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1 | \input texinfo @c -*- mode: texinfo; -*- |
2 | @c %**start of header | |
29993416 | 3 | @setfilename ../../info/efaq.info |
4009494e | 4 | @settitle GNU Emacs FAQ |
c6ab4664 | 5 | @documentencoding UTF-8 |
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6 | @c %**end of header |
7 | ||
f7a31f11 | 8 | @include emacsver.texi |
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9 | |
10 | @c This file is maintained by Romain Francoise <rfrancoise@gnu.org>. | |
11 | @c Feel free to install changes without prior permission (but I'd | |
12 | @c appreciate a notice if you do). | |
13 | ||
14 | @copying | |
6bc383b1 | 15 | Copyright @copyright{} 2001--2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.@* |
85b438b7 GM |
16 | Copyright @copyright{} 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
17 | Reuven M. Lerner@* | |
18 | Copyright @copyright{} 1992, 1993 Steven Byrnes@* | |
19 | Copyright @copyright{} 1990, 1991, 1992 Joseph Brian Wells@* | |
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20 | |
21 | @quotation | |
22 | This list of frequently asked questions about GNU Emacs with answers | |
23 | (``FAQ'') may be translated into other languages, transformed into other | |
1df7defd | 24 | formats (e.g., Texinfo, Info, WWW, WAIS), and updated with new information. |
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25 | |
26 | The same conditions apply to any derivative of the FAQ as apply to the FAQ | |
27 | itself. Every copy of the FAQ must include this notice or an approved | |
28 | translation, information on who is currently maintaining the FAQ and how to | |
29 | contact them (including their e-mail address), and information on where the | |
30 | latest version of the FAQ is archived (including FTP information). | |
31 | ||
32 | The FAQ may be copied and redistributed under these conditions, except that | |
33 | the FAQ may not be embedded in a larger literary work unless that work | |
34 | itself allows free copying and redistribution. | |
35 | ||
36 | [This version has been heavily edited since it was included in the Emacs | |
37 | distribution.] | |
38 | @end quotation | |
39 | @end copying | |
40 | ||
41 | @dircategory Emacs | |
42 | @direntry | |
9360256a | 43 | * Emacs FAQ: (efaq). Frequently Asked Questions about Emacs. |
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44 | @end direntry |
45 | ||
46 | @c The @titlepage stuff only appears in the printed version | |
47 | @titlepage | |
48 | @sp 10 | |
49 | @center @titlefont{GNU Emacs FAQ} | |
50 | ||
51 | @c The following two commands start the copyright page. | |
52 | @page | |
53 | @vskip 0pt plus 1filll | |
54 | @insertcopying | |
55 | @end titlepage | |
56 | ||
5dc584b5 KB |
57 | @contents |
58 | ||
f0bf7708 GM |
59 | @node Top, FAQ notation, (dir), (dir) |
60 | @top The GNU Emacs FAQ | |
4009494e | 61 | |
c3e2de4c | 62 | This is the GNU Emacs FAQ. |
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63 | |
64 | This FAQ is maintained as a part of GNU Emacs. If you find any errors, | |
65 | or have any suggestions, please use @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug} to report | |
66 | them. | |
67 | ||
f7a31f11 | 68 | This is the version of the FAQ distributed with Emacs @value{EMACSVER}, and |
b59a8457 | 69 | mainly describes that version. Although there is some information on |
f6adc23c | 70 | older versions, details about very old releases (now only of historical |
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71 | interest) have been removed. If you are interested in this, consult |
72 | either the version of the FAQ distributed with older versions of Emacs, | |
73 | or the history of this document in the Emacs source repository. | |
74 | ||
75 | Since Emacs releases are very stable, we recommend always running the | |
76 | latest release. | |
77 | ||
78 | This FAQ is not updated very frequently. When you have a question about | |
79 | Emacs, the Emacs manual is often the best starting point. | |
80 | ||
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81 | @ifnottex |
82 | @insertcopying | |
c5e87d10 | 83 | @end ifnottex |
5dc584b5 | 84 | |
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85 | @menu |
86 | * FAQ notation:: | |
87 | * General questions:: | |
88 | * Getting help:: | |
89 | * Status of Emacs:: | |
90 | * Common requests:: | |
91 | * Bugs and problems:: | |
92 | * Compiling and installing Emacs:: | |
93 | * Finding Emacs and related packages:: | |
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94 | * Key bindings:: |
95 | * Alternate character sets:: | |
96 | * Mail and news:: | |
97 | * Concept index:: | |
98 | @end menu | |
99 | ||
100 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 101 | @node FAQ notation |
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102 | @chapter FAQ notation |
103 | @cindex FAQ notation | |
104 | ||
105 | This chapter describes notation used in the GNU Emacs FAQ, as well as in | |
106 | the Emacs documentation. Consult this section if this is the first time | |
107 | you are reading the FAQ, or if you are confused by notation or terms | |
108 | used in the FAQ. | |
109 | ||
110 | @menu | |
111 | * Basic keys:: | |
112 | * Extended commands:: | |
85b438b7 | 113 | * Emacs manual:: |
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114 | * File-name conventions:: |
115 | * Common acronyms:: | |
116 | @end menu | |
117 | ||
f0bf7708 | 118 | @node Basic keys |
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119 | @section What do these mean: @kbd{C-h}, @kbd{C-M-a}, @key{RET}, @kbd{@key{ESC} a}, etc.? |
120 | @cindex Basic keys | |
121 | @cindex Control key, notation for | |
122 | @cindex @key{Meta} key, notation for | |
123 | @cindex Control-Meta characters, notation for | |
124 | @cindex @kbd{C-h}, definition of | |
125 | @cindex @kbd{C-M-h}, definition of | |
126 | @cindex @key{DEL}, definition of | |
127 | @cindex @key{ESC}, definition of | |
128 | @cindex @key{LFD}, definition of | |
129 | @cindex @key{RET}, definition of | |
130 | @cindex @key{SPC}, definition of | |
131 | @cindex @key{TAB}, definition of | |
132 | @cindex Notation for keys | |
133 | ||
134 | @itemize @bullet | |
135 | ||
136 | @item | |
137 | @kbd{C-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down the @key{Control} key | |
138 | ||
139 | @item | |
140 | @kbd{M-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down the @key{Meta} key | |
141 | (if your computer doesn't have a @key{Meta} key, @pxref{No Meta key}) | |
142 | ||
143 | @item | |
144 | @kbd{M-C-x}: press the @key{x} key while holding down both @key{Control} | |
145 | and @key{Meta} | |
146 | ||
147 | @item | |
148 | @kbd{C-M-x}: a synonym for the above | |
149 | ||
150 | @item | |
151 | @key{LFD}: Linefeed or Newline; same as @kbd{C-j} | |
152 | ||
153 | @item | |
154 | @key{RET}: @key{Return}, sometimes marked @key{Enter}; same as @kbd{C-m} | |
155 | ||
156 | @item | |
157 | @key{DEL}: @key{Delete}, usually @strong{not} the same as | |
158 | @key{Backspace}; same as @kbd{C-?} (see @ref{Backspace invokes help}, if | |
159 | deleting invokes Emacs help) | |
160 | ||
161 | @item | |
162 | @key{ESC}: Escape; same as @kbd{C-[} | |
163 | ||
164 | @item | |
165 | @key{TAB}: Tab; same as @kbd{C-i} | |
166 | ||
167 | @item | |
168 | @key{SPC}: Space bar | |
169 | ||
170 | @end itemize | |
171 | ||
172 | Key sequences longer than one key (and some single-key sequences) are | |
173 | written inside quotes or on lines by themselves, like this: | |
174 | ||
175 | @display | |
176 | @kbd{M-x frobnicate-while-foo RET} | |
177 | @end display | |
178 | ||
179 | @noindent | |
180 | Any real spaces in such a key sequence should be ignored; only @key{SPC} | |
181 | really means press the space key. | |
182 | ||
183 | The @acronym{ASCII} code sent by @kbd{C-x} (except for @kbd{C-?}) is the value | |
184 | that would be sent by pressing just @key{x} minus 96 (or 64 for | |
185 | upper-case @key{X}) and will be from 0 to 31. On Unix and GNU/Linux | |
186 | terminals, the @acronym{ASCII} code sent by @kbd{M-x} is the sum of 128 and the | |
187 | @acronym{ASCII} code that would be sent by pressing just @key{x}. Essentially, | |
188 | @key{Control} turns off bits 5 and 6 and @key{Meta} turns on bit | |
189 | 7@footnote{ | |
190 | DOS and Windows terminals don't set bit 7 when the @key{Meta} key is | |
191 | pressed.}. | |
192 | ||
193 | @kbd{C-?} (aka @key{DEL}) is @acronym{ASCII} code 127. It is a misnomer to call | |
1df7defd | 194 | @kbd{C-?} a ``control'' key, since 127 has both bits 5 and 6 turned ON@. |
4009494e | 195 | Also, on very few keyboards does @kbd{C-?} generate @acronym{ASCII} code 127. |
85b438b7 | 196 | @c FIXME I cannot understand the previous sentence. |
4009494e | 197 | |
31cc861c | 198 | @xref{Keys,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 199 | |
f0bf7708 | 200 | @node Extended commands |
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201 | @section What does @file{M-x @var{command}} mean? |
202 | @cindex Extended commands | |
203 | @cindex Commands, extended | |
204 | @cindex M-x, meaning of | |
205 | ||
206 | @kbd{M-x @var{command}} means type @kbd{M-x}, then type the name of the | |
207 | command, then type @key{RET}. (@xref{Basic keys}, if you're not sure | |
208 | what @kbd{M-x} and @key{RET} mean.) | |
209 | ||
210 | @kbd{M-x} (by default) invokes the command | |
211 | @code{execute-extended-command}. This command allows you to run any | |
212 | Emacs command if you can remember the command's name. If you can't | |
213 | remember the command's name, you can type @key{TAB} and @key{SPC} for | |
214 | completion, @key{?} for a list of possibilities, and @kbd{M-p} and | |
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215 | @kbd{M-n} (or up-arrow and down-arrow) to see previous commands entered. |
216 | An Emacs @dfn{command} is an @dfn{interactive} Emacs function. | |
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217 | |
218 | @cindex @key{Do} key | |
219 | Your system administrator may have bound other key sequences to invoke | |
220 | @code{execute-extended-command}. A function key labeled @kbd{Do} is a | |
221 | good candidate for this, on keyboards that have such a key. | |
222 | ||
223 | If you need to run non-interactive Emacs functions, see @ref{Evaluating | |
224 | Emacs Lisp code}. | |
225 | ||
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226 | @node Emacs manual |
227 | @section How do I read topic XXX in the Emacs manual? | |
228 | @cindex Emacs manual, reading topics in | |
229 | @cindex Reading topics in the Emacs manual | |
230 | @cindex Finding topics in the Emacs manual | |
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231 | @cindex Info, finding topics in |
232 | ||
85b438b7 | 233 | When we refer you to some @var{topic} in the Emacs manual, you can |
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234 | read this manual node inside Emacs (assuming nothing is broken) by |
235 | typing @kbd{C-h i m emacs @key{RET} m @var{topic} @key{RET}}. | |
236 | ||
237 | This invokes Info, the GNU hypertext documentation browser. If you don't | |
238 | already know how to use Info, type @key{?} from within Info. | |
239 | ||
240 | If we refer to @var{topic}:@var{subtopic}, type @kbd{C-h i m emacs | |
241 | @key{RET} m @var{topic} @key{RET} m @var{subtopic} @key{RET}}. | |
242 | ||
243 | If these commands don't work as expected, your system administrator may | |
244 | not have installed the Info files, or may have installed them | |
245 | improperly. In this case you should complain. | |
246 | ||
f6adc23c GM |
247 | If you are reading this FAQ in Info, you can simply press @key{RET} on a |
248 | reference to follow it. | |
249 | ||
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250 | @xref{Getting a printed manual}, if you would like a paper copy of the |
251 | Emacs manual. | |
252 | ||
f0bf7708 | 253 | @node File-name conventions |
f9e320bb | 254 | @section What are @file{src/config.h}, @file{site-lisp/default.el}, etc.? |
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255 | @cindex File-name conventions |
256 | @cindex Conventions for file names | |
257 | @cindex Directories and files that come with Emacs | |
258 | ||
259 | These are files that come with Emacs. The Emacs distribution is divided | |
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260 | into subdirectories; e.g., @file{etc}, @file{lisp}, and @file{src}. |
261 | Some of these (e.g., @file{etc} and @file{lisp}) are present both in | |
262 | an installed Emacs and in the sources, but some (e.g., @file{src}) are | |
f6adc23c | 263 | only found in the sources. |
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264 | |
265 | If you use Emacs, but don't know where it is kept on your system, start | |
266 | Emacs, then type @kbd{C-h v data-directory @key{RET}}. The directory | |
267 | name displayed by this will be the full pathname of the installed | |
268 | @file{etc} directory. (This full path is recorded in the Emacs variable | |
269 | @code{data-directory}, and @kbd{C-h v} displays the value and the | |
270 | documentation of a variable.) | |
271 | ||
85b438b7 | 272 | The location of your Info directory (i.e., where Info documentation |
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273 | is stored) is kept in the variable @code{Info-default-directory-list}. Use |
274 | @kbd{C-h v Info-default-directory-list @key{RET}} to see the value of | |
275 | this variable, which will be a list of directory names. The last | |
276 | directory in that list is probably where most Info files are stored. By | |
f6adc23c | 277 | default, Emacs Info documentation is placed in @file{/usr/local/share/info}. |
4009494e | 278 | |
f6adc23c GM |
279 | For information on some of the files in the @file{etc} directory, |
280 | @pxref{Informational files for Emacs}. | |
4009494e | 281 | |
f0bf7708 | 282 | @node Common acronyms |
30884d11 | 283 | @section What are FSF, LPF, GNU, RMS, FTP, and GPL? |
4009494e GM |
284 | @cindex FSF, definition of |
285 | @cindex LPF, definition of | |
4009494e GM |
286 | @cindex GNU, definition of |
287 | @cindex RMS, definition of | |
288 | @cindex Stallman, Richard, acronym for | |
289 | @cindex Richard Stallman, acronym for | |
290 | @cindex FTP, definition of | |
291 | @cindex GPL, definition of | |
292 | @cindex Acronyms, definitions for | |
293 | @cindex Common acronyms, definitions for | |
294 | ||
295 | @table @asis | |
296 | ||
297 | @item FSF | |
298 | Free Software Foundation | |
299 | ||
300 | @item LPF | |
301 | League for Programming Freedom | |
302 | ||
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303 | @item GNU |
304 | GNU's Not Unix | |
305 | ||
306 | @item RMS | |
307 | Richard Matthew Stallman | |
308 | ||
309 | @item FTP | |
310 | File Transfer Protocol | |
311 | ||
312 | @item GPL | |
313 | GNU General Public License | |
314 | ||
315 | @end table | |
316 | ||
1df7defd | 317 | Avoid confusing the FSF and the LPF@. The LPF opposes |
4009494e | 318 | look-and-feel copyrights and software patents. The FSF aims to make |
30884d11 | 319 | high quality free software available for everyone. |
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320 | |
321 | The word ``free'' in the title of the Free Software Foundation refers to | |
322 | ``freedom,'' not ``zero cost.'' Anyone can charge any price for | |
323 | GPL-covered software that they want to. However, in practice, the | |
324 | freedom enforced by the GPL leads to low prices, because you can always | |
325 | get the software for less money from someone else, since everyone has | |
326 | the right to resell or give away GPL-covered software. | |
327 | ||
328 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 329 | @node General questions |
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330 | @chapter General questions |
331 | @cindex General questions | |
332 | ||
333 | This chapter contains general questions having to do with Emacs, the | |
334 | Free Software Foundation, and related organizations. | |
335 | ||
336 | @menu | |
337 | * The LPF:: | |
338 | * Real meaning of copyleft:: | |
339 | * Guidelines for newsgroup postings:: | |
340 | * Newsgroup archives:: | |
341 | * Reporting bugs:: | |
342 | * Unsubscribing from Emacs lists:: | |
343 | * Contacting the FSF:: | |
344 | @end menu | |
345 | ||
f0bf7708 | 346 | @node The LPF |
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347 | @section What is the LPF? |
348 | @cindex LPF, description of | |
349 | @cindex League for Programming Freedom | |
350 | @cindex Software patents, opposition to | |
351 | @cindex Patents for software, opposition to | |
352 | ||
353 | The LPF opposes the expanding danger of software patents and | |
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354 | look-and-feel copyrights. More information on the LPF's views is |
355 | available at @uref{http://progfree.org/, the LPF home page}. | |
4009494e | 356 | |
f0bf7708 | 357 | @node Real meaning of copyleft |
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358 | @section What is the real legal meaning of the GNU copyleft? |
359 | @cindex Copyleft, real meaning of | |
360 | @cindex GPL, real meaning of | |
361 | @cindex General Public License, real meaning of | |
362 | @cindex Discussion of the GPL | |
363 | ||
364 | The real legal meaning of the GNU General Public License (copyleft) will | |
365 | only be known if and when a judge rules on its validity and scope. | |
366 | There has never been a copyright infringement case involving the GPL to | |
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367 | set any precedents. Although legal actions have been brought against |
368 | companies for violating the terms of the GPL, so far all have been | |
c5e87d10 | 369 | settled out of court (in favor of the plaintiffs). Please take any |
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370 | discussion regarding this issue to the newsgroup |
371 | @uref{news:gnu.misc.discuss}, which was created to hold the extensive | |
372 | flame wars on the subject. | |
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373 | |
374 | RMS writes: | |
375 | ||
376 | @quotation | |
377 | The legal meaning of the GNU copyleft is less important than the spirit, | |
378 | which is that Emacs is a free software project and that work pertaining | |
379 | to Emacs should also be free software. ``Free'' means that all users | |
380 | have the freedom to study, share, change and improve Emacs. To make | |
381 | sure everyone has this freedom, pass along source code when you | |
382 | distribute any version of Emacs or a related program, and give the | |
383 | recipients the same freedom that you enjoyed. | |
384 | @end quotation | |
385 | ||
f0bf7708 | 386 | @node Guidelines for newsgroup postings |
85b438b7 | 387 | @section What are appropriate messages for the various Emacs newsgroups? |
4009494e GM |
388 | @cindex Newsgroups, appropriate messages for |
389 | @cindex GNU newsgroups, appropriate messages for | |
390 | @cindex Usenet groups, appropriate messages for | |
391 | @cindex Mailing lists, appropriate messages for | |
392 | @cindex Posting messages to newsgroups | |
393 | ||
394 | @cindex GNU mailing lists | |
4efa3f1e GM |
395 | The Emacs mailing lists are described at |
396 | @uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/mail/?group=emacs, the Emacs Savannah | |
397 | page}. Some of them are gatewayed to newsgroups. | |
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398 | |
399 | The newsgroup @uref{news:comp.emacs} is for discussion of Emacs programs | |
85b438b7 | 400 | in general. The newsgroup @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} is specifically |
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401 | for GNU Emacs. It therefore makes no sense to cross-post to both |
402 | groups, since only one can be appropriate to any question. | |
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403 | |
404 | Messages advocating ``non-free'' software are considered unacceptable on | |
405 | any of the @code{gnu.*} newsgroups except for @uref{news:gnu.misc.discuss}, | |
406 | which was created to hold the extensive flame-wars on the subject. | |
407 | ``Non-free'' software includes any software for which the end user can't | |
408 | freely modify the source code and exchange enhancements. Be careful to | |
409 | remove the @code{gnu.*} groups from the @samp{Newsgroups:} line when | |
410 | posting a followup that recommends such software. | |
411 | ||
412 | @uref{news:gnu.emacs.bug} is a place where bug reports appear, but avoid | |
413 | posting bug reports to this newsgroup directly (@pxref{Reporting bugs}). | |
414 | ||
f0bf7708 | 415 | @node Newsgroup archives |
4009494e GM |
416 | @section Where can I get old postings to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help} and other GNU groups? |
417 | @cindex Archived postings from @code{gnu.emacs.help} | |
418 | @cindex Usenet archives for GNU groups | |
419 | @cindex Old Usenet postings for GNU groups | |
420 | ||
421 | The FSF has maintained archives of all of the GNU mailing lists for many | |
422 | years, although there may be some unintentional gaps in coverage. The | |
f6adc23c GM |
423 | archive can be browsed over the web at |
424 | @uref{http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/, the GNU mail archive}. Raw | |
425 | files can be downloaded from @uref{ftp://lists.gnu.org/}. | |
4009494e GM |
426 | |
427 | Web-based Usenet search services, such as | |
85b438b7 | 428 | @uref{http://groups.google.com/groups/dir?q=gnu&, Google}, also |
4009494e GM |
429 | archive the @code{gnu.*} groups. |
430 | ||
f6adc23c | 431 | You can also read the archives of the @code{gnu.*} groups and post new |
85b438b7 | 432 | messages at @uref{http://gmane.org/, Gmane}. Gmane is a service that |
f6adc23c GM |
433 | presents mailing lists as newsgroups (even those without a traditional |
434 | mail-to-news gateway). | |
4009494e | 435 | |
f0bf7708 | 436 | @node Reporting bugs |
4009494e GM |
437 | @section Where should I report bugs and other problems with Emacs? |
438 | @cindex Bug reporting | |
439 | @cindex Good bug reports | |
440 | @cindex How to submit a bug report | |
441 | @cindex Reporting bugs | |
442 | ||
443 | The correct way to report Emacs bugs is to use the command | |
444 | @kbd{M-x report-emacs-bug}. It sets up a mail buffer with the | |
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445 | essential information and the correct e-mail address, |
446 | @email{bug-gnu-emacs@@gnu.org}. | |
447 | Anything sent there also appears in the | |
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448 | newsgroup @uref{news:gnu.emacs.bug}, but please use e-mail instead of |
449 | news to submit the bug report. This ensures a reliable return address | |
450 | so you can be contacted for further details. | |
451 | ||
452 | Be sure to read the ``Bugs'' section of the Emacs manual before reporting | |
453 | a bug! The manual describes in detail how to submit a useful bug | |
454 | report (@pxref{Bugs, , Reporting Bugs, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). | |
85b438b7 | 455 | (@xref{Emacs manual}, if you don't know how to read the manual.) |
4009494e GM |
456 | |
457 | RMS says: | |
458 | ||
459 | @quotation | |
7add5a8a GM |
460 | Sending bug reports to |
461 | @url{http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/help-gnu-emacs, | |
462 | the help-gnu-emacs mailing list} | |
463 | (which has the effect of posting on @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help}) is | |
464 | undesirable because it takes the time of an unnecessarily large group | |
465 | of people, most of whom are just users and have no idea how to fix | |
466 | these problem. | |
467 | @url{http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-gnu-emacs, The | |
468 | bug-gnu-emacs list} reaches a much smaller group of people who are | |
469 | more likely to know what to do and have expressed a wish to receive | |
470 | more messages about Emacs than the others. | |
4009494e GM |
471 | @end quotation |
472 | ||
473 | RMS says it is sometimes fine to post to @uref{news:gnu.emacs.help}: | |
474 | ||
475 | @quotation | |
476 | If you have reported a bug and you don't hear about a possible fix, | |
477 | then after a suitable delay (such as a week) it is okay to post on | |
478 | @code{gnu.emacs.help} asking if anyone can help you. | |
479 | @end quotation | |
480 | ||
481 | If you are unsure whether you have found a bug, consider the following | |
482 | non-exhaustive list, courtesy of RMS: | |
483 | ||
484 | @quotation | |
485 | If Emacs crashes, that is a bug. If Emacs gets compilation errors | |
486 | while building, that is a bug. If Emacs crashes while building, that | |
487 | is a bug. If Lisp code does not do what the documentation says it | |
488 | does, that is a bug. | |
489 | @end quotation | |
490 | ||
f0bf7708 | 491 | @node Unsubscribing from Emacs lists |
85b438b7 | 492 | @section How do I unsubscribe from a mailing list? |
4009494e GM |
493 | @cindex Unsubscribing from GNU mailing lists |
494 | @cindex Removing yourself from GNU mailing lists | |
495 | ||
85b438b7 | 496 | If you are receiving a GNU mailing list named @var{list}, you should be |
4009494e | 497 | able to unsubscribe from it by sending a request to the address |
85b438b7 GM |
498 | @email{@var{list}-request@@gnu.org}. Mailing lists mails normally |
499 | contain information in either the message header | |
500 | (@samp{List-Unsubscribe:}) or as a footer that tells you how to | |
501 | unsubscribe. | |
4009494e | 502 | |
f0bf7708 | 503 | @node Contacting the FSF |
0e751a49 | 504 | @section How do I contact the FSF? |
4009494e GM |
505 | @cindex Contracting the FSF |
506 | @cindex Free Software Foundation, contacting | |
507 | ||
f6adc23c GM |
508 | For up-to-date information, see |
509 | @uref{http://www.fsf.org/about/contact.html, the FSF contact web-page}. | |
0e751a49 | 510 | You can send general correspondence to @email{info@@fsf.org}. |
4009494e GM |
511 | |
512 | @cindex Ordering GNU software | |
513 | For details on how to order items directly from the FSF, see the | |
85b438b7 | 514 | @uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}. |
4009494e GM |
515 | |
516 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 517 | @node Getting help |
4009494e GM |
518 | @chapter Getting help |
519 | @cindex Getting help | |
520 | ||
85b438b7 | 521 | This chapter tells you how to get help with Emacs. |
4009494e GM |
522 | |
523 | @menu | |
524 | * Basic editing:: | |
525 | * Learning how to do something:: | |
526 | * Getting a printed manual:: | |
527 | * Emacs Lisp documentation:: | |
528 | * Installing Texinfo documentation:: | |
529 | * Printing a Texinfo file:: | |
530 | * Viewing Info files outside of Emacs:: | |
531 | * Informational files for Emacs:: | |
532 | * Help installing Emacs:: | |
533 | * Obtaining the FAQ:: | |
534 | @end menu | |
535 | ||
