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1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @iftex
6 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
7
8 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
9 else: reading netnews, running shell commands and shell subprocesses,
10 using a single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor
11 as a subprocess, printing hardcopy, sorting text, narrowing display to
12 part of the buffer, editing double-column files and binary files,
13 saving an Emacs session for later resumption, following hyperlinks,
14 browsing images, emulating other editors, and various diversions and
15 amusements.
16
17 @end iftex
18
19 @ifnottex
20 @raisesections
21 @end ifnottex
22
23 @node Gnus, Shell, Calendar/Diary, Top
24 @section Gnus
25 @cindex Gnus
26 @cindex reading netnews
27
28 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
29 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from a
30 number of other sources---mail, remote directories, digests, and so on.
31
32 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{M-x info} and then select the Gnus
38 manual.
39 @end iftex
40
41 @findex gnus
42 To start Gnus, type @kbd{M-x gnus @key{RET}}.
43
44 @menu
45 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
46 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
47 * Summary of Gnus:: A short description of the basic Gnus commands.
48 @end menu
49
50 @node Buffers of Gnus
51 @subsection Gnus Buffers
52
53 Unlike most Emacs packages, Gnus uses several buffers to display
54 information and to receive commands. The three Gnus buffers users use
55 most are the @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the
56 @dfn{article buffer}.
57
58 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of newsgroups. This is the
59 first buffer Gnus displays when it starts up. It normally displays
60 only the groups to which you subscribe and that contain unread
61 articles. Use this buffer to select a specific group.
62
63 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists one line for each article in a single
64 group. By default, the author, the subject and the line number are
65 displayed for each article, but this is customizable, like most aspects
66 of Gnus display. The summary buffer is created when you select a group
67 in the group buffer, and is killed when you exit the group. Use this
68 buffer to select an article.
69
70 The @dfn{article buffer} displays the article. In normal Gnus usage,
71 you see this buffer but you don't select it---all useful
72 article-oriented commands work in the summary buffer. But you can
73 select the article buffer, and execute all Gnus commands from that
74 buffer, if you want to.
75
76 @node Gnus Startup
77 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
78
79 At startup, Gnus reads your @file{.newsrc} news initialization file
80 and attempts to communicate with the local news server, which is a
81 repository of news articles. The news server need not be the same
82 computer you are logged in on.
83
84 If you start Gnus and connect to the server, but do not see any
85 newsgroups listed in the group buffer, type @kbd{L} or @kbd{A k} to get
86 a listing of all the groups. Then type @kbd{u} to toggle
87 subscription to groups.
88
89 The first time you start Gnus, Gnus subscribes you to a few selected
90 groups. All other groups start out as @dfn{killed groups} for you; you
91 can list them with @kbd{A k}. All new groups that subsequently come to
92 exist at the news server become @dfn{zombie groups} for you; type @kbd{A
93 z} to list them. You can subscribe to a group shown in these lists
94 using the @kbd{u} command.
95
96 When you quit Gnus with @kbd{q}, it automatically records in your
97 @file{.newsrc} and @file{.newsrc.eld} initialization files the
98 subscribed or unsubscribed status of all groups. You should normally
99 not edit these files manually, but you may if you know how.
100
101 @node Summary of Gnus
102 @subsection Summary of Gnus Commands
103
104 Reading news is a two-step process:
105
106 @enumerate
107 @item
108 Choose a group in the group buffer.
109
110 @item
111 Select articles from the summary buffer. Each article selected is
112 displayed in the article buffer in a large window, below the summary
113 buffer in its small window.
114 @end enumerate
115
116 Each Gnus buffer has its own special commands; the meanings of any
117 given key in the various Gnus buffers are usually analogous, even if
118 not identical. Here are commands for the group and summary buffers:
119
120 @table @kbd
121 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
122 @findex gnus-group-exit
123 @item q
124 In the group buffer, update your @file{.newsrc} initialization file
125 and quit Gnus.
