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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 @node Buffers, Windows, Files, Top
6 @chapter Using Multiple Buffers
7
8 @cindex buffers
9 The text you are editing in Emacs resides in an object called a
10 @dfn{buffer}. Each time you visit a file, a buffer is created to hold the
11 file's text. Each time you invoke Dired, a buffer is created to hold the
12 directory listing. If you send a message with @kbd{C-x m}, a buffer named
13 @samp{*mail*} is used to hold the text of the message. When you ask for a
14 command's documentation, that appears in a buffer called @samp{*Help*}.
15
16 @cindex selected buffer
17 @cindex current buffer
18 At any time, one and only one buffer is @dfn{current}. It is also
19 called the @dfn{selected buffer}. Often we say that a command operates on
20 ``the buffer'' as if there were only one; but really this means that the
21 command operates on the current buffer (most commands do).
22
23 When Emacs has multiple windows, each window has its own chosen
24 buffer and displays it; at any time, only one of the windows is
25 selected, and its chosen buffer is the current buffer. Each window's
26 mode line normally displays the name of the window's chosen buffer
27 (@pxref{Windows}).
28
29 Each buffer has a name, which can be of any length, and you can select
30 any buffer by giving its name. Most buffers are made by visiting files,
31 and their names are derived from the files' names. But you can also create
32 an empty buffer with any name you want. A newly started Emacs has a buffer
33 named @samp{*scratch*} which can be used for evaluating Lisp expressions in
34 Emacs. The distinction between upper and lower case matters in buffer
35 names.
36
37 Each buffer records individually what file it is visiting, whether it is
38 modified, and what major mode and minor modes are in effect in it
39 (@pxref{Major Modes}). Any Emacs variable can be made @dfn{local to} a
40 particular buffer, meaning its value in that buffer can be different from
41 the value in other buffers. @xref{Locals}.
42
43 @cindex buffer size, maximum
44 A buffer's size cannot be larger than some maximum, which is defined
45 by the largest buffer position representable by the @dfn{Emacs integer}
46 data type. This is because Emacs tracks buffer positions using that
47 data type. For 32-bit machines, the largest buffer size is 128
48 megabytes.
49
50 @menu
51 * Select Buffer:: Creating a new buffer or reselecting an old one.
52 * List Buffers:: Getting a list of buffers that exist.
53 * Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text.
54 * Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need.
55 * Several Buffers:: How to go through the list of all buffers
56 and operate variously on several of them.
57 * Indirect Buffers:: An indirect buffer shares the text of another buffer.
58 * Buffer Convenience:: Convenience and customization features for
59 buffer handling.
60 @end menu
61
62 @node Select Buffer
63 @section Creating and Selecting Buffers
64 @cindex change buffers
65 @cindex switch buffers
66
67 @table @kbd
68 @item C-x b @var{buffer} @key{RET}
69 Select or create a buffer named @var{buffer} (@code{switch-to-buffer}).
70 @item C-x 4 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}
71 Similar, but select @var{buffer} in another window
72 (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window}).
73 @item C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}
74 Similar, but select @var{buffer} in a separate frame
75 (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}).
76 @end table
77
78 @kindex C-x b
79 @findex switch-to-buffer
80 To select the buffer named @var{bufname}, type @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname}
81 @key{RET}}. This runs the command @code{switch-to-buffer} with argument
82 @var{bufname}. You can use completion on an abbreviation for the buffer
83 name you want (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b}
84 specifies the buffer that was current most recently among those not
85 now displayed in any window.
86
87 @kindex C-x 4 b
88 @findex switch-to-buffer-other-window
89 @vindex even-window-heights
90 To select a buffer in a window other than the current one, type
91 @kbd{C-x 4 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This runs the command
92 @code{switch-to-buffer-other-window} which displays the buffer
93 @var{bufname} in another window. By default, if displaying the buffer
94 causes two vertically adjacent windows to be displayed, the heights of
95 those windows are evened out; to countermand that and preserve the
96 window configuration, set the variable @code{even-window-heights} to
97 @code{nil}.
98
99 @kindex C-x 5 b
100 @findex switch-to-buffer-other-frame
101 Similarly, @kbd{C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}} runs the command
102 @code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame} which selects a buffer in another
103 frame.
