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6bf7aab6 | 1 | @c This is part of the Emacs manual. |
739a80b3 | 2 | @c Copyright (C) 1985,86,87,93,94,95,97,2000,2001 |
6ca0edfe | 3 | @c Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
4 | @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions. |
5 | @node Dired, Calendar/Diary, Rmail, Top | |
6 | @chapter Dired, the Directory Editor | |
7 | @cindex Dired | |
a33b10b5 | 8 | @cindex file management |
6bf7aab6 DL |
9 | |
10 | Dired makes an Emacs buffer containing a listing of a directory, and | |
11 | optionally some of its subdirectories as well. You can use the normal | |
12 | Emacs commands to move around in this buffer, and special Dired commands | |
13 | to operate on the files listed. | |
14 | ||
c3149267 EZ |
15 | The Dired buffer is ``read-only,'' and inserting text in it is not |
16 | useful, so ordinary printing characters such as @kbd{d} and @kbd{x} are | |
17 | used for special Dired commands. Some Dired commands @dfn{mark} or | |
18 | @dfn{flag} the @dfn{current file} (that is, the file on the current | |
19 | line); other commands operate on the marked files or on the flagged | |
20 | files. | |
21 | ||
a8ef67ae | 22 | The Dired-X package provides various extra features for Dired mode. |
390a5b3c | 23 | @xref{Top, Dired-X,,dired-x, Dired Extra Version 2 User's Manual}. |
a8ef67ae | 24 | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
25 | @menu |
26 | * Enter: Dired Enter. How to invoke Dired. | |
0ec1f115 | 27 | * Navigation: Dired Navigation. Special motion commands in the Dired buffer. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
28 | * Deletion: Dired Deletion. Deleting files with Dired. |
29 | * Flagging Many Files:: Flagging files based on their names. | |
30 | * Visit: Dired Visiting. Other file operations through Dired. | |
31 | * Marks vs Flags:: Flagging for deletion vs marking. | |
32 | * Operating on Files:: How to copy, rename, print, compress, etc. | |
33 | either one file or several files. | |
34 | * Shell Commands in Dired:: Running a shell command on the marked files. | |
35 | * Transforming File Names:: Using patterns to rename multiple files. | |
36 | * Comparison in Dired:: Running `diff' by way of Dired. | |
37 | * Subdirectories in Dired:: Adding subdirectories to the Dired buffer. | |
38 | * Subdirectory Motion:: Moving across subdirectories, and up and down. | |
39 | * Hiding Subdirectories:: Making subdirectories visible or invisible. | |
40 | * Updating: Dired Updating. Discarding lines for files of no interest. | |
41 | * Find: Dired and Find. Using `find' to choose the files for Dired. | |
9eae419d | 42 | * Misc: Misc Dired Commands. Various other features. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
43 | @end menu |
44 | ||
45 | @node Dired Enter | |
46 | @section Entering Dired | |
47 | ||
48 | @findex dired | |
49 | @kindex C-x d | |
50 | @vindex dired-listing-switches | |
51 | To invoke Dired, do @kbd{C-x d} or @kbd{M-x dired}. The command reads | |
52 | a directory name or wildcard file name pattern as a minibuffer argument | |
53 | to specify which files to list. Where @code{dired} differs from | |
54 | @code{list-directory} is in putting the buffer into Dired mode so that | |
55 | the special commands of Dired are available. | |
56 | ||
57 | The variable @code{dired-listing-switches} specifies the options to | |
58 | give to @code{ls} for listing directory; this string @emph{must} contain | |
59 | @samp{-l}. If you use a numeric prefix argument with the @code{dired} | |
60 | command, you can specify the @code{ls} switches with the minibuffer | |
910dc292 LT |
61 | before you enter the directory specification. No matter how they are |
62 | specified, the @code{ls} switches should all be short options (that | |
63 | is, single characters) requiring no arguments. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
64 | |
65 | @findex dired-other-window | |
66 | @kindex C-x 4 d | |
67 | @findex dired-other-frame | |
68 | @kindex C-x 5 d | |
69 | To display the Dired buffer in another window rather than in the | |
70 | selected window, use @kbd{C-x 4 d} (@code{dired-other-window}) instead | |
71 | of @kbd{C-x d}. @kbd{C-x 5 d} (@code{dired-other-frame}) uses a | |
72 | separate frame to display the Dired buffer. | |
73 | ||
c3149267 EZ |
74 | @node Dired Navigation |
75 | @section Navigation in the Dired Buffer | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
76 | |
77 | @kindex C-n @r{(Dired)} | |
78 | @kindex C-p @r{(Dired)} | |
79 | All the usual Emacs cursor motion commands are available in Dired | |
80 | buffers. Some special-purpose cursor motion commands are also | |
81 | provided. The keys @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} are redefined to put the | |
82 | cursor at the beginning of the file name on the line, rather than at the | |
83 | beginning of the line. | |
84 | ||
85 | @kindex SPC @r{(Dired)} | |
86 | For extra convenience, @key{SPC} and @kbd{n} in Dired are equivalent | |
87 | to @kbd{C-n}. @kbd{p} is equivalent to @kbd{C-p}. (Moving by lines is | |
88 | so common in Dired that it deserves to be easy to type.) @key{DEL} | |
89 | (move up and unflag) is often useful simply for moving up. | |
90 | ||
9eae419d RS |
91 | @findex dired-goto-file |
92 | @kindex M-g | |
93 | @kbd{M-g} (@code{dired-goto-file}) moves point to the line that | |
94 | describes a specified file or directory. | |
95 | ||
c3149267 EZ |
96 | Some additional navigation commands are available when the Dired |
97 | buffer includes several directories. @xref{Subdirectory Motion}. | |
98 | ||
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99 | @node Dired Deletion |
100 | @section Deleting Files with Dired | |
101 | @cindex flagging files (in Dired) | |
102 | @cindex deleting files (in Dired) | |
103 | ||
0ec1f115 RS |
104 | One of the most frequent uses of Dired is to first @dfn{flag} files for |
105 | deletion, then delete the files that were flagged. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
106 | |
107 | @table @kbd | |
108 | @item d | |
109 | Flag this file for deletion. | |
110 | @item u | |
111 | Remove deletion flag on this line. | |
112 | @item @key{DEL} | |
113 | Move point to previous line and remove the deletion flag on that line. | |
114 | @item x | |
115 | Delete the files that are flagged for deletion. | |
116 | @end table | |
117 | ||
118 | @kindex d @r{(Dired)} | |
119 | @findex dired-flag-file-deletion | |
120 | You can flag a file for deletion by moving to the line describing the | |
121 | file and typing @kbd{d} (@code{dired-flag-file-deletion}). The deletion flag is visible as a @samp{D} at | |
122 | the beginning of the line. This command moves point to the next line, | |
123 | so that repeated @kbd{d} commands flag successive files. A numeric | |
124 | argument serves as a repeat count. | |
a8ef67ae | 125 | |
db1433e5 | 126 | @cindex recursive deletion |
4bce911c | 127 | @vindex dired-recursive-deletes |
a8ef67ae RS |
128 | The variable @code{dired-recursive-deletes} controls whether the |
129 | delete command will delete non-empty directories (including their | |
130 | contents). The default is to delete only empty directories. | |
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131 | |
132 | @kindex u @r{(Dired deletion)} | |
133 | @kindex DEL @r{(Dired)} | |
