(Help): End menu descriptions with a period.
[bpt/emacs.git] / doc / emacs / misc.texi
1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
6 @iftex
7 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
8
9 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
10 else: viewing ``document files'', reading netnews, running shell
11 commands and shell subprocesses, using a single shared Emacs for
12 utilities that expect to run an editor as a subprocess, printing
13 hardcopy, sorting text, narrowing display to part of the buffer,
14 editing double-column files and binary files, saving an Emacs session
15 for later resumption, following hyperlinks, browsing images, emulating
16 other editors, and various diversions and amusements.
17
18 @end iftex
19
20 @ifnottex
21 @raisesections
22 @end ifnottex
23
24 @node Document View, Gnus, Calendar/Diary, Top
25 @section Document Viewing
26 @cindex DVI file
27 @cindex PDF file
28 @cindex PS file
29 @cindex Postscript file
30 @cindex DocView mode
31 @cindex mode, DocView
32 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
33 @findex doc-view-mode
34
35 DocView mode (@code{doc-view-mode}) is a viewer for DVI, Postscript
36 (PS), and PDF documents. It provides features such as slicing,
37 zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by converting the
38 document to a set of images using the @command{gs} (GhostScript)
39 command, and displaying those images.
40
41 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
42 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
43 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
44 When you visit a PDF or DVI file, Emacs automatically switches to
45 DocView mode. When you visit a Postscript file, Emacs switches to PS
46 mode, a major mode for editing Postscript files as text; however, it
47 also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type @kbd{C-c C-c} to view
48 the document with DocView. (PDF and DVI files, unlike Postscript
49 files, are not usually human-editable.) In either case, repeating
50 @kbd{C-c C-c} (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView
51 and the file text.
52
53 You can explicitly toggle DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
54 doc-view-mode}, and DocView minor mode with the command @code{M-x
55 doc-view-minor-mode}.
56
57 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
58 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
59 that has been formatted.
60
61 @findex doc-view-enlarge
62 @findex doc-view-shrink
63 @vindex doc-view-resolution
64 When in DocView mode, you can enlarge or shrink the document with
65 @kbd{+} (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-}
66 (@code{doc-view-shrink}). To specify the default size for DocView,
67 set or customize the variable @code{doc-view-resolution}.
68
69 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
70 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
71 (@code{quit-window}).
72
73 @menu
74 * Navigation:: Navigation inside DocView buffers.
75 * Searching:: Searching inside documents.
76 * Slicing:: Specifying which part of pages should be displayed.
77 * Conversion:: Influencing and triggering conversion.
78 @end menu
79
80 @node Navigation
81 @subsection Navigation
82
83 When in DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
84 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
85 the arrow keys.
86
87 @findex doc-view-next-page
88 @findex doc-view-previous-page
89 To display the next page, type @kbd{n}, @key{next} or @kbd{C-x ]}
90 (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous page, type
91 @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [} (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
92
93 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
94 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
95 The @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) key is a
96 convenient way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the
97 current page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a
98 similar way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
99
100 @findex doc-view-first-page
101 @findex doc-view-last-page
102 @findex doc-view-goto-page
103 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
104 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
105 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
106 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
107
108 @node Searching
109 @subsection Searching
110
111 While in DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
112 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
113 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
114
115 @findex doc-view-search
116 @findex doc-view-search-backward
117 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
118 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
119 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
120 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
121 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
122 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
123 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
124 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
125 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
126 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
127
128 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
129 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
130 for a backward search.
131
132 @node Slicing
133 @subsection Slicing
134
135 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
136 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
137 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
138
139 @findex doc-view-set-slice
140 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
141 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
142 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
143 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
144 look at.
145
146 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
147 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
148 and the slice's width and height.
149 @c ??? how does this work?
150
151 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
152 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
153 select the slice.
154 @c ??? How does this work?
155
156 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
157 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
158 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
159 including its entire margins.
160
161 @node Conversion
162 @subsection Conversion
163
164 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
165 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
166 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
167 The name of this directory is given by the variable
168 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
169 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
170
171 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
172 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
173 To force a reconversion of the currently viewed document, type
174 @kbd{r} or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter
175 process associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
176 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
177 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
178 the DocView buffer.
179
180 The zoom commands @kbd{+} (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-}
181 (@code{doc-view-shrink}) need to reconvert the document at the new
182 size. The current page is converted first.
183
184 @node Gnus, Shell, Document View, Top
185 @section Gnus
186 @cindex Gnus
187 @cindex reading netnews
188
189 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
190 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from a
191 number of other sources---mail, remote directories, digests, and so on.
192
193 Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
194 @ifnottex
195 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
196 @end ifnottex
197 @iftex
198 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{M-x info} and then select the Gnus
199 manual.
200 @end iftex
201
202 @findex gnus
203 To start Gnus, type @kbd{M-x gnus @key{RET}}.
204
205 @menu
206 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
207 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
208 * Summary of Gnus:: A short description of the basic Gnus commands.
209 @end menu
210
211 @node Buffers of Gnus
212 @subsection Gnus Buffers
213
214 Unlike most Emacs packages, Gnus uses several buffers to display
215 information and to receive commands. The three Gnus buffers users use
216 most are the @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the
217 @dfn{article buffer}.
218
219 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of newsgroups. This is the
220 first buffer Gnus displays when it starts up. It normally displays
221 only the groups to which you subscribe and that contain unread
222 articles. Use this buffer to select a specific group.
223
224 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists one line for each article in a single
225 group. By default, the author, the subject and the line number are
226 displayed for each article, but this is customizable, like most aspects
227 of Gnus display. The summary buffer is created when you select a group
228 in the group buffer, and is killed when you exit the group. Use this
229 buffer to select an article.
230
231 The @dfn{article buffer} displays the article. In normal Gnus usage,
232 you see this buffer but you don't select it---all useful
233 article-oriented commands work in the summary buffer. But you can
234 select the article buffer, and execute all Gnus commands from that
235 buffer, if you want to.
236
237 @node Gnus Startup
238 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
239
240 At startup, Gnus reads your @file{.newsrc} news initialization file
241 and attempts to communicate with the local news server, which is a
242 repository of news articles. The news server need not be the same
243 computer you are logged in on.
244
245 If you start Gnus and connect to the server, but do not see any
246 newsgroups listed in the group buffer, type @kbd{L} or @kbd{A k} to get
247 a listing of all the groups. Then type @kbd{u} to toggle
248 subscription to groups.
249
250 The first time you start Gnus, Gnus subscribes you to a few selected
251 groups. All other groups start out as @dfn{killed groups} for you; you
252 can list them with @kbd{A k}. All new groups that subsequently come to
253 exist at the news server become @dfn{zombie groups} for you; type @kbd{A
254 z} to list them. You can subscribe to a group shown in these lists
255 using the @kbd{u} command.
256
257 When you quit Gnus with @kbd{q}, it automatically records in your
258 @file{.newsrc} and @file{.newsrc.eld} initialization files the
259 subscribed or unsubscribed status of all groups. You should normally
260 not edit these files manually, but you may if you know how.
261
262 @node Summary of Gnus
263 @subsection Summary of Gnus Commands
264
265 Reading news is a two-step process:
266
267 @enumerate
268 @item
269 Choose a group in the group buffer.
270
271 @item
272 Select articles from the summary buffer. Each article selected is
273 displayed in the article buffer in a large window, below the summary
274 buffer in its small window.
275 @end enumerate
276
277 Each Gnus buffer has its own special commands; the meanings of any
278 given key in the various Gnus buffers are usually analogous, even if
279 not identical. Here are commands for the group and summary buffers:
280
281 @table @kbd
282 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
283 @findex gnus-group-exit
284 @item q
285 In the group buffer, update your @file{.newsrc} initialization file
286 and quit Gnus.
287
288 In the summary buffer, exit the current group and return to the
289 group buffer. Thus, typing @kbd{q} twice quits Gnus.
290
291 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
292 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
293 @item L
294 In the group buffer, list all the groups available on your news
295 server (except those you have killed). This may be a long list!
296
297 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
298 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
299 @item l
300 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
301 which contain unread articles.
302
303 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
304 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
305 @cindex subscribe groups
306 @cindex unsubscribe groups
307 @item u
308 In the group buffer, unsubscribe from (or subscribe to) the group listed
309 in the line that point is on. When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q},
310 Gnus lists in your @file{.newsrc} file which groups you have subscribed
311 to. The next time you start Gnus, you won't see this group,
312 because Gnus normally displays only subscribed-to groups.
313
314 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus)}
315 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
316 @item C-k
317 In the group buffer, ``kill'' the current line's group---don't
318 even list it in @file{.newsrc} from now on. This affects future
319 Gnus sessions as well as the present session.
320
321 When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q}, Gnus writes information
322 in the file @file{.newsrc} describing all newsgroups except those you
323 have ``killed.''
324
325 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus)}
326 @findex gnus-group-read-group
327 @item @key{SPC}
328 In the group buffer, select the group on the line under the cursor
329 and display the first unread article in that group.
