@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
-@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2012
+@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
-@node Buffers, Windows, Files, Top
+@node Buffers
@chapter Using Multiple Buffers
@cindex buffers
The text you are editing in Emacs resides in an object called a
-@dfn{buffer}. Each time you visit a file, a buffer is created to hold the
-file's text. Each time you invoke Dired, a buffer is created to hold the
-directory listing. If you send a message with @kbd{C-x m}, a buffer named
-@samp{*mail*} is used to hold the text of the message. When you ask for a
-command's documentation, that appears in a buffer called @samp{*Help*}.
+@dfn{buffer}. Each time you visit a file, a buffer is used to hold
+the file's text. Each time you invoke Dired, a buffer is used to hold
+the directory listing. If you send a message with @kbd{C-x m}, a
+buffer is used to hold the text of the message. When you ask for a
+command's documentation, that appears in a buffer named @file{*Help*}.
+
+ Each buffer has a unique name, which can be of any length. When a
+buffer is displayed in a window, its name is shown in the mode line
+(@pxref{Mode Line}). The distinction between upper and lower case
+matters in buffer names. Most buffers are made by visiting files, and
+their names are derived from the files' names; however, you can also
+create an empty buffer with any name you want. A newly started Emacs
+has several buffers, including one named @file{*scratch*}, which can
+be used for evaluating Lisp expressions and is not associated with any
+file (@pxref{Lisp Interaction}).
@cindex selected buffer
@cindex current buffer
- At any time, one and only one buffer is @dfn{current}. It is also
-called the @dfn{selected buffer}. Often we say that a command operates on
-``the buffer'' as if there were only one; but really this means that the
-command operates on the current buffer (most commands do).
-
- When Emacs has multiple windows, each window has its own chosen
-buffer and displays it; at any time, only one of the windows is
-selected, and its chosen buffer is the current buffer. Each window's
-mode line normally displays the name of the window's chosen buffer
-(@pxref{Windows}).
-
- Each buffer has a name, which can be of any length, and you can select
-any buffer by giving its name. Most buffers are made by visiting files,
-and their names are derived from the files' names. But you can also create
-an empty buffer with any name you want. A newly started Emacs has a buffer
-named @samp{*scratch*} which can be used for evaluating Lisp expressions in
-Emacs. The distinction between upper and lower case matters in buffer
-names.
-
- Each buffer records individually what file it is visiting, whether it is
-modified, and what major mode and minor modes are in effect in it
-(@pxref{Major Modes}). Any Emacs variable can be made @dfn{local to} a
-particular buffer, meaning its value in that buffer can be different from
-the value in other buffers. @xref{Locals}.
+ At any time, one and only one buffer is @dfn{selected}; we call it
+the @dfn{current buffer}. We sometimes say that a command operates on
+``the buffer''; this really means that it operates on the current
+buffer. When there is only one Emacs window, the buffer displayed in
+that window is current. When there are multiple windows, the buffer
+displayed in the @dfn{selected window} is current. @xref{Windows}.
+
+ Aside from its textual contents, each buffer records several pieces
+of information, such as what file it is visiting (if any), whether it
+is modified, and what major mode and minor modes are in effect
+(@pxref{Modes}). These are stored in @dfn{buffer-local
+variables}---variables that can have a different value in each buffer.
+@xref{Locals}.
@cindex buffer size, maximum
A buffer's size cannot be larger than some maximum, which is defined
-by the largest buffer position representable by the @dfn{Emacs integer}
-data type. This is because Emacs tracks buffer positions using that
-data type. For 32-bit machines, the largest buffer size is 256
-megabytes.
+by the largest buffer position representable by @dfn{Emacs integers}.
+This is because Emacs tracks buffer positions using that data type.
+For typical 64-bit machines, this maximum buffer size is @math{2^61 -
+2} bytes, or about 2 EiB. For typical 32-bit machines, the maximum is
+usually @math{2^29 - 2} bytes, or about 512 MiB. Buffer sizes are
+also limited by the amount of memory in the system.
