]> code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - doc/emacs/misc.texi
Merge branch 'emacs-25-merge'
[gnu-emacs] / doc / emacs / misc.texi
1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2015 Free Software
3 @c 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 Usenet news, host and network security,
10 viewing PDFs and other such documents, web
11 browsing, running shell commands and shell subprocesses, using a
12 single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor as a
13 subprocess, printing, sorting text, editing binary files, saving an
14 Emacs session for later resumption, recursive editing level, following
15 hyperlinks, and various diversions and amusements.
16
17 @end iftex
18
19 @ifnottex
20 @raisesections
21 @end ifnottex
22
23 @node Gnus
24 @section Gnus
25 @cindex Gnus
26 @cindex Usenet news
27 @cindex newsreader
28
29 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
30 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from
31 a number of other sources---email, remote directories, digests, and so
32 on. Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
33 @ifnottex
34 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
35 @end ifnottex
36 @iftex
37 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{C-h i} and then select the Gnus
38 manual.
39 @end iftex
40
41 @menu
42 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
43 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
44 * Gnus Group Buffer:: A short description of Gnus group commands.
45 * Gnus Summary Buffer:: A short description of Gnus summary commands.
46 @end menu
47
48 @node Buffers of Gnus
49 @subsection Gnus Buffers
50
51 Gnus uses several buffers to display information and to receive
52 commands. The three most commonly-used Gnus buffers are the
53 @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the @dfn{article
54 buffer}.
55
56 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of article sources (e.g.,
57 newsgroups and email inboxes), which are collectively referred to as
58 @dfn{groups}. This is the first buffer Gnus displays when it starts
59 up. It normally displays only the groups to which you subscribe and
60 that contain unread articles. From this buffer, you can select a
61 group to read.
62
63 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists the articles in a single group,
64 showing one article per line. By default, it displays each article's
65 author, subject, and line
66 @iftex
67 number.
68 @end iftex
69 @ifnottex
70 number, but this is customizable; @xref{Summary Buffer Format,,, gnus,
71 The Gnus Manual}.
72 @end ifnottex
73 The summary buffer is created when you select a group in the group
74 buffer, and is killed when you exit the group.
75
76 From the summary buffer, you can choose an article to view. The
77 article is displayed in the @dfn{article buffer}. In normal Gnus
78 usage, you view this buffer but do not select it---all useful Gnus
79 commands can be invoked from the summary buffer. But you can select
80 the article buffer, and execute Gnus commands from it, if you wish.
81
82 @node Gnus Startup
83 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
84
85 @findex gnus
86 @cindex @file{.newsrc} file
87 If your system has been set up for reading Usenet news, getting
88 started with Gnus is easy---just type @kbd{M-x gnus}.
89
90 On starting up, Gnus reads your @dfn{news initialization file}: a
91 file named @file{.newsrc} in your home directory which lists your
92 Usenet newsgroups and subscriptions (this file is not unique to Gnus;
93 it is used by many other newsreader programs). It then tries to
94 contact the system's default news server, which is typically specified
95 by the @env{NNTPSERVER} environment variable.
96
97 If your system does not have a default news server, or if you wish
98 to use Gnus for reading email, then before invoking @kbd{M-x gnus} you
99 need to tell Gnus where to get news and/or mail. To do this,
100 customize the variables @code{gnus-select-method} and/or
101 @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods}.
102 @iftex
103 See the Gnus manual for details.
104 @end iftex
105 @ifnottex
106 @xref{Finding the News,,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
107 @end ifnottex
108
109 Once Gnus has started up, it displays the group buffer. By default,
110 the group buffer shows only a small number of @dfn{subscribed groups}.
111 Groups with other statuses---@dfn{unsubscribed}, @dfn{killed}, or
112 @dfn{zombie}---are hidden. The first time you start Gnus, any group
113 to which you are not subscribed is made into a killed group; any group
114 that subsequently appears on the news server becomes a zombie group.
115
116 To proceed, you must select a group in the group buffer to open the
117 summary buffer for that group; then, select an article in the summary
118 buffer to view its article buffer in a separate window. The following
119 sections explain how to use the group and summary buffers to do this.
120
121 To quit Gnus, type @kbd{q} in the group buffer. This automatically
122 records your group statuses in the files @file{.newsrc} and
123 @file{.newsrc.eld}, so that they take effect in subsequent Gnus
124 sessions.
125
126 @node Gnus Group Buffer
127 @subsection Using the Gnus Group Buffer
128
129 The following commands are available in the Gnus group buffer:
130
131 @table @kbd
132 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
133 @findex gnus-group-read-group
134 @item @key{SPC}
135 Switch to the summary buffer for the group on the current line.
136
137 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
138 @kindex A s @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
139 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
140 @item l
141 @itemx A s
142 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
143 which contain unread articles (this is the default listing).
144
145 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
146 @kindex A u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
147 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
148 @item L
149 @itemx A u
150 List all subscribed and unsubscribed groups, but not killed or zombie
151 groups.
152
153 @kindex A k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
154 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
155 @item A k
156 List killed groups.
157
158 @kindex A z @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
159 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
160 @item A z
161 List zombie groups.
162
163 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
164 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
165 @cindex subscribe groups
166 @cindex unsubscribe groups
167 @item u
168 Toggle the subscription status of the group on the current line
169 (i.e., turn a subscribed group into an unsubscribed group, or vice
170 versa). Invoking this on a killed or zombie group turns it into an
171 unsubscribed group.
172
173 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
174 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
175 @item C-k
176 Kill the group on the current line. Killed groups are not recorded in
177 the @file{.newsrc} file, and they are not shown in the @kbd{l} or
178 @kbd{L} listings.
179
180 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
181 @item @key{DEL}
182 Move point to the previous group containing unread articles.
183
184 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
185 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
186 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
187 @item n
188 Move point to the next unread group.
189
190 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
191 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
192 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
193 @item p
194 Move point to the previous unread group.
195
196 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
197 @findex gnus-group-exit
198 @item q
199 Update your Gnus settings, and quit Gnus.
200 @end table
201
202 @node Gnus Summary Buffer
203 @subsection Using the Gnus Summary Buffer
204
205 The following commands are available in the Gnus summary buffer:
206
207 @table @kbd
208 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
209 @findex gnus-group-read-group
210 @item @key{SPC}
211 If there is no article selected, select the article on the current
212 line and display its article buffer. Otherwise, try scrolling the
213 selected article buffer in its window; on reaching the end of the
214 buffer, select the next unread article.
215
216 Thus, you can read through all articles by repeatedly typing
217 @key{SPC}.
218
219 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
220 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
221 @item @key{DEL}
222 Scroll the text of the article backwards.
223
224 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
225 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
226 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
227 @item n
228 Select the next unread article.
229
230 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
231 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
232 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
233 @item p
234 Select the previous unread article.
235
236 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
237 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
238 @item s
239 Do an incremental search on the selected article buffer, as if you
240 switched to the buffer and typed @kbd{C-s} (@pxref{Incremental
241 Search}).
242
243 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
244 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
245 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
246 Search forward for articles containing a match for @var{regexp}.
247
248 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
249 @item q
250 Exit the summary buffer and return to the group buffer.
251 @end table
252
253 @node Host Security
254 @section Host Security
255 @cindex security
256
257 Emacs runs inside an operating system such as GNU/Linux, and relies on
258 the operating system to check security constraints such as accesses to
259 files. The default settings for Emacs are designed for typical use;
260 they may require some tailoring in environments where security is more
261 of a concern, or less of a concern, than usual. For example,
262 file-local variables can be risky, and you can set the variable
263 @code{enable-local-variables} to @code{:safe} or (even more
264 conservatively) to @code{nil}; conversely, if your files can all be
265 trusted and the default checking for these variables is irritating,
266 you can set @code{enable-local-variables} to @code{:all}. @xref{Safe
267 File Variables}.
268
269 @xref{Security Considerations,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
270 Manual}, for more information about security considerations when using
271 Emacs as part of a larger application.
272
273 @node Network Security
274 @section Network Security
275 @cindex network security manager
276 @cindex NSM
277 @cindex encryption
278 @cindex SSL
279 @cindex TLS
280 @cindex STARTTLS
281
282 Whenever Emacs establishes any network connection, it passes the
283 established connection to the @dfn{Network Security Manager}
284 (@acronym{NSM}). @acronym{NSM} is responsible for enforcing the
285 network security under your control.
286
287 @vindex network-security-level
288 The @code{network-security-level} variable determines the security
289 level that @acronym{NSM} enforces. If its value is @code{low}, no
290 security checks are performed.
291
292 If this variable is @code{medium} (which is the default), a number of
293 checks will be performed. If as result @acronym{NSM} determines that
294 the network connection might not be trustworthy, it will make you
295 aware of that, and will ask you what to do about the network
296 connection.
