\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
-@c "@(#)$Name: $:$Id: eshell.texi,v 1.6 2000/10/29 16:52:33 eliz Exp $"
+@c "@(#)$Name: $:$Id: eshell.texi,v 1.7 2000/12/06 20:02:30 fx Exp $"
@c Documentation for Eshell: The Emacs Shell.
@c Copyright (C) 1999, 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@end ifinfo
@menu
-* What is Eshell?:: A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
-* Installation:: For users of Emacs 20 and XEmacs.
-* Command basics:: The basics of command usage.
-* Bugs and ideas:: Known problems, and future ideas.
-* Concept Index::
-* Function and Variable Index::
-* Key Index::
+* What is Eshell?:: A brief introduction to the Emacs Shell.
+* Installation:: For users of Emacs 20 and XEmacs.
+* Command basics:: The basics of command usage.
+* Commands::
+* Arguments::
+* Input/Output::
+* Process control::
+* Extension modules::
+* Extras and Goodies::
+* Bugs and ideas:: Known problems, and future ideas.
+* Concept Index::
+* Function and Variable Index::
+* Key Index::
@end menu
@node What is Eshell?, Installation, Top, Top
@cindex Eshell, what it is
Eshell is a @dfn{command shell} written in Emacs Lisp. Everything it
-does it uses Emacs' facilities to do. This means that Eshell is as
+does, it uses Emacs' facilities to do. This means that Eshell is as
portable as Emacs itself. It also means that cooperation with Lisp code
is natural and seamless.
@item
Edit the file @file{Makefile} in the directory containing the Eshell
-sources to reflect the location of certain Emacs dircetories at your
+sources to reflect the location of certain Emacs directories at your
site. The only things you really have to change are the definitions of
@code{lispdir} and @code{infodir}. The elisp files will be copied to
@code{lispdir}, and the info file to @code{infodir}.
e.g., @code{dvilj4} for LaserJet-compatible printers.
@end enumerate
-@node Command basics, Bugs and ideas, Installation, Top
-@chapter Command basics
+@node Command basics, Commands, Installation, Top
+@chapter Basic overview
-A command shell is a mechanism for entering verbally-formed commands.
-This is really all that it does, and every feature described in this
-manual is a means to that end. Therefore, it's important to get a firm
-grasp on exactly what a command is, and how it fits into the overall
-picture of things.
+A command shell is a means of entering verbally-formed commands. This
+is really all that it does, and every feature described in this manual
+is a means to that end. Therefore, it's important to take firm hold on
+exactly what a command is, and how it fits in the overall picture of
+things.
@menu
* Commands verbs:: Commands always begin with a verb.
@section Commands verbs
Commands are expressed using @dfn{script}, a special shorthand language
-that computers can understand without trouble.
-
-Script is an extremely simplified language. Oddly enough, this actually
-makes it look more complicated than it is. Whereas normal languages use
-a variety of embellishments, the form of a script command is always:
+computers can understand with no trouble. Script is an extremely simple
+language; oddly enough, this is what makes it look so complicated!
+Whereas normal languages use a variety of embellishments, the form of a
+script command is always:
@example
VERB [ARGUMENTS]
only a handful of these are really necessary.
Sometimes, the verb is all that's written. A verb is always a single
-word, usually related to the task it will perform. @command{reboot} is
-a good example. Entering that will cause your computer to reboot,
-assuming you have sufficient privileges.
-
-Other verbs require more information. These are usually very capable of
-verbs, and must be told more specifically what to do. This extra
-information is given in the form of arguments. Arguments are also
-single words, that appear after the verb. For example, @command{echo}
-is a command verb that prints back whatever you say. @command{echo}
-requires arguments, so that it knows what to echo. A proper use of
+word, usually related to the task it performs. @command{reboot} is a
+good example. Entering that on Linux will cause your computer to
+reboot---assuming you have sufficient privileges.
+
+Other verbs require more information. These are usually very capable
+verbs, and must be told specifically what to do. The extra information
+is given in the form of @dfn{arguments}. For example, the
+@command{echo} verb prints back whatever arguments you type. It
+requires these arguments to know what to echo. A proper use of
@command{echo} looks like this:
@example
-echo This is an example of using echo!
+ echo This is an example of using echo!
@end example
-This piece of script expresses a command that causes the computer to
-print back: ``This is an example of using echo!''.
+This script command causes the computer to echo back: ``This is an
+example of using echo!''.
-Although command verbs always take the form of simple words, such as
-@command{reboot} and @command{echo}, arguments have a wide vaierty of
-forms. There are textual arguments, numerical arguments---even Lisp
-arguments. Distinguishing between these different types of arguments
-requires special typing, since the computer needs to know exactly what
-you mean.
+Although command verbs are always simple words, like @command{reboot} or
+@command{echo}, arguments may have a wide variety of forms. There are
+textual arguments, numerical arguments---even Lisp arguments.
+Distinguishing these different types of arguments requires special
+typing, for the computer to know exactly what you mean.