330
331 @need 1000
332 In the summary buffer,
333
334 @itemize @bullet
335 @item
336 Select the article on the line under the cursor if none is selected.
337
338 @item
339 Scroll the text of the selected article (if there is one).
340
341 @item
342 Select the next unread article if at the end of the current article.
343 @end itemize
344
345 Thus, you can move through all the articles by repeatedly typing @key{SPC}.
346
347 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus)}
348 @item @key{DEL}
349 In the group buffer, move point to the previous group containing
350 unread articles.
351
352 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
353 In the summary buffer, scroll the text of the article backwards.
354
355 @kindex n @r{(Gnus)}
356 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
357 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
358 @item n
359 Move point to the next unread group, or select the next unread article.
360
361 @kindex p @r{(Gnus)}
362 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
363 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
364 @item p
365 Move point to the previous unread group, or select the previous
366 unread article.
367
368 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
369 @findex gnus-group-next-group
370 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
371 @findex gnus-group-prev-group
372 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
373 @findex gnus-summary-next-subject
374 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
375 @findex gnus-summary-prev-subject
376 @item C-n
377 @itemx C-p
378 Move point to the next or previous item, even if it is marked as read.
379 This does not select the article or group on that line.
380
381 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
382 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
383 @item s
384 In the summary buffer, do an incremental search of the current text in
385 the article buffer, just as if you switched to the article buffer and
386 typed @kbd{C-s}.
387
388 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
389 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
390 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
391 In the summary buffer, search forward for articles containing a match
392 for @var{regexp}.
393
394 @end table
395
396 @ignore
397 @node Where to Look
398 @subsection Where to Look Further
399
400 @c Too many references to the name of the manual if done with xref in TeX!
401 Gnus is powerful and customizable. Here are references to a few
402 @ifnottex
403 additional topics:
404
405 @end ifnottex
406 @iftex
407 additional topics in @cite{The Gnus Manual}:
408
409 @itemize @bullet
410 @item
411 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
412 See section ``Threading.''
413
414 @item
415 Read digests. See section ``Document Groups.''
416
417 @item
418 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
419 See section ``Finding the Parent.''
420
421 @item
422 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
423 See section ``Article Keymap.''
424
425 @item
426 Save articles. See section ``Saving Articles.''
427
428 @item
429 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
430 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
431 See section ``Scoring.''
432
433 @item
434 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
435 See section ``Composing Messages.''
436 @end itemize
437 @end iftex
438 @ifnottex
439 @itemize @bullet
440 @item
441 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
442 @xref{Threading, , Reading Based on Conversation Threads,
443 gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
444
445 @item
446 Read digests. @xref{Document Groups, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
447
448 @item
449 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
450 @xref{Finding the Parent, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
451
452 @item
453 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
454 @xref{Article Keymap, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
455
456 @item
457 Save articles. @xref{Saving Articles, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
458
459 @item
460 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
461 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
462 @xref{Scoring, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
463
464 @item
465 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
466 @xref{Composing Messages, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
467 @end itemize
468 @end ifnottex
469 @end ignore
470
471 @node Shell, Emacs Server, Gnus, Top
472 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
473 @cindex subshell
474 @cindex shell commands
475
476 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to inferior shell
477 processes; it can also run a shell interactively with input and output
478 to an Emacs buffer named @samp{*shell*} or run a shell inside a terminal
479 emulator window.
480
481 @table @kbd
482 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
483 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} and display the output
484 (@code{shell-command}).
485 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
486 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
487 optionally replace the region with the output
488 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
489 @item M-x shell
490 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
491 You can then give commands interactively.
492 @item M-x term
493 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
494 You can then give commands interactively.
495 Full terminal emulation is available.
496 @end table
497
498 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
499 is documented in a separate manual. @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell,
500 Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
501
502 @menu
503 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
504 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
505 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
506 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
507 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
508 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
509 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
510 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
511 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
512 * Paging in Term:: Paging in the terminal emulator.
513 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
514 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
515 @end menu
516
517 @node Single Shell
518 @subsection Single Shell Commands
519
520 @kindex M-!
521 @findex shell-command
522 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
523 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command in a subshell made just
524 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
525 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
526 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
527 @samp{*Shell Command Output*}, which is displayed in another window
528 but not selected (if the output is long).
529
530 For instance, one way to decompress a file @file{foo.gz} from Emacs
531 is to type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command
532 normally creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
533
534 A numeric argument, as in @kbd{M-1 M-!}, says to insert terminal
535 output into the current buffer instead of a separate buffer. It puts
536 point before the output, and sets the mark after the output. For
537 instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz @key{RET}} would insert the
538 uncompressed equivalent of @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
539
540 If the shell command line ends in @samp{&}, it runs asynchronously.
541 For a synchronous shell command, @code{shell-command} returns the
542 command's exit status (0 means success), when it is called from a Lisp
543 program. You do not get any status information for an asynchronous
544 command, since it hasn't finished yet when @code{shell-command} returns.
545
546 @kindex M-|
547 @findex shell-command-on-region
548 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!} but
549 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
550 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, meaning insert
551 the output in the current buffer, it deletes the old region and the
552 output replaces it as the contents of the region. It returns the
553 command's exit status, like @kbd{M-!}.
554
555 One use for @kbd{M-|} is to run @code{gpg} to see what keys are in
556 the buffer. For instance, if the buffer contains a GPG key, type
557 @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents to
558 the @code{gpg} program. That program will ignore everything except
559 the encoded keys, and will output a list of the keys the buffer
560 contains.
561
562 @vindex shell-file-name
563 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} use @code{shell-file-name} to specify
564 the shell to use. This variable is initialized based on your
565 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
566 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories in the list
567 @code{exec-path}; this list is initialized based on the environment
568 variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your init file can
569 override either or both of these default initializations (@pxref{Init
570 File}).
571
572 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} wait for the shell command to complete,
573 unless you end the command with @samp{&} to make it asynchronous. To
574 stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit; that terminates the shell
575 command with the signal @code{SIGINT}---the same signal that @kbd{C-c}
576 normally generates in the shell. Emacs then waits until the command
577 actually terminates. If the shell command doesn't stop (because it
578 ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal), type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends
579 the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal which is impossible to ignore.
580
581 Asynchronous commands ending in @samp{&} feed their output into
582 the buffer @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Output arrives in that
583 buffer regardless of whether it is visible in a window.
584
585 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
586 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
587
588 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
589 Error output from these commands is normally intermixed with the
590 regular output. But if the variable
591 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} has a string as value, and
592 it's the name of a buffer, @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} insert error output
593 before point in that buffer.
594
595 @node Interactive Shell
596 @subsection Interactive Inferior Shell
597
598 @findex shell
599 To run a subshell interactively, use @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
600 (or reuses) a buffer named @samp{*shell*} and runs a subshell with
601 input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to say,
602 any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
603 advancing point, and any ``terminal input'' for the subshell comes
604 from text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end
605 of the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
606
607 Emacs does not wait for the subshell to do anything. You can switch
608 windows or buffers and edit them while the shell is waiting, or while it is
609 running a command. Output from the subshell waits until Emacs has time to
610 process it; this happens whenever Emacs is waiting for keyboard input or
611 for time to elapse.
612
613 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
614 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
615 Input lines, once you submit them, are displayed using the face
616 @code{comint-highlight-input}, and prompts are displayed using the
617 face @code{comint-highlight-prompt}. This makes it easier to see
618 previous input lines in the buffer. @xref{Faces}.
619
620 To make multiple subshells, you can invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a
621 prefix argument (e.g. @kbd{C-u M-x shell}), which will read a buffer
622 name and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can also
623 rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely}, then
624 create a new @samp{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
625 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
626
627 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
628 @cindex environment variables for subshells
629 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
630 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
631 The file name used to load the subshell is the value of the variable
632 @code{explicit-shell-file-name}, if that is non-@code{nil}.
633 Otherwise, the environment variable @env{ESHELL} is used, or the
634 environment variable @env{SHELL} if there is no @env{ESHELL}. If the
635 file name specified is relative, the directories in the list
636 @code{exec-path} are searched; this list is initialized based on the
637 environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your init file
638 can override either or both of these default initializations.
639 (@pxref{Init File}).
640
641 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
642 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
643 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
644 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
645 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries to fallback
646 on @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
647
648 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
649 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
650 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
651 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
652 Coding}.
653
654 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
655 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
656 subshell to a comma-separated list including the Emacs version.
657 Programs can check this variable to determine whether they are running
658 inside an Emacs subshell.
659
660 @cindex @env{EMACS} environment variable
661 Emacs also sets the @env{EMACS} environment variable (to @code{t}) if
662 it is not already defined. @strong{Warning:} This environment
663 variable is deprecated. Programs that check this variable should be
664 changed to check @env{INSIDE_EMACS} instead.