297
298 You can decide to register a permanent security exception for an
299 unverified connection, a temporary exception, or refuse the connection
300 entirely.
301
302 Below is a list of the checks done on the @code{medium} level.
303
304 @table @asis
305
306 @item unable to verify a @acronym{TLS} certificate
307 If the connection is a @acronym{TLS}, @acronym{SSL} or
308 @acronym{STARTTLS} connection, @acronym{NSM} will check whether
309 the certificate used to establish the identity of the server we're
310 connecting to can be verified.
311
312 While an invalid certificate is often the cause for concern (there
313 could be a Man-in-the-Middle hijacking your network connection and
314 stealing your password), there may be valid reasons for going ahead
315 with the connection anyway. For instance, the server may be using a
316 self-signed certificate, or the certificate may have expired. It's up
317 to you to determine whether it's acceptable to continue with the
318 connection.
319
320 @item a self-signed certificate has changed
321 If you've previously accepted a self-signed certificate, but it has
322 now changed, that could mean that the server has just changed the
323 certificate, but it might also mean that the network connection has
324 been hijacked.
325
326 @item previously encrypted connection now unencrypted
327 If the connection is unencrypted, but it was encrypted in previous
328 sessions, this might mean that there is a proxy between you and the
329 server that strips away @acronym{STARTTLS} announcements, leaving the
330 connection unencrypted. This is usually very suspicious.
331
332 @item talking to an unencrypted service when sending a password
333 When connecting to an @acronym{IMAP} or @acronym{POP3} server, these
334 should usually be encrypted, because it's common to send passwords
335 over these connections. Similarly, if you're sending email via
336 @acronym{SMTP} that requires a password, you usually want that
337 connection to be encrypted. If the connection isn't encrypted,
338 @acronym{NSM} will warn you.
339
340 @end table
341
342 If @code{network-security-level} is @code{high}, the following checks
343 will be made, in addition to the above:
344
345 @table @asis
346 @item a validated certificate changes the public key
347 Servers change their keys occasionally, and that is normally nothing
348 to be concerned about. However, if you are worried that your network
349 connections are being hijacked by agencies who have access to pliable
350 Certificate Authorities which issue new certificates for third-party
351 services, you may want to keep track of these changes.
352
353 @item Diffie-Hellman low prime bits
354 When doing the public key exchange, the number of prime bits
355 should be high to ensure that the channel can't be eavesdropped on by
356 third parties. If this number is too low, you will be warned.
357
358 @item @acronym{RC4} stream cipher
359 The @acronym{RC4} stream cipher is believed to be of low quality and
360 may allow eavesdropping by third parties.
361
362 @item @acronym{SSL1}, @acronym{SSL2} and @acronym{SSL3}
363 The protocols older than @acronym{TLS1.0} are believed to be
364 vulnerable to a variety of attacks, and you may want to avoid using
365 these if what you're doing requires higher security.
366 @end table
367
368 Finally, if @code{network-security-level} is @code{paranoid}, you will
369 also be notified the first time @acronym{NSM} sees any new
370 certificate. This will allow you to inspect all the certificates from
371 all the connections that Emacs makes.
372
373 The following additional variables can be used to control details of
374 @acronym{NSM} operation:
375
376 @table @code
377 @item nsm-settings-file
378 @vindex nsm-settings-file
379 This is the file where @acronym{NSM} stores details about connections.
380 It defaults to @file{~/.emacs.d/network-security.data}.
381
382 @item nsm-save-host-names
383 @vindex nsm-save-host-names
384 By default, host names will not be saved for non-@code{STARTTLS}
385 connections. Instead a host/port hash is used to identify connections.
386 This means that one can't casually read the settings file to see what
387 servers the user has connected to. If this variable is @code{t},
388 @acronym{NSM} will also save host names in the nsm-settings-file.
389 @end table
390
391
392 @node Document View
393 @section Document Viewing
394 @cindex DVI file
395 @cindex PDF file
396 @cindex PS file
397 @cindex PostScript file
398 @cindex OpenDocument file
399 @cindex Microsoft Office file
400 @cindex DocView mode
401 @cindex mode, DocView
402 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
403 @findex doc-view-mode
404
405 DocView mode is a major mode for viewing DVI, PostScript (PS), PDF,
406 OpenDocument, and Microsoft Office documents. It provides features
407 such as slicing, zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by
408 converting the document to a set of images using the @command{gs}
409 (GhostScript) or @command{mudraw}/@command{pdfdraw} (MuPDF) commands
410 and other external tools @footnote{For PostScript files, GhostScript
411 is a hard requirement. For DVI files, @code{dvipdf} or @code{dvipdfm}
412 is needed. For OpenDocument and Microsoft Office documents, the
413 @code{unoconv} tool is needed.}, and displaying those images.
414
415 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
416 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
417 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
418 When you visit a document file that can be displayed with DocView
419 mode, Emacs automatically uses DocView mode @footnote{The needed
420 external tools for the document type must be available, and Emacs must
421 be running in a graphical frame and have PNG image support. If any of
422 these requirements is not fulfilled, Emacs falls back to another major
423 mode.}. As an exception, when you visit a PostScript file, Emacs
424 switches to PS mode, a major mode for editing PostScript files as
425 text; however, it also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type
426 @kbd{C-c C-c} to view the document with DocView. In either DocView
427 mode or DocView minor mode, repeating @kbd{C-c C-c}
428 (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView and the
429 underlying file contents.
430
431 @findex doc-view-open-text
432 When you visit a file which would normally be handled by DocView
433 mode but some requirement is not met (e.g., you operate in a terminal
434 frame or emacs has no PNG support), you are queried if you want to
435 view the document's contents as plain text. If you confirm, the
436 buffer is put in text mode and DocView minor mode is activated. Thus,
437 by typing @kbd{C-c C-c} you switch to the fallback mode. With another
438 @kbd{C-c C-c} you return to DocView mode. The plain text contents can
439 also be displayed from within DocView mode by typing @kbd{C-c C-t}
440 (@code{doc-view-open-text}).
441
442 You can explicitly enable DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
443 doc-view-mode}. You can toggle DocView minor mode with @code{M-x
444 doc-view-minor-mode}.
445
446 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
447 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
448 that has been formatted.
449
450 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
451 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
452 (@code{quit-window}).
453
454 @menu
455 * Navigation: DocView Navigation. Navigating DocView buffers.
456 * Searching: DocView Searching. Searching inside documents.
457 * Slicing: DocView Slicing. Specifying which part of a page is displayed.
458 * Conversion: DocView Conversion. Influencing and triggering conversion.
459 @end menu
460
461 @node DocView Navigation
462 @subsection DocView Navigation
463
464 In DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
465 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
466 the arrow keys.
467
468 @vindex doc-view-continuous
469 By default, the line-motion keys @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} stop
470 scrolling at the beginning and end of the current page, respectively.
471 However, if you change the variable @code{doc-view-continuous} to a
472 non-@code{nil} value, then @kbd{C-p} displays the previous page if you
473 are already at the beginning of the current page, and @kbd{C-n}
474 displays the next page if you are at the end of the current page.
475
476 @findex doc-view-next-page
477 @findex doc-view-previous-page
478 @kindex n @r{(DocView mode)}
479 @kindex p @r{(DocView mode)}
480 @kindex C-x ] @r{(DocView mode)}
481 @kindex C-x [ @r{(DocView mode)}
482 You can also display the next page by typing @kbd{n}, @key{next} or
483 @kbd{C-x ]} (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous
484 page, type @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [}
485 (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
486
487 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
488 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
489 @kindex SPC @r{(DocView mode)}
490 @kindex DEL @r{(DocView mode)}
491 @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) is a convenient
492 way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the current
493 page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a similar
494 way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
495
496 @findex doc-view-first-page
497 @findex doc-view-last-page
498 @findex doc-view-goto-page
499 @kindex M-< @r{(DocView mode)}
500 @kindex M-> @r{(DocView mode)}
501 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
502 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
503 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
504 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
505
506 @findex doc-view-enlarge
507 @findex doc-view-shrink
508 @vindex doc-view-resolution
509 @kindex + @r{(DocView mode)}
510 @kindex - @r{(DocView mode)}
511 You can enlarge or shrink the document with @kbd{+}
512 (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-} (@code{doc-view-shrink}). These
513 commands work by reconverting the document at the new size. To
514 specify the default size for DocView, customize the variable
515 @code{doc-view-resolution}.
516
517 @node DocView Searching
518 @subsection DocView Searching
519
520 In DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
521 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
522 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
523
524 @findex doc-view-search
525 @findex doc-view-search-backward
526 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
527 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
528 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
529 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
530 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
531 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
532 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
533 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
534 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
535 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
536
537 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
538 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
539 for a backward search.