134 | The files are flagged for deletion rather than deleted immediately to | |
135 | reduce the danger of deleting a file accidentally. Until you direct | |
5942fb80 | 136 | Dired to delete the flagged files, you can remove deletion flags using |
6bf7aab6 DL |
137 | the commands @kbd{u} and @key{DEL}. @kbd{u} (@code{dired-unmark}) works |
138 | just like @kbd{d}, but removes flags rather than making flags. | |
139 | @key{DEL} (@code{dired-unmark-backward}) moves upward, removing flags; | |
140 | it is like @kbd{u} with argument @minus{}1. | |
141 | ||
142 | @kindex x @r{(Dired)} | |
5942fb80 | 143 | @findex dired-do-flagged-delete |
6bf7aab6 | 144 | @cindex expunging (Dired) |
5942fb80 RS |
145 | To delete the flagged files, type @kbd{x} (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}). |
146 | (This is also known as @dfn{expunging}.) | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
147 | This command first displays a list of all the file names flagged for |
148 | deletion, and requests confirmation with @kbd{yes}. If you confirm, | |
149 | Dired deletes the flagged files, then deletes their lines from the text | |
150 | of the Dired buffer. The shortened Dired buffer remains selected. | |
151 | ||
152 | If you answer @kbd{no} or quit with @kbd{C-g} when asked to confirm, you | |
153 | return immediately to Dired, with the deletion flags still present in | |
154 | the buffer, and no files actually deleted. | |
155 | ||
156 | @node Flagging Many Files | |
157 | @section Flagging Many Files at Once | |
a33b10b5 | 158 | @cindex flagging many files for deletion (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
159 | |
160 | @table @kbd | |
161 | @item # | |
162 | Flag all auto-save files (files whose names start and end with @samp{#}) | |
163 | for deletion (@pxref{Auto Save}). | |
164 | ||
165 | @item ~ | |
166 | Flag all backup files (files whose names end with @samp{~}) for deletion | |
167 | (@pxref{Backup}). | |
168 | ||
169 | @item & | |
170 | Flag for deletion all files with certain kinds of names, names that | |
171 | suggest you could easily create the files again. | |
172 | ||
173 | @item .@: @r{(Period)} | |
174 | Flag excess numeric backup files for deletion. The oldest and newest | |
175 | few backup files of any one file are exempt; the middle ones are | |
176 | flagged. | |
177 | ||
178 | @item % d @var{regexp} @key{RET} | |
179 | Flag for deletion all files whose names match the regular expression | |
180 | @var{regexp}. | |
181 | @end table | |
182 | ||
183 | The @kbd{#}, @kbd{~}, @kbd{&}, and @kbd{.} commands flag many files for | |
184 | deletion, based on their file names. These commands are useful | |
185 | precisely because they do not themselves delete any files; you can | |
186 | remove the deletion flags from any flagged files that you really wish to | |
187 | keep.@refill | |
188 | ||
189 | @kindex & @r{(Dired)} | |
190 | @findex dired-flag-garbage-files | |
191 | @vindex dired-garbage-files-regexp | |
a33b10b5 | 192 | @cindex deleting some backup files |
6bf7aab6 DL |
193 | @kbd{&} (@code{dired-flag-garbage-files}) flags files whose names |
194 | match the regular expression specified by the variable | |
195 | @code{dired-garbage-files-regexp}. By default, this matches certain | |
5942fb80 RS |
196 | files produced by @TeX{}, @samp{.bak} files, and the @samp{.orig} and |
197 | @samp{.rej} files produced by @code{patch}. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
198 | |
199 | @kindex # @r{(Dired)} | |
6bf7aab6 | 200 | @findex dired-flag-auto-save-files |
a33b10b5 | 201 | @cindex deleting auto-save files |
6bf7aab6 DL |
202 | @kbd{#} (@code{dired-flag-auto-save-files}) flags for deletion all |
203 | files whose names look like auto-save files (@pxref{Auto Save})---that | |
3a2aa1dc EZ |
204 | is, files whose names begin and end with @samp{#}. |
205 | ||
206 | @kindex ~ @r{(Dired)} | |
207 | @findex dired-flag-backup-files | |
208 | @kbd{~} (@code{dired-flag-backup-files}) flags for deletion all files | |
0ec1f115 RS |
209 | whose names say they are backup files (@pxref{Backup})---that is, files |
210 | whose names end in @samp{~}. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
211 | |
212 | @kindex . @r{(Dired)} | |
213 | @vindex dired-kept-versions | |
214 | @findex dired-clean-directory | |
215 | @kbd{.} (period, @code{dired-clean-directory}) flags just some of the | |
216 | backup files for deletion: all but the oldest few and newest few backups | |
217 | of any one file. Normally @code{dired-kept-versions} (@strong{not} | |
218 | @code{kept-new-versions}; that applies only when saving) specifies the | |
219 | number of newest versions of each file to keep, and | |
220 | @code{kept-old-versions} specifies the number of oldest versions to | |
221 | keep. | |
222 | ||
223 | Period with a positive numeric argument, as in @kbd{C-u 3 .}, | |
224 | specifies the number of newest versions to keep, overriding | |
225 | @code{dired-kept-versions}. A negative numeric argument overrides | |
226 | @code{kept-old-versions}, using minus the value of the argument to | |
227 | specify the number of oldest versions of each file to keep. | |
228 | ||
229 | @findex dired-flag-files-regexp | |
230 | @kindex % d @r{(Dired)} | |
231 | The @kbd{% d} command flags all files whose names match a specified | |
232 | regular expression (@code{dired-flag-files-regexp}). Only the | |
233 | non-directory part of the file name is used in matching. You can use | |
234 | @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. You can exclude subdirectories | |
235 | by hiding them (@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}). | |
236 | ||
237 | @node Dired Visiting | |
238 | @section Visiting Files in Dired | |
239 | ||
240 | There are several Dired commands for visiting or examining the files | |
241 | listed in the Dired buffer. All of them apply to the current line's | |
242 | file; if that file is really a directory, these commands invoke Dired on | |
243 | that subdirectory (making a separate Dired buffer). | |
244 | ||
245 | @table @kbd | |
246 | @item f | |
247 | @kindex f @r{(Dired)} | |
248 | @findex dired-find-file | |
249 | Visit the file described on the current line, like typing @kbd{C-x C-f} | |
250 | and supplying that file name (@code{dired-find-file}). @xref{Visiting}. | |
251 | ||
252 | @item @key{RET} | |
c3149267 | 253 | @itemx e |
6bf7aab6 | 254 | @kindex RET @r{(Dired)} |
c3149267 | 255 | @kindex e @r{(Dired)} |
6bf7aab6 DL |
256 | Equivalent to @kbd{f}. |
257 | ||
f8a12fe7 GM |
258 | @item a |
259 | @kindex a @r{(Dired)} | |
260 | @findex dired-find-alternate-file | |
261 | Like @kbd{f}, but replaces the contents of the Dired buffer with | |
38458147 | 262 | that of an alternate file or directory (@code{dired-find-alternate-file}). |
f8a12fe7 | 263 | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
264 | @item o |
265 | @kindex o @r{(Dired)} | |
266 | @findex dired-find-file-other-window | |
267 | Like @kbd{f}, but uses another window to display the file's buffer | |
268 | (@code{dired-find-file-other-window}). The Dired buffer remains visible | |
269 | in the first window. This is like using @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} to visit the | |
270 | file. @xref{Windows}. | |
271 | ||
272 | @item C-o | |
273 | @kindex C-o @r{(Dired)} | |
274 | @findex dired-display-file | |
275 | Visit the file described on the current line, and display the buffer in | |