f0bf7708 | 536 | @node Basic editing |
4009494e GM |
537 | @section I'm just starting Emacs; how do I do basic editing? |
538 | @cindex Basic editing with Emacs | |
539 | @cindex Beginning editing | |
540 | @cindex Tutorial, invoking the | |
541 | @cindex Self-paced tutorial, invoking the | |
542 | @cindex Help system, entering the | |
543 | ||
544 | Type @kbd{C-h t} to invoke the self-paced tutorial. Just typing | |
545 | @kbd{C-h} enters the help system. Starting with Emacs 22, the tutorial | |
546 | is available in many foreign languages such as French, German, Japanese, | |
547 | Russian, etc. Use @kbd{M-x help-with-tutorial-spec-language @key{RET}} | |
548 | to choose your language and start the tutorial. | |
549 | ||
550 | Your system administrator may have changed @kbd{C-h} to act like | |
551 | @key{DEL} to deal with local keyboards. You can use @kbd{M-x | |
552 | help-for-help} instead to invoke help. To discover what key (if any) | |
553 | invokes help on your system, type @kbd{M-x where-is @key{RET} | |
554 | help-for-help @key{RET}}. This will print a comma-separated list of key | |
555 | sequences in the echo area. Ignore the last character in each key | |
1df7defd | 556 | sequence listed. Each of the resulting key sequences (e.g., @key{F1} is |
85b438b7 | 557 | common) invokes help. |
4009494e GM |
558 | |
559 | Emacs help works best if it is invoked by a single key whose value | |
560 | should be stored in the variable @code{help-char}. | |
561 | ||
ff4a5a41 GM |
562 | Some Emacs slides and tutorials can be found at |
563 | @uref{http://web.psung.name/emacs/}. | |
564 | ||
f0bf7708 | 565 | @node Learning how to do something |
4009494e GM |
566 | @section How do I find out how to do something in Emacs? |
567 | @cindex Help for Emacs | |
568 | @cindex Learning to do something in Emacs | |
569 | @cindex Reference card for Emacs | |
570 | @cindex Overview of help systems | |
571 | ||
572 | There are several methods for finding out how to do things in Emacs. | |
573 | ||
574 | @itemize @bullet | |
575 | ||
576 | @cindex Reading the Emacs manual | |
577 | @item | |
85b438b7 | 578 | The complete text of the Emacs manual is available via the Info |
4009494e GM |
579 | hypertext reader. Type @kbd{C-h r} to display the manual in Info mode. |
580 | Typing @key{h} immediately after entering Info will provide a short | |
581 | tutorial on how to use it. | |
582 | ||
583 | @cindex Lookup a subject in a manual | |
584 | @cindex Index search in a manual | |
585 | @item | |
586 | To quickly locate the section of the manual which discusses a certain | |
587 | issue, or describes a command or a variable, type @kbd{C-h i m emacs | |
588 | @key{RET} i @var{topic} @key{RET}}, where @var{topic} is the name of the | |
589 | topic, the command, or the variable which you are looking for. If this | |
590 | does not land you on the right place in the manual, press @kbd{,} | |
591 | (comma) repeatedly until you find what you need. (The @kbd{i} and | |
592 | @kbd{,} keys invoke the index-searching functions, which look for the | |
593 | @var{topic} you type in all the indices of the Emacs manual.) | |
594 | ||
595 | @cindex Apropos | |
596 | @item | |
597 | You can list all of the commands whose names contain a certain word | |
598 | (actually which match a regular expression) using @kbd{C-h a} (@kbd{M-x | |
599 | command-apropos}). | |
600 | ||
601 | @cindex Command description in the manual | |
602 | @item | |
603 | The command @kbd{C-h F} (@code{Info-goto-emacs-command-node}) prompts | |
604 | for the name of a command, and then attempts to find the section in the | |
605 | Emacs manual where that command is described. | |
606 | ||
607 | @cindex Finding commands and variables | |
608 | @item | |
609 | You can list all of the functions and variables whose names contain a | |
610 | certain word using @kbd{M-x apropos}. | |
611 | ||
612 | @item | |
613 | You can list all of the functions and variables whose documentation | |
614 | matches a regular expression or a string, using @kbd{M-x | |
615 | apropos-documentation}. | |
616 | ||
617 | @item | |
1df7defd | 618 | You can order a hardcopy of the manual from the FSF@. @xref{Getting a |
4009494e GM |
619 | printed manual}. |
620 | ||
621 | @cindex Reference cards, in other languages | |
622 | @item | |
623 | You can get a printed reference card listing commands and keys to | |
30884d11 | 624 | invoke them. You can order one from the FSF for $2 (or 10 for $18), |
4009494e | 625 | or you can print your own from the @file{etc/refcards/refcard.tex} or |
30884d11 | 626 | @file{etc/refcards/refcard.pdf} files in the Emacs distribution. |
4009494e GM |
627 | Beginning with version 21.1, the Emacs distribution comes with |
628 | translations of the reference card into several languages; look for | |
629 | files named @file{etc/refcards/@var{lang}-refcard.*}, where @var{lang} | |
630 | is a two-letter code of the language. For example, the German version | |
631 | of the reference card is in the files @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.tex} | |
40ba43b4 | 632 | and @file{etc/refcards/de-refcard.pdf}. |
4009494e GM |
633 | |
634 | @item | |
635 | There are many other commands in Emacs for getting help and | |
636 | information. To get a list of these commands, type @samp{?} after | |
637 | @kbd{C-h}. | |
638 | ||
639 | @end itemize | |
640 | ||
f0bf7708 | 641 | @node Getting a printed manual |
4009494e GM |
642 | @section How do I get a printed copy of the Emacs manual? |
643 | @cindex Printed Emacs manual, obtaining | |
644 | @cindex Manual, obtaining a printed or HTML copy of | |
645 | @cindex Emacs manual, obtaining a printed or HTML copy of | |
646 | ||
1df7defd | 647 | You can order a printed copy of the Emacs manual from the FSF@. For |
85b438b7 | 648 | details see the @uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}. |
4009494e | 649 | |
30884d11 | 650 | The full Texinfo source for the manual also comes in the @file{doc/emacs} |
4009494e | 651 | directory of the Emacs distribution, if you're daring enough to try to |
30884d11 | 652 | print out this several-hundred-page manual yourself (@pxref{Printing a Texinfo |
4009494e GM |
653 | file}). |
654 | ||
655 | If you absolutely have to print your own copy, and you don't have @TeX{}, | |
30884d11 | 656 | you can get a PostScript or PDF (or HTML) version from |
4009494e GM |
657 | |
658 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/} | |
659 | ||
f6adc23c | 660 | @xref{Learning how to do something}, for how to view the manual from Emacs. |
4009494e | 661 | |
f0bf7708 | 662 | @node Emacs Lisp documentation |
4009494e GM |
663 | @section Where can I get documentation on Emacs Lisp? |
664 | @cindex Documentation on Emacs Lisp | |
665 | @cindex Function documentation | |
666 | @cindex Variable documentation | |
667 | @cindex Emacs Lisp Reference Manual | |
668 | @cindex Reference manual for Emacs Lisp | |
669 | ||
670 | Within Emacs, you can type @kbd{C-h f} to get the documentation for a | |
671 | function, @kbd{C-h v} for a variable. | |
672 | ||
673 | For more information, the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual is available | |
f6adc23c GM |
674 | in Info format (@pxref{Top, Emacs Lisp,, elisp, The |
675 | Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}). | |
4009494e | 676 | |
f6adc23c GM |
677 | You can also order a hardcopy of the manual from the FSF, for details |
678 | see the @uref{http://shop.fsf.org/, FSF on-line store}. (This manual is | |
679 | not always in print.) | |
4009494e GM |
680 | |
681 | An HTML version of the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual is available at | |
682 | ||
683 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/elisp-manual/elisp.html} | |
684 | ||
f0bf7708 | 685 | @node Installing Texinfo documentation |
4009494e GM |
686 | @section How do I install a piece of Texinfo documentation? |
687 | @cindex Texinfo documentation, installing | |
688 | @cindex Installing Texinfo documentation | |
689 | @cindex New Texinfo files, installing | |
690 | @cindex Documentation, installing new Texinfo files | |
691 | @cindex Info files, how to install | |
692 | ||
f6adc23c GM |
693 | Emacs releases come with pre-built Info files, and the normal install |
694 | process places them in the correct location. This is true for most | |
695 | applications that provide Info files. The following section is only | |
696 | relevant if you want to install extra Info files by hand. | |
697 | ||
698 | First, you must turn the Texinfo source files into Info files. You may | |
699 | do this using the stand-alone @file{makeinfo} program, available as part | |
700 | of the Texinfo package at | |
4009494e | 701 | |
85b438b7 | 702 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/} |
4009494e GM |
703 | |
704 | For information about the Texinfo format, read the Texinfo manual which | |
705 | comes with the Texinfo package. This manual also comes installed in | |
85b438b7 | 706 | Info format, so you can read it from Emacs; type @kbd{C-h i m texinfo |
4009494e GM |
707 | @key{RET}}. |
708 | ||
f6adc23c GM |
709 | @c FIXME is this a complete alternative? |
710 | @c Probably not, given that we require makeinfo to build Emacs. | |
4009494e GM |
711 | Alternatively, you could use the Emacs command @kbd{M-x |
712 | texinfo-format-buffer}, after visiting the Texinfo source file of the | |
713 | manual you want to convert. | |
714 | ||
715 | Neither @code{texinfo-format-buffer} nor @file{makeinfo} installs the | |
716 | resulting Info files in Emacs's Info tree. To install Info files, | |
717 | perform these steps: | |
718 | ||
719 | @enumerate | |
720 | @item | |
721 | Move the files to the @file{info} directory in the installed Emacs | |
722 | distribution. @xref{File-name conventions}, if you don't know where that | |
723 | is. | |
724 | ||
725 | @item | |
726 | Run the @code{install-info} command, which is part of the Texinfo | |
727 | distribution, to update the main Info directory menu, like this: | |
728 | ||
729 | @example | |
730 | install-info --info-dir=@var{dir-path} @var{dir-path}/@var{file} | |
731 | @end example | |
732 | ||
733 | @noindent | |
734 | where @var{dir-path} is the full path to the directory where you copied | |
735 | the produced Info file(s), and @var{file} is the name of the Info file | |
736 | you produced and want to install. | |
737 | ||
738 | If you don't have the @code{install-info} command installed, you can | |
739 | edit the file @file{info/dir} in the installed Emacs distribution, and | |
740 | add a line for the top level node in the Info package that you are | |
741 | installing. Follow the examples already in this file. The format is: | |
742 | ||
743 | @example | |
744 | * Topic: (relative-pathname). Short description of topic. | |
745 | @end example | |
746 | ||
747 | @end enumerate | |
748 | ||
749 | If you want to install Info files and you don't have the necessary | |
750 | privileges, you have several options: | |
751 | ||
752 | @itemize @bullet | |
753 | @item | |
754 | Info files don't actually need to be installed before being used. | |
755 | You can use a prefix argument for the @code{info} command and specify | |
756 | the name of the Info file in the minibuffer. This goes to the node | |
757 | named @samp{Top} in that file. For example, to view a Info file named | |
758 | @file{@var{info-file}} in your home directory, you can type this: | |
759 | ||
760 | @example | |
761 | @kbd{C-u C-h i ~/@var{info-file} @key{RET}} | |
762 | @end example | |
763 | ||
764 | Alternatively, you can feed a file name to the @code{Info-goto-node} | |
765 | command (invoked by pressing @key{g} in Info mode) by typing the name | |
766 | of the file in parentheses, like this: | |
767 | ||
768 | @example | |
769 | @kbd{C-h i g (~/@var{info-file}) @key{RET}} | |
770 | @end example | |
771 | ||
772 | @item | |
773 | You can create your own Info directory. You can tell Emacs where that | |
774 | Info directory is by adding its pathname to the value of the variable | |
775 | @code{Info-default-directory-list}. For example, to use a private Info | |
776 | directory which is a subdirectory of your home directory named @file{Info}, | |
777 | you could put this in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
778 | ||
779 | @lisp | |
f6adc23c | 780 | (add-to-list 'Info-default-directory-list "~/Info") |
4009494e GM |
781 | @end lisp |
782 | ||
783 | You will need a top-level Info file named @file{dir} in this directory | |
f6adc23c GM |
784 | which has everything the system @file{dir} file has in it, except it |
785 | should list only entries for Info files in that directory. You might | |
786 | not need it if (fortuitously) all files in this directory were | |
787 | referenced by other @file{dir} files. The node lists from all | |
788 | @file{dir} files in @code{Info-default-directory-list} are merged by the | |
789 | Info system. | |
4009494e GM |
790 | |
791 | @end itemize | |
792 | ||
f0bf7708 | 793 | @node Printing a Texinfo file |
4009494e GM |
794 | @section How do I print a Texinfo file? |
795 | @cindex Printing a Texinfo file | |
796 | @cindex Texinfo file, printing | |
797 | @cindex Printing documentation | |
798 | ||
799 | You can't get nicely printed output from Info files; you must still have | |
800 | the original Texinfo source file for the manual you want to print. | |
801 | ||
802 | Assuming you have @TeX{} installed on your system, follow these steps: | |
803 | ||
804 | @enumerate | |
805 | ||
806 | @item | |
807 | Make sure the first line of the Texinfo file looks like this: | |
808 | ||
809 | @example | |
810 | \input texinfo | |
811 | @end example | |
812 | ||
813 | You may need to change @samp{texinfo} to the full pathname of the | |
814 | @file{texinfo.tex} file, which comes with Emacs as | |
db78a8cb | 815 | @file{doc/misc/texinfo.tex} (or copy or link it into the current directory). |
4009494e GM |
816 | |
817 | @item | |
818 | Type @kbd{texi2dvi @var{texinfo-source}}, where @var{texinfo-source} is | |
819 | the name of the Texinfo source file for which you want to produce a | |
f6adc23c GM |
820 | printed copy. The @samp{texi2dvi} script is part of the GNU Texinfo |
821 | distribution. | |
4009494e | 822 | |
85b438b7 GM |
823 | Alternatively, @samp{texi2pdf} produces PDF files. |
824 | ||
4009494e GM |
825 | @item |
826 | Print the DVI file @file{@var{texinfo-source}.dvi} in the normal way for | |
827 | printing DVI files at your site. For example, if you have a PostScript | |
828 | printer, run the @code{dvips} program to print the DVI file on that | |
829 | printer. | |
830 | ||
831 | @end enumerate | |
832 | ||
833 | To get more general instructions, retrieve the latest Texinfo package | |
834 | (@pxref{Installing Texinfo documentation}). | |
835 | ||
f0bf7708 | 836 | @node Viewing Info files outside of Emacs |
4009494e GM |
837 | @section Can I view Info files without using Emacs? |
838 | @cindex Viewing Info files | |
839 | @cindex Info file viewers | |
840 | @cindex Alternative Info file viewers | |
841 | ||
842 | Yes. Here are some alternative programs: | |
843 | ||
844 | @itemize @bullet | |
845 | ||
846 | @item | |
847 | @code{info}, a stand-alone version of the Info program, comes as part of | |
848 | the Texinfo package. @xref{Installing Texinfo documentation}, for | |
849 | details. | |
850 | ||
4009494e GM |
851 | @item |
852 | Tkinfo, an Info viewer that runs under X Window system and uses Tcl/Tk. | |
853 | You can get Tkinfo at | |
854 | @uref{http://math-www.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/tkinfo/}. | |
855 | ||
856 | @end itemize | |
857 | ||
f0bf7708 | 858 | @node Informational files for Emacs |
4009494e GM |
859 | @section What informational files are available for Emacs? |
860 | @cindex Informational files included with Emacs | |
861 | @cindex Files included with Emacs | |
862 | @cindex @file{COPYING}, description of file | |
863 | @cindex @file{DISTRIB}, description of file | |
4009494e | 864 | @cindex @file{MACHINES}, description of file |
4009494e | 865 | @cindex @file{NEWS}, description of file |
4009494e GM |
866 | |
867 | This isn't a frequently asked question, but it should be! A variety of | |
868 | informational files about Emacs and relevant aspects of the GNU project | |
869 | are available for you to read. | |
870 | ||
f6adc23c GM |
871 | The following files (and others) are available in the @file{etc} |
872 | directory of the Emacs distribution (see @ref{File-name conventions}, if | |
873 | you're not sure where that is). Many of these files are available via | |
874 | the Emacs @samp{Help} menu, or by typing @kbd{C-h ?} (@kbd{M-x | |
875 | help-for-help}). | |
4009494e GM |
876 | |
877 | @table @file | |
878 | ||
879 | @item COPYING | |
880 | GNU General Public License | |
881 | ||
882 | @item DISTRIB | |
30884d11 | 883 | Emacs Availability Information |
4009494e | 884 | |
4009494e GM |
885 | @item MACHINES |
886 | Status of Emacs on Various Machines and Systems | |
887 | ||
4009494e GM |
888 | @item NEWS |
889 | Emacs news, a history of recent user-visible changes | |
890 | ||
4009494e GM |
891 | @end table |
892 | ||
893 | More GNU information, including back issues of the @cite{GNU's | |
894 | Bulletin}, are at | |
895 | ||
896 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/bulletins/bulletins.html} and | |
897 | ||
898 | @uref{http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/gnu/gnu.html} | |
899 | ||
f0bf7708 | 900 | @node Help installing Emacs |
4009494e GM |
901 | @section Where can I get help in installing Emacs? |
902 | @cindex Installation help | |
903 | @cindex Help installing Emacs | |
904 | ||
905 | @xref{Installing Emacs}, for some basic installation hints, and see | |
93e2d996 | 906 | @ref{Problems building Emacs}, if you have problems with the installation. |
4009494e | 907 | |
f6adc23c GM |
908 | @uref{http://www.fsf.org/resources/service/, The GNU Service directory} |
909 | lists companies and individuals willing to sell you help in installing | |
910 | or using Emacs and other GNU software. | |
4009494e | 911 | |
f0bf7708 | 912 | @node Obtaining the FAQ |
4009494e GM |
913 | @section Where can I get the latest version of this FAQ? |
914 | @cindex FAQ, obtaining the | |
915 | @cindex Latest FAQ version, obtaining the | |
4009494e | 916 | |
30884d11 GM |
917 | The Emacs FAQ is distributed with Emacs in Info format. You can read it |
918 | by selecting the @samp{Emacs FAQ} option from the @samp{Help} menu of | |
919 | the Emacs menu bar at the top of any Emacs frame, or by typing @kbd{C-h | |
f6adc23c | 920 | C-f} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-FAQ}). The very latest version is available |
54b31cbf | 921 | in the Emacs development repository (@pxref{Latest version of Emacs}). |
4009494e GM |
922 | |
923 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 924 | @node Status of Emacs |
4009494e GM |
925 | @chapter Status of Emacs |
926 | @cindex Status of Emacs | |
927 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
928 | This chapter gives you basic information about Emacs, including the |
929 | status of its latest version. | |
4009494e GM |
930 | |
931 | @menu | |
932 | * Origin of the term Emacs:: | |
933 | * Latest version of Emacs:: | |
adee4030 | 934 | * New in Emacs 24:: |
0e6d12ca | 935 | * New in Emacs 23:: |
4009494e | 936 | * New in Emacs 22:: |
0e6d12ca GM |
937 | * New in Emacs 21:: |
938 | * New in Emacs 20:: | |
4009494e GM |
939 | @end menu |
940 | ||
f0bf7708 | 941 | @node Origin of the term Emacs |
4009494e GM |
942 | @section Where does the name ``Emacs'' come from? |
943 | @cindex Origin of the term ``Emacs'' | |
944 | @cindex Emacs name origin | |
945 | @cindex TECO | |
946 | @cindex Original version of Emacs | |
947 | ||
1df7defd | 948 | Emacs originally was an acronym for Editor MACroS@. RMS says he ``picked |
4009494e GM |
949 | the name Emacs because @key{E} was not in use as an abbreviation on ITS at |
950 | the time.'' The first Emacs was a set of macros written in 1976 at MIT | |
951 | by RMS for the editor TECO (Text Editor and COrrector, originally Tape | |
f6adc23c GM |
952 | Editor and COrrector) under ITS (the Incompatible Timesharing System) on |
953 | a PDP-10. RMS had already extended TECO with a ``real-time'' | |
954 | full-screen mode with reprogrammable keys. Emacs was started by | |
7add5a8a GM |
955 | @c gls@@east.sun.com |
956 | Guy Steele as a project to unify the many | |
f6adc23c GM |
957 | divergent TECO command sets and key bindings at MIT, and completed by |
958 | RMS. | |
4009494e GM |
959 | |
960 | Many people have said that TECO code looks a lot like line noise; you | |
961 | can read more at @uref{news:alt.lang.teco}. Someone has written a TECO | |
962 | implementation in Emacs Lisp (to find it, see @ref{Packages that do not | |
963 | come with Emacs}); it would be an interesting project to run the | |
964 | original TECO Emacs inside of Emacs. | |
965 | ||
966 | @cindex Why Emacs? | |
967 | For some not-so-serious alternative reasons for Emacs to have that | |
968 | name, check out the file @file{etc/JOKES} (@pxref{File-name | |
969 | conventions}). | |
970 | ||
f0bf7708 | 971 | @node Latest version of Emacs |
4009494e GM |
972 | @section What is the latest version of Emacs? |
973 | @cindex Version, latest | |
974 | @cindex Latest version of Emacs | |
54b31cbf GM |
975 | @cindex Development, Emacs |
976 | @cindex Repository, Emacs | |
3cc9b1e2 | 977 | @cindex Bazaar repository, Emacs |
4009494e | 978 | |
f7a31f11 | 979 | Emacs @value{EMACSVER} is the current version as of this writing. A version |
1df7defd | 980 | number with two components (e.g., @samp{22.1}) indicates a released |
0e6d12ca | 981 | version; three components indicate a development |
1df7defd | 982 | version (e.g., @samp{23.0.50} is what will eventually become @samp{23.1}). |
0e6d12ca | 983 | |
54b31cbf GM |
984 | Emacs is under active development, hosted at |
985 | @uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/emacs/, Savannah}. The source | |
986 | code can be retrieved anonymously following the | |
6fbf7a75 | 987 | @uref{http://savannah.gnu.org/bzr/?group=emacs, instructions}. |
3cc9b1e2 | 988 | The repository is GNU Bazaar. |
54b31cbf | 989 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
990 | Because Emacs undergoes many changes before a release, the version |
991 | number of a development version is not especially meaningful. It is | |
992 | better to refer to the date on which the sources were retrieved from the | |
16f6287e GM |
993 | development repository. The development version is usually quite robust |
994 | for every-day use, but if stability is more important to you than the | |
995 | latest features, you may want to stick to the releases. | |
0e6d12ca GM |
996 | |
997 | The following sections list some of the major new features in the last | |
998 | few Emacs releases. For full details of the changes in any version of | |
999 | Emacs, type @kbd{C-h C-n} (@kbd{M-x view-emacs-news}). As of Emacs 22, | |
1000 | you can give this command a prefix argument to read about which features | |
1001 | were new in older versions. | |
1002 | ||
adee4030 GM |
1003 | @node New in Emacs 24 |
1004 | @section What is different about Emacs 24? | |
1005 | @cindex Differences between Emacs 23 and Emacs 24 | |
1006 | @cindex Emacs 24, new features in | |
1007 | ||
1008 | @itemize | |
1009 | @cindex packages, installing more | |
1010 | @item | |
1011 | Emacs now includes a package manager. Type @kbd{M-x list-packages} to | |
1012 | get started. You can use this to download and automatically install | |
1013 | many more Lisp packages. | |
1014 | ||
1015 | @cindex lexical binding | |
1016 | @item | |
1017 | Emacs Lisp now supports lexical binding on a per-file basis. In | |
1018 | @emph{lexical binding}, variable references must be located textually | |
1019 | within the binding construct. This contrasts with @emph{dynamic | |
1020 | binding}, where programs can refer to variables defined outside their | |
1021 | local textual scope. A Lisp file can use a local variable setting of | |
1022 | @code{lexical-binding: t} to indicate that the contents should be | |
1023 | interpreted using lexical binding. See the Emacs Lisp Reference | |
1024 | Manual for more details. | |
1025 | ||
1026 | @cindex bidirectional display | |
1027 | @cindex right-to-left languages | |
1028 | @item | |
1029 | Some human languages, such as English, are written from left to right. | |
1030 | Others, such as Arabic, are written from right to left. Emacs now has | |
1031 | support for any mixture of these forms---this is ``bidirectional text''. | |
1032 | ||
1033 | @item | |
1034 | Handling of text selections has been improved, and now integrates | |
1035 | better with external clipboards. | |
1036 | ||
1037 | @cindex themes | |
1038 | @item | |
1039 | A new command @kbd{customize-themes} allows you to easily change the | |
1040 | appearance of your Emacs. | |
1041 | ||
1042 | @item | |
384ec638 | 1043 | Emacs can be compiled with the GTK+ 3 toolkit. |
adee4030 GM |
1044 | |
1045 | @item | |
1046 | Support for several new external libraries can be included at compile | |
1047 | time: | |
1048 | ||
1049 | @itemize | |
1050 | ||
1051 | @item | |
1052 | ``Security-Enhanced Linux'' (SELinux) is a Linux kernel feature that | |
1053 | provides more sophisticated file access controls than ordinary | |
1054 | ``Unix-style'' file permissions. | |
1055 | ||
1056 | @item | |
1057 | The ImageMagick display library. This allows you to display many more | |
1058 | image format in Emacs, as well as carry out transformations such as | |
1059 | rotations. | |
1060 | ||
1061 | @item | |
1062 | The GnuTLS library for secure network communications. Emacs uses this | |
1063 | transparently for email if your mail server supports it. | |
1064 | ||
1065 | @item | |
1066 | The libxml2 library for parsing XML structures. | |
1067 | @end itemize | |
1068 | ||
1069 | @item | |
1070 | Much more flexibility in the handling of windows and buffer display. | |
1071 | ||
1072 | @end itemize | |
1073 | ||
1074 | As always, consult the @file{NEWS} file for more information. | |
1075 | ||
1076 | ||
0e6d12ca GM |
1077 | @node New in Emacs 23 |
1078 | @section What is different about Emacs 23? | |
1079 | @cindex Differences between Emacs 22 and Emacs 23 | |
1080 | @cindex Emacs 23, new features in | |
4009494e | 1081 | |
0e6d12ca | 1082 | @itemize |
4009494e | 1083 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1084 | @cindex Anti-aliased fonts |
1085 | @cindex Freetype fonts | |
1086 | @item | |
1087 | Emacs has a new font code that can use multiple font backends, | |
1088 | including freetype and fontconfig. Emacs can use the Xft library for | |
1089 | anti-aliasing, and the otf and m17n libraries for complex text layout and | |
1090 | text shaping. | |
4009494e | 1091 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1092 | @cindex Unicode |
1093 | @cindex Character sets | |
1094 | @item | |