665
666 @node Shell Mode
667 @subsection Shell Mode
668 @cindex Shell mode
669 @cindex mode, Shell
670
671 Shell buffers use Shell mode, which defines several special keys
672 attached to the @kbd{C-c} prefix. They are chosen to resemble the usual
673 editing and job control characters present in shells that are not under
674 Emacs, except that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a complete list
675 of the special key bindings of Shell mode:
676
677 @table @kbd
678 @item @key{RET}
679 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
680 @findex comint-send-input
681 At end of buffer send line as input; otherwise, copy current line to
682 end of buffer and send it (@code{comint-send-input}). Copying a line
683 in this way omits any prompt at the beginning of the line (text output
684 by programs preceding your input). @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how
685 Shell mode recognizes prompts.
686
687 @item @key{TAB}
688 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
689 @findex comint-dynamic-complete
690 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell buffer
691 (@code{comint-dynamic-complete}). @key{TAB} also completes history
692 references (@pxref{History References}) and environment variable names.
693
694 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
695 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
696 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
697 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
698 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
699 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
700 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
701 instead.
702
703 @item M-?
704 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
705 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
706 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file name
707 before point in the shell buffer
708 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
709
710 @item C-d
711 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
712 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
713 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
714 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
715 buffer, @kbd{C-d} sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
716 position in the buffer, @kbd{C-d} deletes a character as usual.
717
718 @item C-c C-a
719 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
720 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
721 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
722 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
723 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
724 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
725 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
726 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
727 previous line.)
728
729 @item C-c @key{SPC}
730 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
731 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
732 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
733 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
734 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
735
736 @item C-c C-u
737 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
738 @findex comint-kill-input
739 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
740 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
741 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
742
743 @item C-c C-w
744 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
745 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
746
747 @item C-c C-c
748 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
749 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
750 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
751 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
752 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
753
754 @item C-c C-z
755 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
756 @findex comint-stop-subjob
757 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
758 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
759 not yet sent.
760
761 @item C-c C-\
762 @findex comint-quit-subjob
763 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
764 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
765 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
766 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
767
768 @item C-c C-o
769 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
770 @findex comint-delete-output
771 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
772 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
773 out lots of output that just gets in the way. This command used to be
774 called @code{comint-kill-output}.
775
776 @item C-c C-s
777 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
778 @findex comint-write-output
779 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
780 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
781 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
782 written.
783
784 @item C-c C-r
785 @itemx C-M-l
786 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
787 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
788 @findex comint-show-output
789 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
790 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
791
792 @item C-c C-e
793 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
794 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
795 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
796 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
797
798 @item C-c C-f
799 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
800 @findex shell-forward-command
801 @vindex shell-command-regexp
802 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
803 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
804 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
805
806 @item C-c C-b
807 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
808 @findex shell-backward-command
809 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
810 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
811
812 @item M-x dirs
813 Ask the shell what its current directory is, so that Emacs can agree
814 with the shell.
815
816 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
817 @findex send-invisible
818 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
819 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
820 for a password.
821
822 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
823 really want them to be echoed, evaluate the following Lisp
824 expression:
825
826 @example
827 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
828 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
829 @end example
830
831 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
832 @findex comint-continue-subjob
833 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
834 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
835 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
836 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
837 this command won't do it.}
838
839 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
840 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
841 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
842 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
843 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
844 evaluate this Lisp expression:
845
846 @example
847 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
848 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
849 @end example
850
851 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
852 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
853 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
854 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
855 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
856 subshell:
857
858 @example
859 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
860 'comint-truncate-buffer)
861 @end example
862 @end table
863
864 @cindex Comint mode
865 @cindex mode, Comint
866 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
867 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
868 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
869 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
870 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
871
872 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
873 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
874
875 @findex comint-run
876 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
877 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
878 specializations of Shell mode.
879
880 @node Shell Prompts
881 @subsection Shell Prompts
882
883 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
884 @vindex comint-prompt-regexp
885 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
886 @cindex prompt, shell
887 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
888 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
889 considers the prompt to be any text output by a program at the
890 beginning of an input line. However, if the variable
891 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, then Comint mode
892 uses a regular expression to recognize prompts. In Shell mode,
893 @code{shell-prompt-pattern} specifies the regular expression.
894
895 The value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} also affects many
896 motion and paragraph commands. If the value is non-@code{nil}, the
897 general Emacs motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers
898 without special text properties. However, if the value is @code{nil},
899 the default, then Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of
900 ``fields'' (ranges of consecutive characters having the same
901 @code{field} text property): input and output. Prompts are part of
902 the output. Most Emacs motion commands do not cross field boundaries,
903 unless they move over multiple lines. For instance, when point is in
904 input on the same line as a prompt, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the
905 beginning of the input if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is
906 @code{nil} and at the beginning of the line otherwise.
907
908 In Shell mode, only shell prompts start new paragraphs. Thus, a
909 paragraph consists of a prompt and the input and output that follow
910 it. However, if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil}, the
911 default, most paragraph commands do not cross field boundaries. This
912 means that prompts, ranges of input, and ranges of non-prompt output
913 behave mostly like separate paragraphs; with this setting, numeric
914 arguments to most paragraph commands yield essentially undefined
915 behavior. For the purpose of finding paragraph boundaries, Shell mode
916 uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern}, regardless of
917 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp}.
918
919 @node Shell History
920 @subsection Shell Command History
921
922 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
923 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
924 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
925 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
926 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
927 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
928 @samp{!}-style history reference.
929
930 @menu
931 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
932 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
933 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
934 @end menu
935
936 @node Shell Ring
937 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
938
939 @table @kbd
940 @findex comint-previous-input
941 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
942 @item M-p
943 @itemx C-@key{UP}
944 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
945
946 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
947 @findex comint-next-input
948 @item M-n
949 @itemx C-@key{DOWN}
950 Fetch the next later old shell command.
951
952 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
953 @kindex M-s @r{(Shell mode)}
954 @findex comint-previous-matching-input
955 @findex comint-next-matching-input
956 @item M-r @var{regexp} @key{RET}
957 @itemx M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
958 Search backwards or forwards for old shell commands that match @var{regexp}.
959
960 @item C-c C-x
961 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
962 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
963 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
964
965 @item C-c .
966 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
967 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
968 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
969
970 @item C-c C-l
971 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
972 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
973 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
974 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
975 @end table
976
977 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell commands. To
978 reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing commands @kbd{M-p},
979 @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work just like the minibuffer
980 history commands except that they operate on the text at the end of the
981 shell buffer, where you would normally insert text to send to the shell.
982
983 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
984 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
985 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
986 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
987 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
988 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
989 @kbd{M-n}.
990
991 The history search commands @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s} read a regular
992 expression and search through the history for a matching command. Aside
993 from the choice of which command to fetch, they work just like @kbd{M-p}
994 and @kbd{M-n}. If you enter an empty regexp, these commands reuse the
995 same regexp used last time.
996
997 When you find the previous input you want, you can resubmit it by
998 typing @key{RET}, or you can edit it first and then resubmit it if you
999 wish. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1000 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1001 history ring.
1002
1003 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1004 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1005 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1006 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1007 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1008 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1009 @key{RET}} over and over.
1010
1011 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1012 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like @kbd{ESC
1013 .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1014 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1015 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1016 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1017 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1018 command).
1019
1020 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1021 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1022 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1023 that these commands access.
1024
1025 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1026 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1027 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1028 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1029 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1030 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1031
1032 @node Shell History Copying
1033 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1034
1035 @table @kbd
1036 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1037 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1038 @item C-c C-p
1039 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1040
1041 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1042 @findex comint-next-prompt
1043 @item C-c C-n
1044 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1045
1046 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1047 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1048 @item C-c @key{RET}
1049 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1050 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1051 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1052 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1053 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1054 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1055
1056 @item Mouse-2
1057 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1058 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1059 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1060 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1061 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1062 @end table
1063
1064 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1065 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1066 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1067 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1068 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1069 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1070 buffer after it has been sent.
1071
1072 @node History References
1073 @subsubsection Shell History References
1074 @cindex history reference
1075
1076 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1077 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1078 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1079 for you.
1080
1081 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1082 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1083 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1084 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1085 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1086 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1087 typing @key{RET}.
1088
1089 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1090 @findex comint-magic-space
1091 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1092 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1093 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1094 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1095 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1096
1097 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1098 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1099
1100 @node Directory Tracking
1101 @subsection Directory Tracking
1102 @cindex directory tracking
1103
1104 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1105 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1106 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1107 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1108 commands given to the inferior shell, so it can keep the
1109 @samp{*shell*} buffer's default directory the same as the shell's
1110 working directory. It recognizes these commands syntactically, by
1111 examining lines of input that are sent.
1112
1113 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1114 recognize them also. For example, if the value of the variable
1115 @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches the beginning of a shell command
1116 line, that line is regarded as a @code{pushd} command. Change this
1117 variable when you add aliases for @samp{pushd}. Likewise,
1118 @code{shell-popd-regexp} and @code{shell-cd-regexp} are used to
1119 recognize commands with the meaning of @samp{popd} and @samp{cd}.
1120 These commands are recognized only at the beginning of a shell command
1121 line.
1122
1123 @ignore @c This seems to have been deleted long ago.