126
127 In the summary buffer, exit the current group and return to the
128 group buffer. Thus, typing @kbd{q} twice quits Gnus.
129
130 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
131 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
132 @item L
133 In the group buffer, list all the groups available on your news
134 server (except those you have killed). This may be a long list!
135
136 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
137 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
138 @item l
139 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
140 which contain unread articles.
141
142 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
143 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
144 @cindex subscribe groups
145 @cindex unsubscribe groups
146 @item u
147 In the group buffer, unsubscribe from (or subscribe to) the group listed
148 in the line that point is on. When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q},
149 Gnus lists in your @file{.newsrc} file which groups you have subscribed
150 to. The next time you start Gnus, you won't see this group,
151 because Gnus normally displays only subscribed-to groups.
152
153 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus)}
154 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
155 @item C-k
156 In the group buffer, ``kill'' the current line's group---don't
157 even list it in @file{.newsrc} from now on. This affects future
158 Gnus sessions as well as the present session.
159
160 When you quit Gnus by typing @kbd{q}, Gnus writes information
161 in the file @file{.newsrc} describing all newsgroups except those you
162 have ``killed.''
163
164 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus)}
165 @findex gnus-group-read-group
166 @item @key{SPC}
167 In the group buffer, select the group on the line under the cursor
168 and display the first unread article in that group.
169
170 @need 1000
171 In the summary buffer,
172
173 @itemize @bullet
174 @item
175 Select the article on the line under the cursor if none is selected.
176
177 @item
178 Scroll the text of the selected article (if there is one).
179
180 @item
181 Select the next unread article if at the end of the current article.
182 @end itemize
183
184 Thus, you can move through all the articles by repeatedly typing @key{SPC}.
185
186 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus)}
187 @item @key{DEL}
188 In the group buffer, move point to the previous group containing
189 unread articles.
190
191 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
192 In the summary buffer, scroll the text of the article backwards.
193
194 @kindex n @r{(Gnus)}
195 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
196 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
197 @item n
198 Move point to the next unread group, or select the next unread article.
199
200 @kindex p @r{(Gnus)}
201 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
202 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
203 @item p
204 Move point to the previous unread group, or select the previous
205 unread article.
206
207 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
208 @findex gnus-group-next-group
209 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
210 @findex gnus-group-prev-group
211 @kindex C-n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
212 @findex gnus-summary-next-subject
213 @kindex C-p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
214 @findex gnus-summary-prev-subject
215 @item C-n
216 @itemx C-p
217 Move point to the next or previous item, even if it is marked as read.
218 This does not select the article or group on that line.
219
220 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
221 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
222 @item s
223 In the summary buffer, do an incremental search of the current text in
224 the article buffer, just as if you switched to the article buffer and
225 typed @kbd{C-s}.
226
227 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
228 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
229 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
230 In the summary buffer, search forward for articles containing a match
231 for @var{regexp}.
232
233 @end table
234
235 @ignore
236 @node Where to Look
237 @subsection Where to Look Further
238
239 @c Too many references to the name of the manual if done with xref in TeX!
240 Gnus is powerful and customizable. Here are references to a few
241 @ifnottex
242 additional topics:
243
244 @end ifnottex
245 @iftex
246 additional topics in @cite{The Gnus Manual}:
247
248 @itemize @bullet
249 @item
250 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
251 See section ``Threading.''
252
253 @item
254 Read digests. See section ``Document Groups.''
255
256 @item
257 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
258 See section ``Finding the Parent.''
259
260 @item
261 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
262 See section ``Article Keymap.''
263
264 @item
265 Save articles. See section ``Saving Articles.''
266
267 @item
268 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
269 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
270 See section ``Scoring.''
271
272 @item
273 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
274 See section ``Composing Messages.''
275 @end itemize
276 @end iftex
277 @ifnottex
278 @itemize @bullet
279 @item
280 Follow discussions on specific topics.@*
281 @xref{Threading, , Reading Based on Conversation Threads,
282 gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
283
284 @item
285 Read digests. @xref{Document Groups, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
286
287 @item
288 Refer to and jump to the parent of the current article.@*
289 @xref{Finding the Parent, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
290
291 @item
292 Refer to articles by using Message-IDs included in the messages.@*
293 @xref{Article Keymap, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
294
295 @item
296 Save articles. @xref{Saving Articles, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
297
298 @item
299 Have Gnus score articles according to various criteria, like author
300 name, subject, or string in the body of the articles.@*
301 @xref{Scoring, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
302
303 @item
304 Send an article to a newsgroup.@*
305 @xref{Composing Messages, , , gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
306 @end itemize
307 @end ifnottex
308 @end ignore
309
310 @node Shell, Emacs Server, Gnus, Top
311 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
312 @cindex subshell
313 @cindex shell commands
314
315 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to inferior shell
316 processes; it can also run a shell interactively with input and output
317 to an Emacs buffer named @samp{*shell*} or run a shell inside a terminal
318 emulator window.
319
320 @table @kbd
321 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
322 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} and display the output
323 (@code{shell-command}).
324 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
325 Run the shell command line @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
326 optionally replace the region with the output
327 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
328 @item M-x shell
329 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
330 You can then give commands interactively.
331 @item M-x term
332 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer.
333 You can then give commands interactively.
334 Full terminal emulation is available.
335 @end table
336
337 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
338 is documented in a separate manual. @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell,
339 Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
340
341 @menu
342 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
343 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
344 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
345 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
346 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
347 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
348 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
349 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
350 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
351 * Paging in Term:: Paging in the terminal emulator.
352 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
353 @end menu
354
355 @node Single Shell
356 @subsection Single Shell Commands
357
358 @kindex M-!
359 @findex shell-command
360 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
361 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command in a subshell made just
362 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
363 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
364 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
365 @samp{*Shell Command Output*}, which is displayed in another window
366 but not selected (if the output is long).
367
368 For instance, one way to decompress a file @file{foo.gz} from Emacs
369 is to type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command
370 normally creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
371
372 A numeric argument, as in @kbd{M-1 M-!}, says to insert terminal
373 output into the current buffer instead of a separate buffer. It puts
374 point before the output, and sets the mark after the output. For
375 instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz @key{RET}} would insert the
376 uncompressed equivalent of @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
377
378 If the shell command line ends in @samp{&}, it runs asynchronously.
379 For a synchronous shell command, @code{shell-command} returns the
380 command's exit status (0 means success), when it is called from a Lisp
381 program. You do not get any status information for an asynchronous
382 command, since it hasn't finished yet when @code{shell-command} returns.
383
384 @kindex M-|
385 @findex shell-command-on-region
386 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!} but
387 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
388 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, meaning insert
389 the output in the current buffer, it deletes the old region and the
390 output replaces it as the contents of the region. It returns the
391 command's exit status, like @kbd{M-!}.
392
393 One use for @kbd{M-|} is to run @code{gpg} to see what keys are in
394 the buffer. For instance, if the buffer contains a GPG key, type
395 @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents to
396 the @code{gpg} program. That program will ignore everything except
397 the encoded keys, and will output a list of the keys the buffer
398 contains.
399
400 @vindex shell-file-name
401 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} use @code{shell-file-name} to specify
402 the shell to use. This variable is initialized based on your
403 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
404 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories in the list
405 @code{exec-path}; this list is initialized based on the environment
406 variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your @file{.emacs} file
407 can override either or both of these default initializations.
408
409 Both @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} wait for the shell command to complete,
410 unless you end the command with @samp{&} to make it asynchronous. To
411 stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit; that terminates the shell
412 command with the signal @code{SIGINT}---the same signal that @kbd{C-c}
413 normally generates in the shell. Emacs then waits until the command
414 actually terminates. If the shell command doesn't stop (because it
415 ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal), type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends
416 the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal which is impossible to ignore.
