic link, the linked-to name, else @code{""}
@end table

@noindent
For example, use
@example
(equal 0 size)
@end example
to mark all zero length files.

To find out all not yet compiled Emacs Lisp files in a directory, Dired
all @file{.el} files in the lisp directory using the wildcard
@samp{*.el}.  Then use @kbd{M-(} with
@example
(not (file-exists-p (concat name "c")))
@end example
to mark all @file{.el} files without a corresponding @file{.elc} file.

@end table

@node Multiple Dired Directories
@chapter Multiple Dired Directories and Non-Dired Commands

@cindex multiple Dired directories
@cindex working directory
An Emacs buffer can have but one working directory, stored in the
buffer-local variable @code{default-directory}.  A Dired buffer may have
several subdirectories inserted, but it still has only one working
directory: that of the top-level Dired directory in that buffer.  For
some commands it is appropriate that they use the current Dired
directory instead of @code{default-directory}, e.g., @code{find-file} and
@code{compile}.

@findex dired-smart-shell-command
@findex shell-command
@kindex M-!
The command @code{dired-smart-shell-command}, bound to @kbd{M-!} in
Dired buffers, is like @code{shell-command}, but it runs with
@code{default-directory} bound to the current Dired directory.

@node Find File At Point
@chapter Find File At Point
@cindex visiting a file mentioned in a buffer
@cindex finding a file at point

@file{dired-x} provides a method of visiting or editing a file mentioned in
the buffer you are viewing (e.g., a mail buffer, a news article, a
@file{README} file, etc.)@: or to test if that file exists.  You can then modify
this in the minibuffer after snatching the file name.

When installed @file{dired-x} will substitute @code{dired-x-find-file} for
@code{find-file} (normally bound to @kbd{C-x C-f}) and
@code{dired-x-find-file-other-window} for @code{find-file-other-window}
(normally bound to @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}).

In order to use this feature, you will need to set
@code{dired-x-hands-off-my-keys} to @code{nil} before loading @file{dired-x}
(@pxref{Optional Installation File At Point}).

@table @code
@item dired-x-find-file
@findex dired-x-find-file
@kindex C-x C-f

@code{dired-x-find-file} behaves exactly like @code{find-file} (normally bound
to @kbd{C-x C-f}) unless a prefix argument is passed to the function in which
case it will use the file name at point as a guess for the file to visit.

For example, if the buffer you were reading contained the words

@example
Available via anonymous ftp in

   /roebling.poly.edu:/pub/lisp/crypt++.el.gz
@end example

@noindent
then you could move your cursor to the line containing the ftp address and
type @kbd{C-u C-x C-f} (the @kbd{C-u} is a universal argument).  The
minibuffer would read

@example
Find file: /roebling.poly.edu:/pub/lisp/crypt++.el.gz
@end example

@noindent
with the point after the last @code{/}.  If you hit @key{RET}, emacs will visit
the file at that address.  This also works with files on your own computer.

@item dired-x-find-file-other-window
@findex dired-x-find-file-other-window
@kindex C-x 4 C-f

@code{dired-x-find-file-other-window} behaves exactly like
@code{find-file-other-window} (normally bound to @kbd{C-x 4 C-f}) unless a
prefix argument is used.  See @code{dired-x-find-file} for more information.

@item dired-x-hands-off-my-keys
@vindex dired-x-hands-off-my-keys
If set to @code{t}, then it means that @file{dired-x} should @emph{not} bind
@code{dired-x-find-file} over @code{find-file} on keyboard.  Similarly, it
should not bind @code{dired-x-find-file-other-window} over
@code{find-file-other-window}.  If you change this variable after
@file{dired-x.el} is loaded then do @kbd{M-x dired-x-bind-find-file}.  The
default value of this variable is @code{t}; by default, the binding is not
done.  @xref{Optional Installation File At Point}.

@item dired-x-bind-find-file
@findex dired-x-bind-find-file
A function, which can be called interactively or in your @file{~/.emacs} file,
that uses the value of @code{dired-x-hands-off-my-keys} to determine if
@code{dired-x-find-file} should be bound over @code{find-file} and
@code{dired-x-find-file-other-window} bound over
@code{find-file-other-window}.  @xref{Optional Installation File At Point}.
@end table

@node Miscellaneous Commands
@chapter Miscellaneous Commands

Miscellaneous features not fitting anywhere else:

@table @code
@item dired-find-subdir
@vindex dired-find-subdir
Default: @code{nil}

If non-@code{nil}, Dired does not make a new buffer for a directory if it can
be found (perhaps as subdirectory) in some existing Dired buffer.

If there are several Dired buffers for a directory, the most recently
used is chosen.

Dired avoids switching to the current buffer, so that if you have a
normal and a wildcard buffer for the same directory, @kbd{C-x d @key{RET}}
will toggle between those two.
@end table

@table @code

@item dired-vm
@cindex reading mail.
@kindex V
@findex dired-vm
Bound to @kbd{V} if @code{dired-bind-vm} is @code{t}.  Run VM on this
file (assumed to be a UNIX mail folder).

@vindex dired-vm-read-only-folders
If you give this command a prefix argument, it will visit the folder
read-only.

If the variable @code{dired-vm-read-only-folders} is @code{t},
@code{dired-vm} will visit all folders read-only.  If it is neither
@code{nil} nor @code{t}, e.g., the symbol @code{if-file-read-only}, only
files not writable by you are visited read-only.

@vindex dired-bind-vm
If the variable @code{dired-bind-vm} is @code{t}, @code{dired-vm} will be bound
to @kbd{V}.  Otherwise, @code{dired-bind-rmail} will be bound.

@item dired-rmail
@cindex reading mail.
@findex dired-rmail
Bound to @kbd{V} if @code{dired-bind-vm} is @code{nil}.  Run Rmail on this
file (assumed to be mail folder in Rmail format).
@end table

@node Bugs
@chapter Bugs
@cindex bugs

@noindent
If you encounter a bug in this package, or wish to suggest an
enhancement, then please use @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug} to report it.

@node GNU Free Documentation License
@appendix GNU Free Documentation License
@include doclicense.texi

@node     Concept Index
@unnumbered Concept Index
@printindex cp

@node     Command Index
@unnumbered Function Index
@printindex fn

@node     Key Index
@unnumbered Key Index
@printindex ky

@node     Variable Index
@unnumbered Variable Index
@printindex vr

@bye