1095 | The Emacs character set is now a superset of Unicode. Several new | |
1096 | language environments have been added. | |
4009494e | 1097 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1098 | @cindex Multi-tty support |
1099 | @cindex X and tty displays | |
1100 | @item | |
1101 | Emacs now supports using both X displays and ttys in the same session | |
1102 | (@samp{multi-tty}). | |
4009494e | 1103 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1104 | @cindex Daemon mode |
1105 | @item | |
1106 | Emacs can be started as a daemon in the background. | |
4009494e | 1107 | |
b612ffc9 | 1108 | @cindex NeXTstep port |
0e6d12ca GM |
1109 | @cindex GNUstep port |
1110 | @cindex Mac OS X Cocoa | |
1111 | @item | |
b612ffc9 | 1112 | There is a new NeXTstep port of Emacs. This supports GNUstep and Mac OS |
0e6d12ca GM |
1113 | X (via the Cocoa libraries). The Carbon port of Emacs, which supported |
1114 | Mac OS X in Emacs 22, has been removed. | |
4009494e | 1115 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1116 | @cindex Directory-local variables |
1117 | @item | |
1118 | Directory-local variables can now be defined, in a similar manner to | |
1119 | file-local variables. | |
4009494e | 1120 | |
0e6d12ca GM |
1121 | @item |
1122 | Transient Mark mode (@pxref{Highlighting a region}) is on by default. | |
1123 | ||
1124 | @end itemize | |
1125 | ||
1126 | @noindent | |
1127 | Other changes include: support for serial port access; D-Bus bindings; a | |
1128 | new Visual Line mode for line-motion; improved completion; a new mode | |
1129 | (@samp{DocView}) for viewing of PDF, PostScript, and DVI documents; nXML | |
1130 | mode (for editing XML documents) is included; VC has been updated for | |
adee4030 | 1131 | newer version control systems; etc. |
4009494e | 1132 | |
4009494e | 1133 | |
f0bf7708 | 1134 | @node New in Emacs 22 |
4009494e GM |
1135 | @section What is different about Emacs 22? |
1136 | @cindex Differences between Emacs 21 and Emacs 22 | |
1137 | @cindex Emacs 22, new features in | |
4009494e GM |
1138 | |
1139 | @itemize | |
1140 | @cindex GTK+ Toolkit | |
1141 | @cindex Drag-and-drop | |
1142 | @item | |
1143 | Emacs can be built with GTK+ widgets, and supports drag-and-drop | |
1144 | operation on X. | |
1145 | ||
1146 | @cindex Supported systems | |
1147 | @item | |
1148 | Emacs 22 features support for GNU/Linux systems on S390 and x86-64 | |
1149 | machines, as well as support for the Mac OS X and Cygwin operating | |
1150 | systems. | |
1151 | ||
1152 | @item | |
9e2a2647 | 1153 | The native MS-Windows, and Mac OS X builds include full support |
4009494e GM |
1154 | for images, toolbar, and tooltips. |
1155 | ||
1156 | @item | |
1157 | Font Lock mode, Auto Compression mode, and File Name Shadow Mode are | |
1158 | enabled by default. | |
1159 | ||
1160 | @item | |
4970fbfe CY |
1161 | The maximum size of buffers is increased: on 32-bit machines, it is |
1162 | 256 MBytes for Emacs 23.1, and 512 MBytes for Emacs 23.2 and above. | |
4009494e GM |
1163 | |
1164 | @item | |
1165 | Links can be followed with @kbd{mouse-1}, in addition to @kbd{mouse-2}. | |
1166 | ||
1167 | @cindex Mouse wheel | |
1168 | @item | |
1169 | Mouse wheel support is enabled by default. | |
1170 | ||
1171 | @item | |
1172 | Window fringes are customizable. | |
1173 | ||
1174 | @item | |
1175 | The mode line of the selected window is now highlighted. | |
1176 | ||
1177 | @item | |
1178 | The minibuffer prompt is displayed in a distinct face. | |
1179 | ||
1180 | @item | |
1181 | Abbrev definitions are read automatically at startup. | |
1182 | ||
1183 | @item | |
1184 | Grep mode is separate from Compilation mode and has many new options and | |
1185 | commands specific to grep. | |
1186 | ||
1187 | @item | |
1188 | The original Emacs macro system has been replaced by the new Kmacro | |
1189 | package, which provides many new commands and features and a simple | |
1190 | interface that uses the function keys F3 and F4. Macros are stored in a | |
1191 | macro ring, and can be debugged and edited interactively. | |
1192 | ||
1193 | @item | |
1194 | The Grand Unified Debugger (GUD) can be used with a full graphical user | |
1195 | interface to GDB; this provides many features found in traditional | |
1196 | development environments, making it easy to manipulate breakpoints, add | |
1197 | watch points, display the call stack, etc. Breakpoints are visually | |
1198 | indicated in the source buffer. | |
1199 | ||
1200 | @item | |
1201 | @cindex New modes | |
1202 | Many new modes and packages have been included in Emacs, such as Calc, | |
1203 | TRAMP, URL, IDO, CUA, ERC, rcirc, Table, Image-Dired, SES, Ruler, Org, | |
1204 | PGG, Flymake, Password, Printing, Reveal, wdired, t-mouse, longlines, | |
1205 | savehist, Conf mode, Python mode, DNS mode, etc. | |
1206 | ||
1207 | @cindex Multilingual Environment | |
1208 | @item | |
1209 | Leim is now part of Emacs. Unicode support has been much improved, and | |
1210 | the following input methods have been added: belarusian, bulgarian-bds, | |
1211 | bulgarian-phonetic, chinese-sisheng, croatian, dutch, georgian, | |
1212 | latin-alt-postfix, latin-postfix, latin-prefix, latvian-keyboard, | |
1213 | lithuanian-numeric, lithuanian-keyboard, malayalam-inscript, rfc1345, | |
1214 | russian-computer, sgml, slovenian, tamil-inscript, ucs, | |
1215 | ukrainian-computer, vietnamese-telex, and welsh. | |
1216 | ||
1217 | The following language environments have also been added: Belarusian, | |
1218 | Bulgarian, Chinese-EUC-TW, Croatian, French, Georgian, Italian, Latin-6, | |
1219 | Latin-7, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Russian, Slovenian, Swedish, | |
1220 | Tajik, Tamil, UTF-8, Ukrainian, Welsh, and Windows-1255. | |
1221 | ||
1222 | @cindex Documentation | |
1223 | @cindex Emacs Lisp Manual | |
1224 | @item | |
1225 | In addition, Emacs 22 now includes the Emacs Lisp Reference Manual | |
1226 | (@pxref{Emacs Lisp documentation}) and the Emacs Lisp Intro. | |
1227 | @end itemize | |
1228 | ||
0e6d12ca GM |
1229 | |
1230 | @node New in Emacs 21 | |
1231 | @section What is different about Emacs 21? | |
1232 | @cindex Differences between Emacs 20 and Emacs 21 | |
1233 | @cindex Emacs 21, new features in | |
1234 | ||
1235 | @cindex Variable-size fonts | |
1236 | @cindex Toolbar support | |
1237 | Emacs 21 features a thorough rewrite of the display engine. The new | |
1238 | display engine supports variable-size fonts, images, and can play sounds | |
1239 | on platforms which support that. As a result, the visual appearance of | |
1240 | Emacs, when it runs on a windowed display, is much more reminiscent of | |
1241 | modern GUI programs, and includes 3D widgets (used for the mode line and | |
1242 | the scroll bars), a configurable and extensible toolbar, tooltips | |
1243 | (a.k.a.@: balloon help), and other niceties. | |
1244 | ||
1245 | @cindex Colors on text-only terminals | |
1246 | @cindex TTY colors | |
1247 | In addition, Emacs 21 supports faces on text-only terminals. This means | |
1248 | that you can now have colors when you run Emacs on a GNU/Linux console | |
1249 | and on @code{xterm} with @kbd{emacs -nw}. | |
1250 | ||
1251 | ||
1252 | @node New in Emacs 20 | |
1253 | @section What is different about Emacs 20? | |
1254 | @cindex Differences between Emacs 19 and Emacs 20 | |
1255 | @cindex Emacs 20, new features in | |
1256 | ||
1257 | The differences between Emacs versions 18 and 19 were rather dramatic; | |
1258 | the introduction of frames, faces, and colors on windowing systems was | |
1259 | obvious to even the most casual user. | |
1260 | ||
1261 | There are differences between Emacs versions 19 and 20 as well, but many | |
1262 | are more subtle or harder to find. Among the changes are the inclusion | |
1263 | of MULE code for languages that use non-Latin characters and for mixing | |
1264 | several languages in the same document; the ``Customize'' facility for | |
1265 | modifying variables without having to use Lisp; and automatic conversion | |
1266 | of files from Macintosh, Microsoft, and Unix platforms. | |
4009494e GM |
1267 | |
1268 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 1269 | @node Common requests |
4009494e GM |
1270 | @chapter Common requests |
1271 | @cindex Common requests | |
1272 | ||
1273 | @menu | |
1274 | * Setting up a customization file:: | |
1275 | * Using Customize:: | |
1276 | * Colors on a TTY:: | |
1277 | * Debugging a customization file:: | |
1278 | * Displaying the current line or column:: | |
1279 | * Displaying the current file name in the titlebar:: | |
1280 | * Turning on abbrevs by default:: | |
1281 | * Associating modes with files:: | |
1282 | * Highlighting a region:: | |
1283 | * Replacing highlighted text:: | |
1284 | * Controlling case sensitivity:: | |
1285 | * Working with unprintable characters:: | |
1286 | * Searching for/replacing newlines:: | |
1287 | * Yanking text in isearch:: | |
1288 | * Wrapping words automatically:: | |
1289 | * Turning on auto-fill by default:: | |
4009494e GM |
1290 | * Changing load-path:: |
1291 | * Using an already running Emacs process:: | |
1292 | * Compiler error messages:: | |
1293 | * Indenting switch statements:: | |
1294 | * Customizing C and C++ indentation:: | |
1295 | * Horizontal scrolling:: | |
1296 | * Overwrite mode:: | |
1297 | * Turning off beeping:: | |
1298 | * Turning the volume down:: | |
1299 | * Automatic indentation:: | |
1300 | * Matching parentheses:: | |
1301 | * Hiding #ifdef lines:: | |
1302 | * Repeating commands:: | |
1303 | * Valid X resources:: | |
1304 | * Evaluating Emacs Lisp code:: | |
1305 | * Changing the length of a Tab:: | |
1306 | * Inserting text at the beginning of each line:: | |
4009494e GM |
1307 | * Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column:: |
1308 | * Forcing Emacs to iconify itself:: | |
1309 | * Using regular expressions:: | |
1310 | * Replacing text across multiple files:: | |
1311 | * Documentation for etags:: | |
1312 | * Disabling backups:: | |
1313 | * Disabling auto-save-mode:: | |
1314 | * Going to a line by number:: | |
1315 | * Modifying pull-down menus:: | |
1316 | * Deleting menus and menu options:: | |
1317 | * Turning on syntax highlighting:: | |
1318 | * Scrolling only one line:: | |
1319 | * Editing MS-DOS files:: | |
1320 | * Filling paragraphs with a single space:: | |
1321 | * Escape sequences in shell output:: | |
1322 | * Fullscreen mode on MS-Windows:: | |
1323 | @end menu | |
1324 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1325 | @node Setting up a customization file |
4009494e GM |
1326 | @section How do I set up a @file{.emacs} file properly? |
1327 | @cindex @file{.emacs} file, setting up | |
1328 | @cindex @file{.emacs} file, locating | |
1329 | @cindex Init file, setting up | |
1330 | @cindex Customization file, setting up | |
1331 | ||
31cc861c | 1332 | @xref{Init File,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 1333 | |
2e17e05e GM |
1334 | In general, new Emacs users should not be provided with @file{.emacs} |
1335 | files, because this can cause confusing non-standard behavior. Then | |
7add5a8a GM |
1336 | they send questions to |
1337 | @url{http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/help-gnu-emacs, | |
1338 | the help-gnu-emacs mailing list} asking why Emacs | |
2e17e05e | 1339 | isn't behaving as documented. |
4009494e | 1340 | |
2e17e05e GM |
1341 | Emacs includes the Customize facility (@pxref{Using Customize}). This |
1342 | allows users who are unfamiliar with Emacs Lisp to modify their | |
1343 | @file{.emacs} files in a relatively straightforward way, using menus | |
1344 | rather than Lisp code. | |
4009494e GM |
1345 | |
1346 | While Customize might indeed make it easier to configure Emacs, | |
1347 | consider taking a bit of time to learn Emacs Lisp and modifying your | |
1348 | @file{.emacs} directly. Simple configuration options are described | |
31cc861c GM |
1349 | rather completely in @ref{Init File,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, |
1350 | for users interested in performing frequently requested, basic tasks. | |
4009494e GM |
1351 | |
1352 | Sometimes users are unsure as to where their @file{.emacs} file should | |
1353 | be found. Visiting the file as @file{~/.emacs} from Emacs will find | |
1354 | the correct file. | |
1355 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1356 | @node Using Customize |
4009494e GM |
1357 | @section How do I start using Customize? |
1358 | @cindex Customize groups | |
1359 | @cindex Customizing variables | |
1360 | @cindex Customizing faces | |
1361 | ||
1362 | The main Customize entry point is @kbd{M-x customize @key{RET}}. This | |
1363 | command takes you to a buffer listing all the available Customize | |
1364 | groups. From there, you can access all customizable options and faces, | |
1365 | change their values, and save your changes to your init file. | |
31cc861c | 1366 | @xref{Easy Customization,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 1367 | |
1df7defd | 1368 | If you know the name of the group in advance (e.g., ``shell''), use |
4009494e GM |
1369 | @kbd{M-x customize-group @key{RET}}. |
1370 | ||
1371 | If you wish to customize a single option, use @kbd{M-x customize-option | |
1372 | @key{RET}}. This command prompts you for the name of the option to | |
1373 | customize, with completion. | |
1374 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1375 | @node Colors on a TTY |
4009494e GM |
1376 | @section How do I get colors and syntax highlighting on a TTY? |
1377 | @cindex Colors on a TTY | |
1378 | @cindex Syntax highlighting on a TTY | |
1379 | @cindex Console, colors | |
1380 | ||
1381 | In Emacs 21.1 and later, colors and faces are supported in non-windowed mode, | |
1df7defd | 1382 | i.e., on Unix and GNU/Linux text-only terminals and consoles, and when |
9e2a2647 | 1383 | invoked as @samp{emacs -nw} on X, and MS-Windows. (Colors and faces were |
4009494e GM |
1384 | supported in the MS-DOS port since Emacs 19.29.) Emacs automatically |
1385 | detects color support at startup and uses it if available. If you think | |
1386 | that your terminal supports colors, but Emacs won't use them, check the | |
1387 | @code{termcap} entry for your display type for color-related | |
1388 | capabilities. | |
1389 | ||
1390 | The command @kbd{M-x list-colors-display} pops up a window which | |
1391 | exhibits all the colors Emacs knows about on the current display. | |
1392 | ||
1393 | Syntax highlighting is on by default since version 22.1. | |
1394 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1395 | @node Debugging a customization file |
4009494e GM |
1396 | @section How do I debug a @file{.emacs} file? |
1397 | @cindex Debugging @file{.emacs} file | |
1398 | @cindex @file{.emacs} debugging | |
1399 | @cindex Init file debugging | |
1400 | @cindex @samp{-debug-init} option | |
1401 | ||
1402 | Start Emacs with the @samp{-debug-init} command-line option. This | |
1403 | enables the Emacs Lisp debugger before evaluating your @file{.emacs} | |
1404 | file, and places you in the debugger if something goes wrong. The top | |
1405 | line in the @file{trace-back} buffer will be the error message, and the | |
1406 | second or third line of that buffer will display the Lisp code from your | |
1407 | @file{.emacs} file that caused the problem. | |
1408 | ||
1409 | You can also evaluate an individual function or argument to a function | |
1410 | in your @file{.emacs} file by moving the cursor to the end of the | |
1411 | function or argument and typing @kbd{C-x C-e} (@kbd{M-x | |
1412 | eval-last-sexp}). | |
1413 | ||
1414 | Use @kbd{C-h v} (@kbd{M-x describe-variable}) to check the value of | |
1415 | variables which you are trying to set or use. | |
1416 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1417 | @node Displaying the current line or column |
4009494e GM |
1418 | @section How do I make Emacs display the current line (or column) number? |
1419 | @cindex @code{line-number-mode} | |
1420 | @cindex Displaying the current line or column | |
1421 | @cindex Line number, displaying the current | |
1422 | @cindex Column, displaying the current | |
1423 | @cindex @code{mode-line-format} | |
1424 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
1425 | By default, Emacs displays the current line number of the point in the |
1426 | mode line. You can toggle this feature off or on with the command | |
1427 | @kbd{M-x line-number-mode}, or by setting the variable | |
1428 | @code{line-number-mode}. Note that Emacs will not display the line | |
4009494e GM |
1429 | number if the buffer's size in bytes is larger than the value of the |
1430 | variable @code{line-number-display-limit}. | |
1431 | ||
1432 | You can similarly display the current column with | |
1433 | @kbd{M-x column-number-mode}, or by putting the form | |
1434 | ||
1435 | @lisp | |
1436 | (setq column-number-mode t) | |
1437 | @end lisp | |
1438 | ||
1439 | @noindent | |
2e17e05e | 1440 | in your @file{.emacs} file. This feature is off by default. |
4009494e GM |
1441 | |
1442 | The @code{"%c"} format specifier in the variable @code{mode-line-format} | |
1443 | will insert the current column's value into the mode line. See the | |
1444 | documentation for @code{mode-line-format} (using @kbd{C-h v | |
1445 | mode-line-format @key{RET}}) for more information on how to set and use | |
1446 | this variable. | |
1447 | ||
4009494e | 1448 | @cindex Set number capability in @code{vi} emulators |
2e17e05e GM |
1449 | The @samp{linum} package (distributed with Emacs since version 23.1) |
1450 | displays line numbers in the left margin, like the ``set number'' | |
1451 | capability of @code{vi}. The packages @samp{setnu} and | |
1452 | @samp{wb-line-number} (not distributed with Emacs) also implement this | |
1453 | feature. | |
4009494e | 1454 | |
f0bf7708 | 1455 | @node Displaying the current file name in the titlebar |
4009494e GM |
1456 | @section How can I modify the titlebar to contain the current file name? |
1457 | @cindex Titlebar, displaying the current file name in | |
1458 | @cindex File name, displaying in the titlebar | |
1459 | @cindex @code{frame-title-format} | |
1460 | ||
1461 | The contents of an Emacs frame's titlebar is controlled by the variable | |
1462 | @code{frame-title-format}, which has the same structure as the variable | |
1463 | @code{mode-line-format}. (Use @kbd{C-h v} or @kbd{M-x | |
1464 | describe-variable} to get information about one or both of these | |
1465 | variables.) | |
1466 | ||
1467 | By default, the titlebar for a frame does contain the name of the buffer | |
1468 | currently being visited, except if there is a single frame. In such a | |
1469 | case, the titlebar contains Emacs invocation name and the name of the | |
1470 | machine at which Emacs was invoked. This is done by setting | |
1471 | @code{frame-title-format} to the default value of | |
1472 | ||
1473 | @lisp | |
1474 | (multiple-frames "%b" ("" invocation-name "@@" system-name)) | |
1475 | @end lisp | |
1476 | ||
1477 | To modify the behavior such that frame titlebars contain the buffer's | |
1478 | name regardless of the number of existing frames, include the following | |
1479 | in your @file{.emacs}: | |
1480 | ||
1481 | @lisp | |
1482 | (setq frame-title-format "%b") | |
1483 | @end lisp | |
1484 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1485 | @node Turning on abbrevs by default |
4009494e GM |
1486 | @section How do I turn on abbrevs by default just in mode @var{mymode}? |
1487 | @cindex Abbrevs, turning on by default | |
1488 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
1489 | Abbrev mode expands abbreviations as you type them. To turn it on in a |
1490 | specific buffer, use @kbd{M-x abbrev-mode}. To turn it on in every | |
1491 | buffer by default, put this in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
4009494e GM |
1492 | |
1493 | @lisp | |
2e17e05e GM |
1494 | (setq-default abbrev-mode t) |
1495 | @end lisp | |
1496 | ||
1497 | @noindent To turn it on in a specific mode, use: | |
4009494e | 1498 | |
2e17e05e | 1499 | @lisp |
4009494e GM |
1500 | (add-hook '@var{mymode}-mode-hook |
1501 | (lambda () | |
1502 | (setq abbrev-mode t))) | |
1503 | @end lisp | |
1504 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
1505 | @noindent If your Emacs version is older then 22.1, you will also need to use: |
1506 | ||
1507 | @lisp | |
1508 | (condition-case () | |
1509 | (quietly-read-abbrev-file) | |
1510 | (file-error nil)) | |
1511 | @end lisp | |
4009494e | 1512 | |
f0bf7708 | 1513 | @node Associating modes with files |
4009494e GM |
1514 | @section How do I make Emacs use a certain major mode for certain files? |
1515 | @cindex Associating modes with files | |
1516 | @cindex File extensions and modes | |
1517 | @cindex @code{auto-mode-alist}, modifying | |
1518 | @cindex Modes, associating with file extensions | |
1519 | ||
1520 | If you want to use a certain mode @var{foo} for all files whose names end | |
1521 | with the extension @file{.@var{bar}}, this will do it for you: | |
1522 | ||
1523 | @lisp | |
2e17e05e | 1524 | (add-to-list 'auto-mode-alist '("\\.@var{bar}\\'" . @var{foo}-mode)) |
4009494e GM |
1525 | @end lisp |
1526 | ||
2e17e05e | 1527 | Alternatively, put this somewhere in the first line of any file you want to |
4009494e GM |
1528 | edit in the mode @var{foo} (in the second line, if the first line begins |
1529 | with @samp{#!}): | |
1530 | ||
1531 | @example | |
1532 | -*- @var{foo} -*- | |
1533 | @end example | |
1534 | ||
1535 | @cindex Major mode for shell scripts | |
2e17e05e | 1536 | The variable @code{interpreter-mode-alist} specifies which mode to use |
1df7defd | 1537 | when loading an interpreted script (e.g., shell, python, etc.). Emacs |
4009494e | 1538 | determines which interpreter you're using by examining the first line of |
2e17e05e GM |
1539 | the script. Use @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x describe-variable}) on |
1540 | @code{interpreter-mode-alist} to learn more. | |
4009494e | 1541 | |
f0bf7708 | 1542 | @node Highlighting a region |
4009494e GM |
1543 | @section How can I highlight a region of text in Emacs? |
1544 | @cindex Highlighting text | |
1545 | @cindex Text, highlighting | |
1546 | @cindex @code{transient-mark-mode} | |
1547 | @cindex Region, highlighting a | |
1548 | ||
1549 | You can cause the region to be highlighted when the mark is active by | |
1550 | including | |
1551 | ||
1552 | @lisp | |
2e17e05e | 1553 | (transient-mark-mode 1) |
4009494e GM |
1554 | @end lisp |
1555 | ||
1556 | @noindent | |
2e17e05e | 1557 | in your @file{.emacs} file. Since Emacs 23.1, this feature is on by default. |
4009494e | 1558 | |
f0bf7708 | 1559 | @node Replacing highlighted text |
4009494e GM |
1560 | @section How can I replace highlighted text with what I type? |
1561 | @cindex @code{delete-selection-mode} | |
1562 | @cindex Replacing highlighted text | |
1563 | @cindex Highlighting and replacing text | |
1564 | ||
1565 | Use @code{delete-selection-mode}, which you can start automatically by | |
1566 | placing the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
1567 | ||
1568 | @lisp | |
1569 | (delete-selection-mode 1) | |
1570 | @end lisp | |
1571 | ||
1572 | According to the documentation string for @code{delete-selection-mode} | |
1573 | (which you can read using @kbd{M-x describe-function @key{RET} | |
1574 | delete-selection-mode @key{RET}}): | |
1575 | ||
1576 | @quotation | |
a69ecd19 GM |
1577 | When Delete Selection mode is enabled, typed text replaces the selection |
1578 | if the selection is active. Otherwise, typed text is just inserted at | |
1579 | point regardless of any selection. | |
4009494e GM |
1580 | @end quotation |
1581 | ||
1582 | This mode also allows you to delete (not kill) the highlighted region by | |
1583 | pressing @key{DEL}. | |
1584 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1585 | @node Controlling case sensitivity |
4009494e GM |
1586 | @section How do I control Emacs's case-sensitivity when searching/replacing? |
1587 | @cindex @code{case-fold-search} | |
1588 | @cindex Case sensitivity of searches | |
1589 | @cindex Searching without case sensitivity | |
1590 | @cindex Ignoring case in searches | |
1591 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
1592 | @c FIXME |
1593 | The value of the variable @code{case-fold-search} determines whether | |
1594 | searches are case sensitive: | |
4009494e GM |
1595 | |
1596 | @lisp | |
1597 | (setq case-fold-search nil) ; make searches case sensitive | |
1598 | (setq case-fold-search t) ; make searches case insensitive | |
1599 | @end lisp | |
1600 | ||
1601 | @cindex Case sensitivity in replacements | |
1602 | @cindex Replacing, and case sensitivity | |
1603 | @cindex @code{case-replace} | |
1604 | Similarly, for replacing, the variable @code{case-replace} determines | |
1605 | whether replacements preserve case. | |
1606 | ||
1607 | You can also toggle case sensitivity at will in isearch with @kbd{M-c}. | |
1608 | ||
1609 | To change the case sensitivity just for one major mode, use the major | |
1610 | mode's hook. For example: | |
1611 | ||
1612 | @lisp | |
1613 | (add-hook '@var{foo}-mode-hook | |
1614 | (lambda () | |
1615 | (setq case-fold-search nil))) | |
1616 | @end lisp | |
1617 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1618 | @node Working with unprintable characters |
4009494e GM |
1619 | @section How do I search for, delete, or replace unprintable (eight-bit or control) characters? |
1620 | @cindex Unprintable characters, working with | |
1621 | @cindex Working with unprintable characters | |
1622 | @cindex Control characters, working with | |
1623 | @cindex Eight-bit characters, working with | |
1624 | @cindex Searching for unprintable characters | |
1625 | @cindex Regexps and unprintable characters | |
1626 | ||
1627 | To search for a single character that appears in the buffer as, for | |
2e17e05e | 1628 | example, @samp{\237}, you can type @kbd{C-s C-q 2 3 7}. |
4009494e GM |
1629 | Searching for @strong{all} unprintable characters is best done with a |
1630 | regular expression (@dfn{regexp}) search. The easiest regexp to use for | |
1631 | the unprintable chars is the complement of the regexp for the printable | |
1632 | chars. | |
1633 | ||
1634 | @itemize @bullet | |
1635 | ||
1636 | @item | |
1637 | Regexp for the printable chars: @samp{[\t\n\r\f -~]} | |
1638 | ||
1639 | @item | |
1640 | Regexp for the unprintable chars: @samp{[^\t\n\r\f -~]} | |
1641 | ||
1642 | @end itemize | |
1643 | ||
1644 | To type these special characters in an interactive argument to | |
1645 | @code{isearch-forward-regexp} or @code{re-search-forward}, you need to | |
1646 | use @kbd{C-q}. (@samp{\t}, @samp{\n}, @samp{\r}, and @samp{\f} stand | |
1647 | respectively for @key{TAB}, @key{LFD}, @key{RET}, and @kbd{C-l}.) So, | |
1648 | to search for unprintable characters using @code{re-search-forward}: | |
1649 | ||
1650 | @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}} | |
1651 | ||