1124 @vindex shell-set-directory-error-hook
1125 If Emacs gets an error while trying to handle what it believes is a
1126 @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} or @samp{popd} command, it runs the hook
1127 @code{shell-set-directory-error-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1128 @end ignore
1129
1130 @findex dirs
1131 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the current directory of the
1132 subshell, use the command @kbd{M-x dirs} to ask the shell what its
1133 current directory is. This command works for shells that support the
1134 most common command syntax; it may not work for unusual shells.
1135
1136 @findex dirtrack-mode
1137 You can also use @kbd{M-x dirtrack-mode} to enable (or disable) an
1138 alternative method of tracking changes in the current directory. This
1139 method relies on your shell prompt containing the full current working
1140 directory at all times.
1141
1142 @node Shell Options
1143 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1144
1145 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1146 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1147 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1148 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1149
1150 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1151 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1152 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1153 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1154 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1155 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1156
1157 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1158 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1159 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1160 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1161 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1162 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1163 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1164 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1165 point does not jump to the end.
1166
1167 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1168 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1169 buffer are read-only.
1170
1171 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1172 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1173 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1174 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1175 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1176 equal to the previous input.
1177
1178 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1179 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1180 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1181 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1182 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1183 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1184 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1185 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1186 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1187 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1188 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1189 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1190
1191 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1192 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1193 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1194 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1195
1196 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1197 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1198 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1199 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1200 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1201 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1202 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1203 directory stack if they are not already on it
1204 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1205 underlying shell, of course.
1206
1207 If you want Shell mode to handle color output from shell commands,
1208 you can enable ANSI Color mode. Here is how to do this:
1209
1210 @example
1211 (add-hook 'shell-mode-hook 'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)
1212 @end example
1213
1214 @node Terminal emulator
1215 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1216 @findex term
1217
1218 To run a subshell in a terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}. This
1219 creates (or reuses) a buffer named @samp{*terminal*}, and runs a
1220 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1221 that buffer.
1222
1223 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1224 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1225
1226 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1227 subshell, as ``terminal input.'' Any ``echoing'' of your input is the
1228 responsibility of the subshell. The sole exception is the terminal
1229 escape character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}).
1230 Any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
1231 advancing point.
1232
1233 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1234 on the terminal screen in detail. They do this by sending special
1235 control codes. The exact control codes needed vary from terminal to
1236 terminal, but nowadays most terminals and terminal emulators
1237 (including @code{xterm}) understand the ANSI-standard (VT100-style)
1238 escape sequences. Term mode recognizes these escape sequences, and
1239 handles each one appropriately, changing the buffer so that the
1240 appearance of the window matches what it would be on a real terminal.
1241 You can actually run Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.
1242
1243 You can use Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1244 serial port of your computer. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1245
1246 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1247 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1248 buffer @samp{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1249 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1250
1251 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1252 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1253 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1254 and later.
1255
1256 @node Term Mode
1257 @subsection Term Mode
1258 @cindex Term mode
1259 @cindex mode, Term
1260
1261 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1262 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1263 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1264 subshell, except for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1265
1266 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1267
1268 @table @kbd
1269 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1270 @findex term-char-mode
1271 @item C-c C-j
1272 Switch to line mode. Do nothing if already in line mode.
1273
1274 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1275 @findex term-line-mode
1276 @item C-c C-k
1277 Switch to char mode. Do nothing if already in char mode.
1278 @end table
1279
1280 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1281
1282 @table @kbd
1283 @item C-c C-c
1284 Send a literal @key{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1285
1286 @item C-c @var{char}
1287 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1288 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1289 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1290 @end table
1291
1292 @node Paging in Term
1293 @subsection Page-At-A-Time Output
1294 @cindex page-at-a-time
1295
1296 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled it makes
1297 output pause at the end of each screenful.
1298
1299 @table @kbd
1300 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1301 @findex term-pager-toggle
1302 @item C-c C-q
1303 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1304 and char modes. When page-at-a-time is enabled, the mode-line
1305 displays the word @samp{page}.
1306 @end table
1307
1308 With page-at-a-time enabled, whenever Term receives more than a
1309 screenful of output since your last input, it pauses, displaying
1310 @samp{**MORE**} in the mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next
1311 screenful of output. Type @kbd{?} to see your other options. The
1312 interface is similar to the @code{more} program.
1313
1314 @node Remote Host
1315 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1316 @cindex remote host
1317 @cindex connecting to remote host
1318 @cindex Telnet
1319 @cindex Rlogin
1320
1321 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1322 would from a regular terminal (e.g.@: using the @code{telnet} or
1323 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1324
1325 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1326 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1327 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1328 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1329 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1330 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1331
1332 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1333 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1334 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1335 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1336 login command, without separating comma.) Terminal types @samp{ansi}
1337 or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1338
1339 @c If you are talking to a Bourne-compatible
1340 @c shell, and your system understands the @env{TERMCAP} variable,
1341 @c you can use the command @kbd{M-x shell-send-termcap}, which
1342 @c sends a string specifying the terminal type and size.
1343 @c (This command is also useful after the window has changed size.)
1344
1345 @c You can of course run @samp{gdb} on that remote computer. One useful
1346 @c trick: If you invoke gdb with the @code{--fullname} option,
1347 @c it will send special commands to Emacs that will cause Emacs to
1348 @c pop up the source files you're debugging. This will work
1349 @c whether or not gdb is running on a different computer than Emacs,
1350 @c as long as Emacs can access the source files specified by gdb.
1351
1352 @ignore
1353 You cannot log in to a remote computer using the Shell mode.
1354 @c (This will change when Shell is re-written to use Term.)
1355 Instead, Emacs provides two commands for logging in to another computer
1356 and communicating with it through an Emacs buffer using Comint mode:
1357
1358 @table @kbd
1359 @item M-x telnet @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1360 Set up a Telnet connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1361 @item M-x rlogin @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1362 Set up an Rlogin connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1363 @end table
1364
1365 @findex telnet
1366 Use @kbd{M-x telnet} to set up a Telnet connection to another
1367 computer. (Telnet is the standard Internet protocol for remote login.)
1368 It reads the host name of the other computer as an argument with the
1369 minibuffer. Once the connection is established, talking to the other
1370 computer works like talking to a subshell: you can edit input with the
1371 usual Emacs commands, and send it a line at a time by typing @key{RET}.
1372 The output is inserted in the Telnet buffer interspersed with the input.
1373
1374 @findex rlogin
1375 @vindex rlogin-explicit-args
1376 Use @kbd{M-x rlogin} to set up an Rlogin connection. Rlogin is
1377 another remote login communication protocol, essentially much like the
1378 Telnet protocol but incompatible with it, and supported only by certain
1379 systems. Rlogin's advantages are that you can arrange not to have to
1380 give your user name and password when communicating between two machines
1381 you frequently use, and that you can make an 8-bit-clean connection.
1382 (To do that in Emacs, set @code{rlogin-explicit-args} to @code{("-8")}
1383 before you run Rlogin.)
1384
1385 @kbd{M-x rlogin} sets up the default file directory of the Emacs
1386 buffer to access the remote host via FTP (@pxref{File Names}), and it
1387 tracks the shell commands that change the current directory, just like
1388 Shell mode.
1389
1390 @findex rlogin-directory-tracking-mode
1391 There are two ways of doing directory tracking in an Rlogin
1392 buffer---either with remote directory names
1393 @file{/@var{host}:@var{dir}/} or with local names (that works if the
1394 ``remote'' machine shares file systems with your machine of origin).
1395 You can use the command @code{rlogin-directory-tracking-mode} to switch
1396 modes. No argument means use remote directory names, a positive
1397 argument means use local names, and a negative argument means turn
1398 off directory tracking.
1399
1400 @end ignore
1401
1402 @node Serial Terminal
1403 @subsection Serial Terminal
1404 @cindex terminal, serial
1405 @findex serial-term
1406
1407 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1408 you can use Emacs to communicate with it. @kbd{M-x serial-term} will
1409 ask you for a serial port name and speed and will then open a new
1410 window in @ref{Term Mode}.
1411
1412 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1413 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1414 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1415
1416 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on ``8N1'' in
1417 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as ``8N1'',
1418 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1419 bit, and 1 stopbit.
1420
1421 When you have opened the serial port connection, you will see output
1422 from the device in the window. Also, what you type in the window is
1423 sent to the device.
1424
1425 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1426 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1427 window.
1428
1429 @node Emacs Server, Printing, Shell, Top
1430 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1431 @pindex emacsclient
1432 @cindex Emacs as a server
1433 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1434 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1435
1436 Various programs such as @command{mail} can invoke your choice of
1437 editor to edit a particular piece of text, such as a message that you
1438 are sending. By convention, most of these programs use the
1439 environment variable @env{EDITOR} to specify which editor to run. If
1440 you set @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, they invoke Emacs---but in an
1441 inconvenient way, by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1442 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1443 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1444 process.
1445
1446 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1447 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1448 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1449
1450 @findex server-start
1451 The first is to run the command @code{server-start} in an existing
1452 Emacs process: either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the
1453 expression @code{(server-start)} in your initialization file
1454 (@pxref{Init File}). The existing Emacs process is the server; when
1455 you exit Emacs, the server dies with the Emacs process.