417
418 Asynchronous commands ending in @samp{&} feed their output into
419 the buffer @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Output arrives in that
420 buffer regardless of whether it is visible in a window.
421
422 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
423 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
424
425 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
426 Error output from these commands is normally intermixed with the
427 regular output. But if the variable
428 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} has a string as value, and
429 it's the name of a buffer, @kbd{M-!} and @kbd{M-|} insert error output
430 before point in that buffer.
431
432 @node Interactive Shell
433 @subsection Interactive Inferior Shell
434
435 @findex shell
436 To run a subshell interactively, putting its typescript in an Emacs
437 buffer, use @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates (or reuses) a buffer named
438 @samp{*shell*} and runs a subshell with input coming from and output going
439 to that buffer. That is to say, any ``terminal output'' from the subshell
440 goes into the buffer, advancing point, and any ``terminal input'' for
441 the subshell comes from text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell,
442 go to the end of the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
443
444 Emacs does not wait for the subshell to do anything. You can switch
445 windows or buffers and edit them while the shell is waiting, or while it is
446 running a command. Output from the subshell waits until Emacs has time to
447 process it; this happens whenever Emacs is waiting for keyboard input or
448 for time to elapse.
449
450 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
451 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
452 Input lines, once you submit them, are displayed using the face
453 @code{comint-highlight-input}, and prompts are displayed using the
454 face @code{comint-highlight-prompt}. This makes it easier to see
455 previous input lines in the buffer. @xref{Faces}.
456
457 To make multiple subshells, you can invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a
458 prefix argument (e.g. @kbd{C-u M-x shell}), which will read a buffer
459 name and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can also
460 rename the @samp{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely}, then
461 create a new @samp{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
462 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
463
464 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
465 @cindex environment variables for subshells
466 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
467 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
468 The file name used to load the subshell is the value of the variable
469 @code{explicit-shell-file-name}, if that is non-@code{nil}. Otherwise,
470 the environment variable @env{ESHELL} is used, or the environment
471 variable @env{SHELL} if there is no @env{ESHELL}. If the file name
472 specified is relative, the directories in the list @code{exec-path} are
473 searched; this list is initialized based on the environment variable
474 @env{PATH} when Emacs is started. Your @file{.emacs} file can override
475 either or both of these default initializations.
476
477 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
478 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
479 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
480 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
481 @file{~/.emacs_bash}.
482
483 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
484 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
485 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
486 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
487 Coding}.
488
489 @cindex @env{EMACS} environment variable
490 Unless the environment variable @env{EMACS} is already defined,
491 Emacs defines it in the subshell, with value equal to Emacs's absolute
492 file name. A shell script
493 can check this variable to determine whether it has been run from an
494 Emacs subshell.
495
496 @node Shell Mode
497 @subsection Shell Mode
498 @cindex Shell mode
499 @cindex mode, Shell
500
501 Shell buffers use Shell mode, which defines several special keys
502 attached to the @kbd{C-c} prefix. They are chosen to resemble the usual
503 editing and job control characters present in shells that are not under
504 Emacs, except that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a complete list
505 of the special key bindings of Shell mode:
506
507 @table @kbd
508 @item @key{RET}
509 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
510 @findex comint-send-input
511 At end of buffer send line as input; otherwise, copy current line to
512 end of buffer and send it (@code{comint-send-input}). Copying a line
513 in this way omits any prompt at the beginning of the line (text output
514 by programs preceding your input). @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how
515 Shell mode recognizes prompts.
516
517 @item @key{TAB}
518 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
519 @findex comint-dynamic-complete
520 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell buffer
521 (@code{comint-dynamic-complete}). @key{TAB} also completes history
522 references (@pxref{History References}) and environment variable names.
523
524 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
525 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
526 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
527 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
528 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
529 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
530 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
531 instead.