276 | another window, but do not select that window (@code{dired-display-file}). | |
277 | ||
278 | @item Mouse-2 | |
279 | @findex dired-mouse-find-file-other-window | |
280 | Visit the file named by the line you click on | |
281 | (@code{dired-mouse-find-file-other-window}). This uses another window | |
282 | to display the file, like the @kbd{o} command. | |
283 | ||
284 | @item v | |
285 | @kindex v @r{(Dired)} | |
286 | @findex dired-view-file | |
eb18d007 RS |
287 | View the file described on the current line, using either an external |
288 | viewing program or @kbd{M-x view-file} (@code{dired-view-file}). | |
6bf7aab6 | 289 | |
eb18d007 RS |
290 | @vindex dired-view-command-alist |
291 | External viewers are used for certain file types under the control of | |
292 | @code{dired-view-command-alist}. Viewing a file with @code{view-file} | |
293 | is like visiting it, but is slanted toward moving around in the file | |
294 | conveniently and does not allow changing the file. @xref{Misc File | |
295 | Ops,View File, Miscellaneous File Operations}. | |
c3149267 EZ |
296 | |
297 | @item ^ | |
298 | @kindex ^ @r{(Dired)} | |
299 | @findex dired-up-directory | |
300 | Visit the parent directory of the current directory | |
301 | (@code{dired-up-directory}). This is more convenient than moving to | |
302 | the parent directory's line and typing @kbd{f} there. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
303 | @end table |
304 | ||
305 | @node Marks vs Flags | |
306 | @section Dired Marks vs. Flags | |
307 | ||
a33b10b5 | 308 | @cindex marking many files (in Dired) |
5942fb80 RS |
309 | Instead of flagging a file with @samp{D}, you can @dfn{mark} the |
310 | file with some other character (usually @samp{*}). Most Dired | |
311 | commands to operate on files use the files marked with @samp{*}, the | |
312 | exception being @kbd{x} which deletes the flagged files. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
313 | |
314 | Here are some commands for marking with @samp{*}, or for unmarking or | |
315 | operating on marks. (@xref{Dired Deletion}, for commands to flag and | |
316 | unflag files.) | |
317 | ||
318 | @table @kbd | |
319 | @item m | |
320 | @itemx * m | |
321 | @kindex m @r{(Dired)} | |
322 | @kindex * m @r{(Dired)} | |
323 | @findex dired-mark | |
324 | Mark the current file with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark}). With a numeric | |
325 | argument @var{n}, mark the next @var{n} files starting with the current | |
326 | file. (If @var{n} is negative, mark the previous @minus{}@var{n} | |
327 | files.) | |
328 | ||
329 | @item * * | |
330 | @kindex * * @r{(Dired)} | |
331 | @findex dired-mark-executables | |
a33b10b5 | 332 | @cindex marking executable files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
333 | Mark all executable files with @samp{*} |
334 | (@code{dired-mark-executables}). With a numeric argument, unmark all | |
335 | those files. | |
336 | ||
337 | @item * @@ | |
338 | @kindex * @@ @r{(Dired)} | |
339 | @findex dired-mark-symlinks | |
9eae419d | 340 | @cindex marking symbolic links (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
341 | Mark all symbolic links with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark-symlinks}). |
342 | With a numeric argument, unmark all those files. | |
343 | ||
344 | @item * / | |
345 | @kindex * / @r{(Dired)} | |
346 | @findex dired-mark-directories | |
a33b10b5 | 347 | @cindex marking subdirectories (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
348 | Mark with @samp{*} all files which are actually directories, except for |
349 | @file{.} and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-directories}). With a numeric | |
350 | argument, unmark all those files. | |
351 | ||
352 | @item * s | |
353 | @kindex * s @r{(Dired)} | |
354 | @findex dired-mark-subdir-files | |
355 | Mark all the files in the current subdirectory, aside from @file{.} | |
356 | and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-subdir-files}). | |
357 | ||
358 | @item u | |
359 | @itemx * u | |
360 | @kindex u @r{(Dired)} | |
361 | @kindex * u @r{(Dired)} | |
362 | @findex dired-unmark | |
363 | Remove any mark on this line (@code{dired-unmark}). | |
364 | ||
365 | @item @key{DEL} | |
366 | @itemx * @key{DEL} | |
367 | @kindex * DEL @r{(Dired)} | |
368 | @findex dired-unmark-backward | |
a33b10b5 | 369 | @cindex unmarking files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
370 | Move point to previous line and remove any mark on that line |
371 | (@code{dired-unmark-backward}). | |
372 | ||
373 | @item * ! | |
374 | @kindex * ! @r{(Dired)} | |
5942fb80 | 375 | @findex dired-unmark-all-marks |
6bf7aab6 | 376 | Remove all marks from all the files in this Dired buffer |
5942fb80 | 377 | (@code{dired-unmark-all-marks}). |
6bf7aab6 DL |
378 | |
379 | @item * ? @var{markchar} | |
380 | @kindex * ? @r{(Dired)} | |
381 | @findex dired-unmark-all-files | |
382 | Remove all marks that use the character @var{markchar} | |
383 | (@code{dired-unmark-all-files}). The argument is a single | |
38458147 | 384 | character---do not use @key{RET} to terminate it. See the description |
91dc757e RS |
385 | of the @kbd{* c} command below, which lets you replace one mark |
386 | character with another. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
387 | |
388 | With a numeric argument, this command queries about each marked file, | |
389 | asking whether to remove its mark. You can answer @kbd{y} meaning yes, | |
390 | @kbd{n} meaning no, or @kbd{!} to remove the marks from the remaining | |
391 | files without asking about them. | |
392 | ||
393 | @item * C-n | |
394 | @findex dired-next-marked-file | |
395 | @kindex * C-n @r{(Dired)} | |
396 | Move down to the next marked file (@code{dired-next-marked-file}) | |
397 | A file is ``marked'' if it has any kind of mark. | |
398 | ||
399 | @item * C-p | |
400 | @findex dired-prev-marked-file | |
401 | @kindex * C-p @r{(Dired)} | |
402 | Move up to the previous marked file (@code{dired-prev-marked-file}) | |
403 | ||
404 | @item * t | |
405 | @kindex * t @r{(Dired)} | |
db6b2ec6 | 406 | @findex dired-toggle-marks |
a33b10b5 | 407 | @cindex toggling marks (in Dired) |
db6b2ec6 | 408 | Toggle all marks (@code{dired-toggle-marks}): files marked with @samp{*} |
6bf7aab6 DL |
409 | become unmarked, and unmarked files are marked with @samp{*}. Files |
410 | marked in any other way are not affected. | |
411 | ||
38458147 | 412 | @item * c @var{old-markchar} @var{new-markchar} |
6bf7aab6 DL |
413 | @kindex * c @r{(Dired)} |
414 | @findex dired-change-marks | |
38458147 EZ |
415 | Replace all marks that use the character @var{old-markchar} with marks |
416 | that use the character @var{new-markchar} (@code{dired-change-marks}). | |
417 | This command is the primary way to create or use marks other than | |
418 | @samp{*} or @samp{D}. The arguments are single characters---do not use | |
419 | @key{RET} to terminate them. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
420 | |
421 | You can use almost any character as a mark character by means of this | |
38458147 EZ |
422 | command, to distinguish various classes of files. If @var{old-markchar} |
423 | is a space (@samp{ }), then the command operates on all unmarked files; | |
424 | if @var{new-markchar} is a space, then the command unmarks the files it | |