104
105 @vindex display-buffer-reuse-frames
106 You can control how certain buffers are handled by these commands by
107 customizing the variables @code{special-display-buffer-names},
108 @code{special-display-regexps}, @code{same-window-buffer-names}, and
109 @code{same-window-regexps}. See @ref{Force Same Window}, and
110 @ref{Special Buffer Frames}, for more about these variables. In
111 addition, if the value of @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is
112 non-@code{nil}, and the buffer you want to switch to is already
113 displayed in some frame, Emacs will raise that frame.
114
115 Most buffers are created by visiting files, or by Emacs commands that
116 want to display some text, but you can also create a buffer explicitly
117 by typing @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This makes a new, empty
118 buffer that is not visiting any file, and selects it for editing. Such
119 buffers are used for making notes to yourself. If you try to save one,
120 you are asked for the file name to use. The new buffer's major mode is
121 determined by the value of @code{default-major-mode} (@pxref{Major
122 Modes}).
123
124 Note that @kbd{C-x C-f}, and any other command for visiting a file,
125 can also be used to switch to an existing file-visiting buffer.
126 @xref{Visiting}.
127
128 Emacs uses buffer names that start with a space for internal purposes.
129 It treats these buffers specially in minor ways---for example, by
130 default they do not record undo information. It is best to avoid using
131 such buffer names yourself.
132
133 @node List Buffers
134 @section Listing Existing Buffers
135
136 @table @kbd
137 @item C-x C-b
138 List the existing buffers (@code{list-buffers}).
139 @end table
140
141 @cindex listing current buffers
142 @kindex C-x C-b
143 @findex list-buffers
144 To display a list of all the buffers that exist, type @kbd{C-x C-b}.
145 Each line in the list shows one buffer's name, major mode and visited
146 file. The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the
147 buffers that were current most recently come first.
148
149 @samp{*} in the first field of a line indicates the buffer is ``modified.''
150 If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save some with @kbd{C-x s}
151 (@pxref{Saving}). @samp{%} indicates a read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the
152 current buffer. Here is an example of a buffer list:@refill
153
154 @smallexample
155 CRM Buffer Size Mode File
156 . * .emacs 3294 Emacs-Lisp ~/.emacs
157 % *Help* 101 Help
158 search.c 86055 C ~/cvs/emacs/src/search.c
159 % src 20959 Dired by name ~/cvs/emacs/src/
160 * *mail* 42 Mail
161 % HELLO 1607 Fundamental ~/cvs/emacs/etc/HELLO
162 % NEWS 481184 Outline ~/cvs/emacs/etc/NEWS
163 *scratch* 191 Lisp Interaction
164 * *Messages* 1554 Fundamental
165 @end smallexample
166
167 @noindent
168 Note that the buffer @samp{*Help*} was made by a help request; it is
169 not visiting any file. The buffer @code{src} was made by Dired on the
170 directory @file{~/cvs/emacs/src/}. You can list only buffers that are
171 visiting files by giving the command a prefix; for instance, by typing
172 @kbd{C-u C-x C-b}.
173
174 @code{list-buffers} omits buffers whose name begins with a blank,
175 unless they visit files: such buffers are used internally by Emacs.
176
177 @need 2000
178 @node Misc Buffer
179 @section Miscellaneous Buffer Operations
180
181 @table @kbd
182 @item C-x C-q
183 Toggle read-only status of buffer (@code{toggle-read-only}).
184 @item M-x rename-buffer @key{RET} @var{name} @key{RET}
185 Change the name of the current buffer.
186 @item M-x rename-uniquely
187 Rename the current buffer by adding @samp{<@var{number}>} to the end.
188 @item M-x view-buffer @key{RET} @var{buffer} @key{RET}
189 Scroll through buffer @var{buffer}.
190 @end table
191
192 @kindex C-x C-q
193 @vindex buffer-read-only
194 @cindex read-only buffer
195 A buffer can be @dfn{read-only}, which means that commands to change
196 its contents are not allowed. The mode line indicates read-only
197 buffers with @samp{%%} or @samp{%*} near the left margin. Read-only
198 buffers are usually made by subsystems such as Dired and Rmail that
199 have special commands to operate on the text; also by visiting a file
200 whose access control says you cannot write it.