540
541 @node DocView Slicing
542 @subsection DocView Slicing
543
544 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
545 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
546 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
547
548 @findex doc-view-set-slice
549 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
550 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
551 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
552 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
553 look at.
554
555 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
556 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
557 and the slice's width and height.
558 @c ??? how does this work?
559
560 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
561 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
562 select the slice. Simply press and hold the left mouse button at the
563 upper-left corner of the region you want to have in the slice, then
564 move the mouse pointer to the lower-right corner and release the
565 button.
566
567 The most convenient way is to set the optimal slice by using
568 BoundingBox information automatically determined from the document by
569 typing @kbd{s b} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-from-bounding-box}).
570
571 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
572 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
573 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
574 including its entire margins.
575
576 @node DocView Conversion
577 @subsection DocView Conversion
578
579 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
580 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
581 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
582 The name of this directory is given by the variable
583 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
584 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
585
586 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
587 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
588 To force reconversion of the currently viewed document, type @kbd{r}
589 or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter process
590 associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
591 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
592 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
593 the DocView buffer.
594
595 @node EWW
596 @section Web Browsing with EWW
597
598 @findex eww
599 @findex eww-open-file
600 @dfn{EWW}, the Emacs Web Wowser, is a web browser package for Emacs.
601 It allows browsing URLs within an Emacs buffer. The command @kbd{M-x
602 eww} will open a URL or search the web. You can open a file
603 using the command @kbd{M-x eww-open-file}. You can use EWW as the
604 web browser for @code{browse-url}, @pxref{Browse-URL}. For full
605 details, @pxref{Top, EWW,, eww, The Emacs Web Wowser Manual}.
606
607 @node Shell
608 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
609 @cindex subshell
610 @cindex shell commands
611
612 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to shell
613 subprocesses, and for running a shell interactively with input and
614 output to an Emacs buffer, and for running a shell in a terminal
615 emulator window.
616
617 @table @kbd
618 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
619 Run the shell command @var{cmd} and display the output
620 (@code{shell-command}).
621 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
622 Run the shell command @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
623 optionally replace the region with the output
624 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
625 @item M-& @var{cmd} @key{RET}
626 Run the shell command @var{cmd} asynchronously, and display the output
627 (@code{async-shell-command}).
628 @item M-x shell
629 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
630 then give commands interactively.
631 @item M-x term
632 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
633 then give commands interactively. Full terminal emulation is
634 available.
635 @end table
636
637 @vindex exec-path
638 Whenever you specify a relative file name for an executable program
639 (either in the @var{cmd} argument to one of the above commands, or in
640 other contexts), Emacs searches for the program in the directories
641 specified by the variable @code{exec-path}. The value of this
642 variable must be a list of directory names; the default value is
643 initialized from the environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is
644 started (@pxref{General Variables}).
645
646 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
647 is documented in its own manual.
648 @ifnottex
649 @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
650 @end ifnottex
651 @iftex
652 See the Eshell Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
653 @end iftex
654
655 @menu
656 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
657 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
658 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
659 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
660 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
661 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
662 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
663 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
664 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
665 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
666 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
667 @end menu
668
669 @node Single Shell
670 @subsection Single Shell Commands
671
672 @kindex M-!
673 @findex shell-command
674 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
675 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command, in a subshell made just
676 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
677 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
678 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
679 @file{*Shell Command Output*}, displayed in another window (if the
680 output is long).
681
682 For instance, one way to decompress a file named @file{foo.gz} is to
683 type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command normally
684 creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
685
686 A numeric argument to @code{shell-command}, e.g., @kbd{M-1 M-!},
687 causes it to insert terminal output into the current buffer instead of
688 a separate buffer. It puts point before the output, and sets the mark
689 after the output. For instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz
690 @key{RET}} would insert the uncompressed form of the file
691 @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
692
693 Provided the specified shell command does not end with @samp{&}, it
694 runs @dfn{synchronously}, and you must wait for it to exit before
695 continuing to use Emacs. To stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit;
696 this sends a @code{SIGINT} signal to terminate the shell command (this
697 is the same signal that @kbd{C-c} normally generates in the shell).
698 Emacs then waits until the command actually terminates. If the shell
699 command doesn't stop (because it ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal),
700 type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal,
701 which is impossible to ignore.
702
703 @kindex M-&
704 @findex async-shell-command
705 A shell command that ends in @samp{&} is executed
706 @dfn{asynchronously}, and you can continue to use Emacs as it runs.
707 You can also type @kbd{M-&} (@code{async-shell-command}) to execute a
708 shell command asynchronously; this is exactly like calling @kbd{M-!}
709 with a trailing @samp{&}, except that you do not need the @samp{&}.
710 The default output buffer for asynchronous shell commands is named
711 @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Emacs inserts the output into this
712 buffer as it comes in, whether or not the buffer is visible in a
713 window.
714
715 @vindex async-shell-command-buffer
716 If you want to run more than one asynchronous shell command at the
717 same time, they could end up competing for the output buffer. The
718 option @code{async-shell-command-buffer} specifies what to do about
719 this; e.g., whether to rename the pre-existing output buffer, or to
720 use a different buffer for the new command. Consult the variable's
721 documentation for more possibilities.
722
723 @kindex M-|
724 @findex shell-command-on-region
725 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!}, but
726 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
727 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, it deletes the
728 old region and replaces it with the output from the shell command.
729
730 For example, you can use @kbd{M-|} with the @command{gpg} program to
731 see what keys are in the buffer. If the buffer contains a GnuPG key,
732 type @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents
733 to @command{gpg}. This will output the list of keys to the
734 @file{*Shell Command Output*} buffer.
735
736 @vindex shell-file-name
737 The above commands use the shell specified by the variable
738 @code{shell-file-name}. Its default value is determined by the
739 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
740 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories listed in
741 @code{exec-path} (@pxref{Shell}).
742
743 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
744 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
745
746 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
747 By default, error output is intermixed with the regular output in
748 the output buffer. But if you change the value of the variable
749 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} to a string, error output is
750 inserted into a buffer of that name.
751
752 @node Interactive Shell
753 @subsection Interactive Subshell
754
755 @findex shell
756 To run a subshell interactively, type @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
757 (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*shell*}, and runs a shell subprocess
758 with input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to
759 say, any terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer,
760 advancing point, and any terminal input for the subshell comes from
761 text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end of
762 the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
763
764 By default, when the subshell is invoked interactively, the
765 @file{*shell*} buffer is displayed in a new window. This behavior can
766 be customized via @code{display-buffer-alist} (@pxref{Window Choice}).
767
768 While the subshell is waiting or running a command, you can switch
769 windows or buffers and perform other editing in Emacs. Emacs inserts
770 the output from the subshell into the Shell buffer whenever it has
771 time to process it (e.g., while waiting for keyboard input).
772
773 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
774 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
775 In the Shell buffer, prompts are displayed with the face
776 @code{comint-highlight-prompt}, and submitted input lines are
777 displayed with the face @code{comint-highlight-input}. This makes it
778 easier to distinguish input lines from the shell output.
779 @xref{Faces}.
780
781 To make multiple subshells, invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a prefix
782 argument (e.g., @kbd{C-u M-x shell}). Then the command will read a
783 buffer name, and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can
784 also rename the @file{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely},
785 then create a new @file{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
786 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
787
788 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
789 @cindex environment variables for subshells
790 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
791 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
792 To specify the shell file name used by @kbd{M-x shell}, customize
793 the variable @code{explicit-shell-file-name}. If this is @code{nil}
794 (the default), Emacs uses the environment variable @env{ESHELL} if it
795 exists. Otherwise, it usually uses the variable
796 @code{shell-file-name} (@pxref{Single Shell}); but if the default
797 directory is remote (@pxref{Remote Files}), it prompts you for the
798 shell file name.
799
800 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
801 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
802 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
803 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
804 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries with
805 @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
806
807 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
808 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
809 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
810 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
811 Coding}.
812
813 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
814 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
815 subshell to @samp{@var{version},comint}, where @var{version} is the
816 Emacs version (e.g., @samp{24.1}). Programs can check this variable
817 to determine whether they are running inside an Emacs subshell.
818
819 @node Shell Mode
820 @subsection Shell Mode
821 @cindex Shell mode
822 @cindex mode, Shell
823
824 The major mode for Shell buffers is Shell mode. Many of its special
825 commands are bound to the @kbd{C-c} prefix, and resemble the usual
826 editing and job control characters present in ordinary shells, except
827 that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a list of Shell mode
828 commands:
829
830 @table @kbd
831 @item @key{RET}
832 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
833 @findex comint-send-input
834 Send the current line as input to the subshell
835 (@code{comint-send-input}). Any shell prompt at the beginning of the
836 line is omitted (@pxref{Shell Prompts}). If point is at the end of
837 buffer, this is like submitting the command line in an ordinary
838 interactive shell. However, you can also invoke @key{RET} elsewhere
839 in the shell buffer to submit the current line as input.