@menu
* Select Buffer:: Creating a new buffer or reselecting an old one.
* List Buffers:: Getting a list of buffers that exist.
-* Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text.
-* Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need.
+* Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text.
+* Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need.
* Several Buffers:: How to go through the list of all buffers
- and operate variously on several of them.
+ and operate variously on several of them.
* Indirect Buffers:: An indirect buffer shares the text of another buffer.
* Buffer Convenience:: Convenience and customization features for
buffer handling.
Similar, but select @var{buffer} in a separate frame
(@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame}).
@item C-x @key{LEFT}
-Select the previous buffer in the list of existing buffers.
+Select the previous buffer in the buffer list (@code{previous-buffer}).
@item C-x @key{RIGHT}
-Select the next buffer in the list of existing buffers.
+Select the next buffer in the buffer list (@code{next-buffer}).
@item C-u M-g M-g
@itemx C-u M-g g
Read a number @var{n} and move to line @var{n} in the most recently
@kindex C-x b
@findex switch-to-buffer
- To select the buffer named @var{bufname}, type @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname}
-@key{RET}}. This runs the command @code{switch-to-buffer} with argument
-@var{bufname}. You can use completion to enter the buffer
-name (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b}
+ The @kbd{C-x b} (@code{switch-to-buffer}) command reads a buffer
+name using the minibuffer. Then it makes that buffer current, and
+displays it in the currently-selected window. An empty input
specifies the buffer that was current most recently among those not
now displayed in any window.
+ While entering the buffer name, you can use the usual completion and
+history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer}). Note that @kbd{C-x b}, and
+related commands, use ``permissive completion with confirmation'' for
+minibuffer completion: if you type @key{RET} immediately after
+completing up to a nonexistent buffer name, Emacs prints
+@samp{[Confirm]} and you must type a second @key{RET} to submit that
+buffer name. @xref{Completion Exit}, for details.
+
+ If you specify a buffer that does not exist, @kbd{C-x b} creates a
+new, empty buffer that is not visiting any file, and selects it for
+editing. The default value of the variable @code{major-mode}
+determines the new buffer's major mode; the default value is
+Fundamental mode. @xref{Major Modes}. One reason to create a new
+buffer is to use it for making temporary notes. If you try to save
+it, Emacs asks for the file name to use, and the buffer's major mode
+is re-established taking that file name into account (@pxref{Choosing
+Modes}).
+
@kindex C-x @key{LEFT}
@kindex C-x @key{RIGHT}
@findex next-buffer
@findex previous-buffer
For conveniently switching between a few buffers, use the commands
-@kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}} and @kbd{C-x @key{RIGHT}}. @kbd{C-x @key{RIGHT}}
-(@code{previous-buffer}) selects the previous buffer (following the order
-of most recent selection in the current frame), while @kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}}
-(@code{next-buffer}) moves through buffers in the reverse direction.
+@kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}} and @kbd{C-x @key{RIGHT}}. @kbd{C-x @key{LEFT}}
+(@code{previous-buffer}) selects the previous buffer (following the
+order of most recent selection in the current frame), while @kbd{C-x
+@key{RIGHT}} (@code{next-buffer}) moves through buffers in the reverse
+direction.
@kindex C-x 4 b
@findex switch-to-buffer-other-window
-@vindex even-window-heights
To select a buffer in a window other than the current one, type
-@kbd{C-x 4 b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This runs the command
-@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window} which displays the buffer
-@var{bufname} in another window. By default, if displaying the buffer
-causes two vertically adjacent windows to be displayed, the heights of
-those windows are evened out; to countermand that and preserve the
-window configuration, set the variable @code{even-window-heights} to
-@code{nil}.
+@kbd{C-x 4 b} (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-window}). This prompts
+for a buffer name using the minibuffer, displays that buffer in
+another window, and selects that window.