201
202 @findex toggle-read-only
203 If you wish to make changes in a read-only buffer, use the command
204 @kbd{C-x C-q} (@code{toggle-read-only}). It makes a read-only buffer
205 writable, and makes a writable buffer read-only. This
206 works by setting the variable @code{buffer-read-only}, which has a local
207 value in each buffer and makes the buffer read-only if its value is
208 non-@code{nil}. If you have files under version control, you may find
209 it convenient to bind @kbd{C-x C-q} to @code{vc-toggle-read-only}
210 instead. Then, typing @kbd{C-x C-q} not only changes the read-only
211 flag, but it also checks the file in or out. @xref{Version
212 Control}.
213
214 @findex rename-buffer
215 @kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. Specify
216 the new name as a minibuffer argument. There is no default. If you
217 specify a name that is in use for some other buffer, an error happens and
218 no renaming is done.
219
220 @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} renames the current buffer to a similar name
221 with a numeric suffix added to make it both different and unique. This
222 command does not need an argument. It is useful for creating multiple
223 shell buffers: if you rename the @samp{*Shell*} buffer, then do @kbd{M-x
224 shell} again, it makes a new shell buffer named @samp{*Shell*};
225 meanwhile, the old shell buffer continues to exist under its new name.
226 This method is also good for mail buffers, compilation buffers, and most
227 Emacs features that create special buffers with particular names.
228
229 @findex view-buffer
230 @kbd{M-x view-buffer} is much like @kbd{M-x view-file} (@pxref{Misc
231 File Ops}) except that it examines an already existing Emacs buffer.
232 View mode provides commands for scrolling through the buffer
233 conveniently but not for changing it. When you exit View mode with
234 @kbd{q}, that switches back to the buffer (and the position) which was
235 previously displayed in the window. Alternatively, if you exit View
236 mode with @kbd{e}, the buffer and the value of point that resulted from
237 your perusal remain in effect.
238
239 The commands @kbd{M-x append-to-buffer} and @kbd{M-x insert-buffer}
240 can be used to copy text from one buffer to another. @xref{Accumulating
241 Text}.@refill
242
243 @node Kill Buffer
244 @section Killing Buffers
245
246 @cindex killing buffers
247 If you continue an Emacs session for a while, you may accumulate a
248 large number of buffers. You may then find it convenient to @dfn{kill}
249 the buffers you no longer need. On most operating systems, killing a
250 buffer releases its space back to the operating system so that other
251 programs can use it. Here are some commands for killing buffers:
252
253 @table @kbd
254 @item C-x k @var{bufname} @key{RET}
255 Kill buffer @var{bufname} (@code{kill-buffer}).
256 @item M-x kill-some-buffers
257 Offer to kill each buffer, one by one.
258 @end table
259
260 @findex kill-buffer
261 @findex kill-some-buffers
262 @kindex C-x k
263
264 @kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}) kills one buffer, whose name you
265 specify in the minibuffer. The default, used if you type just
266 @key{RET} in the minibuffer, is to kill the current buffer. If you
267 kill the current buffer, another buffer becomes current: one that was
268 current in the recent past but is not displayed in any window now. If
269 you ask to kill a file-visiting buffer that is modified (has unsaved
270 editing), then you must confirm with @kbd{yes} before the buffer is
271 killed.
272
273 The command @kbd{M-x kill-some-buffers} asks about each buffer, one by
274 one. An answer of @kbd{y} means to kill the buffer. Killing the current
275 buffer or a buffer containing unsaved changes selects a new buffer or asks
276 for confirmation just like @code{kill-buffer}.
277
278 The buffer menu feature (@pxref{Several Buffers}) is also convenient
279 for killing various buffers.
280
281 @vindex kill-buffer-hook
282 If you want to do something special every time a buffer is killed, you
283 can add hook functions to the hook @code{kill-buffer-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
284
285 @findex clean-buffer-list
286 If you run one Emacs session for a period of days, as many people do,
287 it can fill up with buffers that you used several days ago. The command
288 @kbd{M-x clean-buffer-list} is a convenient way to purge them; it kills
289 all the unmodified buffers that you have not used for a long time. An
290 ordinary buffer is killed if it has not been displayed for three days;
291 however, you can specify certain buffers that should never be killed
292 automatically, and others that should be killed if they have been unused
293 for a mere hour.
294
295 @cindex Midnight mode
296 @vindex midnight-mode
297 @vindex midnight-hook
298 You can also have this buffer purging done for you, every day at
299 midnight, by enabling Midnight mode. Midnight mode operates each day at
300 midnight; at that time, it runs @code{clean-buffer-list}, or whichever
301 functions you have placed in the normal hook @code{midnight-hook}
302 (@pxref{Hooks}).