1652 | Using @code{isearch-forward-regexp}: | |
1653 | ||
1654 | @kbd{C-M-s [^ @key{TAB} @key{LFD} C-q @key{RET} C-q C-l @key{SPC} -~]} | |
1655 | ||
1656 | To delete all unprintable characters, simply use replace-regexp: | |
1657 | ||
1658 | @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}} | |
1659 | ||
1660 | Replacing is similar to the above. To replace all unprintable | |
1661 | characters with a colon, use: | |
1662 | ||
1663 | 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} | |
1664 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1665 | @node Searching for/replacing newlines |
4009494e GM |
1666 | @section How do I input a newline character in isearch or query-replace? |
1667 | @cindex Searching for newlines | |
1668 | @cindex Replacing newlines | |
1669 | ||
31cc861c GM |
1670 | Use @kbd{C-q C-j}. For more information, |
1671 | @pxref{Special Isearch,, Special Input for Incremental Search, emacs, | |
1672 | The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e | 1673 | |
f0bf7708 | 1674 | @node Yanking text in isearch |
4009494e GM |
1675 | @section How do I copy text from the kill ring into the search string? |
1676 | @cindex Yanking text into the search string | |
1677 | @cindex isearch yanking | |
1678 | ||
31cc861c | 1679 | Use @kbd{M-y}. @xref{Isearch Yank,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 1680 | |
f0bf7708 | 1681 | @node Wrapping words automatically |
4009494e GM |
1682 | @section How do I make Emacs wrap words for me? |
1683 | @cindex Wrapping word automatically | |
1684 | @cindex Wrapping lines | |
1685 | @cindex Line wrap | |
1686 | @cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, introduction to | |
1687 | @cindex Maximum line width, default value | |
1688 | @cindex @code{fill-column}, default value | |
1689 | ||
1690 | Use @code{auto-fill-mode}, activated by typing @kbd{M-x auto-fill-mode}. | |
1691 | The default maximum line width is 70, determined by the variable | |
1692 | @code{fill-column}. To learn how to turn this on automatically, see | |
1693 | @ref{Turning on auto-fill by default}. | |
1694 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1695 | @node Turning on auto-fill by default |
4009494e GM |
1696 | @section How do I turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} by default? |
1697 | @cindex @code{auto-fill-mode}, activating automatically | |
1698 | @cindex Filling automatically | |
1699 | @cindex Automatic entry to @code{auto-fill-mode} | |
1700 | ||
1701 | To turn on @code{auto-fill-mode} just once for one buffer, use @kbd{M-x | |
1702 | auto-fill-mode}. | |
1703 | ||
1704 | To turn it on for every buffer in a certain mode, you must use the hook | |
1705 | for that mode. For example, to turn on @code{auto-fill} mode for all | |
1706 | text buffers, including the following in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
1707 | ||
1708 | @lisp | |
1709 | (add-hook 'text-mode-hook 'turn-on-auto-fill) | |
1710 | @end lisp | |
1711 | ||
1712 | If you want @code{auto-fill} mode on in all major modes, do this: | |
1713 | ||
1714 | @lisp | |
1715 | (setq-default auto-fill-function 'do-auto-fill) | |
1716 | @end lisp | |
1717 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1718 | @node Changing load-path |
4009494e GM |
1719 | @section How do I change @code{load-path}? |
1720 | @cindex @code{load-path}, modifying | |
1721 | @cindex Modifying @code{load-path} | |
1722 | @cindex Adding to @code{load-path} | |
1723 | ||
1724 | In general, you should only add to the @code{load-path}. You can add | |
1725 | directory @var{/dir/subdir} to the load path like this: | |
1726 | ||
1727 | @lisp | |
f6adc23c | 1728 | (add-to-list 'load-path "/dir/subdir/") |
4009494e GM |
1729 | @end lisp |
1730 | ||
1731 | To do this relative to your home directory: | |
1732 | ||
1733 | @lisp | |
f6adc23c | 1734 | (add-to-list 'load-path "~/mysubdir/") |
4009494e GM |
1735 | @end lisp |
1736 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1737 | @node Using an already running Emacs process |
4009494e GM |
1738 | @section How do I use an already running Emacs from another window? |
1739 | @cindex @code{emacsclient} | |
1740 | @cindex Emacs server functions | |
1741 | @cindex Using an existing Emacs process | |
1742 | ||
1743 | @code{emacsclient}, which comes with Emacs, is for editing a file using | |
1744 | an already running Emacs rather than starting up a new Emacs. It does | |
1745 | this by sending a request to the already running Emacs, which must be | |
1746 | expecting the request. | |
1747 | ||
1748 | @itemize @bullet | |
1749 | ||
1750 | @item | |
1751 | Setup: | |
1752 | ||
1753 | Emacs must have executed the @code{server-start} function for | |
1754 | @samp{emacsclient} to work. This can be done either by a command line | |
1755 | option: | |
1756 | ||
1757 | @example | |
1758 | emacs -f server-start | |
1759 | @end example | |
1760 | ||
1761 | or by invoking @code{server-start} from @file{.emacs}: | |
1762 | ||
1763 | @lisp | |
1764 | (if (@var{some conditions are met}) (server-start)) | |
1765 | @end lisp | |
1766 | ||
1767 | When this is done, Emacs creates a Unix domain socket named | |
1768 | @file{server} in @file{/tmp/emacs@var{userid}}. See | |
1769 | @code{server-socket-dir}. | |
1770 | ||
1771 | To get your news reader, mail reader, etc., to invoke | |
1772 | @samp{emacsclient}, try setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} | |
1773 | (or sometimes @code{VISUAL}) to the value @samp{emacsclient}. You may | |
1774 | have to specify the full pathname of the @samp{emacsclient} program | |
1775 | instead. Examples: | |
1776 | ||
1777 | @example | |
1778 | # csh commands: | |
1779 | setenv EDITOR emacsclient | |
1780 | ||
1781 | # using full pathname | |
1782 | setenv EDITOR /usr/local/emacs/etc/emacsclient | |
1783 | ||
1784 | # sh command: | |
1785 | EDITOR=emacsclient ; export EDITOR | |
1786 | @end example | |
1787 | ||
1788 | @item | |
1789 | Normal use: | |
1790 | ||
1791 | When @samp{emacsclient} is run, it connects to the socket and passes its | |
1792 | command line options to Emacs, which at the next opportunity will visit | |
1793 | the files specified. (Line numbers can be specified just like with | |
1794 | Emacs.) The user will have to switch to the Emacs window by hand. When | |
1795 | the user is done editing a file, the user can type @kbd{C-x #} (or | |
1796 | @kbd{M-x server-edit}) to indicate this. If there is another buffer | |
1797 | requested by @code{emacsclient}, Emacs will switch to it; otherwise | |
1798 | @code{emacsclient} will exit, signaling the calling program to continue. | |
1799 | ||
1800 | @cindex @code{gnuserv} | |
2e17e05e | 1801 | There is an alternative version of @samp{emacsclient} called |
7add5a8a GM |
1802 | @c ange@@hplb.hpl.hp.com |
1803 | @samp{gnuserv}, written by Andy Norman | |
4009494e GM |
1804 | (@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). @samp{gnuserv} uses |
1805 | Internet domain sockets, so it can work across most network connections. | |
1806 | ||
1807 | The most recent @samp{gnuserv} package is available at | |
1808 | ||
1809 | @uref{http://meltin.net/hacks/emacs/} | |
1810 | ||
1811 | @end itemize | |
1812 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1813 | @node Compiler error messages |
4009494e GM |
1814 | @section How do I make Emacs recognize my compiler's funny error messages? |
1815 | @cindex Compiler error messages, recognizing | |
1816 | @cindex Recognizing non-standard compiler errors | |
1817 | @cindex Regexps for recognizing compiler errors | |
1818 | @cindex Errors, recognizing compiler | |
1819 | ||
1820 | Customize the @code{compilation-error-regexp-alist} variable. | |
1821 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1822 | @node Indenting switch statements |
4009494e GM |
1823 | @section How do I change the indentation for @code{switch}? |
1824 | @cindex @code{switch}, indenting | |
1825 | @cindex Indenting of @code{switch} | |
1826 | ||
1827 | Many people want to indent their @code{switch} statements like this: | |
1828 | ||
1829 | @example | |
1830 | f() | |
1831 | @{ | |
1832 | switch(x) @{ | |
1833 | case A: | |
1834 | x1; | |
1835 | break; | |
1836 | case B: | |
1837 | x2; | |
1838 | break; | |
1839 | default: | |
1840 | x3; | |
1841 | @} | |
1842 | @} | |
1843 | @end example | |
1844 | ||
2e17e05e | 1845 | @noindent To achieve this, add the following line to your @file{.emacs}: |
4009494e GM |
1846 | |
1847 | @lisp | |
1848 | (c-set-offset 'case-label '+) | |
1849 | @end lisp | |
1850 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1851 | @node Customizing C and C++ indentation |
4009494e GM |
1852 | @section How to customize indentation in C, C@t{++}, and Java buffers? |
1853 | @cindex Indentation, how to customize | |
1854 | @cindex Customize indentation | |
1855 | ||
1856 | The Emacs @code{cc-mode} features an interactive procedure for | |
1857 | customizing the indentation style, which is fully explained in the | |
1858 | @cite{CC Mode} manual that is part of the Emacs distribution, see | |
1859 | @ref{Customizing Indentation, , Customization Indentation, ccmode, | |
1860 | The CC Mode Manual}. Here's a short summary of the procedure: | |
1861 | ||
1862 | @enumerate | |
1863 | @item | |
1864 | Go to the beginning of the first line where you don't like the | |
1865 | indentation and type @kbd{C-c C-o}. Emacs will prompt you for the | |
1866 | syntactic symbol; type @key{RET} to accept the default it suggests. | |
1867 | ||
1868 | @item | |
1869 | Emacs now prompts for the offset of this syntactic symbol, showing the | |
1870 | default (the current definition) inside parentheses. You can choose | |
1871 | one of these: | |
1872 | ||
1873 | @table @code | |
1874 | @item 0 | |
1875 | No extra indentation. | |
1876 | @item + | |
1877 | Indent one basic offset. | |
1878 | @item - | |
1879 | Outdent one basic offset. | |
1880 | @item ++ | |
1881 | Indent two basic offsets | |
1882 | @item -- | |
1883 | Outdent two basic offsets. | |
1884 | @item * | |
1885 | Indent half basic offset. | |
1886 | @item / | |
1887 | Outdent half basic offset. | |
1888 | @end table | |
1889 | ||
1890 | @item | |
1891 | After choosing one of these symbols, type @kbd{C-c C-q} to reindent | |
1892 | the line or the block according to what you just specified. | |
1893 | ||
1894 | @item | |
1895 | If you don't like the result, go back to step 1. Otherwise, add the | |
1896 | following line to your @file{.emacs}: | |
1897 | ||
1898 | @lisp | |
1899 | (c-set-offset '@var{syntactic-symbol} @var{offset}) | |
1900 | @end lisp | |
1901 | ||
1902 | @noindent | |
1903 | where @var{syntactic-symbol} is the name Emacs shows in the minibuffer | |
1904 | when you type @kbd{C-c C-o} at the beginning of the line, and | |
1905 | @var{offset} is one of the indentation symbols listed above (@code{+}, | |
65e7ca35 | 1906 | @code{/}, @code{0}, etc.)@: that you've chosen during the interactive |
4009494e GM |
1907 | procedure. |
1908 | ||
1909 | @item | |
1910 | Go to the next line whose indentation is not to your liking and repeat | |
1911 | the process there. | |
1912 | @end enumerate | |
1913 | ||
1914 | It is recommended to put all the resulting @code{(c-set-offset ...)} | |
1915 | customizations inside a C mode hook, like this: | |
1916 | ||
1917 | @lisp | |
1918 | (defun my-c-mode-hook () | |
1919 | (c-set-offset ...) | |
1920 | (c-set-offset ...)) | |
1921 | (add-hook 'c-mode-hook 'my-c-mode-hook) | |
1922 | @end lisp | |
1923 | ||
1924 | @noindent | |
1925 | Using @code{c-mode-hook} avoids the need to put a @w{@code{(require | |
1926 | 'cc-mode)}} into your @file{.emacs} file, because @code{c-set-offset} | |
1927 | might be unavailable when @code{cc-mode} is not loaded. | |
1928 | ||
1929 | Note that @code{c-mode-hook} runs for C source files only; use | |
1930 | @code{c++-mode-hook} for C@t{++} sources, @code{java-mode-hook} for | |
1931 | Java sources, etc. If you want the same customizations to be in | |
1932 | effect in @emph{all} languages supported by @code{cc-mode}, use | |
1933 | @code{c-mode-common-hook}. | |
1934 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1935 | @node Horizontal scrolling |
4009494e GM |
1936 | @section How can I make Emacs automatically scroll horizontally? |
1937 | @cindex @code{hscroll-mode} | |
1938 | @cindex Horizontal scrolling | |
1939 | @cindex Scrolling horizontally | |
1940 | ||
1941 | In Emacs 21 and later, this is on by default: if the variable | |
1942 | @code{truncate-lines} is non-@code{nil} in the current buffer, Emacs | |
1943 | automatically scrolls the display horizontally when point moves off the | |
1944 | left or right edge of the window. | |
1945 | ||
1946 | Note that this is overridden by the variable | |
4181427f | 1947 | @code{truncate-partial-width-windows} if that variable is non-@code{nil} |
4009494e GM |
1948 | and the current buffer is not full-frame width. |
1949 | ||
2e17e05e | 1950 | In Emacs 20, use @code{hscroll-mode}. |
4009494e | 1951 | |
f0bf7708 | 1952 | @node Overwrite mode |
4009494e GM |
1953 | @section How do I make Emacs ``typeover'' or ``overwrite'' instead of inserting? |
1954 | @cindex @key{Insert} | |
1955 | @cindex @code{overwrite-mode} | |
1956 | @cindex Overwriting existing text | |
1957 | @cindex Toggling @code{overwrite-mode} | |
1958 | ||
1959 | @kbd{M-x overwrite-mode} (a minor mode). This toggles | |
1960 | @code{overwrite-mode} on and off, so exiting from @code{overwrite-mode} | |
1961 | is as easy as another @kbd{M-x overwrite-mode}. | |
1962 | ||
1963 | On some systems, @key{Insert} toggles @code{overwrite-mode} on and off. | |
1964 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1965 | @node Turning off beeping |
4009494e GM |
1966 | @section How do I stop Emacs from beeping on a terminal? |
1967 | @cindex Beeping, turning off | |
1968 | @cindex Visible bell | |
1969 | @cindex Bell, visible | |
1970 | ||
7add5a8a GM |
1971 | @c martin@@cc.gatech.edu |
1972 | Martin R. Frank writes: | |
4009494e GM |
1973 | |
1974 | Tell Emacs to use the @dfn{visible bell} instead of the audible bell, | |
1975 | and set the visible bell to nothing. | |
1976 | ||
1977 | That is, put the following in your @code{TERMCAP} environment variable | |
1978 | (assuming you have one): | |
1979 | ||
1980 | @example | |
1981 | ... :vb=: ... | |
1982 | @end example | |
1983 | ||
1984 | And evaluate the following Lisp form: | |
1985 | ||
1986 | @example | |
1987 | (setq visible-bell t) | |
1988 | @end example | |
1989 | ||
f0bf7708 | 1990 | @node Turning the volume down |
4009494e GM |
1991 | @section How do I turn down the bell volume in Emacs running under X? |
1992 | @cindex Bell, volume of | |
1993 | @cindex Volume of bell | |
1994 | ||
1995 | On X Window system, you can adjust the bell volume and duration for all | |
1996 | programs with the shell command @code{xset}. | |
1997 | ||
1998 | Invoking @code{xset} without any arguments produces some basic | |
1999 | information, including the following: | |
2000 | ||
2001 | @example | |
2002 | usage: xset [-display host:dpy] option ... | |
2003 | To turn bell off: | |
2004 | -b b off b 0 | |
2005 | To set bell volume, pitch and duration: | |
2006 | b [vol [pitch [dur]]] b on | |
2007 | @end example | |
2008 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2009 | @node Automatic indentation |
4009494e GM |
2010 | @section How do I tell Emacs to automatically indent a new line to the indentation of the previous line? |
2011 | @cindex Indenting new lines | |
2012 | @cindex New lines, indenting of | |
2013 | @cindex Previous line, indenting according to | |
2014 | @cindex Text indentation | |
2015 | ||
f6adc23c | 2016 | Such behavior is automatic (in Text mode) in Emacs 20 and later. From the |
4009494e GM |
2017 | @file{etc/NEWS} file for Emacs 20.2: |
2018 | ||
2019 | @example | |
2020 | ** In Text mode, now only blank lines separate paragraphs. This makes | |
2021 | it possible to get the full benefit of Adaptive Fill mode in Text mode, | |
2022 | and other modes derived from it (such as Mail mode). @key{TAB} in Text | |
2023 | mode now runs the command @code{indent-relative}; this makes a practical | |
2024 | difference only when you use indented paragraphs. | |
2025 | ||
4009494e GM |
2026 | If you want spaces at the beginning of a line to start a paragraph, use |
2027 | the new mode, Paragraph Indent Text mode. | |
2028 | @end example | |
2029 | ||
2030 | @cindex Prefixing lines | |
2031 | @cindex Fill prefix | |
2032 | If you have @code{auto-fill-mode} turned on (@pxref{Turning on auto-fill | |
2033 | by default}), you can tell Emacs to prefix every line with a certain | |
2034 | character sequence, the @dfn{fill prefix}. Type the prefix at the | |
2035 | beginning of a line, position point after it, and then type @kbd{C-x .} | |
2036 | (@code{set-fill-prefix}) to set the fill prefix. Thereafter, | |
2037 | auto-filling will automatically put the fill prefix at the beginning of | |
2038 | new lines, and @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph}) will maintain any fill | |
2039 | prefix when refilling the paragraph. | |
2040 | ||
2041 | If you have paragraphs with different levels of indentation, you will | |
2042 | have to set the fill prefix to the correct value each time you move to a | |
2043 | new paragraph. There are many packages available to deal with this | |
2044 | (@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). Look for ``fill'' and | |
2045 | ``indent'' keywords for guidance. | |
2046 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2047 | @node Matching parentheses |
4009494e GM |
2048 | @section How do I show which parenthesis matches the one I'm looking at? |
2049 | @cindex Parentheses, matching | |
2050 | @cindex @file{paren.el} | |
2051 | @cindex Highlighting matching parentheses | |
2052 | @cindex Pairs of parentheses, highlighting | |
2053 | @cindex Matching parentheses | |
2054 | ||
2055 | Call @code{show-paren-mode} in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
2056 | ||
2057 | @lisp | |
2058 | (show-paren-mode 1) | |
2059 | @end lisp | |
2060 | ||
2061 | You can also enable this mode by selecting the @samp{Paren Match | |
2062 | Highlighting} option from the @samp{Options} menu of the Emacs menu bar | |
2063 | at the top of any Emacs frame. | |
2064 | ||
2065 | Alternatives to this mode include: | |
2066 | ||
2067 | @itemize @bullet | |
2068 | ||
2069 | @item | |
2070 | If you're looking at a right parenthesis (or brace or bracket) you can | |
2071 | delete it and reinsert it. Emacs will momentarily move the cursor to | |
2072 | the matching parenthesis. | |
2073 | ||
2074 | @item | |
2075 | @kbd{C-M-f} (@code{forward-sexp}) and @kbd{C-M-b} (@code{backward-sexp}) | |
2076 | will skip over one set of balanced parentheses, so you can see which | |
2077 | parentheses match. (You can train it to skip over balanced brackets | |
2078 | and braces at the same time by modifying the syntax table.) | |
2079 | ||
2080 | @cindex Show matching paren as in @code{vi} | |
2081 | @item | |
2082 | Here is some Emacs Lisp that will make the @key{%} key show the matching | |
2083 | parenthesis, like in @code{vi}. In addition, if the cursor isn't over a | |
2084 | parenthesis, it simply inserts a % like normal. | |
2085 | ||
2086 | @lisp | |
2087 | ;; By an unknown contributor | |
2088 | ||
2089 | (global-set-key "%" 'match-paren) | |
2090 | ||
2091 | (defun match-paren (arg) | |
2092 | "Go to the matching paren if on a paren; otherwise insert %." | |
2093 | (interactive "p") | |
2094 | (cond ((looking-at "\\s\(") (forward-list 1) (backward-char 1)) | |
2095 | ((looking-at "\\s\)") (forward-char 1) (backward-list 1)) | |
2096 | (t (self-insert-command (or arg 1))))) | |
2097 | @end lisp | |
2098 | ||
2099 | @end itemize | |
2100 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2101 | @node Hiding #ifdef lines |
4009494e GM |
2102 | @section In C mode, can I show just the lines that will be left after @code{#ifdef} commands are handled by the compiler? |
2103 | @cindex @code{#ifdef}, selective display of | |
2104 | @cindex @code{hide-ifdef-mode} | |
2105 | @cindex Hiding @code{#ifdef} text | |
2106 | @cindex Selectively displaying @code{#ifdef} code | |
2107 | ||
2108 | @kbd{M-x hide-ifdef-mode}. (This is a minor mode.) You might also want | |
2109 | to investigate @file{cpp.el}, which is distributed with Emacs. | |
2110 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2111 | @node Repeating commands |
4009494e GM |
2112 | @section How do I repeat a command as many times as possible? |
2113 | @cindex Repeating commands many times | |
2114 | @cindex Commands, repeating many times | |
2115 | @cindex @code{.}, equivalent to @code{vi} command | |
2116 | ||
2117 | As of Emacs 20.3, there is indeed a @code{repeat} command (@kbd{C-x z}) | |
2118 | that repeats the last command. If you preface it with a prefix | |
2119 | argument, the prefix arg is applied to the command. | |
2120 | ||
2121 | You can also type @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC}} | |
2122 | (@code{repeat-complex-command}) to reinvoke commands that used the | |
2123 | minibuffer to get arguments. In @code{repeat-complex-command} you can | |
2124 | type @kbd{M-p} and @kbd{M-n} (and also up-arrow and down-arrow, if your | |
2125 | keyboard has these keys) to scan through all the different complex | |
2126 | commands you've typed. | |
2127 | ||
2128 | To repeat a set of commands, use keyboard macros. Use @kbd{C-x (} and | |
2129 | @kbd{C-x )} to make a keyboard macro that invokes the command and then | |
31cc861c | 2130 | type @kbd{C-x e}. @xref{Keyboard Macros,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
2131 | |
2132 | If you're really desperate for the @code{.} command in @code{vi} that | |
2133 | redoes the last insertion/deletion, use VIPER, a @code{vi} emulation | |
2134 | mode which comes with Emacs, and which appears to support it. | |
4009494e | 2135 | |
f0bf7708 | 2136 | @node Valid X resources |
4009494e GM |
2137 | @section What are the valid X resource settings (i.e., stuff in .Xdefaults)? |
2138 | @cindex Resources, X | |
2139 | @cindex X resources | |
2140 | @cindex Setting X resources | |
2141 | ||
31cc861c | 2142 | @xref{X Resources,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
2143 | |
2144 | You can also use a resource editor, such as editres (for X11R5 and | |
2145 | onwards), to look at the resource names for the menu bar, assuming Emacs | |
2146 | was compiled with the X toolkit. | |
2147 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2148 | @node Evaluating Emacs Lisp code |
4009494e GM |
2149 | @section How do I execute (``evaluate'') a piece of Emacs Lisp code? |
2150 | @cindex Evaluating Lisp code | |
2151 | @cindex Lisp forms, evaluating | |
2152 | ||
2153 | There are a number of ways to execute (@dfn{evaluate}, in Lisp lingo) an | |
2154 | Emacs Lisp @dfn{form}: | |
2155 | ||
2156 | @itemize @bullet | |
2157 | ||
2158 | @item | |
2159 | If you want it evaluated every time you run Emacs, put it in a file | |
2160 | named @file{.emacs} in your home directory. This is known as ``your | |
2161 | @file{.emacs} file,'' and contains all of your personal customizations. | |
2162 | ||
2163 | @item | |
2164 | You can type the form in the @file{*scratch*} buffer, and then type | |
2165 | @key{LFD} (or @kbd{C-j}) after it. The result of evaluating the form | |
2166 | will be inserted in the buffer. | |
2167 | ||
2168 | @item | |
2169 | In @code{emacs-lisp-mode}, typing @kbd{C-M-x} evaluates a top-level form | |
2170 | before or around point. | |
2171 | ||
2172 | @item | |
2173 | Typing @kbd{C-x C-e} in any buffer evaluates the Lisp form immediately | |
2174 | before point and prints its value in the echo area. | |
2175 | ||
2176 | @item | |
2177 | Typing @kbd{M-:} or @kbd{M-x eval-expression} allows you to type a Lisp | |
2178 | form in the minibuffer which will be evaluated once you press @key{RET}. | |
2179 | ||
2180 | @item | |
2181 | You can use @kbd{M-x load-file} to have Emacs evaluate all the Lisp | |
2182 | forms in a file. (To do this from Lisp use the function @code{load} | |
2183 | instead.) | |
2184 | ||
2185 | The functions @code{load-library}, @code{eval-region}, | |
2186 | @code{eval-buffer}, @code{require}, and @code{autoload} are also | |
2187 | useful; see @ref{Emacs Lisp documentation}, if you want to learn more | |
2188 | about them. | |
2189 | ||
2190 | @end itemize | |
2191 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2192 | @node Changing the length of a Tab |
4009494e GM |
2193 | @section How do I change Emacs's idea of the @key{TAB} character's length? |
2194 | @cindex Tab length | |
2195 | @cindex Length of tab character | |
4009494e | 2196 | |
4e3b4528 | 2197 | Set the default value of the variable @code{tab-width}. For example, to set |
4009494e GM |
2198 | @key{TAB} stops every 10 characters, insert the following in your |
2199 | @file{.emacs} file: | |
2200 | ||
2201 | @lisp | |
4e3b4528 | 2202 | (setq-default tab-width 10) |
4009494e GM |
2203 | @end lisp |
2204 | ||
2205 | Do not confuse variable @code{tab-width} with variable | |
2206 | @code{tab-stop-list}. The former is used for the display of literal | |
2207 | @key{TAB} characters. The latter controls what characters are inserted | |
2208 | when you press the @key{TAB} character in certain modes. | |
2209 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2210 | @node Inserting text at the beginning of each line |
4009494e GM |
2211 | @section How do I insert <some text> at the beginning of every line? |
2212 | @cindex Prefixing a region with some text | |
2213 | @cindex Prefix character, inserting in mail/news replies | |
2214 | @cindex Replies to mail/news, inserting a prefix character | |
2215 | @cindex @code{mail-yank-prefix} | |
2216 | @cindex Mail replies, inserting a prefix character | |
2217 | @cindex News replies, inserting a prefix character | |
2218 | ||
2219 | To do this to an entire buffer, type @kbd{M-< M-x replace-regexp | |
2220 | @key{RET} ^ @key{RET} your text @key{RET}}. | |
2221 | ||
2222 | To do this to a region, use @code{string-insert-rectangle}. | |
2223 | Set the mark (@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}) at the beginning of the first line you | |
2224 | want to prefix, move the cursor to last line to be prefixed, and type | |
2225 | @kbd{M-x string-insert-rectangle @key{RET}}. To do this for the whole | |
2226 | buffer, type @kbd{C-x h M-x string-insert-rectangle @key{RET}}. | |
2227 | ||
2228 | If you are trying to prefix a yanked mail message with @samp{>}, you | |
2229 | might want to set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}. In Message | |
2230 | buffers, you can even use @kbd{M-;} to cite yanked messages (@kbd{M-;} | |
2231 | runs the function @code{comment-region}, it is a general-purpose | |
2232 | mechanism to comment regions) (@pxref{Changing the included text prefix}). | |
2233 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2234 | @node Forcing the cursor to remain in the same column |