@kindex C-x 5 b
@findex switch-to-buffer-other-frame
- Similarly, @kbd{C-x 5 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}} runs the command
-@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame} which selects a buffer in another
-frame.
-
-@vindex display-buffer-reuse-frames
- You can control how certain buffers are handled by these commands by
-customizing the variables @code{special-display-buffer-names},
-@code{special-display-regexps}, @code{same-window-buffer-names}, and
-@code{same-window-regexps}. See @ref{Force Same Window}, and
-@ref{Special Buffer Frames}, for more about these variables. In
-addition, if the value of @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is
-non-@code{nil}, and the buffer you want to switch to is already
-displayed in some frame, Emacs will just raise that frame.
-
- Most buffers are created by visiting files, or by Emacs commands that
-want to display some text, but you can also create a buffer explicitly
-by typing @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname} @key{RET}}. This makes a new, empty
-buffer that is not visiting any file, and selects it for editing. Such
-buffers are used for making notes to yourself. If you try to save one,
-you are asked for the file name to use. The new buffer's major mode is
-determined by the value of @code{default-major-mode} (@pxref{Major
-Modes}).
+ Similarly, @kbd{C-x 5 b} (@code{switch-to-buffer-other-frame})
+prompts for a buffer name, displays that buffer in another frame, and
+selects that frame. If the buffer is already being shown in a window
+on another frame, Emacs selects that window and frame instead of
+creating a new frame.
+
+ @xref{Displaying Buffers}, for how the @kbd{C-x 4 b} and @kbd{C-x 5
+b} commands get the window and/or frame to display in.
- Note that @kbd{C-x C-f}, and any other command for visiting a file,
-can also be used to switch to an existing file-visiting buffer.
+ In addition, @kbd{C-x C-f}, and any other command for visiting a
+file, can also be used to switch to an existing file-visiting buffer.
@xref{Visiting}.
- @kbd{C-u M-g M-g}, that is @code{goto-line} with a prefix argument
-of just @kbd{C-u}, reads a number @var{n} using the minibuffer,
-selects the most recently selected buffer other than the current
-buffer in another window, and then moves point to the beginning of
-line number @var{n} in that buffer. This is mainly useful in a buffer
-that refers to line numbers in another buffer: if point is on or just
-after a number, @code{goto-line} uses that number as the default for
-@var{n}. Note that prefix arguments other than just @kbd{C-u} behave
-differently. @kbd{C-u 4 M-g M-g} goes to line 4 in the @emph{current}
-buffer, without reading a number from the minibuffer. (Remember that
-@kbd{M-g M-g} without prefix argument reads a number @var{n} and then
-moves to line number @var{n} in the current buffer.)
+@findex goto-line
+ @kbd{C-u M-g M-g}, that is @code{goto-line} with a plain prefix
+argument, reads a number @var{n} using the minibuffer, selects the
+most recently selected buffer other than the current buffer in another
+window, and then moves point to the beginning of line number @var{n}
+in that buffer. This is mainly useful in a buffer that refers to line
+numbers in another buffer: if point is on or just after a number,
+@code{goto-line} uses that number as the default for @var{n}. Note
+that prefix arguments other than just @kbd{C-u} behave differently.
+@kbd{C-u 4 M-g M-g} goes to line 4 in the @emph{current} buffer,
+without reading a number from the minibuffer. (Remember that @kbd{M-g
+M-g} without prefix argument reads a number @var{n} and then moves to
+line number @var{n} in the current buffer. @xref{Moving Point}.)
Emacs uses buffer names that start with a space for internal purposes.
It treats these buffers specially in minor ways---for example, by
The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the
buffers that were current most recently come first.
- @samp{*} in the first field of a line indicates the buffer is
-``modified.'' If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save
-some with @kbd{C-x s} (@pxref{Save Commands}). @samp{%} indicates a
-read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the current buffer. Here is an
-example of a buffer list:@refill
+ @samp{.} in the first field of a line indicates that the buffer is
+current. @samp{%} indicates a read-only buffer. @samp{*} indicates
+that the buffer is ``modified''. If several buffers are modified, it
+may be time to save some with @kbd{C-x s} (@pxref{Save Commands}).