303
304 To enable Midnight mode, use the Customization buffer to set the
305 variable @code{midnight-mode} to @code{t}. @xref{Easy Customization}.
306
307 @node Several Buffers
308 @section Operating on Several Buffers
309 @cindex buffer menu
310
311 The @dfn{buffer-menu} facility is like a ``Dired for buffers''; it allows
312 you to request operations on various Emacs buffers by editing an Emacs
313 buffer containing a list of them. You can save buffers, kill them
314 (here called @dfn{deleting} them, for consistency with Dired), or display
315 them.
316
317 @table @kbd
318 @item M-x buffer-menu
319 Begin editing a buffer listing all Emacs buffers.
320 @item M-x buffer-menu-other-window.
321 Similar, but do it in another window.
322 @end table
323
324 @findex buffer-menu
325 @findex buffer-menu-other-window
326 The command @code{buffer-menu} writes a list of all Emacs
327 buffers@footnote{Buffers which don't visit files and whose names begin
328 with a space are omitted: these are used internally by Emacs.} into the
329 buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}, and selects that buffer in Buffer Menu
330 mode. The list in the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer looks exactly as
331 described in @ref{List Buffers}. The buffer is read-only, and can be
332 changed only through the special commands described in this section.
333 The usual Emacs cursor motion commands can be used in the @samp{*Buffer
334 List*} buffer. The following commands apply to the buffer described on
335 the current line.
336
337 @table @kbd
338 @item d
339 Request to delete (kill) the buffer, then move down. The request
340 shows as a @samp{D} on the line, before the buffer name. Requested
341 deletions take place when you type the @kbd{x} command.
342 @item C-d
343 Like @kbd{d} but move up afterwards instead of down.
344 @item s
345 Request to save the buffer. The request shows as an @samp{S} on the
346 line. Requested saves take place when you type the @kbd{x} command.
347 You may request both saving and deletion for the same buffer.
348 @item x
349 Perform previously requested deletions and saves.
350 @item u
351 Remove any request made for the current line, and move down.
352 @item @key{DEL}
353 Move to previous line and remove any request made for that line.
354 @end table
355
356 The @kbd{d}, @kbd{C-d}, @kbd{s} and @kbd{u} commands to add or remove
357 flags also move down (or up) one line. They accept a numeric argument
358 as a repeat count.
359
360 These commands operate immediately on the buffer listed on the current
361 line:
362
363 @table @kbd
364 @item ~
365 Mark the buffer ``unmodified.'' The command @kbd{~} does this
366 immediately when you type it.
367 @item %
368 Toggle the buffer's read-only flag. The command @kbd{%} does
369 this immediately when you type it.
370 @item t
371 Visit the buffer as a tags table. @xref{Select Tags Table}.
372 @end table
373
374 There are also commands to select another buffer or buffers:
375
376 @table @kbd
377 @item q
378 Quit the buffer menu---immediately display the most recent formerly
379 visible buffer in its place.
380 @item @key{RET}
381 @itemx f
382 Immediately select this line's buffer in place of the @samp{*Buffer
383 List*} buffer.
384 @item o
385 Immediately select this line's buffer in another window as if by
386 @kbd{C-x 4 b}, leaving @samp{*Buffer List*} visible.
387 @item C-o
388 Immediately display this line's buffer in another window, but don't
389 select the window.
390 @item 1
391 Immediately select this line's buffer in a full-screen window.
392 @item 2
393 Immediately set up two windows, with this line's buffer in one, and the
394 previously current buffer (aside from the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*})
395 in the other.
396 @item b
397 Bury the buffer listed on this line.
398 @item m
399 Mark this line's buffer to be displayed in another window if you exit
400 with the @kbd{v} command. The request shows as a @samp{>} at the
401 beginning of the line. (A single buffer may not have both a delete
402 request and a display request.)
403 @item v
404 Immediately select this line's buffer, and also display in other windows
405 any buffers previously marked with the @kbd{m} command. If you have not
406 marked any buffers, this command is equivalent to @kbd{1}.
