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