+Here is an example of a buffer list:
@smallexample
CRM Buffer Size Mode File
@end smallexample
@noindent
-Note that the buffer @samp{*Help*} was made by a help request; it is
-not visiting any file. The buffer @code{src} was made by Dired on the
-directory @file{~/cvs/emacs/src/}. You can list only buffers that are
-visiting files by giving the command a prefix argument, as in
+The buffer @file{*Help*} was made by a help request (@pxref{Help}); it
+is not visiting any file. The buffer @code{src} was made by Dired on
+the directory @file{~/cvs/emacs/src/}. You can list only buffers that
+are visiting files by giving the command a prefix argument, as in
@kbd{C-u C-x C-b}.
@code{list-buffers} omits buffers whose names begin with a space,
unless they visit files: such buffers are used internally by Emacs.
-@need 2000
@node Misc Buffer
@section Miscellaneous Buffer Operations
@item M-x rename-uniquely
Rename the current buffer by adding @samp{<@var{number}>} to the end.
@item M-x view-buffer @key{RET} @var{buffer} @key{RET}
-Scroll through buffer @var{buffer}.
+Scroll through buffer @var{buffer}. @xref{View Mode}.
@end table
@kindex C-x C-q
whose access control says you cannot write it.
@findex toggle-read-only
- If you wish to make changes in a read-only buffer, use the command
-@kbd{C-x C-q} (@code{toggle-read-only}). It makes a read-only buffer
-writable, and makes a writable buffer read-only. This
-works by setting the variable @code{buffer-read-only}, which has a local
-value in each buffer and makes the buffer read-only if its value is
-non-@code{nil}. If you have files under version control, you may find
-it convenient to bind @kbd{C-x C-q} to @code{vc-toggle-read-only}
-instead. Then, typing @kbd{C-x C-q} not only changes the read-only
-flag, but it also checks the file in or out. @xref{Version
-Control}.
+@vindex view-read-only
+ The command @kbd{C-x C-q} (@code{toggle-read-only}) makes a read-only
+buffer writable, and makes a writable buffer read-only. This works by
+setting the variable @code{buffer-read-only}, which has a local value
+in each buffer and makes the buffer read-only if its value is
+non-@code{nil}. If you change the option @code{view-read-only} to a
+non-@code{nil} value, making the buffer read-only with @kbd{C-x C-q}
+also enables View mode in the buffer (@pxref{View Mode}).
@findex rename-buffer
@kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. You
@kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} renames the current buffer to a similar
name with a numeric suffix added to make it both different and unique.
This command does not need an argument. It is useful for creating
-multiple shell buffers: if you rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer, then
+multiple shell buffers: if you rename the @file{*shell*} buffer, then
do @kbd{M-x shell} again, it makes a new shell buffer named
-@samp{*shell*}; meanwhile, the old shell buffer continues to exist
+@file{*shell*}; meanwhile, the old shell buffer continues to exist
under its new name. This method is also good for mail buffers,
compilation buffers, and most Emacs features that create special
buffers with particular names. (With some of these features, such as
-@kbd{M-x compile}, @kbd{M-x grep} an @kbd{M-x info}, you need to
-switch to some other buffer before using the command, in order for it
-to make a different buffer.)
-
-@findex view-buffer
- @kbd{M-x view-buffer} is much like @kbd{M-x view-file} (@pxref{Misc
-File Ops}) except that it examines an already existing Emacs buffer.
-View mode provides commands for scrolling through the buffer
-conveniently but not for changing it. When you exit View mode with
-@kbd{q}, that switches back to the buffer (and the position) which was
-previously displayed in the window. Alternatively, if you exit View
-mode with @kbd{e}, the buffer and the value of point that resulted from
-your perusal remain in effect.