840
841 @item @key{TAB}
842 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
843 @findex completion-at-point
844 @cindex shell completion
845 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell
846 buffer (@code{completion-at-point}). This uses the usual Emacs
847 completion rules (@pxref{Completion}), with the completion
848 alternatives being file names, environment variable names, the shell
849 command history, and history references (@pxref{History References}).
850 For options controlling the completion, @pxref{Shell Options}.
851
852 @item M-?
853 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
854 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
855 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file
856 name before point (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
857
858 @item C-d
859 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
860 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
861 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
862 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
863 buffer, this sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
864 position in the buffer, this deletes a character as usual.
865
866 @item C-c C-a
867 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
868 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
869 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
870 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
871 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
872 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
873 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
874 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
875 previous line.)
876
877 @item C-c @key{SPC}
878 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
879 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
880 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
881 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
882 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
883
884 @item C-c C-u
885 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
886 @findex comint-kill-input
887 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
888 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
889 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
890
891 @item C-c C-w
892 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
893 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
894
895 @item C-c C-c
896 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
897 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
898 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
899 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
900 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
901
902 @item C-c C-z
903 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
904 @findex comint-stop-subjob
905 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
906 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
907 not yet sent.
908
909 @item C-c C-\
910 @findex comint-quit-subjob
911 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
912 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
913 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
914 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
915
916 @item C-c C-o
917 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
918 @findex comint-delete-output
919 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
920 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
921 out lots of output that just gets in the way.
922
923 @item C-c C-s
924 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
925 @findex comint-write-output
926 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
927 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
928 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
929 written.
930
931 @item C-c C-r
932 @itemx C-M-l
933 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
934 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
935 @findex comint-show-output
936 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
937 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
938
939 @item C-c C-e
940 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
941 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
942 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
943 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
944
945 @item C-c C-f
946 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
947 @findex shell-forward-command
948 @vindex shell-command-regexp
949 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
950 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
951 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
952
953 @item C-c C-b
954 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
955 @findex shell-backward-command
956 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
957 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
958
959 @item M-x dirs
960 Ask the shell for its working directory, and update the Shell buffer's
961 default directory. @xref{Directory Tracking}.
962
963 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
964 @findex send-invisible
965 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
966 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
967 for a password.
968
969 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
970 really want them to be echoed, evaluate (@pxref{Lisp Eval}) the
971 following Lisp expression:
972
973 @example
974 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
975 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
976 @end example
977
978 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
979 @findex comint-continue-subjob
980 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
981 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
982 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
983 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
984 this command won't do it.}
985
986 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
987 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
988 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
989 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
990 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
991 evaluate this Lisp expression:
992
993 @example
994 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
995 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
996 @end example
997
998 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
999 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
1000 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
1001 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
1002 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
1003 subshell:
1004
1005 @example
1006 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
1007 'comint-truncate-buffer)
1008 @end example
1009 @end table
1010
1011 @cindex Comint mode
1012 @cindex mode, Comint
1013 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
1014 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
1015 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
1016 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
1017 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
1018
1019 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
1020 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
1021
1022 @findex comint-run
1023 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
1024 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
1025 specializations of Shell mode.
1026
1027 @node Shell Prompts
1028 @subsection Shell Prompts
1029
1030 @cindex prompt, shell
1031 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
1032 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
1033 automatically figures out part of the buffer is a prompt, based on the
1034 output of the subprocess. (Specifically, it assumes that any received
1035 output line which doesn't end with a newline is a prompt.)
1036
1037 Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of @dfn{fields}: input
1038 fields (where user input is typed) and output fields (everywhere
1039 else). Prompts are part of the output fields. Most Emacs motion
1040 commands do not cross field boundaries, unless they move over multiple
1041 lines. For instance, when point is in the input field on a shell
1042 command line, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the beginning of the input
1043 field, after the prompt. Internally, the fields are implemented using
1044 the @code{field} text property (@pxref{Text Properties,,, elisp, the
1045 Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1046
1047 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
1048 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
1049 If you change the variable @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} to a
1050 non-@code{nil} value, then Comint mode recognize prompts using a
1051 regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). In Shell mode, the regular
1052 expression is specified by the variable @code{shell-prompt-pattern}.
1053 The default value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil},
1054 because this method for recognizing prompts is unreliable, but you may
1055 want to set it to a non-@code{nil} value in unusual circumstances. In
1056 that case, Emacs does not divide the Comint buffer into fields, so the
1057 general motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers without
1058 special text properties. However, you can use the paragraph motion
1059 commands to conveniently navigate the buffer (@pxref{Paragraphs}); in
1060 Shell mode, Emacs uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern} as paragraph
1061 boundaries.
1062
1063 @node Shell History
1064 @subsection Shell Command History
1065
1066 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
1067 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
1068 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
1069 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
1070 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
1071 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
1072 @samp{!}-style history reference.
1073
1074 @menu
1075 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
1076 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
1077 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
1078 @end menu
1079
1080 @node Shell Ring
1081 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
1082
1083 @table @kbd
1084 @findex comint-previous-input
1085 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1086 @item M-p
1087 @itemx C-@key{UP}
1088 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
1089
1090 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1091 @findex comint-next-input
1092 @item M-n
1093 @itemx C-@key{DOWN}
1094 Fetch the next later old shell command.
1095
1096 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
1097 @findex comint-history-isearch-backward-regexp
1098 @item M-r
1099 Begin an incremental regexp search of old shell commands.
1100
1101 @item C-c C-x
1102 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
1103 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
1104 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
1105
1106 @item C-c .
1107 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
1108 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
1109 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
1110
1111 @item C-c C-l
1112 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
1113 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
1114 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
1115 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
1116 @end table
1117
1118 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell
1119 commands. To reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing
1120 commands @kbd{M-p}, @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work
1121 just like the minibuffer history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer
1122 History}), except that they operate within the Shell buffer rather
1123 than the minibuffer.
1124
1125 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
1126 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
1127 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
1128 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
1129 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
1130 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
1131 @kbd{M-n}.
1132
1133 The history search command @kbd{M-r} begins an incremental regular
1134 expression search of previous shell commands. After typing @kbd{M-r},
1135 start typing the desired string or regular expression; the last
1136 matching shell command will be displayed in the current line.
1137 Incremental search commands have their usual effects---for instance,
1138 @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r} search forward and backward for the next match
1139 (@pxref{Incremental Search}). When you find the desired input, type
1140 @key{RET} to terminate the search. This puts the input in the command
1141 line. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1142 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1143 history ring.
1144
1145 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1146 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1147 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1148 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1149 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1150 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1151 @key{RET}} over and over.
1152
1153 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1154 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like
1155 @kbd{@key{ESC} .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1156 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1157 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1158 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1159 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1160 command).
1161
1162 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1163 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1164 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1165 that these commands access.
1166
1167 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1168 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1169 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1170 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1171 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1172 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1173
1174 @node Shell History Copying
1175 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1176
1177 @table @kbd
1178 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1179 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1180 @item C-c C-p
1181 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1182
1183 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1184 @findex comint-next-prompt
1185 @item C-c C-n
1186 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1187
1188 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1189 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1190 @item C-c @key{RET}
1191 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1192 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1193 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1194 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1195 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1196 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1197
1198 @item Mouse-2
1199 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1200 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1201 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1202 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1203 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1204 @end table
1205
1206 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1207 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1208 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1209 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1210 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1211 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1212 buffer after it has been sent.
1213
1214 @node History References
1215 @subsubsection Shell History References
1216 @cindex history reference
1217
1218 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1219 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1220 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1221 for you.
1222
1223 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1224 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1225 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1226 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1227 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1228 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1229 typing @key{RET}.
1230
1231 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1232 @findex comint-magic-space
1233 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1234 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1235 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1236 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1237 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1238
1239 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1240 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1241
1242 @node Directory Tracking
1243 @subsection Directory Tracking
1244 @cindex directory tracking
1245
1246 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1247 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1248 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1249 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1250 commands given to the subshell, in order to keep the Shell buffer's
1251 default directory (@pxref{File Names}) the same as the shell's working
1252 directory. It recognizes these commands by examining lines of input
1253 that you send.
1254
1255 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1256 recognize them also, by setting the variables
1257 @code{shell-pushd-regexp}, @code{shell-popd-regexp}, and
1258 @code{shell-cd-regexp} to the appropriate regular expressions
1259 (@pxref{Regexps}). For example, if @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches
1260 the beginning of a shell command line, that line is regarded as a
1261 @code{pushd} command. These commands are recognized only at the
1262 beginning of a shell command line.
1263
1264 @findex dirs
1265 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the working directory of the
1266 subshell, type @kbd{M-x dirs}. This command asks the shell for its
1267 working directory and updates the default directory accordingly. It
1268 works for shells that support the most common command syntax, but may
1269 not work for unusual shells.