425 | acts on. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
426 | |
427 | To illustrate the power of this command, here is how to put @samp{D} | |
428 | flags on all the files that have no marks, while unflagging all those | |
429 | that already have @samp{D} flags: | |
430 | ||
431 | @example | |
432 | * c D t * c SPC D * c t SPC | |
433 | @end example | |
434 | ||
91dc757e | 435 | This assumes that no files were already marked with @samp{t}. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
436 | |
437 | @item % m @var{regexp} @key{RET} | |
438 | @itemx * % @var{regexp} @key{RET} | |
439 | @findex dired-mark-files-regexp | |
440 | @kindex % m @r{(Dired)} | |
441 | @kindex * % @r{(Dired)} | |
442 | Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose names match the regular expression | |
443 | @var{regexp} (@code{dired-mark-files-regexp}). This command is like | |
444 | @kbd{% d}, except that it marks files with @samp{*} instead of flagging | |
445 | with @samp{D}. @xref{Flagging Many Files}. | |
446 | ||
447 | Only the non-directory part of the file name is used in matching. Use | |
448 | @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. Exclude subdirectories by | |
449 | hiding them (@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}). | |
450 | ||
451 | @item % g @var{regexp} @key{RET} | |
452 | @findex dired-mark-files-containing-regexp | |
a33b10b5 EZ |
453 | @kindex % g @r{(Dired)} |
454 | @cindex finding files containing regexp matches (in Dired) | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
455 | Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose @emph{contents} contain a match for |
456 | the regular expression @var{regexp} | |
457 | (@code{dired-mark-files-containing-regexp}). This command is like | |
458 | @kbd{% m}, except that it searches the file contents instead of the file | |
459 | name. | |
460 | ||
461 | @item C-_ | |
462 | @kindex C-_ @r{(Dired)} | |
463 | @findex dired-undo | |
464 | Undo changes in the Dired buffer, such as adding or removing | |
4691d21e | 465 | marks (@code{dired-undo}). @emph{This command does not revert the |
3a2aa1dc | 466 | actual file operations, nor recover lost files!} It just undoes |
4691d21e EZ |
467 | changes in the buffer itself. For example, if used after renaming one |
468 | or more files, @code{dired-undo} restores the original names, which | |
469 | will get the Dired buffer out of sync with the actual contents of the | |
470 | directory. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
471 | @end table |
472 | ||
473 | @node Operating on Files | |
474 | @section Operating on Files | |
475 | @cindex operating on files in Dired | |
476 | ||
477 | This section describes the basic Dired commands to operate on one file | |
478 | or several files. All of these commands are capital letters; all of | |
479 | them use the minibuffer, either to read an argument or to ask for | |
480 | confirmation, before they act. All of them give you several ways to | |
481 | specify which files to manipulate: | |
482 | ||
483 | @itemize @bullet | |
484 | @item | |
485 | If you give the command a numeric prefix argument @var{n}, it operates | |
486 | on the next @var{n} files, starting with the current file. (If @var{n} | |
487 | is negative, the command operates on the @minus{}@var{n} files preceding | |
488 | the current line.) | |
489 | ||
490 | @item | |
491 | Otherwise, if some files are marked with @samp{*}, the command operates | |
492 | on all those files. | |
493 | ||
494 | @item | |
495 | Otherwise, the command operates on the current file only. | |
496 | @end itemize | |
497 | ||
b792ae36 EZ |
498 | @vindex dired-dwim-target |
499 | @cindex two directories (in Dired) | |
500 | Commands which ask for a destination directory, such as those which | |
501 | copy and rename files or create links for them, try to guess the default | |
502 | target directory for the operation. Normally, they suggest the Dired | |
503 | buffer's default directory, but if the variable @code{dired-dwim-target} | |
504 | is non-@code{nil}, and if there is another Dired buffer displayed in the | |
505 | next window, that other buffer's directory is suggested instead. | |
506 | ||
6bf7aab6 DL |
507 | Here are the file-manipulating commands that operate on files in this |
508 | way. (Some other Dired commands, such as @kbd{!} and the @samp{%} | |
509 | commands, also use these conventions to decide which files to work on.) | |
510 | ||
511 | @table @kbd | |
512 | @findex dired-do-copy | |
513 | @kindex C @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 514 | @cindex copying files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
515 | @item C @var{new} @key{RET} |
516 | Copy the specified files (@code{dired-do-copy}). The argument @var{new} | |
517 | is the directory to copy into, or (if copying a single file) the new | |
518 | name. | |
519 | ||
520 | @vindex dired-copy-preserve-time | |
521 | If @code{dired-copy-preserve-time} is non-@code{nil}, then copying with | |
522 | this command sets the modification time of the new file to be the same | |
523 | as that of the old file. | |
524 | ||
a8ef67ae | 525 | @vindex dired-recursive-copies |
db1433e5 | 526 | @cindex recursive copying |
a8ef67ae RS |
527 | The variable @code{dired-recursive-copies} controls whether |
528 | directories are copied recursively. The default is to not copy | |
529 | recursively, which means that directories cannot be copied. | |
530 | ||
6bf7aab6 DL |
531 | @item D |
532 | @findex dired-do-delete | |
533 | @kindex D @r{(Dired)} | |
534 | Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}). Like the other | |
535 | commands in this section, this command operates on the @emph{marked} | |
536 | files, or the next @var{n} files. By contrast, @kbd{x} | |
5942fb80 | 537 | (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}) deletes all @dfn{flagged} files. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
538 | |
539 | @findex dired-do-rename | |
540 | @kindex R @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 541 | @cindex renaming files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
542 | @item R @var{new} @key{RET} |
543 | Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}). The argument | |
544 | @var{new} is the directory to rename into, or (if renaming a single | |
545 | file) the new name. | |
546 | ||
547 | Dired automatically changes the visited file name of buffers associated | |
548 | with renamed files so that they refer to the new names. | |
549 | ||
550 | @findex dired-do-hardlink | |
551 | @kindex H @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 552 | @cindex hard links (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
553 | @item H @var{new} @key{RET} |
554 | Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}). The | |
555 | argument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (if making | |
556 | just one link) the name to give the link. | |
557 | ||
558 | @findex dired-do-symlink | |
559 | @kindex S @r{(Dired)} | |
9eae419d | 560 | @cindex symbolic links (creation in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
561 | @item S @var{new} @key{RET} |
562 | Make symbolic links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-symlink}). | |
563 | The argument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (if | |
564 | making just one link) the name to give the link. | |