+@kbd{M-x compile}, @kbd{M-x grep}, you need to switch to some other
+buffer before using the command again, otherwise it will reuse the
+current buffer despite the name change.)
The commands @kbd{M-x append-to-buffer} and @kbd{M-x insert-buffer}
-can be used to copy text from one buffer to another. @xref{Accumulating
-Text}.
+can also be used to copy text from one buffer to another.
+@xref{Accumulating Text}.
@node Kill Buffer
@section Killing Buffers
Kill buffer @var{bufname} (@code{kill-buffer}).
@item M-x kill-some-buffers
Offer to kill each buffer, one by one.
+@item M-x kill-matching-buffers
+Offer to kill all buffers matching a regular expression.
@end table
@findex kill-buffer
-@findex kill-some-buffers
@kindex C-x k
-
@kbd{C-x k} (@code{kill-buffer}) kills one buffer, whose name you
specify in the minibuffer. The default, used if you type just
@key{RET} in the minibuffer, is to kill the current buffer. If you
kill the current buffer, another buffer becomes current: one that was
current in the recent past but is not displayed in any window now. If
-you ask to kill a file-visiting buffer that is modified (has unsaved
-editing), then you must confirm with @kbd{yes} before the buffer is
-killed.
+you ask to kill a file-visiting buffer that is modified, then you must
+confirm with @kbd{yes} before the buffer is killed.
- The command @kbd{M-x kill-some-buffers} asks about each buffer, one by
-one. An answer of @kbd{y} means to kill the buffer. Killing the current
-buffer or a buffer containing unsaved changes selects a new buffer or asks
-for confirmation just like @code{kill-buffer}.
-
- The buffer menu feature (@pxref{Several Buffers}) is also convenient
-for killing various buffers.
+@findex kill-some-buffers
+ The command @kbd{M-x kill-some-buffers} asks about each buffer, one
+by one. An answer of @kbd{y} means to kill the buffer, just like
+@code{kill-buffer}. This command ignores buffers whose names begin
+with a space, which are used internally by Emacs.
+
+@findex kill-matching-buffers
+ The command @kbd{M-x kill-matching-buffers} prompts for a regular
+expression and kills all buffers whose names match that expression.
+@xref{Regexps}. Like @code{kill-some-buffers}, it asks for
+confirmation before each kill. This command normally ignores buffers
+whose names begin with a space, which are used internally by Emacs.
+To kill internal buffers as well, call @code{kill-matching-buffers}
+with a prefix argument.
+
+ The buffer menu feature is also convenient for killing various
+buffers. @xref{Several Buffers}.
@vindex kill-buffer-hook
If you want to do something special every time a buffer is killed, you
@cindex Midnight mode
@vindex midnight-mode
@vindex midnight-hook
- You can also have this buffer purging done for you, every day at
-midnight, by enabling Midnight mode. Midnight mode operates each day at
-midnight; at that time, it runs @code{clean-buffer-list}, or whichever
-functions you have placed in the normal hook @code{midnight-hook}
-(@pxref{Hooks}).
-
- To enable Midnight mode, use the Customization buffer to set the
-variable @code{midnight-mode} to @code{t}. @xref{Easy Customization}.
+ You can also have this buffer purging done for you, once a day,
+by enabling Midnight mode. Midnight mode operates each day
+at midnight; at that time, it runs @code{clean-buffer-list}, or
+whichever functions you have placed in the normal hook
+@code{midnight-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}). To enable Midnight mode, use
+the Customization buffer to set the variable @code{midnight-mode} to
+@code{t}. @xref{Easy Customization}.
@node Several Buffers
@section Operating on Several Buffers
@cindex buffer menu
- The @dfn{buffer-menu} facility is like a ``Dired for buffers''; it allows
-you to request operations on various Emacs buffers by editing an Emacs
-buffer containing a list of them. You can save buffers, kill them
-(here called @dfn{deleting} them, for consistency with Dired), or display
-them.