1456
1457 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1458 The second way to start an Emacs server is to run Emacs as a
1459 @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line option.
1460 @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it calls
1461 @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to the
1462 calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then waits in
1463 the background, listening for edit requests.
1464
1465 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1466 Once an Emacs server is set up, you can use a shell command called
1467 @command{emacsclient} to connect to the existing Emacs process and
1468 tell it to visit a file. If you set the @env{EDITOR} environment
1469 variable to @samp{emacsclient}, programs such as @command{mail} will
1470 use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some programs use
1471 a different environment variable; for example, to make @TeX{} use
1472 @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable to
1473 @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1474
1475 @vindex server-name
1476 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1477 each one a unique ``server name'', using the variable
1478 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1479 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1480 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1481 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1482
1483 @menu
1484 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1485 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1486 @end menu
1487
1488 @node Invoking emacsclient
1489 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1490 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1491
1492 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1493 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1494 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1495 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1496 graphical frame, or one in a text-only terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1497 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1498
1499 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1500 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1501 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1502 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1503 called @command{emacsclient}, as though you had used the @samp{-t}
1504 option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1505
1506 On a graphical display, switching to the Emacs server is
1507 straightforward---just select its (system-level) window. If you are
1508 using a text-only terminal, there are two ways to switch between
1509 @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server: (i) run the Emacs
1510 server and @command{emacsclient} on different virtual terminals, and
1511 switch to the Emacs server's virtual terminal after calling
1512 @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call @command{emacsclient} from within
1513 the Emacs server itself, using Shell mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell})
1514 or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode}); @code{emacsclient} blocks only the
1515 subshell under Emacs, and you can still use Emacs to edit the file.
1516
1517 @kindex C-x #
1518 @findex server-edit
1519 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1520 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1521 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1522 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1523 ``editor''---in the case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1524 something else.
1525
1526 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1527 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1528 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1529 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1530 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1531 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1532 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1533 buffer).
1534
1535 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1536 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1537 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1538 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1539 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1540 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1541 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1542 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1543 ``temporary'' files.
1544
1545 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1546 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1547 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1548 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1549 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1550
1551 @vindex server-window
1552 If you set the variable @code{server-window} to a window or a frame,
1553 @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer in that window or
1554 in that frame.
1555
1556 @node emacsclient Options
1557 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1558 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1559
1560 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1561 program, such as:
1562
1563 @example
1564 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1565 @end example
1566
1567 @noindent
1568 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1569 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1570 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1571 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1572
1573 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1574 listed below:
1575
1576 @table @samp
1577 @item -a @var{command}
1578 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1579 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1580 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script. For
1581 example, the following setting for the @env{EDITOR} environment
1582 variable will always give you an editor, even if no Emacs server is
1583 running:
1584
1585 @example
1586 EDITOR="emacsclient --alternate-editor emacs +%d %s"
1587 @end example
1588
1589 @noindent
1590 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1591 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode and then tries
1592 connecting again.
1593
1594 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1595 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1596 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1597 precedence.
1598
1599 @item -c
1600 Create a new graphical frame, instead of using an existing Emacs
1601 frame. Emacs 23 can create a graphical frame even if it was started
1602 in a text-only terminal, provided it is able to connect to a graphical
1603 display. If no graphical display is available, Emacs creates a new
1604 text-only terminal frame (@pxref{Frames}). If you omit a filename
1605 argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option, the new frame displays
1606 the @samp{*scratch*} buffer (@pxref{Buffers}).
1607
1608 @item -d @var{display}
1609 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1610 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1611 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1612
1613 @item -e
1614 @itemx --eval
1615 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1616 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1617 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1618 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1619
1620 @item -f @var{server-file}
1621 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1622 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1623 @cindex server file
1624 @vindex server-use-tcp
1625 @vindex server-host
1626 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1627
1628 An Emacs server usually uses an operating system feature called a
1629 ``local socket'' to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1630 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1631 Emacs uses TCP instead. When you start the Emacs server, Emacs
1632 creates a server file containing some TCP information that
1633 @command{emacsclient} needs for making the connection. By default,
1634 the server file is in @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. On Microsoft
1635 Windows, if @command{emacsclient} does not find the server file there,
1636 it looks in the @file{.emacs.d/server/} subdirectory of the directory
1637 pointed to by the @env{APPDATA} environment variable. You can tell
1638 @command{emacsclient} to use a specific server file with the @samp{-f}
1639 or @samp{--server-file} option, or by setting the
1640 @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable.
1641
1642 Even if local sockets are available, you can tell Emacs to use TCP by
1643 setting the variable @code{server-use-tcp} to @code{t}. One advantage
1644 of TCP is that the server can accept connections from remote machines.
1645 For this to work, you must (i) set the variable @code{server-host} to
1646 the hostname or IP address of the machine on which the Emacs server
1647 runs, and (ii) provide @command{emacsclient} with the server file.
1648 (One convenient way to do the latter is to put the server file on a
1649 networked file system such as NFS.)
1650
1651 @item -n
1652 @itemx --no-wait
1653 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1654 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1655 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1656 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1657
1658 @item -s @var{server-name}
1659 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1660 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1661 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1662 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1663 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1664
1665 @item -t
1666 @itemx --tty
1667 @itemx -nw
1668 Create a new Emacs frame on the current text-only terminal, instead of
1669 using an existing Emacs frame. Emacs 23 can open a text-only terminal
1670 even if it was started in another text-only terminal, or on a
1671 graphical display. If you omit a filename argument while supplying
1672 this option, the new frame displays the @samp{*scratch*} buffer.
1673 @xref{Buffers}.
1674 @end table
1675
1676 If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal}) in an
1677 Emacs frame created with @command{emacsclient}, via the @samp{-c} or
1678 @samp{-t} options, Emacs deletes the frame instead of killing the
1679 Emacs process itself. On a text-only terminal frame created with the
1680 @samp{-t} option, this returns control to the terminal. Emacs also
1681 marks all the server buffers for the client as finished, as though you
1682 had typed @kbd{C-x #} in all of them.
1683
1684 When Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are considered client
1685 frames, so @kbd{C-x C-c} will never kill Emacs. To kill the Emacs
1686 process, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1687
1688 @node Printing, Sorting, Emacs Server, Top
1689 @section Printing Hard Copies
1690 @cindex hardcopy
1691 @cindex printing
1692
1693 Emacs provides commands for printing hard copies of either an entire
1694 buffer or just part of one, with or without page headers. You can
1695 invoke the printing commands directly, as detailed in the following
1696 section, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar. See also the
1697 hardcopy commands of Dired (@pxref{Misc File Ops}) and the diary
1698 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}).
1699
1700 @table @kbd
1701 @item M-x print-buffer
1702 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the file
1703 name and page number.
1704 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1705 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1706 @item M-x print-region
1707 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1708 @item M-x lpr-region
1709 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1710 @end table
1711
1712 @findex print-buffer
1713 @findex print-region
1714 @findex lpr-buffer
1715 @findex lpr-region
1716 @vindex lpr-switches
1717 The hardcopy commands (aside from the PostScript commands) pass extra
1718 switches to the @code{lpr} program based on the value of the variable
1719 @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of strings, each string
1720 an option starting with @samp{-}. For example, to specify a line width
1721 of 80 columns for all the printing you do in Emacs, set
1722 @code{lpr-switches} like this:
1723
1724 @example
1725 (setq lpr-switches '("-w80"))
1726 @end example
1727
1728 @vindex printer-name
1729 You can specify the printer to use by setting the variable
1730 @code{printer-name}.
1731
1732 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1733 @vindex lpr-commands
1734 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1735 The variable @code{lpr-command} specifies the name of the printer
1736 program to run; the default value depends on your operating system type.
1737 On most systems, the default is @code{"lpr"}. The variable
1738 @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the extra switches to
1739 use to make page headers. The variable @code{lpr-add-switches} controls
1740 whether to supply @samp{-T} and @samp{-J} options (suitable for
1741 @code{lpr}) to the printer program: @code{nil} means don't add them.
1742 @code{lpr-add-switches} should be @code{nil} if your printer program is
1743 not compatible with @code{lpr}.
1744
1745 @menu
1746 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1747 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1748 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1749 @end menu
1750
1751 @node PostScript, PostScript Variables,, Printing
1752 @section PostScript Hardcopy
1753
1754 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1755 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1756
1757 @table @kbd
1758 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1759 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1760 @item M-x ps-print-region
1761 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1762 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1763 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1764 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1765 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1766 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1767 faces used in the text.
1768 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1769 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1770 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1771 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1772 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1773 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1774 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1775 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1776 @item M-x ps-despool
1777 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1778 @item M-x handwrite
1779 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1780 @end table
1781
1782 @findex ps-print-region
1783 @findex ps-print-buffer
1784 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1785 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1786 The PostScript commands, @code{ps-print-buffer} and
1787 @code{ps-print-region}, print buffer contents in PostScript form. One
1788 command prints the entire buffer; the other, just the region. The
1789 corresponding @samp{-with-faces} commands,
1790 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and @code{ps-print-region-with-faces},
1791 use PostScript features to show the faces (fonts and colors) in the text
1792 properties of the text being printed. The @samp{-with-faces} commands only
1793 work if they are used in a window system, so it has a way to determine color
1794 values.