@node Command arguments, , Commands verbs, Command basics
@section Command arguments
-@node Bugs and ideas, Concept Index, Command basics, Top
+Eshell recognizes several different kinds of command arguments:
+
+@enumerate
+@item Strings (also called textual arguments)
+@item Numbers (floating point or integer)
+@item Lisp lists
+@item Lisp symbols
+@item Emacs buffers
+@item Emacs process handles
+@end enumerate
+
+Most users need worry only about the first two. The third, Lisp lists,
+occur very frequently, but almost always behind the scenes.
+
+Strings are the most common type of argument, and consist of nearly any
+character. Special characters---those used by Eshell
+specifically---must be preceded by a backslash (\). When in doubt, it
+safe to add backslashes anywhere and everywhere.
+
+Here is a more complicated @command{echo} example:
+
+@example
+ echo A\ Multi-word\ Argument\ With\ A\ \$\ dollar
+@end example
+
+Beyond this, things get a bit more complicated. While not beyond the
+reach of someone wishing to learn, it is definitely beyond the scope of
+this manual to present it all in a simplistic manner. Get comfortable
+with Eshell as a basic command invocation tool, and learn more about the
+commands on your system; then come back when it all sits more familiarly
+on your mind. Have fun!
+
+@node Commands, Arguments, Command basics, Top
+@chapter Commands
+
+@menu
+* Invocation::
+* Completion::
+* Aliases::
+* History::
+* Scripts::
+@end menu
+
+@node Invocation, Completion, Commands, Commands
+@section Invocation
+
+@node Completion, Aliases, Invocation, Commands
+@section Completion
+
+@node Aliases, History, Completion, Commands
+@section Aliases
+
+@node History, Scripts, Aliases, Commands
+@section History
+
+@node Scripts, , History, Commands
+@section Scripts
+
+
+@node Arguments, Input/Output, Commands, Top
+@chapter Arguments
+
+@menu
+* The Parser::
+* Variables::
+* Substitution::
+* Globbing::
+* Predicates::
+@end menu
+
+@node The Parser, Variables, Arguments, Arguments
+@section The Parser
+
+@node Variables, Substitution, The Parser, Arguments
+@section Variables
+
+@node Substitution, Globbing, Variables, Arguments
+@section Substitution
+
+@node Globbing, Predicates, Substitution, Arguments
+@section Globbing
+
+@node Predicates, , Globbing, Arguments
+@section Predicates
+
+
+@node Input/Output, Process control, Arguments, Top
+@chapter Input/Output
+
+@node Process control, Extension modules, Input/Output, Top
+@chapter Process control
+
+
+@node Extension modules, Extras and Goodies, Process control, Top
+@chapter Extension modules
+
+@menu
+* Writing a module::
+* Module testing::
+* Directory handling::
+* Key rebinding::
+* Smart scrolling::
+* Terminal emulation::
+* Built-in UNIX commands::
+@end menu
+
+@node Writing a module, Module testing, Extension modules, Extension modules
+@section Writing a module
+
+@node Module testing, Directory handling, Writing a module, Extension modules
+@section Module testing
+
+@node Directory handling, Key rebinding, Module testing, Extension modules
+@section Directory handling
+
+@node Key rebinding, Smart scrolling, Directory handling, Extension modules
+@section Key rebinding
+
+@node Smart scrolling, Terminal emulation, Key rebinding, Extension modules
+@section Smart scrolling
+
+@node Terminal emulation, Built-in UNIX commands, Smart scrolling, Extension modules
+@section Terminal emulation
+
+@node Built-in UNIX commands, , Terminal emulation, Extension modules
+@section Built-in UNIX commands
+
+
+@node Extras and Goodies, Bugs and ideas, Extension modules, Top
+@chapter Extras and Goodies
+
+@node Bugs and ideas, Concept Index, Extras and Goodies, Top
@chapter Bugs and ideas
@cindex reporting bugs and ideas
@cindex bugs, how to report them
@cindex known bugs
@cindex bugs, known
-Below is a partial list of currently known problems with Eshell version
-2.4, which is the version distributed with Emacs 21.1.
+Below is complete list of known problems with Eshell version 2.4.1,
+which is the version included with Emacs 21.1.
@table @asis
@item Differentiate between aliases and functions
See the above entry.
-@item Problem running @command{less} without argument on Windows
+@item Problem running @command{less} without arguments on Windows
The result in the Eshell buffer is:
With the handling of @emph{word} specified by an
@code{eshell-special-alist}.
-@item In @code{eshell-eval-using-options}, allow a @code{:complete} tag
+@item In @code{eshell-veal-using-options}, allow a @code{:complete} tag
It would be used to provide completion rules for that command. Then the
macro will automagically define the completion function.
@item Make @command{dgrep} load @code{dired}, mark everything, then invoke @code{dired-do-search}
-@item Write emsh.c
+@item Write mesh.c
This would run Emacs with the appropriate arguments to invoke Eshell
only. That way, it could be listed as a login shell.
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / commitdiff