1270
1271 @findex dirtrack-mode
1272 @cindex Dirtrack mode
1273 @cindex mode, Dirtrack
1274 @vindex dirtrack-list
1275 You can also use Dirtrack mode, a buffer-local minor mode that
1276 implements an alternative method of tracking the shell's working
1277 directory. To use this method, your shell prompt must contain the
1278 working directory at all times, and you must supply a regular
1279 expression for recognizing which part of the prompt contains the
1280 working directory; see the documentation of the variable
1281 @code{dirtrack-list} for details. To use Dirtrack mode, type @kbd{M-x
1282 dirtrack-mode} in the Shell buffer, or add @code{dirtrack-mode} to
1283 @code{shell-mode-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1284
1285 @node Shell Options
1286 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1287
1288 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1289 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1290 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1291 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1292
1293 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1294 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1295 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1296 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1297 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1298 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1299
1300 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1301 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1302 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1303 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1304 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1305 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1306 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1307 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1308 point does not jump to the end.
1309
1310 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1311 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1312 buffer are read-only.
1313
1314 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1315 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1316 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1317 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1318 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1319 equal to the previous input.
1320
1321 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1322 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1323 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1324 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1325 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1326 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1327 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1328 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1329 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1330 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1331 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1332 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1333
1334 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1335 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1336 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1337 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1338
1339 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
1340 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
1341 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
1342 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
1343 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
1344 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
1345 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
1346 instead.
1347
1348 @findex shell-dynamic-complete-command
1349 Some implementation details of the shell command completion may also be found
1350 in the lisp documentation of the @code{shell-dynamic-complete-command}
1351 function.
1352
1353 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1354 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1355 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1356 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1357 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1358 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1359 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1360 directory stack if they are not already on it
1361 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1362 underlying shell, of course.
1363
1364 @node Terminal emulator
1365 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1366 @findex term
1367
1368 To run a subshell in a text terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}.
1369 This creates (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*terminal*}, and runs a
1370 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1371 that buffer.
1372
1373 @cindex line mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1374 @cindex char mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1375 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1376 @dfn{line mode}, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell
1377 Mode}). In @dfn{char mode}, each character is sent directly to the
1378 subshell, as terminal input; the sole exception is the terminal escape
1379 character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}). Any
1380 echoing of your input is the responsibility of the subshell; any
1381 terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer, advancing
1382 point.
1383
1384 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1385 of the terminal screen in detail. They do this by emitting special
1386 control codes. Term mode recognizes and handles ANSI-standard
1387 VT100-style escape sequences, which are accepted by most modern
1388 terminals, including @command{xterm}. (Hence, you can actually run
1389 Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.)
1390
1391 The @code{term} face specifies the default appearance of text
1392 in the terminal emulator (the default is the same appearance as the
1393 @code{default} face). When terminal control codes are used to change
1394 the appearance of text, these are represented in the terminal emulator
1395 by the faces @code{term-color-black}, @code{term-color-red},
1396 @code{term-color-green}, @code{term-color-yellow}
1397 @code{term-color-blue}, @code{term-color-magenta},
1398 @code{term-color-cyan}, @code{term-color-white},
1399 @code{term-color-underline}, and @code{term-color-bold}.
1400 @xref{Faces}.
1401
1402 You can also Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1403 serial port. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1404
1405 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1406 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1407 buffer @file{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1408 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1409
1410 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1411 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1412 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1413 and later.
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418 @node Term Mode
1419 @subsection Term Mode
1420 @cindex Term mode
1421 @cindex mode, Term
1422
1423 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1424 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}).
1425 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the subshell, except
1426 for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1427
1428 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1429
1430 @table @kbd
1431 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1432 @findex term-line-mode
1433 @item C-c C-j
1434 Switch to line mode (@code{term-line-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1435 line mode.
1436
1437 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1438 @findex term-char-mode
1439 @item C-c C-k
1440 Switch to char mode (@code{term-char-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1441 char mode.
1442 @end table
1443
1444 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1445
1446 @table @kbd
1447 @item C-c C-c
1448 Send a literal @kbd{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1449
1450 @item C-c @var{char}
1451 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1452 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1453 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1454 @end table
1455
1456 @cindex paging in Term mode
1457 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled, it makes
1458 output pause at the end of each screenful:
1459
1460 @table @kbd
1461 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1462 @findex term-pager-toggle
1463 @item C-c C-q
1464 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1465 and char modes. When the feature is enabled, the mode-line displays
1466 the word @samp{page}, and each time Term receives more than a
1467 screenful of output, it pauses and displays @samp{**MORE**} in the
1468 mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next screenful of output, or
1469 @kbd{?} to see your other options. The interface is similar to the
1470 @code{more} program.
1471 @end table
1472
1473 @node Remote Host
1474 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1475 @cindex remote host
1476 @cindex connecting to remote host
1477 @cindex Telnet
1478 @cindex Rlogin
1479
1480 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1481 would from a regular terminal (e.g., using the @code{telnet} or
1482 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1483
1484 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1485 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1486 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1487 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1488 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1489 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1490
1491 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1492 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1493 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1494 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1495 login command, without a separating comma.) Terminal types
1496 @samp{ansi} or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1497
1498 @node Serial Terminal
1499 @subsection Serial Terminal
1500 @cindex terminal, serial
1501 @findex serial-term
1502
1503 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1504 you can communicate with it by typing @kbd{M-x serial-term}. This
1505 command asks for a serial port name and speed, and switches to a new
1506 Term mode buffer. Emacs communicates with the serial device through
1507 this buffer just like it does with a terminal in ordinary Term mode.
1508
1509 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1510 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1511 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1512
1513 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on @samp{8N1} in
1514 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as @samp{8N1},
1515 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1516 bit, and 1 stopbit.
1517
1518 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1519 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1520 window.
1521
1522 @node Emacs Server
1523 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1524 @pindex emacsclient
1525 @cindex Emacs as a server
1526 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1527 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1528
1529 Various programs can invoke your choice of editor to edit a
1530 particular piece of text. For instance, version control programs
1531 invoke an editor to enter version control logs (@pxref{Version
1532 Control}), and the Unix @command{mail} utility invokes an editor to
1533 enter a message to send. By convention, your choice of editor is
1534 specified by the environment variable @env{EDITOR}. If you set
1535 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, Emacs would be invoked, but in an
1536 inconvenient way---by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1537 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1538 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1539 process.
1540
1541 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1542 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1543 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1544
1545 @itemize
1546 @findex server-start
1547 @item
1548 Run the command @code{server-start} in an existing Emacs process:
1549 either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the expression
1550 @code{(server-start)} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}). The
1551 existing Emacs process is the server; when you exit Emacs, the server
1552 dies with the Emacs process.
1553
1554 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1555 @item
1556 Run Emacs as a @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line
1557 option. @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it
1558 calls @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to
1559 the calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then
1560 waits in the background, listening for edit requests.
1561 @end itemize
1562
1563 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1564 Either way, once an Emacs server is started, you can use a shell
1565 command called @command{emacsclient} to connect to the Emacs process
1566 and tell it to visit a file. You can then set the @env{EDITOR}
1567 environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}, so that external programs
1568 will use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some
1569 programs use a different environment variable; for example, to make
1570 @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment
1571 variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1572
1573 @vindex server-name
1574 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1575 each one a unique @dfn{server name}, using the variable
1576 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1577 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1578 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1579 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1580
1581 @findex server-eval-at
1582 If you have defined a server by a unique server name, it is possible
1583 to connect to the server from another Emacs instance and evaluate Lisp
1584 expressions on the server, using the @code{server-eval-at} function.
1585 For instance, @code{(server-eval-at "foo" '(+ 1 2))} evaluates the
1586 expression @code{(+ 1 2)} on the @samp{foo} server, and returns
1587 @code{3}. (If there is no server with that name, an error is
1588 signaled.) Currently, this feature is mainly useful for developers.
1589
1590 @menu
1591 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1592 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1593 @end menu
1594
1595 @node Invoking emacsclient
1596 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1597 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1598
1599 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1600 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1601 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1602 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1603 graphical frame, or one in a text terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1604 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1605
1606 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1607 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1608 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1609 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1610 called @command{emacsclient}.
1611
1612 You can also force @command{emacsclient} to open a new frame on a
1613 graphical display, or on a text terminal, using the @samp{-c} and
1614 @samp{-t} options. @xref{emacsclient Options}.
1615
1616 If you are running on a single text terminal, you can switch between
1617 @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server using one of two
1618 methods: (i) run the Emacs server and @command{emacsclient} on
1619 different virtual terminals, and switch to the Emacs server's virtual
1620 terminal after calling @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call
1621 @command{emacsclient} from within the Emacs server itself, using Shell
1622 mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell}) or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode});
1623 @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under Emacs, and you can
1624 still use Emacs to edit the file.