565 | ||
566 | @findex dired-do-chmod | |
567 | @kindex M @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 568 | @cindex changing file permissions (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
569 | @item M @var{modespec} @key{RET} |
570 | Change the mode (also called ``permission bits'') of the specified files | |
571 | (@code{dired-do-chmod}). This uses the @code{chmod} program, so | |
572 | @var{modespec} can be any argument that @code{chmod} can handle. | |
573 | ||
574 | @findex dired-do-chgrp | |
575 | @kindex G @r{(Dired)} | |
4946337d | 576 | @cindex changing file group (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
577 | @item G @var{newgroup} @key{RET} |
578 | Change the group of the specified files to @var{newgroup} | |
579 | (@code{dired-do-chgrp}). | |
580 | ||
581 | @findex dired-do-chown | |
582 | @kindex O @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 583 | @cindex changing file owner (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
584 | @item O @var{newowner} @key{RET} |
585 | Change the owner of the specified files to @var{newowner} | |
586 | (@code{dired-do-chown}). (On most systems, only the superuser can do | |
587 | this.) | |
588 | ||
589 | @vindex dired-chown-program | |
590 | The variable @code{dired-chown-program} specifies the name of the | |
591 | program to use to do the work (different systems put @code{chown} in | |
592 | different places). | |
593 | ||
100d3624 JL |
594 | @findex dired-do-touch |
595 | @kindex T @r{(Dired)} | |
596 | @cindex changing file time (in Dired) | |
597 | @item T @var{timestamp} @key{RET} | |
598 | Change the time of the specified files (@code{dired-do-touch}). | |
599 | ||
6bf7aab6 DL |
600 | @findex dired-do-print |
601 | @kindex P @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 602 | @cindex printing files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
603 | @item P @var{command} @key{RET} |
604 | Print the specified files (@code{dired-do-print}). You must specify the | |
605 | command to print them with, but the minibuffer starts out with a | |
606 | suitable guess made using the variables @code{lpr-command} and | |
607 | @code{lpr-switches} (the same variables that @code{lpr-buffer} uses; | |
608 | @pxref{Hardcopy}). | |
609 | ||
610 | @findex dired-do-compress | |
611 | @kindex Z @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 612 | @cindex compressing files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
613 | @item Z |
614 | Compress the specified files (@code{dired-do-compress}). If the file | |
615 | appears to be a compressed file already, it is uncompressed instead. | |
616 | ||
617 | @findex dired-do-load | |
618 | @kindex L @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 619 | @cindex loading several files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
620 | @item L |
621 | Load the specified Emacs Lisp files (@code{dired-do-load}). | |
622 | @xref{Lisp Libraries}. | |
623 | ||
624 | @findex dired-do-byte-compile | |
625 | @kindex B @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 626 | @cindex byte-compiling several files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
627 | @item B |
628 | Byte compile the specified Emacs Lisp files | |
629 | (@code{dired-do-byte-compile}). @xref{Byte Compilation,, Byte | |
630 | Compilation, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}. | |
631 | ||
632 | @kindex A @r{(Dired)} | |
633 | @findex dired-do-search | |
a33b10b5 | 634 | @cindex search multiple files (in Dired) |
6bf7aab6 DL |
635 | @item A @var{regexp} @key{RET} |
636 | Search all the specified files for the regular expression @var{regexp} | |
637 | (@code{dired-do-search}). | |
638 | ||
639 | This command is a variant of @code{tags-search}. The search stops at | |
640 | the first match it finds; use @kbd{M-,} to resume the search and find | |
641 | the next match. @xref{Tags Search}. | |
642 | ||
643 | @kindex Q @r{(Dired)} | |
5942fb80 | 644 | @findex dired-do-query-replace-regexp |
a33b10b5 | 645 | @cindex search and replace in multiple files (in Dired) |
5942fb80 | 646 | @item Q @var{regexp} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET} |
6bf7aab6 | 647 | Perform @code{query-replace-regexp} on each of the specified files, |
5942fb80 RS |
648 | replacing matches for @var{regexp} with the string |
649 | @var{to} (@code{dired-do-query-replace-regexp}). | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
650 | |
651 | This command is a variant of @code{tags-query-replace}. If you exit the | |
652 | query replace loop, you can use @kbd{M-,} to resume the scan and replace | |
653 | more matches. @xref{Tags Search}. | |
654 | @end table | |
655 | ||
656 | @kindex + @r{(Dired)} | |
657 | @findex dired-create-directory | |
658 | One special file-operation command is @kbd{+} | |
659 | (@code{dired-create-directory}). This command reads a directory name and | |
660 | creates the directory if it does not already exist. | |
661 | ||
662 | @node Shell Commands in Dired | |
663 | @section Shell Commands in Dired | |
664 | @cindex shell commands, Dired | |
665 | ||
666 | @findex dired-do-shell-command | |
667 | @kindex ! @r{(Dired)} | |
38458147 EZ |
668 | @kindex X @r{(Dired)} |
669 | The Dired command @kbd{!} (@code{dired-do-shell-command}) reads a shell | |
6bf7aab6 | 670 | command string in the minibuffer and runs that shell command on all the |
38458147 EZ |
671 | specified files. @kbd{X} is a synonym for @kbd{!}. You can specify the |
672 | files to operate on in the usual ways for Dired commands | |
673 | (@pxref{Operating on Files}). There are two ways of applying a shell | |
674 | command to multiple files: | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
675 | |
676 | @itemize @bullet | |
677 | @item | |
eb18d007 RS |
678 | If you use @samp{*} surrounded by whitespace in the shell command, |
679 | then the command runs just once, with the list of file names | |
680 | substituted for the @samp{*}. The order of file names is the order of | |
681 | appearance in the Dired buffer. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
682 | |
683 | Thus, @kbd{! tar cf foo.tar * @key{RET}} runs @code{tar} on the entire | |
684 | list of file names, putting them into one tar file @file{foo.tar}. | |
685 | ||
eb18d007 RS |
686 | If you want to use @samp{*} as a shell wildcard with whitespace around |
687 | it, write @samp{*""}. In the shell, this is equivalent to @samp{*}; | |
688 | but since the @samp{*} is not surrounded by whitespace, Dired does | |
689 | not treat it specially. | |
690 | ||
6bf7aab6 | 691 | @item |
eb18d007 RS |
692 | If the command string doesn't contain @samp{*} surrounded by |
693 | whitespace, then it runs once @emph{for each file}. Normally the file | |
694 | name is added at the end. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
695 | |
696 | For example, @kbd{! uudecode @key{RET}} runs @code{uudecode} on each | |
697 | file. | |
6bf7aab6 | 698 | |
eb18d007 RS |
699 | @item |
700 | If the command string contains @samp{?} surrounded by whitespace, the | |
701 | current file name is substituted for @samp{?}. You can use @samp{?} | |
702 | this way more than once in the command, and each occurrence is | |
703 | replaced. For instance, here is how to uuencode each file, making the | |