4009494e GM |
2235 | @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? |
2236 | @cindex @code{picture-mode} | |
2237 | @cindex Remaining in the same column, regardless of contents | |
2238 | @cindex Vertical movement in empty documents | |
2239 | ||
2240 | Use @kbd{M-x picture-mode}. | |
2241 | ||
2242 | See also the variable @code{track-eol} and the command | |
2243 | @code{set-goal-column} bound to @kbd{C-x C-n} | |
2244 | (@pxref{Moving Point, , , emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}). | |
2245 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2246 | @node Forcing Emacs to iconify itself |
4009494e GM |
2247 | @section How do I tell Emacs to iconify itself? |
2248 | @cindex Iconification under the X Window System | |
2249 | @cindex X Window System and iconification | |
2250 | @cindex Suspending Emacs | |
2251 | ||
2252 | @kbd{C-z} iconifies Emacs when running under X and suspends Emacs | |
31cc861c | 2253 | otherwise. @xref{Frame Commands,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 2254 | |
f0bf7708 | 2255 | @node Using regular expressions |
4009494e GM |
2256 | @section How do I use regexps (regular expressions) in Emacs? |
2257 | @cindex Regexps | |
2258 | @cindex Regular expressions | |
2259 | @cindex Differences between Unix and Emacs regexps | |
2260 | @cindex Unix regexps, differences from Emacs | |
2261 | @cindex Text strings, putting regexps in | |
2262 | ||
31cc861c | 2263 | @xref{Regexp Backslash,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
2264 | |
2265 | The @code{or} operator is @samp{\|}, not @samp{|}, and the grouping operators | |
2266 | are @samp{\(} and @samp{\)}. Also, the string syntax for a backslash is | |
2267 | @samp{\\}. To specify a regular expression like @samp{xxx\(foo\|bar\)} | |
2268 | in a Lisp string, use @samp{xxx\\(foo\\|bar\\)}. | |
2269 | ||
2270 | Note the doubled backslashes! | |
2271 | ||
2272 | @itemize @bullet | |
2273 | ||
2274 | @item | |
2275 | Unlike in Unix @file{grep}, @file{sed}, etc., a complement character set | |
2276 | (@samp{[^...]}) can match a newline character (@key{LFD} a.k.a.@: | |
2277 | @kbd{C-j} a.k.a.@: @samp{\n}), unless newline is mentioned as one of the | |
2278 | characters not to match. | |
2279 | ||
2280 | @item | |
2281 | The character syntax regexps (e.g., @samp{\sw}) are not | |
2282 | meaningful inside character set regexps (e.g., @samp{[aeiou]}). (This | |
2283 | is actually typical for regexp syntax.) | |
2284 | ||
2285 | @end itemize | |
2286 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2287 | @node Replacing text across multiple files |
4009494e GM |
2288 | @section How do I perform a replace operation across more than one file? |
2289 | @cindex Replacing strings across files | |
2290 | @cindex Multiple files, replacing across | |
2291 | @cindex Files, replacing strings across multiple | |
2292 | @cindex Recursive search/replace operations | |
2293 | ||
2e17e05e GM |
2294 | Dired mode (@kbd{M-x dired @key{RET}}, or @kbd{C-x d}) supports the |
2295 | command @code{dired-do-query-replace-regexp} (@kbd{Q}), which allows | |
2296 | users to replace regular expressions in multiple files. | |
4009494e GM |
2297 | |
2298 | You can use this command to perform search/replace operations on | |
2299 | multiple files by following the following steps: | |
2300 | ||
2301 | @itemize @bullet | |
2302 | @item | |
2303 | Assemble a list of files you want to operate on with either | |
2304 | @code{find-dired}, @code{find-name-dired} or @code{find-grep-dired}. | |
2305 | ||
2306 | @item | |
2307 | Mark all files in the resulting Dired buffer using @kbd{t}. | |
2308 | ||
2309 | @item | |
2310 | Use @kbd{Q} to start a @code{query-replace-regexp} session on the marked | |
2311 | files. | |
2312 | ||
2313 | @item | |
2314 | To accept all replacements in each file, hit @kbd{!}. | |
2315 | @end itemize | |
2316 | ||
2317 | Another way to do the same thing is to use the ``tags'' feature of | |
2318 | Emacs: it includes the command @code{tags-query-replace} which performs | |
2319 | a query-replace across all the files mentioned in the @file{TAGS} file. | |
31cc861c | 2320 | @xref{Tags Search,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e | 2321 | |
f0bf7708 | 2322 | @node Documentation for etags |
4009494e GM |
2323 | @section Where is the documentation for @code{etags}? |
2324 | @cindex Documentation for @code{etags} | |
2325 | @cindex @code{etags}, documentation for | |
2326 | ||
2327 | The @code{etags} man page should be in the same place as the | |
2328 | @code{emacs} man page. | |
2329 | ||
2330 | Quick command-line switch descriptions are also available. For example, | |
2331 | @samp{etags -H}. | |
2332 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2333 | @node Disabling backups |
4009494e GM |
2334 | @section How do I disable backup files? |
2335 | @cindex Backups, disabling | |
2336 | @cindex Disabling backups | |
2337 | ||
2338 | You probably don't want to do this, since backups are useful, especially | |
2339 | when something goes wrong. | |
2340 | ||
2341 | To avoid seeing backup files (and other ``uninteresting'' files) in Dired, | |
2342 | load @code{dired-x} by adding the following to your @file{.emacs} file: | |
2343 | ||
2344 | @lisp | |
2345 | (add-hook 'dired-load-hook | |
2346 | (lambda () | |
2e17e05e | 2347 | (require 'dired-x))) |
4009494e GM |
2348 | @end lisp |
2349 | ||
2350 | With @code{dired-x} loaded, @kbd{M-o} toggles omitting in each dired buffer. | |
2351 | You can make omitting the default for new dired buffers by putting the | |
2352 | following in your @file{.emacs}: | |
2353 | ||
2354 | @lisp | |
2355 | (add-hook 'dired-mode-hook 'dired-omit-toggle) | |
2356 | @end lisp | |
2357 | ||
2358 | If you're tired of seeing backup files whenever you do an @samp{ls} at | |
2359 | the Unix shell, try GNU @code{ls} with the @samp{-B} option. GNU | |
2360 | @code{ls} is part of the GNU Fileutils package, available from | |
2361 | @samp{ftp.gnu.org} and its mirrors (@pxref{Current GNU distributions}). | |
2362 | ||
31cc861c GM |
2363 | To disable or change the way backups are made, |
2364 | @pxref{Backup Names,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e GM |
2365 | |
2366 | @cindex Backup files in a single directory | |
2367 | Beginning with Emacs 21.1, you can control where Emacs puts backup files | |
2368 | by customizing the variable @code{backup-directory-alist}. This | |
2369 | variable's value specifies that files whose names match specific patters | |
2370 | should have their backups put in certain directories. A typical use is | |
2371 | to add the element @code{("." . @var{dir})} to force Emacs to put | |
2372 | @strong{all} backup files in the directory @file{dir}. | |
2373 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2374 | @node Disabling auto-save-mode |
4009494e GM |
2375 | @section How do I disable @code{auto-save-mode}? |
2376 | @cindex Disabling @code{auto-save-mode} | |
2377 | @cindex Auto-saving | |
2378 | @cindex Saving at frequent intervals | |
2379 | ||
2380 | You probably don't want to do this, since auto-saving is useful, | |
2381 | especially when Emacs or your computer crashes while you are editing a | |
2382 | document. | |
2383 | ||
2384 | Instead, you might want to change the variable | |
2385 | @code{auto-save-interval}, which specifies how many keystrokes Emacs | |
2386 | waits before auto-saving. Increasing this value forces Emacs to wait | |
2387 | longer between auto-saves, which might annoy you less. | |
2388 | ||
2389 | You might also want to look into Sebastian Kremer's @code{auto-save} | |
2390 | package (@pxref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}). This | |
2391 | package also allows you to place all auto-save files in one directory, | |
2392 | such as @file{/tmp}. | |
2393 | ||
31cc861c GM |
2394 | To disable or change how @code{auto-save-mode} works, |
2395 | @pxref{Auto Save,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e | 2396 | |
f0bf7708 | 2397 | @node Going to a line by number |
4009494e GM |
2398 | @section How can I go to a certain line given its number? |
2399 | @cindex Going to a line by number | |
2400 | @cindex Compilation error messages | |
2401 | @cindex Recompilation | |
2402 | ||
2403 | Are you sure you indeed need to go to a line by its number? Perhaps all | |
2404 | you want is to display a line in your source file for which a compiler | |
2405 | printed an error message? If so, compiling from within Emacs using the | |
2406 | @kbd{M-x compile} and @kbd{M-x recompile} commands is a much more | |
2407 | effective way of doing that. Emacs automatically intercepts the compile | |
2408 | error messages, inserts them into a special buffer called | |
d29fbf47 | 2409 | @file{*compilation*}, and lets you visit the locus of each message in |
4009494e GM |
2410 | the source. Type @kbd{C-x `} to step through the offending lines one by |
2411 | one (starting with Emacs 22, you can also use @kbd{M-g M-p} and | |
2412 | @kbd{M-g M-n} to go to the previous and next matches directly). Click | |
2413 | @kbd{Mouse-2} or press @key{RET} on a message text in the | |
d29fbf47 | 2414 | @file{*compilation*} buffer to go to the line whose number is mentioned |
4009494e GM |
2415 | in that message. |
2416 | ||
2417 | But if you indeed need to go to a certain text line, type @kbd{M-g M-g} | |
2418 | (which is the default binding of the @code{goto-line} function starting | |
2419 | with Emacs 22). Emacs will prompt you for the number of the line and go | |
2420 | to that line. | |
2421 | ||
2422 | You can do this faster by invoking @code{goto-line} with a numeric | |
2423 | argument that is the line's number. For example, @kbd{C-u 286 M-g M-g} | |
2424 | will jump to line number 286 in the current buffer. | |
2425 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2426 | @node Modifying pull-down menus |
4009494e GM |
2427 | @section How can I create or modify new pull-down menu options? |
2428 | @cindex Pull-down menus, creating or modifying | |
2429 | @cindex Menus, creating or modifying | |
2430 | @cindex Creating new menu options | |
2431 | @cindex Modifying pull-down menus | |
2432 | @cindex Menus and keymaps | |
2433 | @cindex Keymaps and menus | |
2434 | ||
2435 | Each menu title (e.g., @samp{File}, @samp{Edit}, @samp{Buffers}) | |
2436 | represents a local or global keymap. Selecting a menu title with the | |
2437 | mouse displays that keymap's non-@code{nil} contents in the form of a menu. | |
2438 | ||
2439 | So to add a menu option to an existing menu, all you have to do is add a | |
2440 | new definition to the appropriate keymap. Adding a @samp{Forward Word} | |
2441 | item to the @samp{Edit} menu thus requires the following Lisp code: | |
2442 | ||
2443 | @lisp | |
2444 | (define-key global-map | |
2445 | [menu-bar edit forward] | |
2446 | '("Forward word" . forward-word)) | |
2447 | @end lisp | |
2448 | ||
2449 | @noindent | |
2450 | The first line adds the entry to the global keymap, which includes | |
2451 | global menu bar entries. Replacing the reference to @code{global-map} | |
2452 | with a local keymap would add this menu option only within a particular | |
2453 | mode. | |
2454 | ||
2455 | The second line describes the path from the menu-bar to the new entry. | |
2456 | Placing this menu entry underneath the @samp{File} menu would mean | |
2457 | changing the word @code{edit} in the second line to @code{file}. | |
2458 | ||
2459 | The third line is a cons cell whose first element is the title that will | |
2460 | be displayed, and whose second element is the function that will be | |
2461 | called when that menu option is invoked. | |
2462 | ||
2463 | To add a new menu, rather than a new option to an existing menu, we must | |
2464 | define an entirely new keymap: | |
2465 | ||
2466 | @lisp | |
2467 | (define-key global-map [menu-bar words] | |
2468 | (cons "Words" (make-sparse-keymap "Words"))) | |
2469 | @end lisp | |
2470 | ||
2471 | The above code creates a new sparse keymap, gives it the name | |
2472 | @samp{Words}, and attaches it to the global menu bar. Adding the | |
2473 | @samp{Forward Word} item to this new menu would thus require the | |
2474 | following code: | |
2475 | ||
2476 | @lisp | |
2477 | (define-key global-map | |
2478 | [menu-bar words forward] | |
2479 | '("Forward word" . forward-word)) | |
2480 | @end lisp | |
2481 | ||
2482 | @noindent | |
2483 | Note that because of the way keymaps work, menu options are displayed | |
2484 | with the more recently defined items at the top. Thus if you were to | |
2485 | define menu options @samp{foo}, @samp{bar}, and @samp{baz} (in that | |
2486 | order), the menu option @samp{baz} would appear at the top, and | |
2487 | @samp{foo} would be at the bottom. | |
2488 | ||
2489 | One way to avoid this problem is to use the function @code{define-key-after}, | |
2490 | which works the same as @code{define-key}, but lets you modify where items | |
2491 | appear. The following Lisp code would insert the @samp{Forward Word} | |
2492 | item in the @samp{Edit} menu immediately following the @samp{Undo} item: | |
2493 | ||
2494 | @lisp | |
2495 | (define-key-after | |
2496 | (lookup-key global-map [menu-bar edit]) | |
2497 | [forward] | |
2498 | '("Forward word" . forward-word) | |
2499 | 'undo) | |
2500 | @end lisp | |
2501 | ||
2502 | Note how the second and third arguments to @code{define-key-after} are | |
2503 | different from those of @code{define-key}, and that we have added a new | |
2504 | (final) argument, the function after which our new key should be | |
2505 | defined. | |
2506 | ||
2507 | To move a menu option from one position to another, simply evaluate | |
2508 | @code{define-key-after} with the appropriate final argument. | |
2509 | ||
2510 | More detailed information---and more examples of how to create and | |
2511 | modify menu options---are in the @cite{Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}, under | |
2512 | ``Menu Keymaps.'' (@xref{Emacs Lisp documentation}, for information on | |
2513 | this manual.) | |
2514 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2515 | @node Deleting menus and menu options |
4009494e GM |
2516 | @section How do I delete menus and menu options? |
2517 | @cindex Deleting menus and menu options | |
2518 | @cindex Menus, deleting | |
2519 | ||
2520 | The simplest way to remove a menu is to set its keymap to @samp{nil}. | |
2521 | For example, to delete the @samp{Words} menu (@pxref{Modifying pull-down | |
2522 | menus}), use: | |
2523 | ||
2524 | @lisp | |
2525 | (define-key global-map [menu-bar words] nil) | |
2526 | @end lisp | |
2527 | ||
2528 | Similarly, removing a menu option requires redefining a keymap entry to | |
2529 | @code{nil}. For example, to delete the @samp{Forward word} menu option | |
2530 | from the @samp{Edit} menu (we added it in @ref{Modifying pull-down | |
2531 | menus}), use: | |
2532 | ||
2533 | @lisp | |
2534 | (define-key global-map [menu-bar edit forward] nil) | |
2535 | @end lisp | |
2536 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2537 | @node Turning on syntax highlighting |
4009494e GM |
2538 | @section How do I turn on syntax highlighting? |
2539 | @cindex Syntax highlighting | |
2540 | @cindex @code{font-lock-mode} | |
2541 | @cindex Highlighting based on syntax | |
2542 | @cindex Colorizing text | |
2543 | @cindex FAQ, @code{font-lock-mode} | |
2544 | ||
2545 | @code{font-lock-mode} is the standard way to have Emacs perform syntax | |
2546 | highlighting in the current buffer. It is enabled by default in Emacs | |
2547 | 22.1 and later. | |
2548 | ||
2549 | With @code{font-lock-mode} turned on, different types of text will | |
2550 | appear in different colors. For instance, in a programming mode, | |
2551 | variables will appear in one face, keywords in a second, and comments in | |
2552 | a third. | |
2553 | ||
4009494e GM |
2554 | To turn @code{font-lock-mode} off within an existing buffer, use |
2555 | @kbd{M-x font-lock-mode @key{RET}}. | |
2556 | ||
2557 | In Emacs 21 and earlier versions, you could use the following code in | |
2558 | your @file{.emacs} file to turn on @code{font-lock-mode} globally: | |
2559 | ||
2560 | @lisp | |
2561 | (global-font-lock-mode 1) | |
2562 | @end lisp | |
2563 | ||
2564 | Highlighting a buffer with @code{font-lock-mode} can take quite a while, | |
2565 | and cause an annoying delay in display, so several features exist to | |
2566 | work around this. | |
2567 | ||
2568 | @cindex Just-In-Time syntax highlighting | |
2569 | In Emacs 21 and later, turning on @code{font-lock-mode} automatically | |
2570 | activates the new @dfn{Just-In-Time fontification} provided by | |
2571 | @code{jit-lock-mode}. @code{jit-lock-mode} defers the fontification of | |
2572 | portions of buffer until you actually need to see them, and can also | |
2573 | fontify while Emacs is idle. This makes display of the visible portion | |
2574 | of a buffer almost instantaneous. For details about customizing | |
2575 | @code{jit-lock-mode}, type @kbd{C-h f jit-lock-mode @key{RET}}. | |
2576 | ||
2577 | @cindex Levels of syntax highlighting | |
2578 | @cindex Decoration level, in @code{font-lock-mode} | |
2579 | In versions of Emacs before 21, different levels of decoration are | |
2580 | available, from slight to gaudy. More decoration means you need to wait | |
2581 | more time for a buffer to be fontified (or a faster machine). To | |
2582 | control how decorated your buffers should become, set the value of | |
2583 | @code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} in your @file{.emacs} file, with a | |
2584 | @code{nil} value indicating default (usually minimum) decoration, and a | |
2585 | @code{t} value indicating the maximum decoration. For the gaudiest | |
2586 | possible look, then, include the line | |
2587 | ||
2588 | @lisp | |
2589 | (setq font-lock-maximum-decoration t) | |
2590 | @end lisp | |
2591 | ||
2592 | @noindent | |
2593 | in your @file{.emacs} file. You can also set this variable such that | |
2594 | different modes are highlighted in a different ways; for more | |
2595 | information, see the documentation for | |
2596 | @code{font-lock-maximum-decoration} with @kbd{C-h v} (or @kbd{M-x | |
2597 | describe-variable @key{RET}}). | |
2598 | ||
2599 | Also see the documentation for the function @code{font-lock-mode}, | |
2600 | available by typing @kbd{C-h f font-lock-mode} (@kbd{M-x | |
2601 | describe-function @key{RET} font-lock-mode @key{RET}}). | |
2602 | ||
2603 | To print buffers with the faces (i.e., colors and fonts) intact, use | |
2604 | @kbd{M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces} or @kbd{M-x | |
2605 | ps-print-region-with-faces}. You will need a way to send text to a | |
2606 | PostScript printer, or a PostScript interpreter such as Ghostscript; | |
2607 | consult the documentation of the variables @code{ps-printer-name}, | |
2608 | @code{ps-lpr-command}, and @code{ps-lpr-switches} for more details. | |
2609 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2610 | @node Scrolling only one line |
4009494e GM |
2611 | @section How can I force Emacs to scroll only one line when I move past the bottom of the screen? |
2612 | @cindex Scrolling only one line | |
2613 | @cindex Reducing the increment when scrolling | |
2614 | ||
2615 | Customize the @code{scroll-conservatively} variable with @kbd{M-x | |
2616 | customize-variable @key{RET} scroll-conservatively @key{RET}} and set it | |
2617 | to a large value like, say, 10000. For an explanation of what this | |
31cc861c | 2618 | means, @pxref{Auto Scrolling,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
2619 | |
2620 | Alternatively, use the following Lisp form in your @file{.emacs}: | |
2621 | ||
2622 | @lisp | |
2623 | (setq scroll-conservatively most-positive-fixnum) | |
2624 | @end lisp | |
2625 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2626 | @node Editing MS-DOS files |
4009494e GM |
2627 | @section How can I edit MS-DOS files using Emacs? |
2628 | @cindex Editing MS-DOS files | |
2629 | @cindex MS-DOS files, editing | |
2630 | @cindex Microsoft files, editing | |
2631 | @cindex Windows files, editing | |
2632 | ||
2633 | As of Emacs 20, detection and handling of MS-DOS (and Windows) files is | |
2634 | performed transparently. You can open MS-DOS files on a Unix system, | |
2635 | edit it, and save it without having to worry about the file format. | |
2636 | ||
2637 | When editing an MS-DOS style file, the mode line will indicate that it | |
2638 | is a DOS file. On Unix and GNU/Linux systems, and also on a Macintosh, | |
2639 | the string @samp{(DOS)} will appear near the left edge of the mode line; | |
2640 | on DOS and Windows, where the DOS end-of-line (EOL) format is the | |
2641 | default, a backslash (@samp{\}) will appear in the mode line. | |
2642 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2643 | @node Filling paragraphs with a single space |
4009494e GM |
2644 | @section How can I tell Emacs to fill paragraphs with a single space after each period? |
2645 | @cindex One space following periods | |
2646 | @cindex Single space following periods | |
2647 | @cindex Periods, one space following | |
2648 | ||
2649 | Add the following line to your @file{.emacs} file: | |
2650 | ||
2651 | @lisp | |
2652 | (setq sentence-end-double-space nil) | |
2653 | @end lisp | |
2654 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2655 | @node Escape sequences in shell output |
4009494e GM |
2656 | @section Why these strange escape sequences from @code{ls} from the Shell mode? |
2657 | @cindex Escape sequences in @code{ls} output | |
2658 | @cindex @code{ls} in Shell mode | |
2659 | ||
d99aaebd CY |
2660 | In many systems, @code{ls} is aliased to @samp{ls --color}, which |
2661 | prints using ANSI color escape sequences. Emacs version 21.1 and | |
2662 | later includes the @code{ansi-color} package, which lets Shell mode | |
2663 | recognize these escape sequences. In Emacs 23.2 and later, the | |
2664 | package is enabled by default; in earlier versions you can enable it | |
2665 | by typing @kbd{M-x ansi-color-for-comint-mode} in the Shell buffer, or | |
2666 | by adding @code{(add-hook 'shell-mode-hook | |
2667 | 'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)} to your init file. | |
2668 | ||
2669 | In Emacs versions before 21.1, the @code{ansi-color} package is not | |
2670 | included. In that case, you need to unalias @code{ls} for interactive | |
2671 | shells running in Emacs; this can be done by checking the @code{EMACS} | |
2672 | variable in the environment. | |
4009494e | 2673 | |
f0bf7708 | 2674 | @node Fullscreen mode on MS-Windows |
4009494e GM |
2675 | @section How can I start Emacs in fullscreen mode on MS-Windows? |
2676 | @cindex Maximize frame | |
2677 | @cindex Fullscreen mode | |
2678 | ||
2679 | Use the function @code{w32-send-sys-command}. For example, you can | |
2680 | put the following in your @file{.emacs} file: | |
2681 | ||
2682 | @lisp | |
98bd6b32 GM |
2683 | (add-hook 'emacs-startup-hook |
2684 | (lambda () (w32-send-sys-command ?\xF030))) | |
4009494e GM |
2685 | @end lisp |
2686 | ||
2687 | To avoid the slightly distracting visual effect of Emacs starting with | |
2688 | its default frame size and then growing to fullscreen, you can add an | |
31cc861c GM |
2689 | @samp{Emacs.Geometry} entry to the Windows registry settings. |
2690 | @xref{X Resources,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e GM |
2691 | |
2692 | To compute the correct values for width and height, first maximize the | |
2693 | Emacs frame and then evaluate @code{(frame-height)} and | |
2694 | @code{(frame-width)} with @kbd{M-:}. | |
2695 | ||
2696 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 2697 | @node Bugs and problems |
4009494e GM |
2698 | @chapter Bugs and problems |
2699 | @cindex Bugs and problems | |
2700 | ||
2701 | The Emacs manual lists some common kinds of trouble users could get | |
2702 | into, see @ref{Lossage, , Dealing with Emacs Trouble, emacs, The GNU | |
2703 | Emacs Manual}, so you might look there if the problem you encounter | |
2704 | isn't described in this chapter. If you decide you've discovered a bug, | |
2705 | see @ref{Bugs, , Reporting Bugs, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}, for | |
2706 | instructions how to do that. | |
2707 | ||
2708 | The file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} in the Emacs distribution lists various | |
2709 | known problems with building and using Emacs on specific platforms; | |
b59a8457 | 2710 | type @kbd{C-h C-p} to read it. |
4009494e GM |
2711 | |
2712 | @menu | |
2713 | * Problems with very large files:: | |
2714 | * ^M in the shell buffer:: | |
b59a8457 | 2715 | * Problems with Shell Mode:: |
4009494e | 2716 | * Termcap/Terminfo entries for Emacs:: |
4009494e GM |
2717 | * Errors with init files:: |
2718 | * Emacs ignores X resources:: | |
2719 | * Emacs ignores frame parameters:: | |
4009494e GM |
2720 | * Editing files with $ in the name:: |
2721 | * Shell mode loses the current directory:: | |
2722 | * Security risks with Emacs:: | |
2723 | * Dired claims that no file is on this line:: | |
2724 | @end menu | |
2725 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2726 | @node Problems with very large files |
4009494e GM |
2727 | @section Does Emacs have problems with files larger than 8 megabytes? |
2728 | @cindex Very large files, opening | |
2729 | @cindex Large files, opening | |
2730 | @cindex Opening very large files | |
2731 | @cindex Maximum file size | |
2732 | @cindex Files, maximum size | |
2733 | ||
2734 | Old versions (i.e., anything before 19.29) of Emacs had problems editing | |
2735 | files larger than 8 megabytes. In versions 19.29 and later, the maximum | |
d831c9b8 | 2736 | buffer size is at least @math{2^{27}-1}, or 134,217,727 bytes, or 132 MBytes. |
16f6287e GM |
2737 | The maximum buffer size on 32-bit machines increased to 256 MBytes in |
2738 | Emacs 22, and again to 512 MBytes in Emacs 23.2. | |
4009494e | 2739 | |
b59a8457 GM |
2740 | Emacs compiled on a 64-bit machine can handle much larger buffers. |
2741 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2742 | @node ^M in the shell buffer |
4009494e GM |
2743 | @section How do I get rid of @samp{^M} or echoed commands in my shell buffer? |
2744 | @cindex Shell buffer, echoed commands and @samp{^M} in | |
2745 | @cindex Echoed commands in @code{shell-mode} | |
2746 | ||
2747 | Try typing @kbd{M-x shell-strip-ctrl-m @key{RET}} while in @code{shell-mode} to | |
2748 | make them go away. If that doesn't work, you have several options: | |
2749 | ||
2750 | For @code{tcsh}, put this in your @file{.cshrc} (or @file{.tcshrc}) | |
2751 | file: | |
2752 | ||
2753 | @example | |
2754 | if ($?EMACS) then | |
2755 | if ("$EMACS" =~ /*) then | |
2756 | if ($?tcsh) unset edit | |
2757 | stty nl | |
2758 | endif | |
2759 | endif | |
2760 | @end example | |
2761 | ||
2762 | Or put this in your @file{.emacs_tcsh} or @file{~/.emacs.d/init_tcsh.sh} file: | |