1625
1626 @kindex C-x #
1627 @findex server-edit
1628 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1629 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1630 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1631 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1632 editor---in this case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1633 something else.
1634
1635 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1636 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1637 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1638 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1639 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1640 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1641 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1642 buffer).
1643
1644 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1645 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1646 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1647 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1648 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1649 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1650 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1651 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1652 temporary files.
1653
1654 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1655 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1656 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1657 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1658 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1659
1660 @vindex server-window
1661 If you set the value of the variable @code{server-window} to a
1662 window or a frame, @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer
1663 in that window or in that frame.
1664
1665 @node emacsclient Options
1666 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1667 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1668
1669 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1670 program, such as:
1671
1672 @example
1673 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1674 @end example
1675
1676 @noindent
1677 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1678 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1679 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1680 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1681
1682 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1683 listed below:
1684
1685 @table @samp
1686 @item -a @var{command}
1687 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1688 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1689 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script.
1690
1691 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1692 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode (as @command{emacs
1693 --daemon}) and then tries connecting again.
1694
1695 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1696 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1697 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1698 precedence.
1699
1700 @cindex client frame
1701 @item -c
1702 @itemx --create-frame
1703 Create a new graphical @dfn{client frame}, instead of using an
1704 existing Emacs frame. See below for the special behavior of @kbd{C-x
1705 C-c} in a client frame. If Emacs cannot create a new graphical frame
1706 (e.g., if it cannot connect to the X server), it tries to create a
1707 text terminal client frame, as though you had supplied the @samp{-t}
1708 option instead.
1709
1710 On MS-Windows, a single Emacs session cannot display frames on both
1711 graphical and text terminals, nor on multiple text terminals. Thus,
1712 if the Emacs server is running on a text terminal, the @samp{-c}
1713 option, like the @samp{-t} option, creates a new frame in the server's
1714 current text terminal. @xref{Windows Startup}.
1715
1716 If you omit a filename argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option,
1717 the new frame displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer by default. You
1718 can customize this behavior with the variable @code{initial-buffer-choice}
1719 (@pxref{Entering Emacs}).
1720
1721 @item -F @var{alist}
1722 @itemx --frame-parameters=@var{alist}
1723 Set the parameters for a newly-created graphical frame
1724 (@pxref{Frame Parameters}).
1725
1726 @item -d @var{display}
1727 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1728 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1729 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1730
1731 @item -e
1732 @itemx --eval
1733 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1734 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1735 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1736 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1737
1738 @item -f @var{server-file}
1739 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1740 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1741 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1742
1743 An Emacs server usually uses a
1744 local socket to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1745 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1746 the server communicates with @command{emacsclient} via TCP.
1747
1748 @vindex server-auth-dir
1749 @cindex server file
1750 @vindex server-port
1751 When you start a TCP Emacs server, Emacs creates a @dfn{server file}
1752 containing the TCP information to be used by @command{emacsclient} to
1753 connect to the server. The variable @code{server-auth-dir} specifies
1754 the directory containing the server file; by default, this is
1755 @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. To tell @command{emacsclient} to connect
1756 to the server over TCP with a specific server file, use the @samp{-f}
1757 or @samp{--server-file} option, or set the @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE}
1758 environment variable.
1759
1760 @item -n
1761 @itemx --no-wait
1762 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1763 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1764 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1765 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1766
1767 @item --parent-id @var{id}
1768 Open an @command{emacsclient} frame as a client frame in the parent X
1769 window with id @var{id}, via the XEmbed protocol. Currently, this
1770 option is mainly useful for developers.
1771
1772 @item -q
1773 @itemx --quiet
1774 Do not let @command{emacsclient} display messages about waiting for
1775 Emacs or connecting to remote server sockets.
1776
1777 @item -s @var{server-name}
1778 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1779 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1780 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1781 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1782 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1783
1784 @item -t
1785 @itemx --tty
1786 @itemx -nw
1787 Create a new client frame on the current text terminal, instead of
1788 using an existing Emacs frame. This behaves just like the @samp{-c}
1789 option, described above, except that it creates a text terminal frame
1790 (@pxref{Non-Window Terminals}).
1791
1792 On MS-Windows, @samp{-t} behaves just like @samp{-c} if the Emacs
1793 server is using the graphical display, but if the Emacs server is
1794 running on a text terminal, it creates a new frame in the current text
1795 terminal.
1796 @end table
1797
1798 The new graphical or text terminal frames created by the @samp{-c}
1799 or @samp{-t} options are considered @dfn{client frames}. Any new
1800 frame that you create from a client frame is also considered a client
1801 frame. If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal})
1802 in a client frame, that command does not kill the Emacs session as it
1803 normally does (@pxref{Exiting}). Instead, Emacs deletes the client
1804 frame; furthermore, if the client frame has an @command{emacsclient}
1805 waiting to regain control (i.e., if you did not supply the @samp{-n}
1806 option), Emacs deletes all other frames of the same client, and marks
1807 the client's server buffers as finished, as though you had typed
1808 @kbd{C-x #} in all of them. If it so happens that there are no
1809 remaining frames after the client frame(s) are deleted, the Emacs
1810 session exits.
1811
1812 As an exception, when Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are
1813 considered client frames, and @kbd{C-x C-c} never kills Emacs. To
1814 kill a daemon session, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1815
1816 Note that the @samp{-t} and @samp{-n} options are contradictory:
1817 @samp{-t} says to take control of the current text terminal to create
1818 a new client frame, while @samp{-n} says not to take control of the
1819 text terminal. If you supply both options, Emacs visits the specified
1820 files(s) in an existing frame rather than a new client frame, negating
1821 the effect of @samp{-t}.
1822
1823 @node Printing
1824 @section Printing Hard Copies
1825 @cindex hardcopy
1826 @cindex printing
1827
1828 Emacs provides commands for printing hardcopies of either an entire
1829 buffer or part of one. You can invoke the printing commands directly,
1830 as detailed below, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar.
1831
1832 @findex htmlfontify-buffer
1833 Aside from the commands described in this section, you can also
1834 print hardcopies from Dired (@pxref{Operating on Files}) and the diary
1835 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}). You can also ``print'' an Emacs
1836 buffer to HTML with the command @kbd{M-x htmlfontify-buffer}, which
1837 converts the current buffer to a HTML file, replacing Emacs faces with
1838 CSS-based markup. Furthermore, Org mode allows you to print Org
1839 files to a variety of formats, such as PDF (@pxref{Org Mode}).
1840
1841 @table @kbd
1842 @item M-x print-buffer
1843 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the
1844 file name and page number.
1845 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1846 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1847 @item M-x print-region
1848 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1849 @item M-x lpr-region
1850 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1851 @end table
1852
1853 @findex print-buffer
1854 @findex print-region
1855 @findex lpr-buffer
1856 @findex lpr-region
1857 @vindex lpr-switches
1858 @vindex lpr-commands
1859 On most operating system, the above hardcopy commands submit files
1860 for printing by calling the @command{lpr} program. To change the
1861 printer program, customize the variable @code{lpr-command}. To
1862 specify extra switches to give the printer program, customize the list
1863 variable @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of option
1864 strings, each of which should start with @samp{-} (e.g., the option
1865 string @code{"-w80"} specifies a line width of 80 columns). The
1866 default is the empty list, @code{nil}.
1867
1868 @vindex printer-name
1869 @vindex lpr-printer-switch
1870 To specify the printer to use, set the variable @code{printer-name}.
1871 The default, @code{nil}, specifies the default printer. If you set it
1872 to a printer name (a string), that name is passed to @command{lpr}
1873 with the @samp{-P} switch; if you are not using @command{lpr}, you
1874 should specify the switch with @code{lpr-printer-switch}.
1875
1876 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1877 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1878 The variable @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the
1879 extra switches to use to make page headers. The variable
1880 @code{lpr-add-switches} controls whether to supply @samp{-T} and
1881 @samp{-J} options (suitable for @command{lpr}) to the printer program:
1882 @code{nil} means don't add them (this should be the value if your
1883 printer program is not compatible with @command{lpr}).
1884
1885 @menu
1886 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1887 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1888 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1889 @end menu
1890
1891 @node PostScript
1892 @subsection PostScript Hardcopy
1893
1894 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1895 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1896
1897 @table @kbd
1898 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1899 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1900 @item M-x ps-print-region
1901 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1902 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1903 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1904 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1905 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1906 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1907 faces used in the text.
1908 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1909 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1910 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1911 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1912 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1913 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1914 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1915 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1916 @item M-x ps-despool
1917 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1918 @item M-x handwrite
1919 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1920 @end table
1921
1922 @findex ps-print-region
1923 @findex ps-print-buffer
1924 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1925 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1926 The @code{ps-print-buffer} and @code{ps-print-region} commands print
1927 buffer contents in PostScript form. One command prints the entire
1928 buffer; the other, just the region. The commands
1929 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and
1930 @code{ps-print-region-with-faces} behave similarly, but use PostScript
1931 features to show the faces (fonts and colors) of the buffer text.