532
533 @item M-?
534 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
535 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
536 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file name
537 before point in the shell buffer
538 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
539
540 @item C-d
541 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
542 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
543 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
544 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
545 buffer, @kbd{C-d} sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
546 position in the buffer, @kbd{C-d} deletes a character as usual.
547
548 @item C-c C-a
549 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
550 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
551 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
552 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
553 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
554 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
555 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
556 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
557 previous line.)
558
559 @item C-c @key{SPC}
560 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
561 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
562 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
563 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
564 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
565
566 @item C-c C-u
567 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
568 @findex comint-kill-input
569 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
570 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
571 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
572
573 @item C-c C-w
574 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
575 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
576
577 @item C-c C-c
578 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
579 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
580 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
581 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
582 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
583
584 @item C-c C-z
585 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
586 @findex comint-stop-subjob
587 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
588 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
589 not yet sent.
590
591 @item C-c C-\
592 @findex comint-quit-subjob
593 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
594 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
595 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
596 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
597
598 @item C-c C-o
599 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
600 @findex comint-delete-output
601 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
602 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
603 out lots of output that just gets in the way. This command used to be
604 called @code{comint-kill-output}.
605
606 @item C-c C-s
607 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
608 @findex comint-write-output
609 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
610 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
611 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
612 written.
613
614 @item C-c C-r
615 @itemx C-M-l
616 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
617 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
618 @findex comint-show-output
619 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
620 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
621
622 @item C-c C-e
623 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
624 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
625 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
626 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
627
628 @item C-c C-f
629 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
630 @findex shell-forward-command
631 @vindex shell-command-regexp
632 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
633 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
634 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
635
636 @item C-c C-b
637 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
638 @findex shell-backward-command
639 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
640 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
641
642 @item M-x dirs
643 Ask the shell what its current directory is, so that Emacs can agree
644 with the shell.
645
646 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
647 @findex send-invisible
648 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
649 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
650 for a password.
651
652 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
653 really want them to be echoed, evaluate the following Lisp
654 expression:
655
656 @example
657 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
658 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
659 @end example
660
661 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
662 @findex comint-continue-subjob
663 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
664 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
665 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
666 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
667 this command won't do it.}
668
669 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
670 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
671 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
672 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
673 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
674 evaluate this Lisp expression:
675
676 @example
677 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
678 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
679 @end example
680
681 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
682 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
683 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
684 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
685 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
686 subshell:
687
688 @example
689 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
690 'comint-truncate-buffer)
691 @end example
692 @end table
693
694 @cindex Comint mode
695 @cindex mode, Comint
696 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
697 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
698 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
699 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
700 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
701
702 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
703 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
704
705 @findex comint-run
706 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
707 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
708 specializations of Shell mode.
709
710 @node Shell Prompts
711 @subsection Shell Prompts
712
713 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
714 @vindex comint-prompt-regexp
715 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
716 @cindex prompt, shell
717 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
718 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
719 considers the prompt to be any text output by a program at the
720 beginning of an input line. However, if the variable
721 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, then Comint mode
722 uses a regular expression to recognize prompts. In Shell mode,
723 @code{shell-prompt-pattern} specifies the regular expression.
724
725 The value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} also affects many
726 motion and paragraph commands. If the value is non-@code{nil}, the
727 general Emacs motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers
728 without special text properties. However, if the value is @code{nil},
729 the default, then Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of
730 ``fields'' (ranges of consecutive characters having the same
731 @code{field} text property): input and output. Prompts are part of
732 the output. Most Emacs motion commands do not cross field boundaries,
733 unless they move over multiple lines. For instance, when point is in
734 input on the same line as a prompt, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the
735 beginning of the input if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is
736 @code{nil} and at the beginning of the line otherwise.