1795
1796 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1797 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1798 instead of sending it to the printer.
1799
1800 Noninteractively, the argument @var{filename} is treated as follows: if it is
1801 @code{nil}, send the image to the printer. If @var{filename} is a string, save
1802 the PostScript image in a file with that name.
1803
1804 If you are using a color display, you can print a buffer of program
1805 code with color highlighting by turning on Font-Lock mode in that
1806 buffer, and using @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces}.
1807
1808 @findex ps-spool-region
1809 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1810 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1811 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1812 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
1813 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1814 it to the printer.
1815
1816 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the printer.
1817
1818 @findex ps-despool
1819 This command sends the PostScript generated by @samp{-spool-} commands (see
1820 commands above) to the printer.
1821
1822 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1823 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the spooled PostScript image in
1824 that file instead of sending it to the printer.
1825
1826 Noninteractively, the argument @var{filename} is treated as follows: if it is
1827 @code{nil}, send the image to the printer. If @var{filename} is a string, save
1828 the PostScript image in a file with that name.
1829
1830 @findex handwrite
1831 @cindex handwriting
1832 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1833 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1834 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1835 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1836
1837 @ifnottex
1838 The following section describes variables for customizing these commands.
1839 @end ifnottex
1840
1841 @node PostScript Variables, Printing Package, PostScript, Printing
1842 @section Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1843
1844 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1845 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1846 @vindex ps-printer-name
1847 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1848 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1849 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1850 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1851 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1852 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1853 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1854 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1855
1856 @vindex ps-print-header
1857 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1858 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1859 off.
1860
1861 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1862 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1863 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1864 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1865 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1866 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1867 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1868 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1869
1870 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
1871 print colors on black/white printers.
1872
1873 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1874 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1875 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1876 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1877 stripes and background image/text.
1878
1879 @vindex ps-paper-type
1880 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1881 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1882 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1883 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1884 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1885 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1886 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1887 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1888
1889 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1890 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1891 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1892 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1893 mode.
1894
1895 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1896 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1897 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1898 default is 1.
1899
1900 @vindex ps-font-family
1901 @vindex ps-font-size
1902 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1903 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1904 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1905 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
1906 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
1907 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
1908
1909 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
1910 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
1911 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
1912 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
1913 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
1914 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
1915 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
1916 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
1917 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
1918 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1919 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
1920 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
1921 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
1922 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
1923 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
1924 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1925 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
1926
1927 @vindex bdf-directory-list
1928 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
1929 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
1930 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
1931 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
1932
1933 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
1934 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
1935
1936 @node Printing Package,, PostScript Variables, Printing
1937 @section Printing Package
1938 @cindex Printing package
1939
1940 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
1941 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
1942 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
1943 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
1944 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
1945 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
1946 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
1947 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
1948 used.
1949
1950 @findex pr-interface
1951 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
1952 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
1953 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
1954 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
1955 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface RET}; this creates a
1956 @samp{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
1957 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
1958 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
1959 @kbd{mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @kbd{RET}). For
1960 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
1961 Help} button.
1962
1963 @node Sorting, Narrowing, Printing, Top
1964 @section Sorting Text
1965 @cindex sorting
1966
1967 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
1968 operate on the contents of the region.
1969 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
1970 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
1971 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
1972 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
1973 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters `A' through
1974 `Z' come before lower-case `a', in accord with the @acronym{ASCII} character
1975 sequence.
1976
1977 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
1978 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
1979 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
1980 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
1981 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
1982 record as the sort key.
1983
1984 @findex sort-lines
1985 @findex sort-paragraphs
1986 @findex sort-pages
1987 @findex sort-fields
1988 @findex sort-numeric-fields
1989 @vindex sort-numeric-base
1990 @table @kbd
1991 @item M-x sort-lines
1992 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
1993 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
1994
1995 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
1996 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
1997 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
1998 argument means sort into descending order.
1999
2000 @item M-x sort-pages
2001 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2002 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2003 argument means sort into descending order.
2004
2005 @item M-x sort-fields
2006 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2007 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2008 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2009 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2010 2, etc.
2011
2012 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2013 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2014 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2015 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2016 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2017
2018 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2019 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2020 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2021 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2022 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2023 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2024 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2025
2026 @item M-x sort-columns
2027 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2028 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
2029 for an explanation.
2030
2031 @item M-x reverse-region
2032 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2033 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
2034 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2035 @end table
2036
2037 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2038
2039 @smallexample
2040 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2041 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2042 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2043 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2044 the buffer.
2045 @end smallexample
2046
2047 @noindent
2048 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2049
2050 @smallexample
2051 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2052 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2053 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2054 the buffer.
2055 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2056 @end smallexample
2057
2058 @noindent
2059 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2060 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2061
2062 @smallexample
2063 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2064 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2065 the buffer.
2066 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2067 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2068 @end smallexample
2069
2070 @noindent
2071 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2072 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2073
2074 @findex sort-columns
2075 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2076 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2077 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2078 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2079 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2080 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2081 as well as all the lines in between.
2082
2083 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2084 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2085 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2086 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2087 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2088
2089 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2090 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2091 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2092 @xref{Rectangles}.
2093
2094 @vindex sort-fold-case
2095 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2096 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2097
2098 @node Narrowing, Two-Column, Sorting, Top
2099 @section Narrowing
2100 @cindex widening
2101 @cindex restriction
2102 @cindex narrowing
2103 @cindex accessible portion
2104
2105 @dfn{Narrowing} means focusing in on some portion of the buffer,
2106 making the rest temporarily inaccessible. The portion which you can
2107 still get to is called the @dfn{accessible portion}. Canceling the
2108 narrowing, which makes the entire buffer once again accessible, is
2109 called @dfn{widening}. The bounds of narrowing in effect in a buffer
2110 are called the buffer's @dfn{restriction}.
2111
2112 Narrowing can make it easier to concentrate on a single subroutine or
2113 paragraph by eliminating clutter. It can also be used to limit the
2114 range of operation of a replace command or repeating keyboard macro.
2115
2116 @table @kbd
2117 @item C-x n n
2118 Narrow down to between point and mark (@code{narrow-to-region}).
2119 @item C-x n w
2120 Widen to make the entire buffer accessible again (@code{widen}).
2121 @item C-x n p
2122 Narrow down to the current page (@code{narrow-to-page}).
2123 @item C-x n d
2124 Narrow down to the current defun (@code{narrow-to-defun}).
2125 @end table
2126
2127 When you have narrowed down to a part of the buffer, that part appears
2128 to be all there is. You can't see the rest, you can't move into it
2129 (motion commands won't go outside the accessible part), you can't change
2130 it in any way. However, it is not gone, and if you save the file all
2131 the inaccessible text will be saved. The word @samp{Narrow} appears in
2132 the mode line whenever narrowing is in effect.
2133
2134 @kindex C-x n n
2135 @findex narrow-to-region
2136 The primary narrowing command is @kbd{C-x n n} (@code{narrow-to-region}).
2137 It sets the current buffer's restrictions so that the text in the current
2138 region remains accessible, but all text before the region or after the
2139 region is inaccessible. Point and mark do not change.
2140
2141 @kindex C-x n p
2142 @findex narrow-to-page
2143 @kindex C-x n d
2144 @findex narrow-to-defun
2145 Alternatively, use @kbd{C-x n p} (@code{narrow-to-page}) to narrow
2146 down to the current page. @xref{Pages}, for the definition of a page.
2147 @kbd{C-x n d} (@code{narrow-to-defun}) narrows down to the defun
2148 containing point (@pxref{Defuns}).
2149
2150 @kindex C-x n w
2151 @findex widen
2152 The way to cancel narrowing is to widen with @kbd{C-x n w}
2153 (@code{widen}). This makes all text in the buffer accessible again.
2154
2155 You can get information on what part of the buffer you are narrowed down
2156 to using the @kbd{C-x =} command. @xref{Position Info}.
2157
2158 Because narrowing can easily confuse users who do not understand it,
2159 @code{narrow-to-region} is normally a disabled command. Attempting to use
2160 this command asks for confirmation and gives you the option of enabling it;
2161 if you enable the command, confirmation will no longer be required for
2162 it. @xref{Disabling}.
2163
2164 @node Two-Column, Editing Binary Files, Narrowing, Top
2165 @section Two-Column Editing
2166 @cindex two-column editing
2167 @cindex splitting columns
2168 @cindex columns, splitting
2169
2170 Two-column mode lets you conveniently edit two side-by-side columns of
2171 text. It uses two side-by-side windows, each showing its own
2172 buffer.
2173
2174 There are three ways to enter two-column mode:
2175
2176 @table @asis
2177 @item @kbd{@key{F2} 2} or @kbd{C-x 6 2}
2178 @kindex F2 2
2179 @kindex C-x 6 2
2180 @findex 2C-two-columns
2181 Enter two-column mode with the current buffer on the left, and on the
2182 right, a buffer whose name is based on the current buffer's name
2183 (@code{2C-two-columns}). If the right-hand buffer doesn't already
2184 exist, it starts out empty; the current buffer's contents are not
2185 changed.