-
@table @kbd
@item M-x buffer-menu
Begin editing a buffer listing all Emacs buffers.
Similar, but do it in another window.
@end table
+ The @dfn{buffer menu} opened by @kbd{C-x C-b} (@pxref{List Buffers})
+does not merely list buffers. It also allows you to perform various
+operations on buffers, through an interface similar to Dired
+(@pxref{Dired}). You can save buffers, kill them (here called
+@dfn{deleting} them, for consistency with Dired), or display them.
+
@findex buffer-menu
@findex buffer-menu-other-window
- The command @code{buffer-menu} writes a list of all Emacs
-buffers@footnote{Buffers which don't visit files and whose names begin
-with a space are omitted: these are used internally by Emacs.} into the
-buffer @samp{*Buffer List*}, and selects that buffer in Buffer Menu
-mode.
-
- The buffer is read-only, and can be
-changed only through the special commands described in this section.
-The usual Emacs cursor motion commands can be used in the @samp{*Buffer
-List*} buffer. The following commands apply to the buffer described on
-the current line.
+ To use the buffer menu, type @kbd{C-x C-b} and switch to the window
+displaying the @file{*Buffer List*} buffer. You can also type
+@kbd{M-x buffer-menu} to open the buffer menu in the selected window.
+Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x buffer-menu-other-window} opens
+the buffer menu in another window, and selects that window.
+
+ The buffer menu is a read-only buffer, and can be changed only
+through the special commands described in this section. The usual
+cursor motion commands can be used in this buffer. The
+following commands apply to the buffer described on the current line:
@table @kbd
@item d
@table @kbd
@item ~
-Mark the buffer ``unmodified.'' The command @kbd{~} does this
+Mark the buffer ``unmodified''. The command @kbd{~} does this
immediately when you type it.
@item %
Toggle the buffer's read-only flag. The command @kbd{%} does
visible buffer in its place.
@item @key{RET}
@itemx f
-Immediately select this line's buffer in place of the @samp{*Buffer
+Immediately select this line's buffer in place of the @file{*Buffer
List*} buffer.
@item o
Immediately select this line's buffer in another window as if by
-@kbd{C-x 4 b}, leaving @samp{*Buffer List*} visible.
+@kbd{C-x 4 b}, leaving @file{*Buffer List*} visible.
@item C-o
Immediately display this line's buffer in another window, but don't
select the window.
@item 2
Immediately set up two windows, with this line's buffer selected in
one, and the previously current buffer (aside from the buffer
-@samp{*Buffer List*}) displayed in the other.
+@file{*Buffer List*}) displayed in the other.
@item b
Bury the buffer listed on this line.
@item m
suitable buffer, and turn on Buffer Menu mode in it. Everything else
described above is implemented by the special commands provided in
Buffer Menu mode. One consequence of this is that you can switch from
-the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer to another Emacs buffer, and edit
-there. You can reselect the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer later, to
+the @file{*Buffer List*} buffer to another Emacs buffer, and edit
+there. You can reselect the @file{*Buffer List*} buffer later, to
perform the operations already requested, or you can kill it, or pay
no further attention to it.
- The list in the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer looks exactly like the
-buffer list described in @ref{List Buffers}, because they really are
-the same. The only difference between @code{buffer-menu} and
-@code{list-buffers} is that @code{buffer-menu} switches to the
-@samp{*Buffer List*} buffer in the selected window;
-@code{list-buffers} displays the same buffer in another window. If
-you run @code{list-buffers} (that is, type @kbd{C-x C-b}) and select
-the buffer list manually, you can use all of the commands described
-here.
-
- Normally, the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated
+ Normally, the buffer @file{*Buffer List*} is not updated
automatically when buffers are created and killed; its contents are
just text. If you have created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way
-to update @samp{*Buffer List*} to show what you have done is to type
+to update @file{*Buffer List*} to show what you have done is to type
@kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). You can make this happen regularly
every @code{auto-revert-interval} seconds if you enable Auto Revert
mode in this buffer, as long as it is not marked modified. Global
-Auto Revert mode applies to the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer only if
+Auto Revert mode applies to the @file{*Buffer List*} buffer only if
@code{global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers} is non-@code{nil}.