737
738 In Shell mode, only shell prompts start new paragraphs. Thus, a
739 paragraph consists of a prompt and the input and output that follow
740 it. However, if @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil}, the
741 default, most paragraph commands do not cross field boundaries. This
742 means that prompts, ranges of input, and ranges of non-prompt output
743 behave mostly like separate paragraphs; with this setting, numeric
744 arguments to most paragraph commands yield essentially undefined
745 behavior. For the purpose of finding paragraph boundaries, Shell mode
746 uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern}, regardless of
747 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp}.
748
749 @node Shell History
750 @subsection Shell Command History
751
752 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
753 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
754 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
755 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
756 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
757 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
758 @samp{!}-style history reference.
759
760 @menu
761 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
762 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
763 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
764 @end menu
765
766 @node Shell Ring
767 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
768
769 @table @kbd
770 @findex comint-previous-input
771 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
772 @item M-p
773 @itemx C-@key{UP}
774 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
775
776 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
777 @findex comint-next-input
778 @item M-n
779 @itemx C-@key{DOWN}
780 Fetch the next later old shell command.
781
782 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
783 @kindex M-s @r{(Shell mode)}
784 @findex comint-previous-matching-input
785 @findex comint-next-matching-input
786 @item M-r @var{regexp} @key{RET}
787 @itemx M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
788 Search backwards or forwards for old shell commands that match @var{regexp}.
789
790 @item C-c C-x
791 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
792 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
793 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
794
795 @item C-c .
796 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
797 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
798 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
799
800 @item C-c C-l
801 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
802 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
803 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
804 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
805 @end table
806
807 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell commands. To
808 reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing commands @kbd{M-p},
809 @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work just like the minibuffer
810 history commands except that they operate on the text at the end of the
811 shell buffer, where you would normally insert text to send to the shell.
812
813 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
814 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
815 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
816 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
817 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
818 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
819 @kbd{M-n}.
820
821 The history search commands @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s} read a regular
822 expression and search through the history for a matching command. Aside
823 from the choice of which command to fetch, they work just like @kbd{M-p}
824 and @kbd{M-n}. If you enter an empty regexp, these commands reuse the
825 same regexp used last time.
826
827 When you find the previous input you want, you can resubmit it by
828 typing @key{RET}, or you can edit it first and then resubmit it if you
829 wish. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
830 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
831 history ring.
832
833 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
834 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
835 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
836 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
837 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
838 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
839 @key{RET}} over and over.
840
841 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
842 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like @kbd{ESC
843 .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
844 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
845 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
846 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
847 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
848 command).
849
850 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
851 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
852 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
853 that these commands access.
854
855 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
856 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
857 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
858 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
859 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
860 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
861
862 @node Shell History Copying
863 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
864
865 @table @kbd
866 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
867 @findex comint-previous-prompt
868 @item C-c C-p
869 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
870
871 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
872 @findex comint-next-prompt
873 @item C-c C-n
874 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
875
876 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
877 @findex comint-copy-old-input
878 @item C-c @key{RET}
879 Copy the input command which point is in, inserting the copy at the end
880 of the buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you
881 move point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you
882 can submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can
883 edit the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an
884 output line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
885
886 @item Mouse-2
887 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
888 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
889 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
890 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
891 not over old input, just yank as usual.
892 @end table
893
894 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
895 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
896 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
897 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
898 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
899 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
900 buffer after it has been sent.
901
902 @node History References
903 @subsubsection Shell History References
904 @cindex history reference
905
906 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
907 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
908 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
909 for you.
910
911 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
912 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
913 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
914 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
915 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
916 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
917 typing @key{RET}.
918
919 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
920 @findex comint-magic-space
921 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
922 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
923 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
924 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
925 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
926
927 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
928 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
929
930 @node Directory Tracking
931 @subsection Directory Tracking
932 @cindex directory tracking
933
934 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
935 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
936 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
937 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
938 commands given to the inferior shell, so it can keep the
939 @samp{*shell*} buffer's default directory the same as the shell's
940 working directory. It recognizes these commands syntactically, by
941 examining lines of input that are sent.