2763 | ||
2764 | @example | |
2765 | unset edit | |
2766 | stty nl | |
2767 | @end example | |
2768 | ||
2769 | Alternatively, use @code{csh} in your shell buffers instead of | |
2770 | @code{tcsh}. One way is: | |
2771 | ||
2772 | @lisp | |
2773 | (setq explicit-shell-file-name "/bin/csh") | |
2774 | @end lisp | |
2775 | ||
2776 | @noindent | |
2777 | and another is to do this in your @file{.cshrc} (or @file{.tcshrc}) | |
2778 | file: | |
2779 | ||
2780 | @example | |
2781 | setenv ESHELL /bin/csh | |
2782 | @end example | |
2783 | ||
2784 | @noindent | |
2785 | (You must start Emacs over again with the environment variable properly | |
2786 | set for this to take effect.) | |
2787 | ||
2788 | You can also set the @code{ESHELL} environment variable in Emacs Lisp | |
2789 | with the following Lisp form, | |
2790 | ||
2791 | @lisp | |
2792 | (setenv "ESHELL" "/bin/csh") | |
2793 | @end lisp | |
2794 | ||
2795 | The above solutions try to prevent the shell from producing the | |
2796 | @samp{^M} characters in the first place. If this is not possible | |
2797 | (e.g., if you use a Windows shell), you can get Emacs to remove these | |
2798 | characters from the buffer by adding this to your @file{.emacs} init | |
2799 | file: | |
2800 | ||
2801 | @smalllisp | |
2802 | (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions 'shell-strip-ctrl-m) | |
2803 | @end smalllisp | |
2804 | ||
2805 | On a related note: if your shell is echoing your input line in the shell | |
2806 | buffer, you might want to customize the @code{comint-process-echoes} | |
2807 | variable in your shell buffers, or try the following command in your | |
2808 | shell start-up file: | |
2809 | ||
2810 | @example | |
2811 | stty -icrnl -onlcr -echo susp ^Z | |
2812 | @end example | |
2813 | ||
b59a8457 | 2814 | @node Problems with Shell Mode |
4009494e GM |
2815 | @section Why do I get an error message when I try to run @kbd{M-x shell}? |
2816 | ||
b59a8457 | 2817 | @cindex Shell Mode, problems |
4009494e | 2818 | @cindex @code{explicit-shell-file-name} |
b59a8457 GM |
2819 | This might happen because Emacs tries to look for the shell in a wrong |
2820 | place. If you know where your shell executable is, set the variable | |
2821 | @code{explicit-shell-file-name} in your @file{.emacs} file to point to | |
2822 | its full file name. | |
4009494e GM |
2823 | |
2824 | @cindex Antivirus programs, and Shell Mode | |
b59a8457 GM |
2825 | Some people have trouble with Shell Mode on MS-Windows because of |
2826 | intrusive antivirus software; disabling the resident antivirus program | |
2827 | solves the problems in those cases. | |
4009494e | 2828 | |
f0bf7708 | 2829 | @node Termcap/Terminfo entries for Emacs |
4009494e GM |
2830 | @section Where is the termcap/terminfo entry for terminal type @samp{emacs}? |
2831 | @cindex Termcap | |
2832 | @cindex Terminfo | |
2833 | @cindex Emacs entries for termcap/terminfo | |
2834 | ||
2835 | The termcap entry for terminal type @samp{emacs} is ordinarily put in | |
2836 | the @samp{TERMCAP} environment variable of subshells. It may help in | |
2837 | certain situations (e.g., using rlogin from shell buffer) to add an | |
2838 | entry for @samp{emacs} to the system-wide termcap file. Here is a | |
2839 | correct termcap entry for @samp{emacs}: | |
2840 | ||
2841 | @example | |
2842 | emacs:tc=unknown: | |
2843 | @end example | |
2844 | ||
2845 | To make a terminfo entry for @samp{emacs}, use @code{tic} or | |
2846 | @code{captoinfo}. You need to generate | |
2847 | @file{/usr/lib/terminfo/e/emacs}. It may work to simply copy | |
2848 | @file{/usr/lib/terminfo/d/dumb} to @file{/usr/lib/terminfo/e/emacs}. | |
2849 | ||
2850 | Having a termcap/terminfo entry will not enable the use of full screen | |
5ace6c29 | 2851 | programs in shell buffers. Use @kbd{M-x term} for that instead. |
4009494e GM |
2852 | |
2853 | A workaround to the problem of missing termcap/terminfo entries is to | |
2854 | change terminal type @samp{emacs} to type @samp{dumb} or @samp{unknown} | |
2855 | in your shell start up file. @code{csh} users could put this in their | |
2856 | @file{.cshrc} files: | |
2857 | ||
2858 | @example | |
2859 | if ("$term" == emacs) set term=dumb | |
2860 | @end example | |
2861 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2862 | @node Errors with init files |
4009494e GM |
2863 | @section Why does Emacs say @samp{Error in init file}? |
2864 | @cindex Error in @file{.emacs} | |
2865 | @cindex Error in init file | |
2866 | @cindex Init file, errors in | |
2867 | @cindex @file{.emacs} file, errors in | |
2868 | @cindex Debugging @file{.emacs} file | |
2869 | ||
2870 | An error occurred while loading either your @file{.emacs} file or the | |
85b438b7 | 2871 | system-wide file @file{site-lisp/default.el}. Emacs 21.1 and later pops the |
4009494e GM |
2872 | @file{*Messages*} buffer, and puts there some additional information |
2873 | about the error, to provide some hints for debugging. | |
2874 | ||
2875 | For information on how to debug your @file{.emacs} file, see | |
2876 | @ref{Debugging a customization file}. | |
2877 | ||
2878 | It may be the case that you need to load some package first, or use a | |
2879 | hook that will be evaluated after the package is loaded. A common case | |
2880 | of this is explained in @ref{Terminal setup code works after Emacs has | |
2881 | begun}. | |
2882 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2883 | @node Emacs ignores X resources |
4009494e GM |
2884 | @section Why does Emacs ignore my X resources (my .Xdefaults file)? |
2885 | @cindex X resources being ignored | |
2886 | @cindex Ignored X resources | |
2887 | @cindex @file{.Xdefaults} | |
2888 | ||
2889 | As of version 19, Emacs searches for X resources in the files specified | |
2890 | by the following environment variables: | |
2891 | ||
2892 | @itemize @bullet | |
2893 | ||
2894 | @item @code{XFILESEARCHPATH} | |
2895 | @item @code{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH} | |
2896 | @item @code{XAPPLRESDIR} | |
2897 | ||
2898 | @end itemize | |
2899 | ||
2900 | This emulates the functionality provided by programs written using the | |
2901 | Xt toolkit. | |
2902 | ||
2903 | @code{XFILESEARCHPATH} and @code{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH} should be a list | |
2904 | of file names separated by colons. @code{XAPPLRESDIR} should be a list | |
2905 | of directory names separated by colons. | |
2906 | ||
2907 | Emacs searches for X resources: | |
2908 | ||
2909 | @enumerate | |
2910 | ||
2911 | @item | |
2912 | specified on the command line, with the @samp{-xrm RESOURCESTRING} option, | |
2913 | ||
2914 | @item | |
2915 | then in the value of the @samp{XENVIRONMENT} environment variable, | |
2916 | ||
2917 | @itemize @minus | |
2918 | ||
2919 | @item | |
2920 | or if that is unset, in the file named | |
2921 | @file{~/.Xdefaults-@var{hostname}} if it exists (where @var{hostname} is | |
2922 | the name of the machine Emacs is running on), | |
2923 | ||
2924 | @end itemize | |
2925 | ||
2926 | @item | |
2927 | then in the screen-specific and server-wide resource properties provided | |
2928 | by the server, | |
2929 | ||
2930 | @itemize @minus | |
2931 | ||
2932 | @item | |
2933 | or if those properties are unset, in the file named @file{~/.Xdefaults} | |
2934 | if it exists, | |
2935 | ||
2936 | @end itemize | |
2937 | ||
2938 | @item | |
2939 | then in the files listed in @samp{XUSERFILESEARCHPATH}, | |
2940 | ||
2941 | @itemize @minus | |
2942 | ||
2943 | @item | |
2944 | or in files named @file{@var{lang}/Emacs} in directories listed in | |
2945 | @samp{XAPPLRESDIR} (where @var{lang} is the value of the @code{LANG} | |
2946 | environment variable), if the @samp{LANG} environment variable is set, | |
2947 | @item | |
2948 | or in files named Emacs in the directories listed in @samp{XAPPLRESDIR} | |
2949 | @item | |
2950 | or in @file{~/@var{lang}/Emacs} (if the @code{LANG} environment variable | |
2951 | is set), | |
2952 | @item | |
2953 | or in @file{~/Emacs}, | |
2954 | ||
2955 | @end itemize | |
2956 | ||
2957 | @item | |
2958 | then in the files listed in @code{XFILESEARCHPATH}. | |
2959 | ||
2960 | @end enumerate | |
2961 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2962 | @node Emacs ignores frame parameters |
4009494e GM |
2963 | @section Why don't my customizations of the frame parameters work? |
2964 | @cindex Frame parameters | |
2965 | ||
2966 | This probably happens because you have set the frame parameters in the | |
2967 | variable @code{initial-frame-alist}. That variable holds parameters | |
2968 | used only for the first frame created when Emacs starts. To customize | |
2969 | the parameters of all frames, change the variable | |
2970 | @code{default-frame-alist} instead. | |
2971 | ||
2972 | These two variables exist because many users customize the initial frame | |
2973 | in a special way. For example, you could determine the position and | |
2974 | size of the initial frame, but would like to control the geometry of the | |
2975 | other frames by individually positioning each one of them. | |
2976 | ||
2977 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2978 | @node Editing files with $ in the name |
4009494e GM |
2979 | @section How do I edit a file with a @samp{$} in its name? |
2980 | @cindex Editing files with @samp{$} in the name | |
2981 | @cindex @samp{$} in file names | |
2982 | @cindex File names containing @samp{$}, editing | |
2983 | ||
2984 | When entering a file name in the minibuffer, Emacs will attempt to expand | |
2985 | a @samp{$} followed by a word as an environment variable. To suppress | |
2986 | this behavior, type @kbd{$$} instead. | |
2987 | ||
f0bf7708 | 2988 | @node Shell mode loses the current directory |
4009494e GM |
2989 | @section Why does shell mode lose track of the shell's current directory? |
2990 | @cindex Current directory and @code{shell-mode} | |
2991 | @cindex @code{shell-mode} and current directory | |
2992 | @cindex Directory, current in @code{shell-mode} | |
2993 | ||
2994 | Emacs has no way of knowing when the shell actually changes its | |
2995 | directory. This is an intrinsic limitation of Unix. So it tries to | |
2996 | guess by recognizing @samp{cd} commands. If you type @kbd{cd} followed | |
2997 | by a directory name with a variable reference (@kbd{cd $HOME/bin}) or | |
2998 | with a shell metacharacter (@kbd{cd ../lib*}), Emacs will fail to | |
2999 | correctly guess the shell's new current directory. A huge variety of | |
3000 | fixes and enhancements to shell mode for this problem have been written | |
3001 | to handle this problem (@pxref{Finding a package with particular | |
3002 | functionality}). | |
3003 | ||
3004 | You can tell Emacs the shell's current directory with the command | |
3005 | @kbd{M-x dirs}. | |
3006 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3007 | @node Security risks with Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3008 | @section Are there any security risks in Emacs? |
3009 | @cindex Security with Emacs | |
3010 | @cindex @samp{movemail} and security | |
3011 | @cindex @code{file-local-variable} and security | |
3012 | @cindex Synthetic X events and security | |
3013 | @cindex X events and security | |
3014 | ||
3015 | @itemize @bullet | |
3016 | ||
3017 | @item | |
3018 | The @file{movemail} incident. (No, this is not a risk.) | |
3019 | ||
3020 | In his book @cite{The Cuckoo's Egg}, Cliff Stoll describes this in | |
3021 | chapter 4. The site at LBL had installed the @file{/etc/movemail} | |
3022 | program setuid root. (As of version 19, @file{movemail} is in your | |
3023 | architecture-specific directory; type @kbd{C-h v exec-directory | |
3024 | @key{RET}} to see what it is.) Since @code{movemail} had not been | |
3025 | designed for this situation, a security hole was created and users could | |
3026 | get root privileges. | |
3027 | ||
3028 | @code{movemail} has since been changed so that this security hole will | |
3029 | not exist, even if it is installed setuid root. However, | |
3030 | @code{movemail} no longer needs to be installed setuid root, which | |
3031 | should eliminate this particular risk. | |
3032 | ||
3033 | We have heard unverified reports that the 1988 Internet worm took | |
3034 | advantage of this configuration problem. | |
3035 | ||
3036 | @item | |
3037 | The @code{file-local-variable} feature. (Yes, a risk, but easy to | |
3038 | change.) | |
3039 | ||
3040 | There is an Emacs feature that allows the setting of local values for | |
3041 | variables when editing a file by including specially formatted text near | |
3042 | the end of the file. This feature also includes the ability to have | |
3043 | arbitrary Emacs Lisp code evaluated when the file is visited. | |
3044 | Obviously, there is a potential for Trojan horses to exploit this | |
3045 | feature. | |
3046 | ||
3047 | As of Emacs 22, Emacs has a list of local variables that are known to | |
3048 | be safe to set. If a file tries to set any variable outside this | |
3049 | list, it asks the user to confirm whether the variables should be set. | |
3050 | You can also tell Emacs whether to allow the evaluation of Emacs Lisp | |
3051 | code found at the bottom of files by setting the variable | |
3052 | @code{enable-local-eval}. | |
3053 | ||
31cc861c | 3054 | @xref{File Variables,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
3055 | |
3056 | @item | |
3057 | Synthetic X events. (Yes, a risk; use @samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1} or | |
3058 | better.) | |
3059 | ||
3060 | Emacs accepts synthetic X events generated by the @code{SendEvent} | |
3061 | request as though they were regular events. As a result, if you are | |
3062 | using the trivial host-based authentication, other users who can open X | |
3063 | connections to your X workstation can make your Emacs process do | |
3064 | anything, including run other processes with your privileges. | |
3065 | ||
3066 | The only fix for this is to prevent other users from being able to open | |
3067 | X connections. The standard way to prevent this is to use a real | |
3068 | authentication mechanism, such as @samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1}. If using | |
3069 | the @code{xauth} program has any effect, then you are probably using | |
3070 | @samp{MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1}. Your site may be using a superior | |
3071 | authentication method; ask your system administrator. | |
3072 | ||
3073 | If real authentication is not a possibility, you may be satisfied by | |
3074 | just allowing hosts access for brief intervals while you start your X | |
3075 | programs, then removing the access. This reduces the risk somewhat by | |
3076 | narrowing the time window when hostile users would have access, but | |
3077 | @emph{does not eliminate the risk}. | |
3078 | ||
3079 | On most computers running Unix and X, you enable and disable | |
3080 | access using the @code{xhost} command. To allow all hosts access to | |
3081 | your X server, use | |
3082 | ||
3083 | @example | |
3084 | xhost + | |
3085 | @end example | |
3086 | ||
3087 | @noindent | |
3088 | at the shell prompt, which (on an HP machine, at least) produces the | |
3089 | following message: | |
3090 | ||
3091 | @example | |
3092 | access control disabled, clients can connect from any host | |
3093 | @end example | |
3094 | ||
3095 | To deny all hosts access to your X server (except those explicitly | |
3096 | allowed by name), use | |
3097 | ||
3098 | @example | |
3099 | xhost - | |
3100 | @end example | |
3101 | ||
3102 | On the test HP computer, this command generated the following message: | |
3103 | ||
3104 | @example | |
3105 | access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect | |
3106 | @end example | |
3107 | ||
3108 | @end itemize | |
3109 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3110 | @node Dired claims that no file is on this line |
4009494e GM |
3111 | @section Dired says, @samp{no file on this line} when I try to do something. |
3112 | @cindex Dired does not see a file | |
3113 | ||
4009494e GM |
3114 | Dired uses a regular expression to find the beginning of a file name. |
3115 | In a long Unix-style directory listing (@samp{ls -l}), the file name | |
3116 | starts after the date. The regexp has thus been written to look for the | |
b59a8457 GM |
3117 | date. By default, it should understand dates and times regardless of |
3118 | the language, but if your directory listing has an unusual format, Dired | |
3119 | may get confused. | |
4009494e GM |
3120 | |
3121 | There are two approaches to solving this. The first one involves | |
b59a8457 GM |
3122 | setting things up so that @samp{ls -l} outputs a more standard format. |
3123 | See your OS manual for more information. | |
4009494e GM |
3124 | |
3125 | The second approach involves changing the regular expression used by | |
3126 | dired, @code{directory-listing-before-filename-regexp}. | |
3127 | ||
3128 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 3129 | @node Compiling and installing Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3130 | @chapter Compiling and installing Emacs |
3131 | @cindex Compiling and installing Emacs | |
3132 | ||
3133 | @menu | |
3134 | * Installing Emacs:: | |
4009494e | 3135 | * Problems building Emacs:: |
4009494e GM |
3136 | @end menu |
3137 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3138 | @node Installing Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3139 | @section How do I install Emacs? |
3140 | @cindex Installing Emacs | |
3141 | @cindex Unix systems, installing Emacs on | |
3142 | @cindex Downloading and installing Emacs | |
4009494e GM |
3143 | @cindex Building Emacs from source |
3144 | @cindex Source code, building Emacs from | |
4009494e GM |
3145 | |
3146 | This answer is meant for users of Unix and Unix-like systems. Users of | |
3147 | other operating systems should see the series of questions beginning | |
3148 | with @ref{Emacs for MS-DOS}, which describe where to get non-Unix source | |
3149 | and binaries, and how to install Emacs on those systems. | |
3150 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
3151 | Most GNU/Linux distributions provide pre-built Emacs packages. |
3152 | If Emacs is not installed already, you can install it by running (as | |
3153 | root) a command such as @samp{yum install emacs} (Red Hat and | |
3154 | derivatives) or @samp{apt-get install emacs} (Debian and derivatives). | |
3155 | ||
3156 | If you want to compile Emacs yourself, read the file @file{INSTALL} in | |
3157 | the source distribution. In brief: | |
4009494e GM |
3158 | |
3159 | @itemize @bullet | |
3160 | ||
3161 | @item | |
b59a8457 GM |
3162 | First download the Emacs sources. @xref{Current GNU distributions}, for |
3163 | a list of ftp sites that make them available. On @file{ftp.gnu.org}, | |
3164 | the main GNU distribution site, sources are available as | |
4009494e | 3165 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3166 | @c Don't include VER in the file name, because pretests are not there. |
3167 | @uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/emacs/emacs-VERSION.tar.gz} | |
4009494e | 3168 | |
1df7defd | 3169 | (Replace @samp{VERSION} with the relevant version number, e.g., @samp{23.1}.) |
4009494e | 3170 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3171 | @item |
3172 | Next uncompress and extract the source files. This requires | |
3173 | the @code{gzip} and @code{tar} programs, which are standard utilities. | |
3174 | If your system does not have them, these can also be downloaded from | |
4009494e GM |
3175 | @file{ftp.gnu.org}. |
3176 | ||
b59a8457 | 3177 | GNU @code{tar} can uncompress and extract in a single-step: |
4009494e GM |
3178 | |
3179 | @example | |
b59a8457 | 3180 | tar -zxvf emacs-VERSION.tar.gz |
4009494e GM |
3181 | @end example |
3182 | ||
4009494e | 3183 | @item |
b59a8457 GM |
3184 | At this point, the Emacs sources should be sitting in a directory called |
3185 | @file{emacs-VERSION}. On most common Unix and Unix-like systems, | |
3186 | you should be able to compile Emacs with the following commands: | |
4009494e GM |
3187 | |
3188 | @example | |
b59a8457 | 3189 | cd emacs-VERSION |
4009494e GM |
3190 | ./configure # configure Emacs for your particular system |
3191 | make # use Makefile to build components, then Emacs | |
3192 | @end example | |
3193 | ||
3194 | If the @code{make} completes successfully, the odds are fairly good that | |
3195 | the build has gone well. (@xref{Problems building Emacs}, if you weren't | |
3196 | successful.) | |
3197 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
3198 | @item |
3199 | By default, Emacs is installed in @file{/usr/local}. To actually | |
3200 | install files, become the superuser and type | |
4009494e GM |
3201 | |
3202 | @example | |
3203 | make install | |
3204 | @end example | |
3205 | ||
3206 | Note that @samp{make install} will overwrite @file{/usr/local/bin/emacs} | |
b59a8457 | 3207 | and any Emacs Info files that might be in @file{/usr/local/share/info/}. |
4009494e | 3208 | |
b59a8457 | 3209 | @end itemize |
4009494e | 3210 | |
f0bf7708 | 3211 | @node Problems building Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3212 | @section What should I do if I have trouble building Emacs? |
3213 | @cindex Problems building Emacs | |
3214 | @cindex Errors when building Emacs | |
3215 | ||
3216 | First look in the file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} (where you unpack the Emacs | |
3217 | source) to see if there is already a solution for your problem. Next, | |
3218 | look for other questions in this FAQ that have to do with Emacs | |
3219 | installation and compilation problems. | |
3220 | ||
3221 | If you'd like to have someone look at your problem and help solve it, | |
3222 | see @ref{Help installing Emacs}. | |
3223 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
3224 | If you cannot find a solution in the documentation, please report the |
3225 | problem (@pxref{Reporting bugs}). | |
4009494e | 3226 | |
4009494e GM |
3227 | |
3228 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 3229 | @node Finding Emacs and related packages |
4009494e GM |
3230 | @chapter Finding Emacs and related packages |
3231 | @cindex Finding Emacs and related packages | |
3232 | ||
3233 | @menu | |
3234 | * Finding Emacs on the Internet:: | |
3235 | * Finding a package with particular functionality:: | |
3236 | * Packages that do not come with Emacs:: | |
dae39d9c | 3237 | * Spell-checkers:: |
4009494e GM |
3238 | * Current GNU distributions:: |
3239 | * Difference between Emacs and XEmacs:: | |
8a76755b | 3240 | * Emacs for minimalists:: |
4009494e | 3241 | * Emacs for MS-DOS:: |
b59a8457 | 3242 | * Emacs for MS-Windows:: |
93e2d996 | 3243 | * Emacs for GNUstep:: |
b59a8457 | 3244 | * Emacs for Mac OS X:: |
4009494e GM |
3245 | @end menu |
3246 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3247 | @node Finding Emacs on the Internet |
f6adc23c | 3248 | @section Where can I get Emacs on the net? |
4009494e | 3249 | @cindex Finding Emacs on the Internet |
f6adc23c | 3250 | @cindex Downloading Emacs |
4009494e | 3251 | |
85b438b7 GM |
3252 | Information on downloading Emacs is available at |
3253 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/, the Emacs home-page}. | |
3254 | ||
4009494e GM |
3255 | @xref{Installing Emacs}, for information on how to obtain and build the latest |
3256 | version of Emacs, and see @ref{Current GNU distributions}, for a list of | |
3257 | archive sites that make GNU software available. | |
3258 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3259 | @node Finding a package with particular functionality |
4009494e GM |
3260 | @section How do I find a Emacs Lisp package that does XXX? |
3261 | @cindex Package, finding | |
3262 | @cindex Finding an Emacs Lisp package | |
3263 | @cindex Functionality, finding a particular package | |
3264 | ||
3265 | First of all, you should check to make sure that the package isn't | |
3266 | already available. For example, typing @kbd{M-x apropos @key{RET} | |
4982861a GM |
3267 | python @key{RET}} lists all functions and variables containing the |
3268 | string @samp{python}. | |
4009494e GM |
3269 | |
3270 | It is also possible that the package is on your system, but has not been | |
3271 | loaded. To see which packages are available for loading, look through | |
3272 | your computer's lisp directory (@pxref{File-name conventions}). The Lisp | |
3273 | source to most packages contains a short description of how they | |
3274 | should be loaded, invoked, and configured---so before you use or | |
3275 | modify a Lisp package, see if the author has provided any hints in the | |
3276 | source code. | |
3277 | ||
3278 | The command @kbd{C-h p} (@code{finder-by-keyword}) allows you to browse | |
3279 | the constituent Emacs packages. | |
3280 | ||
3281 | For advice on how to find extra packages that are not part of Emacs, | |
3282 | see @ref{Packages that do not come with Emacs}. | |
3283 | ||
0030ec15 | 3284 | @c Note that M-x view-external-packages references this node. |
f0bf7708 | 3285 | @node Packages that do not come with Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3286 | @section Where can I get Emacs Lisp packages that don't come with Emacs? |
3287 | @cindex Unbundled packages | |
3288 | @cindex Finding other packages | |
3289 | @cindex Lisp packages that do not come with Emacs | |
3290 | @cindex Packages, those that do not come with Emacs | |
3291 | @cindex Emacs Lisp List | |
3292 | @cindex Emacs Lisp Archive | |
3293 | ||
ff4a5a41 GM |
3294 | The easiest way to add more features to your Emacs is to use the |
3295 | command @kbd{M-x list-packages}. This contacts the | |
3296 | @uref{http:///elpa.gnu.org, GNU ELPA} (``Emacs Lisp Package Archive'') | |
3297 | server and fetches the list of additional packages that it offers. | |
3298 | These are GNU packages that are available for use with Emacs, but are | |
3299 | distributed separately from Emacs itself, for reasons of space, etc. | |
3300 | You can browse the resulting @file{*Packages*} buffer to see what is | |
3301 | available, and then Emacs can automatically download and install the | |
3302 | packages that you select. @xref{Packages,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
3303 | ||
3304 | There are other, non-GNU, Emacs Lisp package servers, including: | |
3305 | @uref{http://melpa.milkbox.net, MELPA}; and | |
3306 | @uref{http://marmalade-repo.org, Marmalade}. To use additional | |
3307 | package servers, customize the @code{package-archives} variable. | |
3308 | Be aware that installing a package can run arbitrary code, so only add | |
3309 | sources that you trust. | |
3310 | ||
3311 | The @uref{https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-emacs-sources, | |
3312 | GNU Emacs sources mailing list}, which is gatewayed to the | |
3313 | @uref{news:gnu.emacs.sources, Emacs sources newsgroup} (although the | |