2186
2187 This command is appropriate when the current buffer is empty or contains
2188 just one column and you want to add another column.
2189
2190 @item @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s}
2191 @kindex F2 s
2192 @kindex C-x 6 s
2193 @findex 2C-split
2194 Split the current buffer, which contains two-column text, into two
2195 buffers, and display them side by side (@code{2C-split}). The current
2196 buffer becomes the left-hand buffer, but the text in the right-hand
2197 column is moved into the right-hand buffer. The current column
2198 specifies the split point. Splitting starts with the current line and
2199 continues to the end of the buffer.
2200
2201 This command is appropriate when you have a buffer that already contains
2202 two-column text, and you wish to separate the columns temporarily.
2203
2204 @item @kbd{@key{F2} b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
2205 @itemx @kbd{C-x 6 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
2206 @kindex F2 b
2207 @kindex C-x 6 b
2208 @findex 2C-associate-buffer
2209 Enter two-column mode using the current buffer as the left-hand buffer,
2210 and using buffer @var{buffer} as the right-hand buffer
2211 (@code{2C-associate-buffer}).
2212 @end table
2213
2214 @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s} looks for a column separator, which
2215 is a string that appears on each line between the two columns. You can
2216 specify the width of the separator with a numeric argument to
2217 @kbd{@key{F2} s}; that many characters, before point, constitute the
2218 separator string. By default, the width is 1, so the column separator
2219 is the character before point.
2220
2221 When a line has the separator at the proper place, @kbd{@key{F2} s}
2222 puts the text after the separator into the right-hand buffer, and
2223 deletes the separator. Lines that don't have the column separator at
2224 the proper place remain unsplit; they stay in the left-hand buffer, and
2225 the right-hand buffer gets an empty line to correspond. (This is the
2226 way to write a line that ``spans both columns while in two-column
2227 mode'': write it in the left-hand buffer, and put an empty line in the
2228 right-hand buffer.)
2229
2230 @kindex F2 RET
2231 @kindex C-x 6 RET
2232 @findex 2C-newline
2233 The command @kbd{C-x 6 @key{RET}} or @kbd{@key{F2} @key{RET}}
2234 (@code{2C-newline}) inserts a newline in each of the two buffers at
2235 corresponding positions. This is the easiest way to add a new line to
2236 the two-column text while editing it in split buffers.
2237
2238 @kindex F2 1
2239 @kindex C-x 6 1
2240 @findex 2C-merge
2241 When you have edited both buffers as you wish, merge them with
2242 @kbd{@key{F2} 1} or @kbd{C-x 6 1} (@code{2C-merge}). This copies the
2243 text from the right-hand buffer as a second column in the other buffer.
2244 To go back to two-column editing, use @kbd{@key{F2} s}.
2245
2246 @kindex F2 d
2247 @kindex C-x 6 d
2248 @findex 2C-dissociate
2249 Use @kbd{@key{F2} d} or @kbd{C-x 6 d} to dissociate the two buffers,
2250 leaving each as it stands (@code{2C-dissociate}). If the other buffer,
2251 the one not current when you type @kbd{@key{F2} d}, is empty,
2252 @kbd{@key{F2} d} kills it.
2253
2254 @node Editing Binary Files, Saving Emacs Sessions, Two-Column, Top
2255 @section Editing Binary Files
2256
2257 @cindex Hexl mode
2258 @cindex mode, Hexl
2259 @cindex editing binary files
2260 @cindex hex editing
2261 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2262 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2263 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2264 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2265 automatically back to binary.
2266
2267 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2268 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2269 it is a binary file.
2270
2271 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2272 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2273 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2274 commands of Hexl mode:
2275
2276 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2277 @table @kbd
2278 @item C-M-d
2279 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2280
2281 @item C-M-o
2282 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2283
2284 @item C-M-x
2285 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2286
2287 @item C-x [
2288 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page.''
2289
2290 @item C-x ]
2291 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page.''
2292
2293 @item M-g
2294 Move to an address specified in hex.
2295
2296 @item M-j
2297 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2298
2299 @item C-c C-c
2300 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2301 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2302 @end table
2303
2304 @noindent
2305 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2306 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2307 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2308
2309
2310 @node Saving Emacs Sessions, Recursive Edit, Editing Binary Files, Top
2311 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2312 @cindex saving sessions
2313 @cindex restore session
2314 @cindex remember editing session
2315 @cindex reload files
2316 @cindex desktop
2317
2318 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2319 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2320 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2321 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop.
2322
2323 @findex desktop-save
2324 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2325 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2326 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2327 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2328 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2329 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2330 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2331
2332 @example
2333 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2334 @end example
2335
2336 @findex desktop-change-dir
2337 @findex desktop-revert
2338 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2339 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2340 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2341 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2342 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2343 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2344 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2345
2346 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2347 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2348 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2349 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2350 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2351 usually turned on.
2352
2353 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2354 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2355 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2356 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2357 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2358 remaining buffers are restored ``lazily,'' when Emacs is idle.
2359
2360 @findex desktop-clear
2361 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2362 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2363 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2364 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2365 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2366 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2367 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2368 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2369
2370 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2371 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2372
2373 @node Recursive Edit, Emulation, Saving Emacs Sessions, Top
2374 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2375 @cindex recursive editing level
2376 @cindex editing level, recursive
2377
2378 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2379 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2380 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2381 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2382 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2383 the @code{query-replace}.
2384
2385 @kindex C-M-c
2386 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2387 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2388 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2389 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2390 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2391
2392 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2393 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2394 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2395
2396 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2397 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2398 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2399 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2400 any particular window or buffer.
2401
2402 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2403 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2404 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2405 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2406 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2407 level currently in progress.
2408
2409 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2410 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2411 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2412 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2413 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2414 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2415 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2416
2417 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2418 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2419 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2420
2421 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2422 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2423 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2424 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2425 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2426 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2427 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2428 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2429 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2430 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2431
2432 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2433 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
2434 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2435 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2436 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2437 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2438 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2439 the order you choose.
2440
2441 @node Emulation, Hyperlinking, Recursive Edit, Top
2442 @section Emulation
2443 @cindex emulating other editors
2444 @cindex other editors
2445 @cindex EDT
2446 @cindex vi
2447 @cindex PC key bindings
2448 @cindex scrolling all windows
2449 @cindex PC selection
2450 @cindex Motif key bindings
2451 @cindex Macintosh key bindings
2452 @cindex WordStar
2453
2454 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2455 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2456
2457 @table @asis
2458 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2459 @findex crisp-mode
2460 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2461 @findex scroll-all-mode
2462 @cindex CRiSP mode
2463 @cindex Brief emulation
2464 @cindex emulation of Brief
2465 @cindex mode, CRiSP
2466 You can turn on key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief editor with
2467 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode}. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs
2468 unless you set the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can
2469 also use the command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2470 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2471 (scrolling all windows together).
2472
2473 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2474 @findex edt-emulation-on
2475 @findex edt-emulation-off
2476 Turn on EDT emulation with the command @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on},
2477 while @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off} restores normal Emacs command
2478 bindings.
2479
2480 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2481 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2482 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2483 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2484
2485 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2486 @findex tpu-edt-on
2487 @cindex TPU
2488 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2489
2490 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2491 @findex viper-mode
2492 Viper is the newest emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2493 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2494 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2495 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2496 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2497 Viper, viper}.
2498
2499 @item vi (another emulator)
2500 @findex vi-mode
2501 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2502 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2503 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2504 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2505
2506 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2507 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2508
2509 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2510 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2511
2512 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2513 @findex vip-mode
2514 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2515 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2516 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2517 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2518 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2519
2520 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2521 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2522 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2523 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2524 not use it.
2525
2526 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2527
2528 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2529 @findex wordstar-mode
2530 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2531 key bindings.
2532 @end table
2533
2534 @node Hyperlinking, Dissociated Press, Emulation, Top
2535 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2536
2537 @cindex hyperlinking
2538 @cindex navigation
2539 Various modes documented elsewhere have hypertext features so that
2540 you can follow links, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} on the link or
2541 typing @key{RET} while point is on the link. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
2542 quickly on the link also follows it. (Hold @kbd{Mouse-1} for longer
2543 if you want to set point instead.)
2544
2545 Info mode, Help mode and the Dired-like modes are examples of modes
2546 that have links in the buffer. The Tags facility links between uses
2547 and definitions in source files, see @ref{Tags}. Imenu provides
2548 navigation amongst items indexed in the current buffer, see
2549 @ref{Imenu}. Info-lookup provides mode-specific lookup of definitions
2550 in Info indexes, see @ref{Documentation}. Speedbar maintains a frame
2551 in which links to files, and locations in files are displayed, see
2552 @ref{Speedbar}.
2553
2554 Other non-mode-specific facilities described in this section enable
2555 following links from the current buffer in a context-sensitive
2556 fashion.