942
943 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
944 recognize them also. For example, if the value of the variable
945 @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches the beginning of a shell command
946 line, that line is regarded as a @code{pushd} command. Change this
947 variable when you add aliases for @samp{pushd}. Likewise,
948 @code{shell-popd-regexp} and @code{shell-cd-regexp} are used to
949 recognize commands with the meaning of @samp{popd} and @samp{cd}.
950 These commands are recognized only at the beginning of a shell command
951 line.
952
953 @ignore @c This seems to have been deleted long ago.
954 @vindex shell-set-directory-error-hook
955 If Emacs gets an error while trying to handle what it believes is a
956 @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} or @samp{popd} command, it runs the hook
957 @code{shell-set-directory-error-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
958 @end ignore
959
960 @findex dirs
961 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the current directory of the
962 subshell, use the command @kbd{M-x dirs} to ask the shell what its
963 current directory is. This command works for shells that support the
964 most common command syntax; it may not work for unusual shells.
965
966 @findex dirtrack-mode
967 You can also use @kbd{M-x dirtrack-mode} to enable (or disable) an
968 alternative and more aggressive method of tracking changes in the
969 current directory.
970
971 @node Shell Options
972 @subsection Shell Mode Options
973
974 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
975 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
976 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
977 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
978
979 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
980 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
981 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to place the last line of
982 text at the bottom line of the window, so as to show as much useful
983 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
984 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
985
986 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
987 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
988 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
989 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
990 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
991 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
992 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
993 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
994 point does not jump to the end.
995
996 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
997 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
998 buffer are read-only.
999
1000 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1001 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1002 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1003 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1004 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1005 equal to the previous input.
1006
1007 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1008 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1009 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1010 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1011 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1012 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1013 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1014 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1015 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1016 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1017 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1018 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1019
1020 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1021 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1022 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1023 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1024
1025 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1026 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1027 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1028 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1029 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1030 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1031 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1032 directory stack if they are not already on it
1033 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1034 underlying shell, of course.
1035
1036 If you want Shell mode to handle color output from shell commands,
1037 you can enable ANSI Color mode. Here is how to do this:
1038
1039 @example
1040 (add-hook 'shell-mode-hook 'ansi-color-for-comint-mode-on)
1041 @end example
1042
1043 @node Terminal emulator
1044 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1045 @findex term
1046
1047 To run a subshell in a terminal emulator, putting its typescript in
1048 an Emacs buffer, use @kbd{M-x term}. This creates (or reuses) a
1049 buffer named @samp{*terminal*}, and runs a subshell with input coming
1050 from your keyboard, and output going to that buffer.
1051
1052 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1053 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1054
1055 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1056 subshell, as ``terminal input.'' Any ``echoing'' of your input is the
1057 responsibility of the subshell. The sole exception is the terminal
1058 escape character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}).
1059 Any ``terminal output'' from the subshell goes into the buffer,
1060 advancing point.
1061
1062 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1063 on the terminal screen in detail. They do this by sending special
1064 control codes. The exact control codes needed vary from terminal to
1065 terminal, but nowadays most terminals and terminal emulators
1066 (including @code{xterm}) understand the ANSI-standard (VT100-style)
1067 escape sequences. Term mode recognizes these escape sequences, and
1068 handles each one appropriately, changing the buffer so that the
1069 appearance of the window matches what it would be on a real terminal.
1070 You can actually run Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.
1071
1072 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1073 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1074 buffer @samp{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1075 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1076
1077 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1078 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1079 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1080 and later.
1081
1082 @node Term Mode
1083 @subsection Term Mode
1084 @cindex Term mode
1085 @cindex mode, Term
1086
1087 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1088 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode; see @ref{Shell Mode}.