704 | output file name by appending @samp{.uu} to the input file name: | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
705 | |
706 | @example | |
a8ef67ae | 707 | uuencode ? ? > ?.uu |
6bf7aab6 | 708 | @end example |
eb18d007 | 709 | @end itemize |
6bf7aab6 | 710 | |
eb18d007 RS |
711 | To iterate over the file names in a more complicated fashion, use an |
712 | explicit shell loop. For example, this shell command is another way | |
713 | to uuencode each file: | |
a8ef67ae RS |
714 | |
715 | @example | |
eb18d007 | 716 | for file in * ; do uuencode "$file" "$file" >"$file".uu; done |
a8ef67ae | 717 | @end example |
4bce911c | 718 | |
eb18d007 RS |
719 | @noindent |
720 | This simple example doesn't require a shell loop (you can do it | |
721 | with @samp{?}, but it illustrates the technique. | |
722 | ||
6bf7aab6 DL |
723 | The working directory for the shell command is the top-level directory |
724 | of the Dired buffer. | |
725 | ||
726 | The @kbd{!} command does not attempt to update the Dired buffer to show | |
727 | new or modified files, because it doesn't really understand shell | |
728 | commands, and does not know what files the shell command changed. Use | |
729 | the @kbd{g} command to update the Dired buffer (@pxref{Dired | |
730 | Updating}). | |
731 | ||
732 | @node Transforming File Names | |
733 | @section Transforming File Names in Dired | |
734 | ||
4691d21e EZ |
735 | This section describes Dired commands which alter file names in a |
736 | systematic way. | |
737 | ||
738 | Like the basic Dired file-manipulation commands (@pxref{Operating on | |
739 | Files}), the commands described here operate either on the next | |
740 | @var{n} files, or on all files marked with @samp{*}, or on the current | |
741 | file. (To mark files, use the commands described in @ref{Marks vs | |
742 | Flags}.) | |
743 | ||
744 | All of the commands described in this section work | |
745 | @emph{interactively}: they ask you to confirm the operation for each | |
746 | candidate file. Thus, you can select more files than you actually | |
747 | need to operate on (e.g., with a regexp that matches many files), and | |
748 | then refine the selection by typing @kbd{y} or @kbd{n} when the | |
749 | command prompts for confirmation. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
750 | |
751 | @table @kbd | |
752 | @findex dired-upcase | |
753 | @kindex % u @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 754 | @cindex upcase file names |
6bf7aab6 DL |
755 | @item % u |
756 | Rename each of the selected files to an upper-case name | |
757 | (@code{dired-upcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo} | |
758 | and @file{bar}, the new names are @file{FOO} and @file{BAR}. | |
759 | ||
760 | @item % l | |
761 | @findex dired-downcase | |
762 | @kindex % l @r{(Dired)} | |
a33b10b5 | 763 | @cindex downcase file names |
6bf7aab6 DL |
764 | Rename each of the selected files to a lower-case name |
765 | (@code{dired-downcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo} and | |
766 | @file{bar}, the new names are @file{foo} and @file{bar}. | |
767 | ||
768 | @item % R @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET} | |
769 | @kindex % R @r{(Dired)} | |
770 | @findex dired-do-rename-regexp | |
771 | @itemx % C @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET} | |
772 | @kindex % C @r{(Dired)} | |
773 | @findex dired-do-copy-regexp | |
774 | @itemx % H @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET} | |
775 | @kindex % H @r{(Dired)} | |
776 | @findex dired-do-hardlink-regexp | |
777 | @itemx % S @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET} | |
778 | @kindex % S @r{(Dired)} | |
779 | @findex dired-do-symlink-regexp | |
780 | These four commands rename, copy, make hard links and make soft links, | |
781 | in each case computing the new name by regular-expression substitution | |
782 | from the name of the old file. | |
783 | @end table | |
784 | ||
785 | The four regular-expression substitution commands effectively perform | |
786 | a search-and-replace on the selected file names in the Dired buffer. | |
787 | They read two arguments: a regular expression @var{from}, and a | |
788 | substitution pattern @var{to}. | |
789 | ||
790 | The commands match each ``old'' file name against the regular | |
791 | expression @var{from}, and then replace the matching part with @var{to}. | |
792 | You can use @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{digit}} in @var{to} to refer to | |
793 | all or part of what the pattern matched in the old file name, as in | |
794 | @code{replace-regexp} (@pxref{Regexp Replace}). If the regular expression | |
795 | matches more than once in a file name, only the first match is replaced. | |
796 | ||
797 | For example, @kbd{% R ^.*$ @key{RET} x-\& @key{RET}} renames each | |
798 | selected file by prepending @samp{x-} to its name. The inverse of this, | |
799 | removing @samp{x-} from the front of each file name, is also possible: | |
800 | one method is @kbd{% R ^x-\(.*\)$ @key{RET} \1 @key{RET}}; another is | |
801 | @kbd{% R ^x- @key{RET} @key{RET}}. (Use @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor | |
802 | matches that should span the whole filename.) | |
803 | ||
804 | Normally, the replacement process does not consider the files' | |
805 | directory names; it operates on the file name within the directory. If | |
806 | you specify a numeric argument of zero, then replacement affects the | |
4691d21e EZ |
807 | entire absolute file name including directory name. (Non-zero |
808 | argument specifies the number of files to operate on.) | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
809 | |
810 | Often you will want to select the set of files to operate on using the | |
811 | same @var{regexp} that you will use to operate on them. To do this, | |
812 | mark those files with @kbd{% m @var{regexp} @key{RET}}, then use the | |
813 | same regular expression in the command to operate on the files. To make | |
814 | this easier, the @kbd{%} commands to operate on files use the last | |
815 | regular expression specified in any @kbd{%} command as a default. | |
816 | ||
817 | @node Comparison in Dired | |
818 | @section File Comparison with Dired | |
a33b10b5 EZ |
819 | @cindex file comparison (in Dired) |
820 | @cindex compare files (in Dired) | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
821 | |
822 | Here are two Dired commands that compare specified files using | |
823 | @code{diff}. | |
824 | ||
825 | @table @kbd | |
826 | @item = | |
827 | @findex dired-diff | |
828 | @kindex = @r{(Dired)} | |
829 | Compare the current file (the file at point) with another file (the file | |
830 | at the mark) using the @code{diff} program (@code{dired-diff}). The | |
831 | file at the mark is the first argument of @code{diff}, and the file at | |
7198b459 EZ |
832 | point is the second argument. Use @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} |
833 | (@code{set-mark-command}) to set the mark at the first file's line | |
834 | (@pxref{Setting Mark}), since @code{dired-diff} ignores the files marked | |
835 | with the Dired's @kbd{m} command. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
836 | |
837 | @findex dired-backup-diff | |
838 | @kindex M-= @r{(Dired)} | |
839 | @item M-= | |
840 | Compare the current file with its latest backup file | |
841 | (@code{dired-backup-diff}). If the current file is itself a backup, | |