@iftex
@inforef{Autorevert,, emacs-xtra}, for details.
@xref{Autorevert, global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers}, for details.
@end ifnottex
-
- The command @code{buffer-menu-other-window} works the same as
-@code{buffer-menu}, except that it displays the buffers list in
-another window.
-
@node Indirect Buffers
@section Indirect Buffers
@cindex indirect buffer
An @dfn{indirect buffer} shares the text of some other buffer, which
is called the @dfn{base buffer} of the indirect buffer. In some ways it
-is the analogue, for buffers, of a symbolic link between files.
+is a buffer analogue of a symbolic link between files.
@table @kbd
@findex make-indirect-buffer
@item M-x make-indirect-buffer @key{RET} @var{base-buffer} @key{RET} @var{indirect-name} @key{RET}
-Create an indirect buffer named @var{indirect-name} whose base buffer
-is @var{base-buffer}.
+Create an indirect buffer named @var{indirect-name} with base buffer
+@var{base-buffer}.
@findex clone-indirect-buffer
@item M-x clone-indirect-buffer @key{RET}
Create an indirect buffer that is a twin copy of the current buffer.
The text of the indirect buffer is always identical to the text of its
base buffer; changes made by editing either one are visible immediately
in the other. But in all other respects, the indirect buffer and its
-base buffer are completely separate. They have different names,
+base buffer are completely separate. They can have different names,
different values of point, different narrowing, different markers,
different major modes, and different local variables.
One way to use indirect buffers is to display multiple views of an
outline. @xref{Outline Views}.
+@vindex clone-indirect-buffer-hook
A quick and handy way to make an indirect buffer is with the command
@kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}. It creates and selects an indirect
buffer whose base buffer is the current buffer. With a numeric
uses the name of the current buffer, with a @samp{<@var{n}>} suffix
added. @kbd{C-x 4 c} (@code{clone-indirect-buffer-other-window})
works like @kbd{M-x clone-indirect-buffer}, but it selects the new
-buffer in another window.
+buffer in another window. These functions run the hook
+@code{clone-indirect-buffer-hook} after creating the indirect buffer.
The more general way to make an indirect buffer is with the command
-@kbd{M-x make-indirect-buffer}. It creates an indirect buffer from
-buffer @var{base-buffer}, under the name @var{indirect-name}. It
-prompts for both @var{base-buffer} and @var{indirect-name} using the
-minibuffer.
+@kbd{M-x make-indirect-buffer}. It creates an indirect buffer
+named @var{indirect-name} from a buffer @var{base-buffer}, prompting for
+both using the minibuffer.
@node Buffer Convenience
@section Convenience Features and Customization of Buffer Handling
@vindex uniquify-buffer-name-style
Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the
-buffer name. To select one, customize the variable
+buffer name. To select one, load the library @file{uniquify} (e.g.
+using @code{(require 'uniquify)}), and customize the variable
@code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
To begin with, the @code{forward} naming method includes part of the
Iswitchb global minor mode provides convenient switching between
buffers using substrings of their names. It replaces the normal
definitions of @kbd{C-x b}, @kbd{C-x 4 b}, @kbd{C-x 5 b}, and @kbd{C-x
-4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter.''
+4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter''.
When one of these commands prompts you for a buffer name, you can
type in just a substring of the name you want to choose. As you enter
prefer. It replaces the bindings of @code{mouse-buffer-menu},
normally on @kbd{C-Down-Mouse-1}, and the menu bar buffer menu. You
can customize the menu in the @code{msb} Custom group.
-
-@ignore
- arch-tag: 08c43460-f4f4-4b43-9cb5-1ea9ad991695
-@end ignore
HCoop / bpt / emacs.git / blobdiff