407 @end table
408
409 All that @code{buffer-menu} does directly is create and switch to a
410 suitable buffer, and turn on Buffer Menu mode. Everything else
411 described above is implemented by the special commands provided in
412 Buffer Menu mode. One consequence of this is that you can switch from
413 the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer to another Emacs buffer, and edit there.
414 You can reselect the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer later, to perform the
415 operations already requested, or you can kill it, or pay no further
416 attention to it.
417
418 The only difference between @code{buffer-menu} and @code{list-buffers}
419 is that @code{buffer-menu} switches to the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer
420 in the selected window; @code{list-buffers} displays it in another
421 window. If you run @code{list-buffers} (that is, type @kbd{C-x C-b})
422 and select the buffer list manually, you can use all of the commands
423 described here.
424
425 The buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated automatically when
426 buffers are created and killed; its contents are just text. If you have
427 created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way to update @samp{*Buffer
428 List*} to show what you have done is to type @kbd{g}
429 (@code{revert-buffer}) or repeat the @code{buffer-menu} command.
430
431 The command @code{buffer-menu-other-window} works the same as
432 @code{buffer-menu}, except that it displays the buffers list in
433 another window.
434
435 @node Indirect Buffers
436 @section Indirect Buffers
437 @cindex indirect buffer
438 @cindex base buffer
439
440 An @dfn{indirect buffer} shares the text of some other buffer, which
441 is called the @dfn{base buffer} of the indirect buffer. In some ways it
442 is the analogue, for buffers, of a symbolic link between files.
443
444 @table @kbd
445 @findex make-indirect-buffer
446 @item M-x make-indirect-buffer @key{RET} @var{base-buffer} @key{RET} @var{indirect-name} @key{RET}
447 Create an indirect buffer named @var{indirect-name} whose base buffer
448 is @var{base-buffer}.
449 @findex clone-indirect-buffer
450 @item M-x clone-indirect-buffer @key{RET}
451 Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer.
452 @item C-x 4 c
453 @kindex C-x 4 c
454 @findex clone-indirect-buffer-other-window
455 Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer, and
456 select it in another window (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}).
457 @end table
458
459 The text of the indirect buffer is always identical to the text of its
460 base buffer; changes made by editing either one are visible immediately
461 in the other. But in all other respects, the indirect buffer and its
462 base buffer are completely separate. They have different names,
463 different values of point, different narrowing, different markers,
464 different major modes, and different local variables.
465
466 An indirect buffer cannot visit a file, but its base buffer can. If
467 you try to save the indirect buffer, that actually works by saving the
468 base buffer. Killing the base buffer effectively kills the indirect
469 buffer, but killing an indirect buffer has no effect on its base buffer.
470
471 One way to use indirect buffers is to display multiple views of an
472 outline. @xref{Outline Views}.
473
474 @cindex multiple @samp{*info*} and @samp{*Help*} buffers
475 A quick and handy way to make an indirect buffer is with the command
476 @kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}. It creates and selects an indirect
477 buffer whose base buffer is the current buffer. With a numeric
478 argument, it prompts for the name of the indirect buffer; otherwise it
479 defaults to the name of the current buffer, modifying it by adding a
480 @samp{<@var{n}>} prefix if required. @kbd{C-x 4 c}
481 (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window}) works like @kbd{M-x
482 clone-indirect-buffer}, but it selects the cloned buffer in another
483 window. These commands come in handy if you want to create new
484 @samp{*info*} or @samp{*Help*} buffers, for example.
485
486 The more general way is with the command @kbd{M-x
487 make-indirect-buffer}. It creates an indirect buffer from buffer
488 @var{base-buffer}, under the name @var{indirect-name}. It prompts for
489 both @var{base-buffer} and @var{indirect-name} using the minibuffer.
490
491 @node Buffer Convenience
492 @section Convenience Features and Customization of Buffer Handling
493
494 This section describes several modes and features that make it more
495 convenient to switch between buffers.
496
497 @menu
498 * Uniquify:: Buffer names can contain directory parts.
499 * Iswitchb:: Switching between buffers with substrings.
500 * Buffer Menus:: Configurable buffer menu.
501 @end menu
502
503 @node Uniquify
504 @subsection Making Buffer Names Unique
505
506 @cindex unique buffer names
507 @cindex directories in buffer names
508 When several buffers visit identically-named files, Emacs must give
509 the buffers distinct names. The usual method for making buffer names
510 unique adds @samp{<2>}, @samp{<3>}, etc. to the end of the buffer
511 names (all but one of them).