3314 | connection between the two can be unreliable) is an official place | |
3315 | where people can post or announce their extensions to Emacs. | |
3316 | ||
3317 | The @uref{http://emacswiki.org, Emacs Wiki} contains pointers to some | |
3318 | additional extensions. @uref{http://wikemacs.org, WikEmacs} is an | |
3319 | alternative wiki for Emacs. | |
3320 | ||
3321 | @uref{http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/ell.html, The Emacs | |
3322 | Lisp List (ELL)}, has pointers to many Emacs Lisp files, but at time | |
3323 | of writing it is no longer being updated. | |
3324 | ||
3325 | It is impossible for us to list here all the sites that offer Emacs | |
3326 | Lisp packages. If you are interested in a specific feature, then | |
3327 | after checking Emacs itself and GNU ELPA, a web search is often the | |
3328 | best way to find results. | |
4009494e | 3329 | |
dae39d9c GM |
3330 | @node Spell-checkers |
3331 | @section Spell-checkers | |
3332 | @cindex Spell-checker | |
3333 | @cindex Checking spelling | |
3334 | @cindex Ispell | |
3335 | @cindex Aspell | |
3336 | @cindex Hunspell | |
3337 | ||
3338 | Various spell-checkers are compatible with Emacs, including: | |
3339 | ||
3340 | @table @b | |
3341 | ||
3342 | @item GNU Aspell | |
3343 | @uref{http://aspell.net/} | |
3344 | ||
3345 | @item Ispell | |
3346 | @uref{http://fmg-www.cs.ucla.edu/geoff/ispell.html} | |
3347 | ||
3348 | @item Hunspell | |
3349 | @uref{http://hunspell.sourceforge.net/} | |
3350 | ||
3351 | @end table | |
3352 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3353 | @node Current GNU distributions |
4009494e GM |
3354 | @section Where can I get other up-to-date GNU stuff? |
3355 | @cindex Current GNU distributions | |
3356 | @cindex Sources for current GNU distributions | |
3357 | @cindex Stuff, current GNU | |
3358 | @cindex Up-to-date GNU stuff | |
3359 | @cindex Finding current GNU software | |
3360 | @cindex Official GNU software sites | |
3361 | ||
3362 | The most up-to-date official GNU software is normally kept at | |
3363 | ||
3364 | @uref{ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu} | |
3365 | ||
4009494e GM |
3366 | A list of sites mirroring @samp{ftp.gnu.org} can be found at |
3367 | ||
3368 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/order/ftp.html} | |
3369 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3370 | @node Difference between Emacs and XEmacs |
4009494e GM |
3371 | @section What is the difference between Emacs and XEmacs (formerly Lucid Emacs)? |
3372 | @cindex XEmacs | |
3373 | @cindex Difference Emacs and XEmacs | |
3374 | @cindex Lucid Emacs | |
3375 | @cindex Epoch | |
3376 | ||
3377 | XEmacs is a branch version of Emacs. It was first called Lucid Emacs, | |
3378 | and was initially derived from a prerelease version of Emacs 19. In | |
3379 | this FAQ, we use the name ``Emacs'' only for the official version. | |
3380 | ||
3381 | Emacs and XEmacs each come with Lisp packages that are lacking in the | |
3382 | other. The two versions have some significant differences at the Lisp | |
3383 | programming level. Their current features are roughly comparable, | |
3384 | though the support for some operating systems, character sets and | |
3385 | specific packages might be quite different. | |
3386 | ||
3387 | Some XEmacs code has been contributed to Emacs, and we would like to | |
3388 | use other parts, but the earlier XEmacs maintainers did not always | |
3389 | keep track of the authors of contributed code, which makes it | |
3390 | impossible for the FSF to get copyright papers signed for that code. | |
3391 | (The FSF requires these papers for all the code included in the Emacs | |
3392 | release, aside from generic C support packages that retain their | |
3393 | separate identity and are not integrated into the code of Emacs | |
3394 | proper.) | |
3395 | ||
3396 | If you want to talk about these two versions and distinguish them, | |
3397 | please call them ``Emacs'' and ``XEmacs.'' To contrast ``XEmacs'' | |
3398 | with ``GNU Emacs'' would be misleading, since XEmacs too has its | |
3399 | origin in the work of the GNU Project. Terms such as ``Emacsen'' and | |
3400 | ``(X)Emacs'' are not wrong, but they are not very clear, so it | |
3401 | is better to write ``Emacs and XEmacs.'' | |
3402 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3403 | @node Emacs for minimalists |
8a76755b GM |
3404 | @section I don't have enough disk space to install Emacs |
3405 | @cindex Zile | |
3406 | @cindex Not enough disk space to install Emacs | |
3407 | ||
3408 | GNU Zile is a lightweight Emacs clone. Zile is short for @samp{Zile Is | |
3409 | Lossy Emacs}. It has all of Emacs's basic editing features. The Zile | |
3410 | binary typically has a size of about 130 kbytes, so this can be useful | |
3411 | if you are in an extremely space-restricted environment. More | |
3412 | information is available from | |
3413 | ||
3414 | @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/zile/} | |
3415 | ||
3416 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3417 | @node Emacs for MS-DOS |
b59a8457 | 3418 | @section Where can I get Emacs for MS-DOS? |
4009494e GM |
3419 | @cindex MS-DOS, Emacs for |
3420 | @cindex DOS, Emacs for | |
3421 | @cindex Compiling Emacs for DOS | |
3422 | @cindex Emacs for MS-DOS | |
4009494e | 3423 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3424 | To build Emacs from source for MS-DOS, see the instructions in the file |
3425 | @file{msdos/INSTALL} in the distribution. The DOS port builds and runs | |
3426 | on plain DOS, and also on all versions of MS-Windows from version 3.X | |
3427 | onwards, including Windows XP and Vista. | |
4009494e | 3428 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3429 | The file @file{etc/PROBLEMS} contains some additional information |
3430 | regarding Emacs under MS-DOS. | |
4009494e | 3431 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3432 | A pre-built binary distribution of the old Emacs 20 is available, as |
3433 | described at | |
4009494e | 3434 | |
b59a8457 | 3435 | @uref{ftp://ftp.delorie.com/pub/djgpp/current/v2gnu/emacs.README} |
4009494e GM |
3436 | |
3437 | For a list of other MS-DOS implementations of Emacs (and Emacs | |
3438 | look-alikes), consult the list of ``Emacs implementations and literature,'' | |
3439 | available at | |
3440 | ||
b59a8457 | 3441 | @uref{http://www.finseth.com/emacs.html} |
4009494e GM |
3442 | |
3443 | Note that while many of these programs look similar to Emacs, they often | |
3444 | lack certain features, such as the Emacs Lisp extension language. | |
3445 | ||
b59a8457 | 3446 | @node Emacs for MS-Windows |
4009494e | 3447 | @section Where can I get Emacs for Microsoft Windows? |
b59a8457 | 3448 | @cindex FAQ for Emacs on MS-Windows |
4009494e GM |
3449 | @cindex Emacs for MS-Windows |
3450 | @cindex Microsoft Windows, Emacs for | |
4009494e | 3451 | |
63e984f8 GM |
3452 | There is a separate FAQ for Emacs on MS-Windows, |
3453 | @pxref{Top,,,efaq-w32,FAQ for Emacs on MS Windows}. | |
3454 | For MS-DOS, @pxref{Emacs for MS-DOS}. | |
4009494e | 3455 | |
4009494e | 3456 | |
f0bf7708 | 3457 | @node Emacs for GNUstep |
93e2d996 | 3458 | @section Where can I get Emacs for GNUstep? |
b59a8457 | 3459 | @cindex GNUstep, Emacs for |
4009494e | 3460 | |
93e2d996 | 3461 | Beginning with version 23.1, Emacs supports GNUstep natively. |
b59a8457 | 3462 | See the file @file{nextstep/INSTALL} in the distribution. |
4009494e | 3463 | |
b59a8457 GM |
3464 | @node Emacs for Mac OS X |
3465 | @section Where can I get Emacs for Mac OS X? | |
4009494e GM |
3466 | @cindex Apple computers, Emacs for |
3467 | @cindex Macintosh, Emacs for | |
b59a8457 | 3468 | @cindex Mac OS X, Emacs for |
4009494e | 3469 | |
4009494e | 3470 | Beginning with version 22.1, Emacs supports Mac OS X natively. |
b59a8457 | 3471 | See the file @file{nextstep/INSTALL} in the distribution. |
4009494e | 3472 | |
4009494e | 3473 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ |
f0bf7708 | 3474 | @node Key bindings |
4009494e GM |
3475 | @chapter Key bindings |
3476 | @cindex Key bindings | |
3477 | ||
3478 | @menu | |
3479 | * Binding keys to commands:: | |
3480 | * Invalid prefix characters:: | |
3481 | * Terminal setup code works after Emacs has begun:: | |
4009494e GM |
3482 | * Working with function and arrow keys:: |
3483 | * X key translations for Emacs:: | |
4009494e | 3484 | * Backspace invokes help:: |
4009494e GM |
3485 | * Swapping keys:: |
3486 | * Producing C-XXX with the keyboard:: | |
3487 | * No Meta key:: | |
3488 | * No Escape key:: | |
3489 | * Compose Character:: | |
3490 | * Binding combinations of modifiers and function keys:: | |
3491 | * Meta key does not work in xterm:: | |
3492 | * ExtendChar key does not work as Meta:: | |
3493 | * SPC no longer completes file names:: | |
3494 | @end menu | |
3495 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3496 | @node Binding keys to commands |
4009494e GM |
3497 | @section How do I bind keys (including function keys) to commands? |
3498 | @cindex Binding keys to commands | |
3499 | @cindex Keys, binding to commands | |
3500 | @cindex Commands, binding keys to | |
3501 | ||
3502 | Keys can be bound to commands either interactively or in your | |
3503 | @file{.emacs} file. To interactively bind keys for all modes, type | |
3504 | @kbd{M-x global-set-key @key{RET} @var{key} @var{cmd} @key{RET}}. | |
3505 | ||
3506 | To bind a key just in the current major mode, type @kbd{M-x | |
3507 | local-set-key @key{RET} @var{key} @var{cmd} @key{RET}}. | |
3508 | ||
31cc861c | 3509 | @xref{Key Bindings,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
3510 | |
3511 | To make the process of binding keys interactively easier, use the | |
3512 | following ``trick'': First bind the key interactively, then immediately | |
3513 | type @kbd{C-x @key{ESC} @key{ESC} C-a C-k C-g}. Now, the command needed | |
3514 | to bind the key is in the kill ring, and can be yanked into your | |
3515 | @file{.emacs} file. If the key binding is global, no changes to the | |
3516 | command are required. For example, | |
3517 | ||
3518 | @lisp | |
3519 | (global-set-key (quote [f1]) (quote help-for-help)) | |
3520 | @end lisp | |
3521 | ||
3522 | @noindent | |
3523 | can be placed directly into the @file{.emacs} file. If the key binding is | |
3524 | local, the command is used in conjunction with the @samp{add-hook} function. | |
3525 | For example, in TeX mode, a local binding might be | |
3526 | ||
3527 | @lisp | |
3528 | (add-hook 'tex-mode-hook | |
3529 | (lambda () | |
3530 | (local-set-key (quote [f1]) (quote help-for-help)))) | |
3531 | @end lisp | |
3532 | ||
3533 | ||
3534 | @itemize @bullet | |
3535 | ||
3536 | @item | |
3537 | Control characters in key sequences, in the form yanked from the kill | |
3538 | ring are given in their graphic form---i.e., @key{CTRL} is shown as | |
3539 | @samp{^}, @key{TAB} as a set of spaces (usually 8), etc. You may want | |
3540 | to convert these into their vector or string forms. | |
3541 | ||
3542 | @item | |
3543 | If a prefix key of the character sequence to be bound is already | |
3544 | bound as a complete key, then you must unbind it before the new | |
3545 | binding. For example, if @kbd{ESC @{} is previously bound: | |
3546 | ||
3547 | @lisp | |
3548 | (global-unset-key [?\e ?@{]) ;; or | |
3549 | (local-unset-key [?\e ?@{]) | |
3550 | @end lisp | |
3551 | ||
3552 | @item | |
3553 | Aside from commands and ``lambda lists,'' a vector or string also | |
3554 | can be bound to a key and thus treated as a macro. For example: | |
3555 | ||
3556 | @lisp | |
3557 | (global-set-key [f10] [?\C-x?\e?\e?\C-a?\C-k?\C-g]) ;; or | |
3558 | (global-set-key [f10] "\C-x\e\e\C-a\C-k\C-g") | |
3559 | @end lisp | |
3560 | ||
3561 | @end itemize | |
3562 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3563 | @node Invalid prefix characters |
4009494e GM |
3564 | @section Why does Emacs say @samp{Key sequence XXX uses invalid prefix characters}? |
3565 | @cindex Prefix characters, invalid | |
3566 | @cindex Invalid prefix characters | |
3567 | @cindex Misspecified key sequences | |
3568 | ||
3569 | Usually, one of two things has happened. In one case, the control | |
1df7defd | 3570 | character in the key sequence has been misspecified (e.g., @samp{C-f} |
4009494e GM |
3571 | used instead of @samp{\C-f} within a Lisp expression). In the other |
3572 | case, a @dfn{prefix key} in the keystroke sequence you were trying to bind | |
3573 | was already bound as a @dfn{complete key}. Historically, the @samp{ESC [} | |
3574 | prefix was usually the problem, in which case you should evaluate either | |
3575 | of these forms before attempting to bind the key sequence: | |
3576 | ||
3577 | @lisp | |
3578 | (global-unset-key [?\e ?[]) ;; or | |
3579 | (global-unset-key "\e[") | |
3580 | @end lisp | |
3581 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3582 | @node Terminal setup code works after Emacs has begun |
4009494e GM |
3583 | @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? |
3584 | @cindex Terminal setup code in @file{.emacs} | |
3585 | ||
3586 | During startup, Emacs initializes itself according to a given code/file | |
3587 | order. If some of the code executed in your @file{.emacs} file needs to | |
3588 | be postponed until the initial terminal or window-system setup code has | |
3589 | been executed but is not, then you will experience this problem (this | |
3590 | code/file execution order is not enforced after startup). | |
3591 | ||
3592 | To postpone the execution of Emacs Lisp code until after terminal or | |
98bd6b32 GM |
3593 | window-system setup, treat the code as a @dfn{lambda list} and add it to |
3594 | @code{emacs-startup-hook} (or @code{tty-setup-hook} in Emacs 24.4 and | |
3595 | newer). For example, | |
4009494e GM |
3596 | |
3597 | @lisp | |
98bd6b32 | 3598 | (add-hook 'emacs-startup-hook |
4009494e GM |
3599 | (lambda () |
3600 | (when (string-match "\\`vt220" (or (getenv "TERM") "")) | |
3601 | ;; Make vt220's "Do" key behave like M-x: | |
3602 | (global-set-key [do] 'execute-extended-command)))) | |
3603 | @end lisp | |
3604 | ||
3605 | For information on what Emacs does every time it is started, see the | |
3606 | @file{lisp/startup.el} file. | |
3607 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3608 | @node Working with function and arrow keys |
4009494e GM |
3609 | @section How do I tell what characters or symbols my function or arrow keys emit? |
3610 | @cindex Working with arrow keys | |
3611 | @cindex Arrow keys, symbols generated by | |
3612 | @cindex Working with function keys | |
3613 | @cindex Function keys, symbols generated by | |
3614 | @cindex Symbols generated by function keys | |
3615 | ||
3616 | Type @kbd{C-h c} then the function or arrow keys. The command will | |
3617 | return either a function key symbol or character sequence (see the | |
85b438b7 | 3618 | Emacs documentation for an explanation). This works for other |
4009494e GM |
3619 | keys as well. |
3620 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3621 | @node X key translations for Emacs |
4009494e GM |
3622 | @section How do I set the X key ``translations'' for Emacs? |
3623 | @cindex X key translations | |
3624 | @cindex Key translations under X | |
3625 | @cindex Translations for keys under X | |
3626 | ||
3627 | Emacs is not written using the Xt library by default, so there are no | |
3628 | ``translations'' to be set. (We aren't sure how to set such translations | |
3629 | if you do build Emacs with Xt; please let us know if you've done this!) | |
3630 | ||
3631 | The only way to affect the behavior of keys within Emacs is through | |
3632 | @code{xmodmap} (outside Emacs) or @code{define-key} (inside Emacs). The | |
3633 | @code{define-key} command should be used in conjunction with the | |
3634 | @code{function-key-map} map. For instance, | |
3635 | ||
3636 | @lisp | |
3637 | (define-key function-key-map [M-@key{TAB}] [?\M-\t]) | |
3638 | @end lisp | |
3639 | ||
3640 | @noindent | |
3641 | defines the @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} key sequence. | |
3642 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3643 | @node Backspace invokes help |
4009494e GM |
3644 | @section Why does the @key{Backspace} key invoke help? |
3645 | @cindex Backspace key invokes help | |
3646 | @cindex Help invoked by Backspace | |
3647 | @cindex DEL key does not delete | |
3648 | ||
3649 | The @key{Backspace} key (on most keyboards) generates @acronym{ASCII} code 8. | |
3650 | @kbd{C-h} sends the same code. In Emacs by default @kbd{C-h} invokes | |
3651 | help-command. This is intended to be easy to remember since the first | |
3652 | letter of @samp{help} is @samp{h}. The easiest solution to this problem | |
3653 | is to use @kbd{C-h} (and @key{Backspace}) for help and @key{DEL} (the | |
3654 | @key{Delete} key) for deleting the previous character. | |
3655 | ||
3656 | For many people this solution may be problematic: | |
3657 | ||
3658 | @itemize @bullet | |
3659 | ||
3660 | @item | |
3661 | They normally use @key{Backspace} outside of Emacs for deleting the | |
3662 | previous character. This can be solved by making @key{DEL} the command | |
3663 | for deleting the previous character outside of Emacs. On many Unix | |
3664 | systems, this command will remap @key{DEL}: | |
3665 | ||
3666 | @example | |
3667 | stty erase `^?' | |
3668 | @end example | |
3669 | ||
3670 | @item | |
3671 | The user may prefer the @key{Backspace} key for deleting the | |
3672 | previous character because it is more conveniently located on their | |
3673 | keyboard or because they don't even have a separate @key{Delete} key. | |
3674 | In this case, the @key{Backspace} key should be made to behave like | |
3675 | @key{Delete}. There are several methods. | |
3676 | ||
3677 | @itemize @minus | |
3678 | @item | |
3679 | Some terminals (e.g., VT3## terminals) and terminal emulators (e.g., | |
3680 | TeraTerm) allow the character generated by the @key{Backspace} key to be | |
3681 | changed from a setup menu. | |
3682 | ||
3683 | @item | |
3684 | You may be able to get a keyboard that is completely programmable, or a | |
3685 | terminal emulator that supports remapping of any key to any other key. | |
3686 | ||
3687 | @item | |
3688 | With Emacs 21.1 and later, you can control the effect of the | |
3689 | @key{Backspace} and @key{Delete} keys, on both dumb terminals and a | |
3690 | windowed displays, by customizing the option | |
3691 | @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode}, or by invoking @kbd{M-x | |
3692 | normal-erase-is-backspace}. See the documentation of these symbols | |
3693 | (@pxref{Emacs Lisp documentation}) for more info. | |
3694 | ||
3695 | @item | |
3696 | It is possible to swap the @key{Backspace} and @key{DEL} keys inside | |
3697 | Emacs: | |
3698 | ||
3699 | @lisp | |
3700 | (keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?) | |
3701 | @end lisp | |
3702 | ||
3703 | @noindent | |
3704 | This is the recommended method of forcing @key{Backspace} to act as | |
3705 | @key{DEL}, because it works even in modes which bind @key{DEL} to | |
3706 | something other than @code{delete-backward-char}. | |
3707 | ||
3708 | Similarly, you could remap @key{DEL} to act as @kbd{C-d}, which by | |
3709 | default deletes forward: | |
3710 | ||
3711 | @lisp | |
3712 | (keyboard-translate ?\C-? ?\C-d) | |
3713 | @end lisp | |
3714 | ||
3715 | @xref{Swapping keys}, for further details about @code{keyboard-translate}. | |
3716 | ||
3717 | @item | |
3718 | Another approach is to switch key bindings and put help on @kbd{C-x h} | |
3719 | instead: | |
3720 | ||
3721 | @lisp | |
3722 | (global-set-key "\C-h" 'delete-backward-char) | |
3723 | ||
3724 | ;; overrides mark-whole-buffer | |
3725 | (global-set-key "\C-xh" 'help-command) | |
3726 | @end lisp | |
3727 | ||
3728 | @noindent | |
3729 | This method is not recommended, though: it only solves the problem for | |
3730 | those modes which bind @key{DEL} to @code{delete-backward-char}. Modes | |
3731 | which bind @key{DEL} to something else, such as @code{view-mode}, will | |
3732 | not work as you expect when you press the @key{Backspace} key. For this | |
3733 | reason, we recommend the @code{keyboard-translate} method, shown | |
3734 | above. | |
3735 | ||
3736 | Other popular key bindings for help are @kbd{M-?} and @kbd{C-x ?}. | |
3737 | @end itemize | |
3738 | ||
3739 | Don't try to bind @key{DEL} to @code{help-command}, because there are | |
3740 | many modes that have local bindings of @key{DEL} that will interfere. | |
3741 | ||
3742 | @end itemize | |
3743 | ||
3744 | When Emacs 21 or later runs on a windowed display, it binds the | |
3745 | @key{Delete} key to a command which deletes the character at point, to | |
3746 | make Emacs more consistent with keyboard operation on these systems. | |
3747 | ||
3748 | For more information about troubleshooting this problem, see @ref{DEL | |
3749 | Does Not Delete, , If @key{DEL} Fails to Delete, emacs, The GNU Emacs | |
3750 | Manual}. | |
3751 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3752 | @node Swapping keys |
4009494e GM |
3753 | @section How do I swap two keys? |
3754 | @cindex Swapping keys | |
3755 | @cindex Keys, swapping | |
3756 | @cindex @code{keyboard-translate} | |
3757 | ||
3758 | You can swap two keys (or key sequences) by using the | |
3759 | @code{keyboard-translate} function. For example, to turn @kbd{C-h} | |
3760 | into @key{DEL} and @key{DEL} to @kbd{C-h}, use | |
3761 | ||
3762 | @lisp | |
3763 | (keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?) ; translate `C-h' to DEL | |
3764 | (keyboard-translate ?\C-? ?\C-h) ; translate DEL to `C-h'. | |
3765 | @end lisp | |
3766 | ||
3767 | @noindent | |
3768 | The first key sequence of the pair after the function identifies what is | |
3769 | produced by the keyboard; the second, what is matched for in the | |
3770 | keymaps. | |
3771 | ||
3772 | However, in the specific case of @kbd{C-h} and @key{DEL}, you should | |
3773 | toggle @code{normal-erase-is-backspace-mode} instead of calling | |
31cc861c GM |
3774 | @code{keyboard-translate}. |
3775 | @xref{DEL Does Not Delete,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e GM |
3776 | |
3777 | Keyboard translations are not the same as key bindings in keymaps. | |
3778 | Emacs contains numerous keymaps that apply in different situations, but | |
3779 | there is only one set of keyboard translations, and it applies to every | |
3780 | character that Emacs reads from the terminal. Keyboard translations | |
3781 | take place at the lowest level of input processing; the keys that are | |
3782 | looked up in keymaps contain the characters that result from keyboard | |
3783 | translation. | |
3784 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3785 | @node Producing C-XXX with the keyboard |
4009494e GM |
3786 | @section How do I produce C-XXX with my keyboard? |
3787 | @cindex Producing control characters | |
3788 | @cindex Generating control characters | |
3789 | @cindex Control characters, generating | |
3790 | ||
3791 | On terminals (but not under X), some common ``aliases'' are: | |
3792 | ||
3793 | @table @asis | |
3794 | ||
3795 | @item @kbd{C-2} or @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} | |
3796 | @kbd{C-@@} | |
3797 | ||
3798 | @item @kbd{C-6} | |
3799 | @kbd{C-^} | |
3800 | ||
3801 | @item @kbd{C-7} or @kbd{C-S--} | |
3802 | @kbd{C-_} | |
3803 | ||
3804 | @item @kbd{C-4} | |
3805 | @kbd{C-\} | |
3806 | ||
3807 | @item @kbd{C-5} | |
3808 | @kbd{C-]} | |
3809 | ||
3810 | @item @kbd{C-/} | |
3811 | @kbd{C-?} | |
3812 | ||
3813 | @end table | |
3814 | ||
3815 | Often other aliases exist; use the @kbd{C-h c} command and try | |
3816 | @key{CTRL} with all of the digits on your keyboard to see what gets | |
3817 | generated. You can also try the @kbd{C-h w} command if you know the | |
3818 | name of the command. | |
3819 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3820 | @node No Meta key |
4009494e GM |
3821 | @section What if I don't have a @key{Meta} key? |
3822 | @cindex No @key{Meta} key | |
3823 | @cindex @key{Meta} key, what to do if you lack it | |
3824 | ||
3825 | On many keyboards, the @key{Alt} key acts as @key{Meta}, so try it. | |
3826 | ||
3827 | Instead of typing @kbd{M-a}, you can type @kbd{@key{ESC} a}. In fact, | |
3828 | Emacs converts @kbd{M-a} internally into @kbd{@key{ESC} a} anyway | |
3829 | (depending on the value of @code{meta-prefix-char}). Note that you | |
3830 | press @key{Meta} and @key{a} together, but with @key{ESC}, you press | |
3831 | @key{ESC}, release it, and then press @key{a}. | |
3832 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3833 | @node No Escape key |
4009494e GM |
3834 | @section What if I don't have an @key{Escape} key? |
3835 | @cindex No Escape key | |
3836 | @cindex Lacking an Escape key | |
3837 | @cindex Escape key, lacking | |
3838 | ||
3839 | Type @kbd{C-[} instead. This should send @acronym{ASCII} code 27 just like an | |
3840 | Escape key would. @kbd{C-3} may also work on some terminal (but not | |
3841 | under X). For many terminals (notably DEC terminals) @key{F11} | |
3842 | generates @key{ESC}. If not, the following form can be used to bind it: | |
3843 | ||
3844 | @lisp | |
3845 | ;; F11 is the documented ESC replacement on DEC terminals. | |
3846 | (define-key function-key-map [f11] [?\e]) | |
3847 | @end lisp | |
3848 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3849 | @node Compose Character |
4009494e GM |
3850 | @section Can I make my @key{Compose Character} key behave like a @key{Meta} key? |
3851 | @cindex @key{Compose Character} key, using as @key{Meta} | |
3852 | @cindex @key{Meta}, using @key{Compose Character} for | |
3853 | ||
3854 | On a dumb terminal such as a VT220, no. It is rumored that certain | |
3855 | VT220 clones could have their @key{Compose} key configured this way. If | |
3856 | you're using X, you might be able to do this with the @code{xmodmap} | |
3857 | command. | |
3858 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3859 | @node Binding combinations of modifiers and function keys |
4009494e GM |
3860 | @section How do I bind a combination of modifier key and function key? |
3861 | @cindex Modifiers and function keys | |
3862 | @cindex Function keys and modifiers | |
3863 | @cindex Binding modifiers and function keys | |
3864 | ||
0e751a49 GM |
3865 | You can represent modified function keys in vector format by adding |
3866 | prefixes to the function key symbol. For example (from the Emacs | |
3867 | documentation): | |
4009494e GM |
3868 | |
3869 | @lisp | |
3870 | (global-set-key [?\C-x right] 'forward-page) | |
3871 | @end lisp | |
3872 | ||
3873 | @noindent | |
3874 | where @samp{?\C-x} is the Lisp character constant for the character @kbd{C-x}. | |
3875 | ||
3876 | You can use the modifier keys @key{Control}, @key{Meta}, @key{Hyper}, | |
3877 | @key{Super}, @key{Alt}, and @key{Shift} with function keys. To | |