842 | compare it with the file it is a backup of; this way, you can compare | |
843 | a file with any backup version of your choice. | |
844 | ||
845 | The backup file is the first file given to @code{diff}. | |
846 | @end table | |
847 | ||
848 | @node Subdirectories in Dired | |
849 | @section Subdirectories in Dired | |
850 | @cindex subdirectories in Dired | |
851 | @cindex expanding subdirectories in Dired | |
852 | ||
853 | A Dired buffer displays just one directory in the normal case; | |
854 | but you can optionally include its subdirectories as well. | |
855 | ||
856 | The simplest way to include multiple directories in one Dired buffer is | |
857 | to specify the options @samp{-lR} for running @code{ls}. (If you give a | |
858 | numeric argument when you run Dired, then you can specify these options | |
859 | in the minibuffer.) That produces a recursive directory listing showing | |
860 | all subdirectories at all levels. | |
861 | ||
862 | But usually all the subdirectories are too many; usually you will | |
863 | prefer to include specific subdirectories only. You can do this with | |
864 | the @kbd{i} command: | |
865 | ||
866 | @table @kbd | |
867 | @findex dired-maybe-insert-subdir | |
868 | @kindex i @r{(Dired)} | |
869 | @item i | |
870 | @cindex inserted subdirectory (Dired) | |
871 | @cindex in-situ subdirectory (Dired) | |
872 | Insert the contents of a subdirectory later in the buffer. | |
873 | @end table | |
874 | ||
875 | Use the @kbd{i} (@code{dired-maybe-insert-subdir}) command on a line | |
876 | that describes a file which is a directory. It inserts the contents of | |
877 | that directory into the same Dired buffer, and moves there. Inserted | |
878 | subdirectory contents follow the top-level directory of the Dired | |
879 | buffer, just as they do in @samp{ls -lR} output. | |
880 | ||
881 | If the subdirectory's contents are already present in the buffer, the | |
882 | @kbd{i} command just moves to it. | |
883 | ||
884 | In either case, @kbd{i} sets the Emacs mark before moving, so @kbd{C-u | |
885 | C-@key{SPC}} takes you back to the old position in the buffer (the line | |
886 | describing that subdirectory). | |
887 | ||
888 | Use the @kbd{l} command (@code{dired-do-redisplay}) to update the | |
38458147 EZ |
889 | subdirectory's contents. Use @kbd{C-u k} on the subdirectory header |
890 | line to delete the subdirectory. @xref{Dired Updating}. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
891 | |
892 | @node Subdirectory Motion | |
893 | @section Moving Over Subdirectories | |
894 | ||
895 | When a Dired buffer lists subdirectories, you can use the page motion | |
5942fb80 RS |
896 | commands @kbd{C-x [} and @kbd{C-x ]} to move by entire directories |
897 | (@pxref{Pages}). | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
898 | |
899 | @cindex header line (Dired) | |
900 | @cindex directory header lines | |
901 | The following commands move across, up and down in the tree of | |
902 | directories within one Dired buffer. They move to @dfn{directory header | |
903 | lines}, which are the lines that give a directory's name, at the | |
904 | beginning of the directory's contents. | |
905 | ||
906 | @table @kbd | |
907 | @findex dired-next-subdir | |
908 | @kindex C-M-n @r{(Dired)} | |
909 | @item C-M-n | |
910 | Go to next subdirectory header line, regardless of level | |
911 | (@code{dired-next-subdir}). | |
912 | ||
913 | @findex dired-prev-subdir | |
914 | @kindex C-M-p @r{(Dired)} | |
915 | @item C-M-p | |
916 | Go to previous subdirectory header line, regardless of level | |
917 | (@code{dired-prev-subdir}). | |
918 | ||
919 | @findex dired-tree-up | |
920 | @kindex C-M-u @r{(Dired)} | |
921 | @item C-M-u | |
922 | Go up to the parent directory's header line (@code{dired-tree-up}). | |
923 | ||
924 | @findex dired-tree-down | |
925 | @kindex C-M-d @r{(Dired)} | |
926 | @item C-M-d | |
927 | Go down in the directory tree, to the first subdirectory's header line | |
928 | (@code{dired-tree-down}). | |
929 | ||
930 | @findex dired-prev-dirline | |
931 | @kindex < @r{(Dired)} | |
932 | @item < | |
933 | Move up to the previous directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}). | |
934 | These lines are the ones that describe a directory as a file in its | |
935 | parent directory. | |
936 | ||
937 | @findex dired-next-dirline | |
938 | @kindex > @r{(Dired)} | |
939 | @item > | |
940 | Move down to the next directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}). | |
941 | @end table | |
942 | ||
943 | @node Hiding Subdirectories | |
944 | @section Hiding Subdirectories | |
945 | ||
946 | @cindex hiding in Dired (Dired) | |
947 | @dfn{Hiding} a subdirectory means to make it invisible, except for its | |
948 | header line, via selective display (@pxref{Selective Display}). | |
949 | ||
950 | @table @kbd | |
951 | @item $ | |
952 | @findex dired-hide-subdir | |
953 | @kindex $ @r{(Dired)} | |
954 | Hide or reveal the subdirectory that point is in, and move point to the | |
955 | next subdirectory (@code{dired-hide-subdir}). A numeric argument serves | |
956 | as a repeat count. | |
957 | ||
958 | @item M-$ | |
959 | @findex dired-hide-all | |
960 | @kindex M-$ @r{(Dired)} | |
961 | Hide all subdirectories in this Dired buffer, leaving only their header | |
962 | lines (@code{dired-hide-all}). Or, if any subdirectory is currently | |
963 | hidden, make all subdirectories visible again. You can use this command | |
964 | to get an overview in very deep directory trees or to move quickly to | |
965 | subdirectories far away. | |
966 | @end table | |
967 | ||
968 | Ordinary Dired commands never consider files inside a hidden | |
969 | subdirectory. For example, the commands to operate on marked files | |
970 | ignore files in hidden directories even if they are marked. Thus you | |
971 | can use hiding to temporarily exclude subdirectories from operations | |
972 | without having to remove the markers. | |
973 | ||
974 | The subdirectory hiding commands toggle; that is, they hide what was | |
975 | visible, and show what was hidden. | |
976 | ||
977 | @node Dired Updating | |
978 | @section Updating the Dired Buffer | |
a33b10b5 EZ |
979 | @cindex updating Dired buffer |
980 | @cindex refreshing displayed files | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
981 | |
982 | This section describes commands to update the Dired buffer to reflect | |
983 | outside (non-Dired) changes in the directories and files, and to delete | |
984 | part of the Dired buffer. | |
985 | ||
986 | @table @kbd | |
987 | @item g | |
988 | Update the entire contents of the Dired buffer (@code{revert-buffer}). | |
989 | ||
990 | @item l | |
991 | Update the specified files (@code{dired-do-redisplay}). | |
992 | ||
993 | @item k | |
994 | Delete the specified @emph{file lines}---not the files, just the lines | |
995 | (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}). | |
996 | ||
997 | @item s | |
998 | Toggle between alphabetical order and date/time order | |
999 | (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}). | |
1000 | ||
1001 | @item C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET} | |
1002 | Refresh the Dired buffer using @var{switches} as | |
1003 | @code{dired-listing-switches}. | |
1004 | @end table | |
1005 | ||
1006 | @kindex g @r{(Dired)} | |
1007 | @findex revert-buffer @r{(Dired)} | |