512
513 @vindex uniquify-buffer-name-style
514 Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the
515 buffer name. To select one, customize the variable
516 @code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
517
518 For instance, the @code{forward} naming method puts part of the
519 directory name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this method,
520 buffers visiting @file{/u/mernst/tmp/Makefile} and
521 @file{/usr/projects/zaphod/Makefile} would be named
522 @samp{tmp/Makefile} and @samp{zaphod/Makefile}, respectively (instead
523 of @samp{Makefile} and @samp{Makefile<2>}).
524
525 By contrast, the @code{post-forward} naming method would call the
526 buffers @samp{Makefile|tmp} and @samp{Makefile|zaphod}, and the
527 @code{reverse} naming method would call them @samp{Makefile\tmp} and
528 @samp{Makefile\zaphod}. The nontrivial difference between
529 @code{post-forward} and @code{reverse} occurs when just one directory
530 name is not enough to distinguish two files; then @code{reverse} puts
531 the directory names in reverse order, so that @file{/top/middle/file}
532 becomes @samp{file\middle\top}, while @code{post-forward} puts them in
533 forward order after the file name, as in @samp{file|top/middle}.
534
535 Which rule to follow for putting the directory names in the buffer
536 name is not very important if you are going to @emph{look} at the
537 buffer names before you type one. But as an experienced user, if you
538 know the rule, you won't have to look. And then you may find that one
539 rule or another is easier for you to remember and utilize fast.
540
541 @node Iswitchb
542 @subsection Switching Between Buffers using Substrings
543
544 @findex iswitchb-mode
545 @cindex Iswitchb mode
546 @cindex mode, Iswitchb
547 @kindex C-x b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
548 @kindex C-x 4 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
549 @kindex C-x 5 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
550 @kindex C-x 4 C-o @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
551
552 Iswitchb global minor mode provides convenient switching between
553 buffers using substrings of their names. It replaces the normal
554 definitions of @kbd{C-x b}, @kbd{C-x 4 b}, @kbd{C-x 5 b}, and @kbd{C-x
555 4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter.''
556
557 When one of these commands prompts you for a buffer name, you can
558 type in just a substring of the name you want to choose. As you enter
559 the substring, Iswitchb mode continuously displays a list of buffers
560 that match the substring you have typed.
561
562 At any time, you can type @key{RET} to select the first buffer in
563 the list. So the way to select a particular buffer is to make it the
564 first in the list. There are two ways to do this. You can type more
565 of the buffer name and thus narrow down the list, excluding unwanted
566 buffers above the desired one. Alternatively, you can use @kbd{C-s}
567 and @kbd{C-r} to rotate the list until the desired buffer is first.
568
569 @key{TAB} while entering the buffer name performs completion on the
570 string you have entered, based on the displayed list of buffers.
571
572 To enable Iswitchb mode, type @kbd{M-x iswitchb-mode}, or customize
573 the variable @code{iswitchb-mode} to @code{t} (@pxref{Easy
574 Customization}).
575
576 @node Buffer Menus
577 @subsection Customizing Buffer Menus
578
579 @findex bs-show
580 @cindex buffer list, customizable
581 @table @kbd
582 @item M-x bs-show
583 Make a list of buffers similarly to @kbd{M-x list-buffers} but
584 customizable.
585 @end table
586
587 @kbd{M-x bs-show} pops up a buffer list similar to the one normally
588 displayed by @kbd{C-x C-b} but which you can customize. If you prefer
589 this to the usual buffer list, you can bind this command to @kbd{C-x
590 C-b}. To customize this buffer list, use the @code{bs} Custom group
591 (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
592
593 @findex msb-mode
594 @cindex mode, MSB
595 @cindex MSB mode
596 @cindex buffer menu
597 @findex mouse-buffer-menu
598 @kindex C-Down-Mouse-1
599 MSB global minor mode (``MSB'' stands for ``mouse select buffer'')
600 provides a different and customizable mouse buffer menu which you may
601 prefer. It replaces the bindings of @code{mouse-buffer-menu},
602 normally on @kbd{C-Down-Mouse-1}, and the menu bar buffer menu. You
603 can customize the menu in the @code{msb} Custom group.
604
605 @ignore
606 arch-tag: 08c43460-f4f4-4b43-9cb5-1ea9ad991695
607 @end ignore