3878 | represent these modifiers, prepend the strings @samp{C-}, @samp{M-}, | |
3879 | @samp{H-}, @samp{s-}, @samp{A-}, and @samp{S-} to the symbol name. Here | |
3880 | is how to make @kbd{H-M-RIGHT} move forward a word: | |
3881 | ||
3882 | @lisp | |
3883 | (global-set-key [H-M-right] 'forward-word) | |
3884 | @end lisp | |
3885 | ||
3886 | @itemize @bullet | |
3887 | ||
3888 | @item | |
3889 | Not all modifiers are permitted in all situations. @key{Hyper}, | |
3890 | @key{Super}, and @key{Alt} are not available on Unix character | |
1df7defd | 3891 | terminals. Non-@acronym{ASCII} keys and mouse events (e.g., @kbd{C-=} and |
4009494e GM |
3892 | @kbd{Mouse-1}) also fall under this category. |
3893 | ||
3894 | @end itemize | |
3895 | ||
3896 | @xref{Binding keys to commands}, for general key binding instructions. | |
3897 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3898 | @node Meta key does not work in xterm |
4009494e GM |
3899 | @section Why doesn't my @key{Meta} key work in an @code{xterm} window? |
3900 | @cindex @key{Meta} key and @code{xterm} | |
3901 | @cindex Xterm and @key{Meta} key | |
3902 | ||
31cc861c | 3903 | @xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-Byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. |
4009494e GM |
3904 | |
3905 | If the advice in the Emacs manual fails, try all of these methods before | |
3906 | asking for further help: | |
3907 | ||
3908 | @itemize @bullet | |
3909 | ||
3910 | @item | |
3911 | You may have big problems using @code{mwm} as your window manager. | |
3912 | (Does anyone know a good generic solution to allow the use of the | |
3913 | @key{Meta} key in Emacs with @file{mwm}?) | |
3914 | ||
3915 | @item | |
3916 | For X11: Make sure it really is a @key{Meta} key. Use @code{xev} to | |
3917 | find out what keysym your @key{Meta} key generates. It should be either | |
3918 | @code{Meta_L} or @code{Meta_R}. If it isn't, use @file{xmodmap} to fix | |
3919 | the situation. If @key{Meta} does generate @code{Meta_L} or | |
3920 | @code{Meta_R}, but @kbd{M-x} produces a non-@acronym{ASCII} character, put this in | |
3921 | your @file{~/.Xdefaults} file: | |
3922 | ||
3923 | @example | |
3924 | XTerm*eightBitInput: false | |
3925 | XTerm*eightBitOutput: true | |
3926 | @end example | |
3927 | ||
3928 | @item | |
3929 | Make sure the @code{pty} the @code{xterm} is using is passing 8 bit | |
3930 | characters. @samp{stty -a} (or @samp{stty everything}) should show | |
3931 | @samp{cs8} somewhere. If it shows @samp{cs7} instead, use @samp{stty | |
3932 | cs8 -istrip} (or @samp{stty pass8}) to fix it. | |
3933 | ||
3934 | @item | |
3935 | If there is an @code{rlogin} connection between @code{xterm} and Emacs, the | |
3936 | @samp{-8} argument may need to be given to rlogin to make it pass all 8 bits | |
3937 | of every character. | |
3938 | ||
3939 | @item | |
3940 | If Emacs is running on Ultrix, it is reported that evaluating | |
3941 | @code{(set-input-mode t nil)} helps. | |
3942 | ||
3943 | @item | |
3944 | If all else fails, you can make @code{xterm} generate @kbd{@key{ESC} W} when | |
3945 | you type @kbd{M-W}, which is the same conversion Emacs would make if it | |
3946 | got the @kbd{M-W} anyway. In X11R4, the following resource | |
3947 | specification will do this: | |
3948 | ||
3949 | @example | |
3950 | XTerm.VT100.EightBitInput: false | |
3951 | @end example | |
3952 | ||
3953 | @noindent | |
3954 | (This changes the behavior of the @code{insert-eight-bit} action.) | |
3955 | ||
3956 | With older @code{xterm}s, you can specify this behavior with a translation: | |
3957 | ||
3958 | @example | |
3959 | XTerm.VT100.Translations: #override \ | |
3960 | Meta<KeyPress>: string(0x1b) insert() | |
3961 | @end example | |
3962 | ||
3963 | @noindent | |
3964 | You might have to replace @samp{Meta} with @samp{Alt}. | |
3965 | ||
3966 | @end itemize | |
3967 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3968 | @node ExtendChar key does not work as Meta |
4009494e GM |
3969 | @section Why doesn't my @key{ExtendChar} key work as a @key{Meta} key under HP-UX 8.0 and 9.x? |
3970 | @cindex @key{ExtendChar} key as @key{Meta} | |
3971 | @cindex @key{Meta}, using @key{ExtendChar} for | |
3972 | @cindex HP-UX, the @key{ExtendChar} key | |
3973 | ||
3974 | This is a result of an internationalization extension in X11R4 and the | |
3975 | fact that HP is now using this extension. Emacs assumes that the | |
3976 | @code{XLookupString} function returns the same result regardless of the | |
3977 | @key{Meta} key state which is no longer necessarily true. Until Emacs | |
3978 | is fixed, the temporary kludge is to run this command after each time | |
3979 | the X server is started but preferably before any xterm clients are: | |
3980 | ||
3981 | @example | |
3982 | xmodmap -e 'remove mod1 = Mode_switch' | |
3983 | @end example | |
3984 | ||
3985 | @c FIXME: Emacs 21 supports I18N in X11; does that mean that this bug is | |
3986 | @c solved? | |
3987 | ||
3988 | This will disable the use of the extra keysyms systemwide, which may be | |
3989 | undesirable if you actually intend to use them. | |
3990 | ||
f0bf7708 | 3991 | @node SPC no longer completes file names |
4009494e GM |
3992 | @section Why doesn't SPC complete file names anymore? |
3993 | @cindex @kbd{SPC} file name completion | |
3994 | ||
3995 | Starting with Emacs 22.1, @kbd{SPC} no longer completes file names in | |
3996 | the minibuffer, so that file names with embedded spaces could be typed | |
3997 | without the need to quote the spaces. | |
3998 | ||
3999 | You can get the old behavior by binding @kbd{SPC} to | |
4000 | @code{minibuffer-complete-word} in the minibuffer, as follows: | |
4001 | ||
4002 | @lisp | |
4003 | (define-key minibuffer-local-filename-completion-map (kbd "SPC") | |
4004 | 'minibuffer-complete-word) | |
4005 | ||
4006 | (define-key minibuffer-local-must-match-filename-map (kbd "SPC") | |
4007 | 'minibuffer-complete-word) | |
4008 | @end lisp | |
4009 | ||
4010 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 4011 | @node Alternate character sets |
4009494e GM |
4012 | @chapter Alternate character sets |
4013 | @cindex Alternate character sets | |
4014 | ||
4015 | @menu | |
4016 | * Emacs does not display 8-bit characters:: | |
4017 | * Inputting eight-bit characters:: | |
4009494e GM |
4018 | * Right-to-left alphabets:: |
4019 | * How to add fonts:: | |
4020 | @end menu | |
4021 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4022 | @node Emacs does not display 8-bit characters |
4009494e GM |
4023 | @section How do I make Emacs display 8-bit characters? |
4024 | @cindex Displaying eight-bit characters | |
4025 | @cindex Eight-bit characters, displaying | |
4026 | ||
31cc861c GM |
4027 | @xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU |
4028 | Emacs Manual}. On a Unix, when Emacs runs on a text-only terminal | |
4009494e GM |
4029 | display or is invoked with @samp{emacs -nw}, you typically need to use |
4030 | @code{set-terminal-coding-system} to tell Emacs what the terminal can | |
4031 | display, even after setting the language environment; otherwise | |
4032 | non-@acronym{ASCII} characters will display as @samp{?}. On other operating | |
4033 | systems, such as MS-DOS and MS-Windows, Emacs queries the OS about the | |
4034 | character set supported by the display, and sets up the required | |
4035 | terminal coding system automatically. | |
4036 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4037 | @node Inputting eight-bit characters |
4009494e GM |
4038 | @section How do I input eight-bit characters? |
4039 | @cindex Entering eight-bit characters | |
4040 | @cindex Eight-bit characters, entering | |
4041 | @cindex Input, 8-bit characters | |
4042 | ||
31cc861c GM |
4043 | Various methods are available for input of eight-bit characters. |
4044 | @xref{Unibyte Mode,, Single-byte Character Set Support, emacs, The GNU | |
4045 | Emacs Manual}. For more sophisticated methods, | |
4046 | @pxref{Input Methods,,, emacs, The GNU Emacs Manual}. | |
4009494e | 4047 | |
f0bf7708 | 4048 | @node Right-to-left alphabets |
4009494e GM |
4049 | @section Where is an Emacs that can handle Semitic (right-to-left) alphabets? |
4050 | @cindex Right-to-left alphabets | |
4051 | @cindex Hebrew, handling with Emacs | |
4052 | @cindex Semitic alphabets | |
77472261 EZ |
4053 | @cindex Arabic |
4054 | @cindex Farsi | |
4055 | @cindex bidirectional scripts | |
4009494e | 4056 | |
77472261 EZ |
4057 | Emacs supports display and editing of bidirectional scripts, such as |
4058 | Arabic, Farsi, and Hebrew, since version 24.1. | |
4059 | @xref{New in Emacs 24, bidirectional display}. | |
4009494e | 4060 | |
4009494e | 4061 | |
f0bf7708 | 4062 | @node How to add fonts |
4009494e GM |
4063 | @section How do I add fonts for use with Emacs? |
4064 | @cindex add fonts for use with Emacs | |
4065 | @cindex intlfonts | |
4066 | ||
4067 | First, download and install the BDF font files and any auxiliary | |
4068 | packages they need. The GNU Intlfonts distribution can be found on | |
4069 | @uref{http://directory.fsf.org/localization/intlfonts.html, the GNU | |
4070 | Software Directory Web site}. | |
4071 | ||
4072 | Next, if you are on X Window system, issue the following two commands | |
4073 | from the shell's prompt: | |
4074 | ||
4075 | @example | |
4076 | xset +fp /usr/local/share/emacs/fonts | |
4077 | xset fp rehash | |
4078 | @end example | |
4079 | ||
4080 | @noindent | |
4081 | (Modify the first command if you installed the fonts in a directory | |
4082 | that is not @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts}.) You also need to | |
4083 | arrange for these two commands to run whenever you log in, e.g., by | |
4084 | adding them to your window-system startup file, such as | |
4085 | @file{~/.xsessionrc} or @file{~/.gnomerc}. | |
4086 | ||
4087 | Now, add the following line to your @file{~/.emacs} init file: | |
4088 | ||
4089 | @lisp | |
4090 | (add-to-list 'bdf-directory-list "/usr/share/emacs/fonts/bdf") | |
4091 | @end lisp | |
4092 | ||
4093 | @noindent | |
4094 | (Again, modify the file name if you installed the fonts elsewhere.) | |
4095 | ||
4096 | Finally, if you wish to use the installed fonts with @code{ps-print}, | |
4097 | add the following line to your @file{~/.emacs}: | |
4098 | ||
4099 | @lisp | |
4100 | (setq ps-multibyte-buffer 'bdf-font-except-latin) | |
4101 | @end lisp | |
4102 | ||
4103 | A few additional steps are necessary for MS-Windows; they are listed | |
4104 | below. | |
4105 | ||
4106 | First, make sure @emph{all} the directories with BDF font files are | |
4107 | mentioned in @code{bdf-directory-list}. On Unix and GNU/Linux | |
4108 | systems, one normally runs @kbd{make install} to install the BDF fonts | |
4109 | in the same directory. By contrast, Windows users typically don't run | |
4110 | the Intlfonts installation command, but unpack the distribution in | |
4111 | some directory, which leaves the BDF fonts in its subdirectories. For | |
4112 | example, assume that you unpacked Intlfonts in @file{C:/Intlfonts}; | |
4113 | then you should set @code{bdf-directory-list} as follows: | |
4114 | ||
4115 | @lisp | |
4116 | (setq bdf-directory-list | |
4117 | '("C:/Intlfonts/Asian" | |
4118 | "C:/Intlfonts/Chinese" "C:/Intlfonts/Chinese.X" | |
4119 | "C:/Intlfonts/Chinese.BIG" "C:/Intlfonts/Ethiopic" | |
4120 | "C:/Intlfonts/European" "C:/Intlfonts/European.BIG" | |
4121 | "C:/Intlfonts/Japanese" "C:/Intlfonts/Japanese.X" | |
4122 | "C:/Intlfonts/Japanese.BIG" "C:/Intlfonts/Korean.X" | |
4123 | "C:/Intlfonts/Misc")) | |
4124 | @end lisp | |
4125 | ||
4126 | @cindex @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist} | |
4127 | @cindex @code{w32-find-bdf-fonts} | |
4128 | Next, you need to set up the variable @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist} to | |
4129 | an alist of the BDF fonts and their corresponding file names. | |
4130 | Assuming you have set @code{bdf-directory-list} to name all the | |
4131 | directories with the BDF font files, the following Lisp snippet will | |
4132 | set up @code{w32-bdf-filename-alist}: | |
4133 | ||
4134 | @lisp | |
4135 | (setq w32-bdf-filename-alist | |
4136 | (w32-find-bdf-fonts bdf-directory-list)) | |
4137 | @end lisp | |
4138 | ||
4139 | Now, create fontsets for the BDF fonts: | |
4140 | ||
f9e320bb | 4141 | @smallexample |
4009494e GM |
4142 | (create-fontset-from-fontset-spec |
4143 | "-*-fixed-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-fontset-bdf, | |
4144 | japanese-jisx0208:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0208.1983-*, | |
4145 | katakana-jisx0201:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0201*-*, | |
4146 | latin-jisx0201:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0201*-*, | |
4147 | japanese-jisx0208-1978:-*-*-medium-r-normal-*-16-*-*-*-c-*-jisx0208.1978-*, | |
4148 | thai-tis620:-misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-tis620.2529-1, | |
4149 | lao:-misc-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-MuleLao-1, | |
4150 | tibetan-1-column:-TibMdXA-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-80-MuleTibetan-1, | |
4151 | ethiopic:-Admas-Ethiomx16f-Medium-R-Normal--16-150-100-100-M-160-Ethiopic-Unicode, | |
4152 | tibetan:-TibMdXA-fixed-medium-r-normal--16-160-72-72-m-160-MuleTibetan-0") | |
f9e320bb | 4153 | @end smallexample |
4009494e GM |
4154 | |
4155 | Many of the international bdf fonts from Intlfonts are type 0, and | |
4156 | therefore need to be added to font-encoding-alist: | |
4157 | ||
4158 | @lisp | |
4159 | (setq font-encoding-alist | |
4160 | (append '(("MuleTibetan-0" (tibetan . 0)) | |
4161 | ("GB2312" (chinese-gb2312 . 0)) | |
4162 | ("JISX0208" (japanese-jisx0208 . 0)) | |
4163 | ("JISX0212" (japanese-jisx0212 . 0)) | |
4164 | ("VISCII" (vietnamese-viscii-lower . 0)) | |
4165 | ("KSC5601" (korean-ksc5601 . 0)) | |
4166 | ("MuleArabic-0" (arabic-digit . 0)) | |
4167 | ("MuleArabic-1" (arabic-1-column . 0)) | |
4168 | ("MuleArabic-2" (arabic-2-column . 0))) | |
4169 | font-encoding-alist)) | |
4170 | @end lisp | |
4171 | ||
4172 | You can now use the Emacs font menu to select the @samp{bdf: 16-dot medium} | |
4173 | fontset, or you can select it by setting the default font in your | |
4174 | @file{~/.emacs}: | |
4175 | ||
4176 | @lisp | |
4177 | (set-default-font "fontset-bdf") | |
4178 | @end lisp | |
4179 | ||
4180 | ||
4181 | @c ------------------------------------------------------------ | |
f0bf7708 | 4182 | @node Mail and news |
4009494e GM |
4183 | @chapter Mail and news |
4184 | @cindex Mail and news | |
4185 | ||
4186 | @menu | |
4187 | * Changing the included text prefix:: | |
4188 | * Saving a copy of outgoing mail:: | |
4189 | * Expanding aliases when sending mail:: | |
4009494e | 4190 | * Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder:: |
b59a8457 | 4191 | * Rmail writes to /var/spool/mail:: |
4009494e | 4192 | * Replying to the sender of a message:: |
4009494e GM |
4193 | * Automatically starting a mail or news reader:: |
4194 | * Reading news with Emacs:: | |
4195 | * Gnus does not work with NNTP:: | |
b59a8457 | 4196 | * Making Gnus faster:: |
4009494e | 4197 | * Catching up in all newsgroups:: |
4009494e GM |
4198 | @end menu |
4199 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4200 | @node Changing the included text prefix |
4009494e GM |
4201 | @section How do I change the included text prefix in mail/news followups? |
4202 | @cindex Prefix in mail/news followups, changing | |
4203 | @cindex Included text prefix, changing | |
4204 | @cindex Setting the included text character | |
4205 | @cindex Quoting in mail messages | |
4206 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
4207 | If you read mail with Rmail, set the variable @code{mail-yank-prefix}. |
4208 | For Gnus, set @code{message-yank-prefix}. For VM, set | |
4209 | @code{vm-included-text-prefix}. For mh-e, set @code{mh-ins-buf-prefix}. | |
4009494e | 4210 | |
b59a8457 GM |
4211 | For fancier control of citations, use Supercite (@pxref{Top,, the Supercite |
4212 | Manual, sc, The Supercite Manual}). | |
4009494e GM |
4213 | |
4214 | To prevent Emacs from including various headers of the replied-to | |
4215 | message, set the value of @code{mail-yank-ignored-headers} to an | |
4216 | appropriate regexp. | |
4217 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4218 | @node Saving a copy of outgoing mail |
4009494e GM |
4219 | @section How do I save a copy of outgoing mail? |
4220 | @cindex Saving a copy of outgoing mail | |
4221 | @cindex Copying outgoing mail to a file | |
4222 | @cindex Filing outgoing mail | |
4223 | @cindex Automatic filing of outgoing mail | |
4224 | @cindex Mail, saving outgoing automatically | |
4225 | ||
4226 | You can either mail yourself a copy by including a @samp{BCC} header in the | |
4227 | mail message, or store a copy of the message directly to a file by | |
4228 | including an @samp{FCC} header. | |
4229 | ||
4230 | If you use standard mail, you can automatically create a @samp{BCC} to | |
4231 | yourself by putting | |
4232 | ||
4233 | @lisp | |
4234 | (setq mail-self-blind t) | |
4235 | @end lisp | |
4236 | ||
4237 | @noindent | |
4238 | in your @file{.emacs} file. You can automatically include an @samp{FCC} | |
4239 | field by putting something like the following in your @file{.emacs} | |
4240 | file: | |
4241 | ||
4242 | @lisp | |
4243 | (setq mail-archive-file-name (expand-file-name "~/outgoing")) | |
4244 | @end lisp | |
4245 | ||
b59a8457 | 4246 | The output file will be in Unix mail format. |
4009494e GM |
4247 | |
4248 | If you use @code{mh-e}, add an @samp{FCC} or @samp{BCC} field to your | |
4249 | components file. | |
4250 | ||
4251 | It does not work to put @samp{set record filename} in the @file{.mailrc} | |
4252 | file. | |
4253 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4254 | @node Expanding aliases when sending mail |
4009494e GM |
4255 | @section Why doesn't Emacs expand my aliases when sending mail? |
4256 | @cindex Expanding aliases when sending mail | |
4257 | @cindex Mail alias expansion | |
4258 | @cindex Sending mail with aliases | |
4259 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
4260 | @xref{Mail Aliases,, The Emacs Manual, emacs, The Emacs Manual}. |
4261 | ||
4009494e GM |
4262 | @itemize @bullet |
4263 | ||
4264 | @item | |
b59a8457 GM |
4265 | Normally, Emacs expands aliases when you send the message. |
4266 | To expand them before this, use @kbd{M-x expand-mail-aliases}. | |
4009494e GM |
4267 | |
4268 | @item | |
53aff12a GM |
4269 | Emacs normally only reads the @file{.mailrc} file once per session, when |
4270 | you start to compose your first mail message. If you edit the file | |
4271 | after this, you can use @kbd{M-x build-mail-aliases} to make Emacs | |
4272 | reread it. Prior to Emacs 24.1, this is not an interactive command, so | |
4273 | you must instead type @kbd{M-: (build-mail-aliases) @key{RET}}. | |
4009494e GM |
4274 | |
4275 | @item | |
4276 | If you like, you can expand mail aliases as abbrevs, as soon as you | |
4277 | type them in. To enable this feature, execute the following: | |
4278 | ||
4279 | @lisp | |
4280 | (add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'mail-abbrevs-setup) | |
4281 | @end lisp | |
4282 | ||
4283 | Note that the aliases are expanded automatically only after you type | |
1df7defd | 4284 | a word-separator character (e.g., @key{RET} or @kbd{,}). You can force their |
4009494e GM |
4285 | expansion by moving point to the end of the alias and typing @kbd{C-x a e} |
4286 | (@kbd{M-x expand-abbrev}). | |
4287 | @end itemize | |
4288 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4289 | @node Sorting the messages in an Rmail folder |
4009494e GM |
4290 | @section How can I sort the messages in my Rmail folder? |
4291 | @cindex Rmail, sorting messages in | |
4292 | @cindex Folder, sorting messages in an Rmail | |
4293 | @cindex Sorting messages in an Rmail folder | |
4294 | ||
4295 | In Rmail, type @kbd{C-c C-s C-h} to get a list of sorting functions | |
4296 | and their key bindings. | |
4297 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
4298 | @node Rmail writes to /var/spool/mail |
4299 | @section Why does Rmail need to write to @file{/var/spool/mail}? | |
4300 | @cindex Rmail and @file{/var/spool/mail} | |
4301 | @cindex @file{/var/spool/mail} and Rmail | |
4009494e GM |
4302 | |
4303 | This is the behavior of the @code{movemail} program which Rmail uses. | |
4304 | This indicates that @code{movemail} is configured to use lock files. | |
4305 | ||
4306 | RMS writes: | |
4307 | ||
4308 | @quotation | |
4309 | Certain systems require lock files to interlock access to mail files. | |
4310 | On these systems, @code{movemail} must write lock files, or you risk losing | |
4311 | mail. You simply must arrange to let @code{movemail} write them. | |
4312 | ||
4313 | Other systems use the @code{flock} system call to interlock access. On | |
4314 | these systems, you should configure @code{movemail} to use @code{flock}. | |
4315 | @end quotation | |
4316 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4317 | @node Replying to the sender of a message |
4009494e GM |
4318 | @section How can I force Rmail to reply to the sender of a message, but not the other recipients? |
4319 | @cindex Replying only to the sender of a message | |
4320 | @cindex Sender, replying only to | |
4321 | @cindex Rmail, replying to the sender of a message in | |
4322 | ||
7add5a8a GM |
4323 | @c isaacson@@seas.upenn.edu |
4324 | Ron Isaacson says: When you hit | |
4009494e GM |
4325 | @key{r} to reply in Rmail, by default it CCs all of the original |
4326 | recipients (everyone on the original @samp{To} and @samp{CC} | |
4327 | lists). With a prefix argument (i.e., typing @kbd{C-u} before @key{r}), | |
4328 | it replies only to the sender. However, going through the whole | |
4329 | @kbd{C-u} business every time you want to reply is a pain. This is the | |
4330 | best fix I've been able to come up with: | |
4331 | ||
4332 | @lisp | |
4333 | (defun rmail-reply-t () | |
4334 | "Reply only to the sender of the current message. (See rmail-reply.)" | |
4335 | (interactive) | |
4336 | (rmail-reply t)) | |
4337 | ||
4338 | (add-hook 'rmail-mode-hook | |
4339 | (lambda () | |
4340 | (define-key rmail-mode-map "r" 'rmail-reply-t) | |
4341 | (define-key rmail-mode-map "R" 'rmail-reply))) | |
4342 | @end lisp | |
4343 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4344 | @node Automatically starting a mail or news reader |
4009494e GM |
4345 | @section How do I make Emacs automatically start my mail/news reader? |
4346 | @cindex Mail reader, starting automatically | |
4347 | @cindex News reader, starting automatically | |
4348 | @cindex Starting mail/news reader automatically | |
4349 | ||
4350 | To start Emacs in Gnus: | |
4351 | ||
4352 | @example | |
4353 | emacs -f gnus | |
4354 | @end example | |
4355 | ||
4356 | @noindent | |
4357 | in Rmail: | |
4358 | ||
4359 | @example | |
4360 | emacs -f rmail | |
4361 | @end example | |
4362 | ||
4363 | A more convenient way to start with Gnus: | |
4364 | ||
4365 | @example | |
4366 | alias gnus 'emacs -f gnus' | |
4367 | gnus | |
4368 | @end example | |
4369 | ||
4370 | It is probably unwise to automatically start your mail or news reader | |
4371 | from your @file{.emacs} file. This would cause problems if you needed to run | |
4372 | two copies of Emacs at the same time. Also, this would make it difficult for | |
4373 | you to start Emacs quickly when you needed to. | |
4374 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4375 | @node Reading news with Emacs |
4009494e GM |
4376 | @section How do I read news under Emacs? |
4377 | @cindex Reading news under Emacs | |
4378 | @cindex Usenet reader in Emacs | |
4379 | @cindex Gnus newsreader | |
b59a8457 GM |
4380 | @cindex FAQ for Gnus |
4381 | @cindex Gnus FAQ | |
4382 | @cindex Learning more about Gnus | |
4383 | ||
4384 | Use @kbd{M-x gnus}. For more information on Gnus, @pxref{Top,, the Gnus | |
4385 | Manual, gnus, The Gnus Manual}, which includes @ref{Frequently Asked | |
31cc861c | 4386 | Questions,, the Gnus FAQ, gnus, The Gnus Manual}. |
4009494e | 4387 | |
4009494e | 4388 | |
f0bf7708 | 4389 | @node Gnus does not work with NNTP |
4009494e GM |
4390 | @section Why doesn't Gnus work via NNTP? |
4391 | @cindex Gnus and NNTP | |
4392 | @cindex NNTP, Gnus fails to work with | |
4393 | ||
4394 | There is a bug in NNTP version 1.5.10, such that when multiple requests | |
4395 | are sent to the NNTP server, the server only handles the first one | |
4396 | before blocking waiting for more input which never comes. NNTP version | |
4397 | 1.5.11 claims to fix this. | |
4398 | ||
4399 | You can work around the bug inside Emacs like this: | |
4400 | ||
4401 | @lisp | |
4402 | (setq nntp-maximum-request 1) | |
4403 | @end lisp | |
4404 | ||
4405 | You can find out what version of NNTP your news server is running by | |
4406 | telnetting to the NNTP port (usually 119) on the news server machine | |
4407 | (i.e., @kbd{telnet server-machine 119}). The server should give its | |
4408 | version number in the welcome message. Type @kbd{quit} to get out. | |
4409 | ||
b59a8457 GM |
4410 | @node Making Gnus faster |
4411 | @section How do I make Gnus faster? | |
4009494e GM |
4412 | @cindex Faster, starting Gnus |
4413 | @cindex Starting Gnus faster | |
4414 | @cindex Gnus, starting faster | |
b59a8457 GM |
4415 | @cindex Slow catch up in Gnus |
4416 | @cindex Gnus is slow when catching up | |
4417 | @cindex Crosspostings make Gnus catching up slow | |
4009494e | 4418 | |
b59a8457 | 4419 | From the Gnus FAQ (@pxref{Reading news with Emacs}): |
4009494e GM |
4420 | |
4421 | @quotation | |
b59a8457 GM |
4422 | If you have a slow machine, or are just really impatient, there are a |
4423 | few things you can do to make Gnus run faster. | |
4009494e | 4424 | |
b59a8457 GM |
4425 | Set @code{gnus-check-new-newsgroups} and |
4426 | @code{gnus-check-bogus-newsgroups} to @code{nil} to make startup faster. | |
4427 | ||
4428 | Set @code{gnus-show-threads}, @code{gnus-use-cross-reference} and | |
4429 | @code{gnus-nov-is-evil} to @code{nil} to make entering and exiting the | |
4430 | summary buffer faster. | |
4009494e GM |
4431 | @end quotation |
4432 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4433 | @node Catching up in all newsgroups |
4009494e GM |
4434 | @section How do I catch up all newsgroups in Gnus? |
4435 | @cindex Catching up all newsgroups in Gnus | |
4436 | @cindex Gnus, Catching up all newsgroups in | |
4437 | ||
4438 | In the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer, type @kbd{M-< C-x ( c y C-x ) M-0 C-x e} | |
4439 | ||
4440 | Leave off the initial @kbd{M-<} if you only want to catch up from point | |
4441 | to the end of the @file{*Newsgroup*} buffer. | |
4442 | ||
f0bf7708 | 4443 | @node Concept index |
4009494e GM |
4444 | @unnumbered Concept Index |
4445 | @printindex cp | |
4446 | ||
4009494e | 4447 | @bye |