2557
2558 @menu
2559 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2560 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2561 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2562 @end menu
2563
2564 @node Browse-URL
2565 @subsection Following URLs
2566 @cindex World Wide Web
2567 @cindex Web
2568 @findex browse-url
2569 @findex browse-url-at-point
2570 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2571 @cindex Browse-URL
2572 @cindex URLs
2573
2574 @table @kbd
2575 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2576 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2577 @end table
2578
2579 The Browse-URL package provides facilities for following URLs specifying
2580 links on the World Wide Web. Usually this works by invoking a web
2581 browser, but you can, for instance, arrange to invoke @code{compose-mail}
2582 from @samp{mailto:} URLs.
2583
2584 The general way to use this feature is to type @kbd{M-x browse-url},
2585 which displays a specified URL. If point is located near a plausible
2586 URL, that URL is used as the default. Other commands are available
2587 which you might like to bind to keys, such as
2588 @code{browse-url-at-point} and @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2589
2590 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2591 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2592 @code{browse-url} Customize group, particularly
2593 @code{browse-url-browser-function}. You can invoke actions dependent
2594 on the type of URL by defining @code{browse-url-browser-function} as
2595 an association list. The package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h
2596 p} under the @samp{hypermedia} keyword provides more information.
2597 Packages with facilities for following URLs should always go through
2598 Browse-URL, so that the customization options for Browse-URL will
2599 affect all browsing in Emacs.
2600
2601 @node Goto Address mode
2602 @subsection Activating URLs
2603 @findex goto-address-mode
2604 @cindex Goto Address mode
2605 @cindex URLs, activating
2606
2607 @table @kbd
2608 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2609 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2610 @end table
2611
2612 You can make URLs in the current buffer active with @kbd{M-x
2613 goto-address-mode}. This minor mode finds all the URLs in the buffer,
2614 highlights them, and turns them into @dfn{buttons}: if you click on a
2615 URL with @kbd{Mouse-1} or @kbd{Mouse-2} (@pxref{Mouse References}), or
2616 move to the URL and type @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}, that displays the web
2617 page that the URL specifies. For a @samp{mailto} URL, it sends mail
2618 instead, using your selected mail-composition method (@pxref{Mail
2619 Methods}).
2620
2621 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2622 the hooks used to display an incoming message (e.g.,
2623 @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and @code{mh-show-mode-hook}
2624 for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus, which has a similar feature
2625 of its own.
2626
2627 @node FFAP
2628 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2629 @findex find-file-at-point
2630 @findex ffap
2631 @findex dired-at-point
2632 @findex ffap-next
2633 @findex ffap-menu
2634 @cindex finding file at point
2635
2636 FFAP mode replaces certain key bindings for finding files, including
2637 @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive defaults.
2638 These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a prefix
2639 argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL from the
2640 text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the form of a
2641 URL rather than a file name, the commands use @code{browse-url} to
2642 view it.
2643
2644 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2645 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. The
2646 @samp{ffap} package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h p} under the
2647 @samp{files} keyword and the @code{ffap} Custom group provide details.
2648
2649 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2650 @findex ffap-mode
2651 You can turn on FFAP minor mode by calling @code{ffap-bindings} to
2652 make the following key bindings and to install hooks for using
2653 @code{ffap} in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2654
2655 @table @kbd
2656 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2657 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2658 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2659 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2660 @item C-x C-r
2661 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2662 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2663 @item C-x C-v
2664 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2665 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2666 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2667 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2668 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2669 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2670 @item C-x C-d
2671 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2672 @item C-x 4 f
2673 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2674 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2675 @item C-x 4 r
2676 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2677 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2678 @item C-x 4 d
2679 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, analogous to @code{dired-other-window}.
2680 @item C-x 5 f
2681 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2682 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2683 @item C-x 5 r
2684 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2685 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2686 @item C-x 5 d
2687 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2688 @item M-x ffap-next
2689 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2690 @item S-Mouse-3
2691 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2692 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2693 of a mouse click.
2694 @item C-S-Mouse-3
2695 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2696 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2697 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2698 @end table
2699
2700 @node Dissociated Press, Amusements, Hyperlinking, Top
2701 @section Dissociated Press
2702
2703 @findex dissociated-press
2704 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} is a command for scrambling a file of text
2705 either word by word or character by character. Starting from a buffer of
2706 straight English, it produces extremely amusing output. The input comes
2707 from the current Emacs buffer. Dissociated Press writes its output in a
2708 buffer named @samp{*Dissociation*}, and redisplays that buffer after every
2709 couple of lines (approximately) so you can read the output as it comes out.
2710
2711 Dissociated Press asks every so often whether to continue generating
2712 output. Answer @kbd{n} to stop it. You can also stop at any time by
2713 typing @kbd{C-g}. The dissociation output remains in the
2714 @samp{*Dissociation*} buffer for you to copy elsewhere if you wish.
2715
2716 @cindex presidentagon
2717 Dissociated Press operates by jumping at random from one point in
2718 the buffer to another. In order to produce plausible output rather
2719 than gibberish, it insists on a certain amount of overlap between the
2720 end of one run of consecutive words or characters and the start of the
2721 next. That is, if it has just output `president' and then decides to
2722 jump to a different point in the buffer, it might spot the `ent' in
2723 `pentagon' and continue from there, producing `presidentagon'. Long
2724 sample texts produce the best results.
2725
2726 @cindex againformation
2727 A positive argument to @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} tells it to operate
2728 character by character, and specifies the number of overlap characters. A
2729 negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and specifies the number
2730 of overlap words. In this mode, whole words are treated as the elements to
2731 be permuted, rather than characters. No argument is equivalent to an
2732 argument of two. For your againformation, the output goes only into the
2733 buffer @samp{*Dissociation*}. The buffer you start with is not changed.
2734
2735 @cindex Markov chain
2736 @cindex ignoriginal
2737 @cindex techniquitous
2738 Dissociated Press produces results fairly like those of a Markov
2739 chain based on a frequency table constructed from the sample text. It
2740 is, however, an independent, ignoriginal invention. Dissociated Press
2741 techniquitously copies several consecutive characters from the sample
2742 text between random jumps, unlike a Markov chain which would jump
2743 randomly after each word or character. This makes for more plausible
2744 sounding results, and runs faster.
2745
2746 @cindex outragedy
2747 @cindex buggestion
2748 @cindex properbose
2749 @cindex mustatement
2750 @cindex developediment
2751 @cindex userenced
2752 It is a mustatement that too much use of Dissociated Press can be a
2753 developediment to your real work, sometimes to the point of outragedy.
2754 And keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want it to be well
2755 userenced and properbose. Have fun. Your buggestions are welcome.
2756
2757 @node Amusements, Customization, Dissociated Press, Top
2758 @section Other Amusements
2759 @cindex boredom
2760 @findex hanoi
2761 @findex yow
2762 @findex gomoku
2763 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2764
2765 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2766 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2767 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2768
2769 @cindex Go Moku
2770 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2771 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2772
2773 @findex blackbox
2774 @findex mpuz
2775 @findex 5x5
2776 @cindex puzzles
2777 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2778 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2779 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2780 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2781 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2782 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2783
2784 @findex decipher
2785 @cindex ciphers
2786 @cindex cryptanalysis
2787 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is encrypted
2788 in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2789
2790 @findex dunnet
2791 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an adventure-style exploration game, which is
2792 a bigger sort of puzzle.
2793
2794 @findex lm
2795 @cindex landmark game
2796 @kbd{M-x lm} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which a robot
2797 attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the window based on
2798 unique olfactory cues from each of the four directions.
2799
2800 @findex life
2801 @cindex Life
2802 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2803
2804 @findex morse-region
2805 @findex unmorse-region
2806 @cindex Morse code
2807 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2808 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts text in a region to Morse code and
2809 @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. No cause for remorse.
2810
2811 @findex pong
2812 @cindex Pong game
2813 @kbd{M-x pong} plays a Pong-like game, bouncing the ball off opposing
2814 bats.
2815
2816 @findex solitaire
2817 @cindex solitaire
2818 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2819 across other pegs.
2820
2821 @findex studlify-region
2822 @cindex StudlyCaps
2823 @kbd{M-x studlify-region} studlify-cases the region, producing
2824 text like this:
2825
2826 @example
2827 M-x stUdlIfY-RegioN stUdlIfY-CaSeS thE region.
2828 @end example
2829
2830 @findex tetris
2831 @cindex Tetris
2832 @findex snake
2833 @cindex Snake
2834 @kbd{M-x tetris} runs an implementation of the well-known Tetris game.
2835 Likewise, @kbd{M-x snake} provides an implementation of Snake.
2836
2837 When you are frustrated, try the famous Eliza program. Just do
2838 @kbd{M-x doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2839
2840 @cindex Zippy
2841 When you are feeling strange, type @kbd{M-x yow}.
2842
2843 @findex zone
2844 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs is
2845 idle.
2846
2847 @ifnottex
2848 @lowersections
2849 @end ifnottex
2850
2851 @ignore
2852 arch-tag: 8f094220-c0d5-4e9e-af7d-3e0da8187474
2853 @end ignore