1932
1933 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1934 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1935 instead of sending it to the printer.
1936
1937 @findex ps-spool-region
1938 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1939 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1940 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1941 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
1942 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1943 it to the printer.
1944
1945 @findex ps-despool
1946 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the
1947 printer. This command sends the PostScript generated by
1948 @samp{-spool-} commands (see commands above) to the printer. With a
1949 prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), it prompts for a file name, and saves the
1950 spooled PostScript image in that file instead of sending it to the
1951 printer.
1952
1953 @findex handwrite
1954 @cindex handwriting
1955 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1956 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1957 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1958 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1959
1960 @node PostScript Variables
1961 @subsection Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1962
1963 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1964 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1965 @vindex ps-printer-name
1966 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1967 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1968 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1969 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1970 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1971 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1972 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1973 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1974
1975 @vindex ps-print-header
1976 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1977 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1978 off.
1979
1980 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1981 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1982 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1983 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1984 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1985 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1986 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1987 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1988
1989 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
1990 print colors on black/white printers.
1991
1992 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1993 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1994 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1995 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1996 stripes and background image/text.
1997
1998 @vindex ps-paper-type
1999 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
2000 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
2001 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
2002 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
2003 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
2004 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
2005 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
2006 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
2007
2008 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
2009 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
2010 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
2011 portrait mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies landscape
2012 mode.
2013
2014 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
2015 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
2016 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
2017 default is 1.
2018
2019 @vindex ps-font-family
2020 @vindex ps-font-size
2021 @vindex ps-font-info-database
2022 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
2023 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
2024 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
2025 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
2026 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
2027
2028 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
2029 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
2030 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
2031 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
2032 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
2033 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
2034 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
2035 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
2036 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
2037 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2038 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
2039 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
2040 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
2041 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
2042 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
2043 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2044 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
2045
2046 @vindex bdf-directory-list
2047 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
2048 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
2049 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
2050 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
2051
2052 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
2053 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
2054
2055 @node Printing Package
2056 @subsection Printing Package
2057 @cindex Printing package
2058
2059 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
2060 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
2061 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
2062 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
2063 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
2064 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
2065 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
2066 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
2067 used.
2068
2069 @findex pr-interface
2070 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
2071 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
2072 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
2073 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
2074 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface @key{RET}}; this creates a
2075 @file{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
2076 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
2077 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
2078 @kbd{Mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @key{RET}). For
2079 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
2080 Help} button.
2081
2082 @node Sorting
2083 @section Sorting Text
2084 @cindex sorting
2085
2086 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
2087 operate on the contents of the region.
2088 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
2089 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
2090 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
2091 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
2092 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters @samp{A}
2093 through @samp{Z} come before lower-case @samp{a}, in accordance with the
2094 @acronym{ASCII} character sequence.
2095
2096 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
2097 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
2098 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
2099 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
2100 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
2101 record as the sort key.
2102
2103 @findex sort-lines
2104 @findex sort-paragraphs
2105 @findex sort-pages
2106 @findex sort-fields
2107 @findex sort-numeric-fields
2108 @vindex sort-numeric-base
2109 @table @kbd
2110 @item M-x sort-lines
2111 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
2112 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
2113
2114 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
2115 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
2116 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2117 argument means sort into descending order.
2118
2119 @item M-x sort-pages
2120 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2121 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2122 argument means sort into descending order.
2123
2124 @item M-x sort-fields
2125 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2126 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2127 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2128 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2129 2, etc.
2130
2131 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2132 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2133 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2134 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2135 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2136
2137 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2138 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2139 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2140 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2141 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2142 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2143 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2144
2145 @item M-x sort-columns
2146 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2147 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. With a
2148 prefix argument, sort in reverse order. See below for more details
2149 on this command.
2150
2151 @findex reverse-region
2152 @item M-x reverse-region
2153 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2154 sorting into descending order by fields, since those sort
2155 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2156 @end table
2157
2158 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2159
2160 @smallexample
2161 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2162 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2163 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2164 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2165 the buffer.
2166 @end smallexample
2167
2168 @noindent
2169 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2170
2171 @smallexample
2172 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2173 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2174 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2175 the buffer.
2176 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2177 @end smallexample
2178
2179 @noindent
2180 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2181 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2182
2183 @smallexample
2184 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2185 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2186 the buffer.
2187 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2188 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2189 @end smallexample
2190
2191 @noindent
2192 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2193 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2194
2195 @findex sort-columns
2196 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2197 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2198 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2199 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2200 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2201 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2202 as well as all the lines in between.
2203
2204 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2205 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2206 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2207 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2208 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2209
2210 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2211 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2212 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2213 @xref{Rectangles}.
2214
2215 @vindex sort-fold-case
2216 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2217 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2218
2219 @c Picture Mode documentation
2220 @ifnottex
2221 @include picture-xtra.texi
2222 @end ifnottex
2223
2224
2225 @node Editing Binary Files
2226 @section Editing Binary Files
2227
2228 @cindex Hexl mode
2229 @cindex mode, Hexl
2230 @cindex editing binary files
2231 @cindex hex editing
2232 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2233 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2234 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2235 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2236 automatically back to binary.
2237
2238 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2239 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2240 it is a binary file.
2241
2242 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2243 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2244 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2245 commands of Hexl mode:
2246
2247 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2248 @table @kbd
2249 @item C-M-d
2250 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2251
2252 @item C-M-o
2253 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2254
2255 @item C-M-x
2256 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2257
2258 @item C-x [
2259 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte page.
2260
2261 @item C-x ]
2262 Move to the end of a 1k-byte page.
2263
2264 @item M-g
2265 Move to an address specified in hex.
2266
2267 @item M-j
2268 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2269
2270 @item C-c C-c
2271 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2272 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2273 @end table
2274
2275 @noindent
2276 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2277 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2278 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2279
2280
2281 @node Saving Emacs Sessions
2282 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2283 @cindex saving sessions
2284 @cindex restore session
2285 @cindex remember editing session
2286 @cindex reload files
2287 @cindex desktop
2288
2289 @vindex desktop-restore-frames
2290 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2291 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2292 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2293 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop. By default,
2294 the desktop also tries to save the frame and window configuration.
2295 To disable this, set @code{desktop-restore-frames} to @code{nil}.
2296 (See that variable's documentation for some related options
2297 that you can customize to fine-tune this behavior.)
2298
2299 @findex desktop-save
2300 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2301 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2302 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2303 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2304 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2305 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2306 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2307
2308 @example
2309 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2310 @end example
2311
2312 @vindex desktop-auto-save-timeout
2313 @noindent
2314 When @code{desktop-save-mode} is active and the desktop file exists,
2315 Emacs auto-saves it every @code{desktop-auto-save-timeout}
2316 seconds, if that is non-@code{nil} and non-zero.
2317
2318 @findex desktop-change-dir
2319 @findex desktop-revert
2320 @vindex desktop-path
2321 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2322 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2323 (More precisely, it looks in the directories specified by
2324 @var{desktop-path}, and uses the first desktop it finds.)
2325 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2326 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2327 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2328 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2329 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2330
2331 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2332 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2333 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2334 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2335 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2336 usually turned on.
2337
2338 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2339 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2340 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2341 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2342 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2343 remaining buffers are restored lazily, when Emacs is idle.
2344
2345 @findex desktop-clear
2346 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2347 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2348 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2349 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2350 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2351 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2352 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2353 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2354
2355 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2356 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2357
2358 @node Recursive Edit
2359 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2360 @cindex recursive editing level
2361 @cindex editing level, recursive
2362
2363 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2364 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2365 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2366 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2367 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2368 the @code{query-replace}. @xref{Query Replace}.
2369
2370 @kindex C-M-c
2371 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2372 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2373 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2374 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2375 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2376
2377 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2378 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2379 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2380
2381 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2382 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2383 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2384 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2385 any particular window or buffer.
2386
2387 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2388 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2389 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2390 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2391 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2392 level currently in progress.
2393
2394 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2395 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2396 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2397 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2398 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2399 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2400 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2401
2402 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2403 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2404 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2405
2406 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2407 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2408 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2409 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2410 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2411 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2412 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2413 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2414 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2415 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2416
2417 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2418 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to go back in a
2419 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2420 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2421 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2422 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2423 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2424 the order you choose.
2425
2426 @ignore
2427 @c Apart from edt and viper, this is all obsolete.
2428 @c (Can't believe we were saying "most other editors" into 2014!)
2429 @c There seems no point having a node just for those, which both have
2430 @c their own manuals.