1008 | Type @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}) to update the contents of the | |
1009 | Dired buffer, based on changes in the files and directories listed. | |
1010 | This preserves all marks except for those on files that have vanished. | |
1011 | Hidden subdirectories are updated but remain hidden. | |
1012 | ||
1013 | @kindex l @r{(Dired)} | |
1014 | @findex dired-do-redisplay | |
1015 | To update only some of the files, type @kbd{l} | |
5942fb80 RS |
1016 | (@code{dired-do-redisplay}). Like the Dired file-operating commands, |
1017 | this command operates on the next @var{n} files (or previous | |
1018 | @minus{}@var{n} files), or on the marked files if any, or on the | |
1019 | current file. Updating the files means reading their current status, | |
1020 | then updating their lines in the buffer to indicate that status. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
1021 | |
1022 | If you use @kbd{l} on a subdirectory header line, it updates the | |
1023 | contents of the corresponding subdirectory. | |
1024 | ||
1025 | @kindex k @r{(Dired)} | |
1026 | @findex dired-do-kill-lines | |
5942fb80 RS |
1027 | To delete the specified @emph{file lines} from the buffer---not |
1028 | delete the files---type @kbd{k} (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}). Like | |
1029 | the file-operating commands, this command operates on the next @var{n} | |
1030 | files, or on the marked files if any; but it does not operate on the | |
1031 | current file as a last resort. | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
1032 | |
1033 | If you kill the line for a file that is a directory, the directory's | |
1034 | contents are also deleted from the buffer. Typing @kbd{C-u k} on the | |
1035 | header line for a subdirectory is another way to delete a subdirectory | |
1036 | from the Dired buffer. | |
1037 | ||
1038 | The @kbd{g} command brings back any individual lines that you have | |
1039 | killed in this way, but not subdirectories---you must use @kbd{i} to | |
5942fb80 | 1040 | reinsert a subdirectory. |
6bf7aab6 DL |
1041 | |
1042 | @cindex Dired sorting | |
1043 | @cindex sorting Dired buffer | |
1044 | @kindex s @r{(Dired)} | |
1045 | @findex dired-sort-toggle-or-edit | |
1046 | The files in a Dired buffers are normally listed in alphabetical order | |
1047 | by file names. Alternatively Dired can sort them by date/time. The | |
1048 | Dired command @kbd{s} (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}) switches | |
1049 | between these two sorting modes. The mode line in a Dired buffer | |
1050 | indicates which way it is currently sorted---by name, or by date. | |
1051 | ||
1052 | @kbd{C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}} lets you specify a new value for | |
1053 | @code{dired-listing-switches}. | |
1054 | ||
1055 | @node Dired and Find | |
1056 | @section Dired and @code{find} | |
1057 | @cindex @code{find} and Dired | |
1058 | ||
1059 | You can select a set of files for display in a Dired buffer more | |
1060 | flexibly by using the @code{find} utility to choose the files. | |
1061 | ||
1062 | @findex find-name-dired | |
1063 | To search for files with names matching a wildcard pattern use | |
1064 | @kbd{M-x find-name-dired}. It reads arguments @var{directory} and | |
1065 | @var{pattern}, and chooses all the files in @var{directory} or its | |
1066 | subdirectories whose individual names match @var{pattern}. | |
1067 | ||
1068 | The files thus chosen are displayed in a Dired buffer in which the | |
1069 | ordinary Dired commands are available. | |
1070 | ||
1071 | @findex find-grep-dired | |
1072 | If you want to test the contents of files, rather than their names, | |
1073 | use @kbd{M-x find-grep-dired}. This command reads two minibuffer | |
1074 | arguments, @var{directory} and @var{regexp}; it chooses all the files in | |
1075 | @var{directory} or its subdirectories that contain a match for | |
1076 | @var{regexp}. It works by running the programs @code{find} and | |
1077 | @code{grep}. See also @kbd{M-x grep-find}, in @ref{Compilation}. | |
1078 | Remember to write the regular expression for @code{grep}, not for Emacs. | |
a33b10b5 EZ |
1079 | (An alternative method of showing files whose contents match a given |
1080 | regexp is the @kbd{% g @var{regexp}} command, see @ref{Marks vs Flags}.) | |
6bf7aab6 DL |
1081 | |
1082 | @findex find-dired | |
1083 | The most general command in this series is @kbd{M-x find-dired}, which | |
1084 | lets you specify any condition that @code{find} can test. It takes two | |
1085 | minibuffer arguments, @var{directory} and @var{find-args}; it runs | |
1086 | @code{find} in @var{directory}, passing @var{find-args} to tell | |
1087 | @code{find} what condition to test. To use this command, you need to | |
1088 | know how to use @code{find}. | |
1089 | ||
c3ecd445 LT |
1090 | @vindex find-ls-option |
1091 | The format of listing produced by these commands is controlled by the | |
1092 | variable @code{find-ls-option}, whose default value specifies using | |
1093 | options @samp{-ld} for @code{ls}. If your listings are corrupted, you | |
1094 | may need to change the value of this variable. | |
1095 | ||
a8ef67ae RS |
1096 | @findex locate |
1097 | @findex locate-with-filter | |
1098 | @cindex file database (locate) | |
1099 | @vindex locate-command | |
3a2aa1dc | 1100 | @kbd{M-x locate} provides a similar interface to the @code{locate} |
bb124d48 | 1101 | program. @kbd{M-x locate-with-filter} is similar, but keeps only lines |
3a2aa1dc | 1102 | matching a given regular expression. |
a8ef67ae | 1103 | |
910dc292 LT |
1104 | These buffers don't work entirely like ordinary Dired buffers. File |
1105 | operations work, but do not always automatically update the buffer. | |
1106 | Reverting the buffer with @kbd{g} deletes all inserted subdirectories, | |
1107 | and erases all flags and marks. | |
1108 | ||
9eae419d RS |
1109 | @node Misc Dired Commands |
1110 | @section Other Dired Commands | |
1111 | ||
1112 | @table @kbd | |
1113 | @item w | |
1114 | @cindex Adding to the kill ring in Dired. | |
1115 | @kindex w | |
1116 | @findex dired-copy-filename-as-kill | |
1117 | The @kbd{w} command (@code{dired-copy-filename-as-kill}) puts the | |
1118 | names of the marked (or next @var{n}) files into the kill ring, as if | |
1119 | you had killed them with @kbd{C-w}. With a zero prefix argument | |
1120 | @var{n}=0, use the absolute file name of each marked file. With just | |
1121 | @kbd{C-u} as the prefix argument, use the relative file name of each | |
1122 | marked file. As a special case, if no prefix argument is given and | |
1123 | point is on a directory headerline, @kbd{w} gives you the name of that | |
1124 | directory without looking for marked files. | |
1125 | ||
1126 | @vindex dired-marked-files | |
1127 | The main purpose of the @kbd{w} command is so that you can yank the | |
1128 | file names into arguments for other Emacs commands. It also displays | |
1129 | what was pushed onto the kill ring, so you can use it to display the | |
1130 | list of currently marked files in the echo area. It also stores the | |
1131 | list of names in the variable @code{dired-marked-files}, for use in | |
1132 | Lisp expressions. | |
1133 | @end table | |
1134 | ||
ab5796a9 MB |
1135 | @ignore |
1136 | arch-tag: d105f9b9-fc1b-4c5f-a949-9b2cf3ca2fc1 | |
1137 | @end ignore |