2431 @node Emulation
2432 @section Emulation
2433 @cindex emulating other editors
2434 @cindex other editors
2435 @cindex EDT
2436 @cindex vi
2437 @cindex WordStar
2438
2439 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2440 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2441
2442 @table @asis
2443 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2444 @findex crisp-mode
2445 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2446 @findex scroll-all-mode
2447 @cindex CRiSP mode
2448 @cindex Brief emulation
2449 @cindex emulation of Brief
2450 @cindex mode, CRiSP
2451 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode} enables key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief
2452 editor. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs unless you set
2453 the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can also use the
2454 command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2455 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2456 (scrolling all windows together).
2457
2458 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2459 @findex edt-emulation-on
2460 @findex edt-emulation-off
2461 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}; restore normal
2462 command bindings with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off}.
2463
2464 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2465 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2466 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2467 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2468
2469 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2470 @findex tpu-edt-on
2471 @cindex TPU
2472 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2473
2474 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2475 @findex viper-mode
2476 Viper is an emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2477 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2478 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2479 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2480 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2481 Viper, viper}.
2482
2483 @item vi (another emulator)
2484 @findex vi-mode
2485 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2486 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2487 input mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2488 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's input mode.
2489
2490 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2491 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2492
2493 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2494 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2495
2496 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2497 @findex vip-mode
2498 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2499 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. Input mode in this emulator
2500 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2501 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2502 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2503
2504 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2505 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2506 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2507 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2508 not use it.
2509
2510 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2511
2512 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2513 @findex wordstar-mode
2514 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2515 key bindings.
2516 @end table
2517 @end ignore
2518
2519
2520 @node Hyperlinking
2521 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2522
2523 The following subsections describe convenience features for handling
2524 URLs and other types of links occurring in Emacs buffer text.
2525
2526 @menu
2527 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2528 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2529 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2530 @end menu
2531
2532 @node Browse-URL
2533 @subsection Following URLs
2534 @cindex World Wide Web
2535 @cindex Web
2536 @findex browse-url
2537 @findex browse-url-at-point
2538 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2539 @cindex Browse-URL
2540 @cindex URLs
2541
2542 @table @kbd
2543 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2544 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2545 @end table
2546
2547 The Browse-URL package allows you to easily follow URLs from within
2548 Emacs. Most URLs are followed by invoking a web browser;
2549 @samp{mailto:} URLs are followed by invoking the @code{compose-mail}
2550 Emacs command to send mail to the specified address (@pxref{Sending
2551 Mail}).
2552
2553 The command @kbd{M-x browse-url} prompts for a URL, and follows it.
2554 If point is located near a plausible URL, that URL is offered as the
2555 default. The Browse-URL package also provides other commands which
2556 you might like to bind to keys, such as @code{browse-url-at-point} and
2557 @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2558
2559 @vindex browse-url-mailto-function
2560 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2561 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2562 @code{browse-url} Customize group. In particular, the option
2563 @code{browse-url-mailto-function} lets you define how to follow
2564 @samp{mailto:} URLs, while @code{browse-url-browser-function} lets you
2565 define how to follow other types of URLs. For more information, view
2566 the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P browse-url @key{RET}}.
2567
2568 @node Goto Address mode
2569 @subsection Activating URLs
2570 @findex goto-address-mode
2571 @cindex mode, Goto Address
2572 @cindex Goto Address mode
2573 @cindex URLs, activating
2574
2575 @table @kbd
2576 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2577 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2578 @end table
2579
2580 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Goto Address mode)}
2581 @findex goto-address-at-point
2582 You can make Emacs mark out URLs specially in the current buffer, by
2583 typing @kbd{M-x goto-address-mode}. When this buffer-local minor mode
2584 is enabled, it finds all the URLs in the buffer, highlights them, and
2585 turns them into clickable buttons. You can follow the URL by typing
2586 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} (@code{goto-address-at-point}) while point is on
2587 its text; or by clicking with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or by clicking
2588 @kbd{Mouse-1} quickly (@pxref{Mouse References}). Following a URL is
2589 done by calling @code{browse-url} as a subroutine
2590 (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2591
2592 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2593 hooks for displaying an incoming message
2594 (e.g., @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and
2595 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus,
2596 which has a similar feature of its own.
2597
2598 @node FFAP
2599 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2600 @findex find-file-at-point
2601 @findex ffap
2602 @findex dired-at-point
2603 @findex ffap-next
2604 @findex ffap-menu
2605 @cindex finding file at point
2606
2607 The FFAP package replaces certain key bindings for finding files,
2608 such as @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive
2609 defaults. These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a
2610 prefix argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL
2611 from the text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the
2612 form of a URL rather than a file name, the commands use
2613 @code{browse-url} to view it (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2614
2615 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2616 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. For
2617 more information, view the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P
2618 ffap @key{RET}}.
2619
2620 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2621 @findex ffap-mode
2622 To enable FFAP, type @kbd{M-x ffap-bindings}. This makes the
2623 following key bindings, and also installs hooks for additional FFAP
2624 functionality in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2625
2626 @table @kbd
2627 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2628 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2629 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2630 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2631 @item C-x C-r
2632 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2633 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2634 @item C-x C-v
2635 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2636 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2637 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2638 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2639 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2640 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2641 @item C-x C-d
2642 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2643 @item C-x 4 f
2644 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2645 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2646 @item C-x 4 r
2647 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2648 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2649 @item C-x 4 d
2650 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, like @code{dired-other-window}.
2651 @item C-x 5 f
2652 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2653 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2654 @item C-x 5 r
2655 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2656 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2657 @item C-x 5 d
2658 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2659 @item M-x ffap-next
2660 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2661 @item S-Mouse-3
2662 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2663 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2664 of a mouse click.
2665 @item C-S-Mouse-3
2666 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2667 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2668 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2669 @end table
2670
2671 @node Amusements
2672 @section Other Amusements
2673 @cindex boredom
2674
2675 @findex animate-birthday-present
2676 @cindex animate
2677 The @code{animate} package makes text dance (e.g., @kbd{M-x
2678 animate-birthday-present}).
2679
2680 @findex blackbox
2681 @findex mpuz
2682 @findex 5x5
2683 @cindex puzzles
2684 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2685 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2686 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2687 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2688 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2689 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2690
2691 @findex bubbles
2692 @kbd{M-x bubbles} is a game in which the object is to remove as many
2693 bubbles as you can in the smallest number of moves.
2694
2695 @findex decipher
2696 @cindex ciphers
2697 @cindex cryptanalysis
2698 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is
2699 encrypted in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2700
2701 @findex dissociated-press
2702 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} scrambles the text in the current Emacs
2703 buffer, word by word or character by character, writing its output to
2704 a buffer named @file{*Dissociation*}. A positive argument tells it to
2705 operate character by character, and specifies the number of overlap
2706 characters. A negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and
2707 specifies the number of overlap words. Dissociated Press produces
2708 results fairly like those of a Markov chain, but is however, an
2709 independent, ignoriginal invention; it techniquitously copies several
2710 consecutive characters from the sample text between random jumps,
2711 unlike a Markov chain which would jump randomly after each word or
2712 character. Keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want
2713 it to be well userenced and properbose.
2714
2715 @findex dunnet
2716 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs a text-based adventure game.
2717
2718 @findex gomoku
2719 @cindex Go Moku
2720 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2721 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2722
2723 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2724 @findex hanoi
2725 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2726 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2727 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2728
2729 @findex life
2730 @cindex Life
2731 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's Game of Life cellular automaton.
2732
2733 @findex landmark
2734 @cindex landmark game
2735 @kbd{M-x landmark} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which
2736 a robot attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the
2737 window based on unique olfactory cues from each of the four
2738 directions.
2739
2740 @findex morse-region
2741 @findex unmorse-region
2742 @findex nato-region
2743 @cindex Morse code
2744 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2745 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts the text in the region to Morse
2746 code; @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. @kbd{M-x
2747 nato-region} converts the text in the region to NATO phonetic
2748 alphabet; @kbd{M-x denato-region} converts it back.
2749
2750 @findex pong
2751 @cindex Pong game
2752 @findex tetris
2753 @cindex Tetris
2754 @findex snake
2755 @cindex Snake
2756 @kbd{M-x pong}, @kbd{M-x snake} and @kbd{M-x tetris} are
2757 implementations of the well-known Pong, Snake and Tetris games.
2758
2759 @findex solitaire
2760 @cindex solitaire
2761 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2762 across other pegs.
2763
2764 @findex zone
2765 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs
2766 is idle.
2767
2768 @findex doctor
2769 @cindex Eliza
2770 Finally, if you find yourself frustrated, try describing your
2771 problems to the famous psychotherapist Eliza. Just do @kbd{M-x
2772 doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2773
2774 @ifnottex
2775 @lowersections
2776 @end ifnottex