1089 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the inferior
1090 subshell, except for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1091
1092 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1093
1094 @table @kbd
1095 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1096 @findex term-char-mode
1097 @item C-c C-j
1098 Switch to line mode. Do nothing if already in line mode.
1099
1100 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1101 @findex term-line-mode
1102 @item C-c C-k
1103 Switch to char mode. Do nothing if already in char mode.
1104 @end table
1105
1106 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1107
1108 @table @kbd
1109 @item C-c C-c
1110 Send a literal @key{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1111
1112 @item C-c @var{char}
1113 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1114 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1115 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1116 @end table
1117
1118 @node Paging in Term
1119 @subsection Page-At-A-Time Output
1120 @cindex page-at-a-time
1121
1122 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled it makes
1123 output pause at the end of each screenful.
1124
1125 @table @kbd
1126 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1127 @findex term-pager-toggle
1128 @item C-c C-q
1129 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1130 and char modes. When page-at-a-time is enabled, the mode-line
1131 displays the word @samp{page}.
1132 @end table
1133
1134 With page-at-a-time enabled, whenever Term receives more than a
1135 screenful of output since your last input, it pauses, displaying
1136 @samp{**MORE**} in the mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next
1137 screenful of output. Type @kbd{?} to see your other options. The
1138 interface is similar to the @code{more} program.
1139
1140 @node Remote Host
1141 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1142 @cindex remote host
1143 @cindex connecting to remote host
1144 @cindex Telnet
1145 @cindex Rlogin
1146
1147 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1148 would from a regular terminal (e.g.@: using the @code{telnet} or
1149 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1150
1151 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1152 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1153 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1154 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1155 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1156 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1157
1158 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1159 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1160 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1161 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1162 login command, without separating comma.) Terminal types @samp{ansi}
1163 or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1164
1165 @c If you are talking to a Bourne-compatible
1166 @c shell, and your system understands the @env{TERMCAP} variable,
1167 @c you can use the command @kbd{M-x shell-send-termcap}, which
1168 @c sends a string specifying the terminal type and size.
1169 @c (This command is also useful after the window has changed size.)
1170
1171 @c You can of course run @samp{gdb} on that remote computer. One useful
1172 @c trick: If you invoke gdb with the @code{--fullname} option,
1173 @c it will send special commands to Emacs that will cause Emacs to
1174 @c pop up the source files you're debugging. This will work
1175 @c whether or not gdb is running on a different computer than Emacs,
1176 @c as long as Emacs can access the source files specified by gdb.
1177
1178 @ignore
1179 You cannot log in to a remote computer using the Shell mode.
1180 @c (This will change when Shell is re-written to use Term.)
1181 Instead, Emacs provides two commands for logging in to another computer
1182 and communicating with it through an Emacs buffer using Comint mode:
1183
1184 @table @kbd
1185 @item M-x telnet @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1186 Set up a Telnet connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1187 @item M-x rlogin @key{RET} @var{hostname} @key{RET}
1188 Set up an Rlogin connection to the computer named @var{hostname}.
1189 @end table
1190
1191 @findex telnet
1192 Use @kbd{M-x telnet} to set up a Telnet connection to another
1193 computer. (Telnet is the standard Internet protocol for remote login.)
1194 It reads the host name of the other computer as an argument with the
1195 minibuffer. Once the connection is established, talking to the other
1196 computer works like talking to a subshell: you can edit input with the
1197 usual Emacs commands, and send it a line at a time by typing @key{RET}.
1198 The output is inserted in the Telnet buffer interspersed with the input.
1199
1200 @findex rlogin
1201 @vindex rlogin-explicit-args
1202 Use @kbd{M-x rlogin} to set up an Rlogin connection. Rlogin is
1203 another remote login communication protocol, essentially much like the
1204 Telnet protocol but incompatible with it, and supported only by certain
1205 systems. Rlogin's advantages are that you can arrange not to have to
1206 give your user name and password when communicating between two machines
1207 you frequently use, and that you can make an 8-bit-clean connection.
1208 (To do that in Emacs, set @code{rlogin-explicit-args} to @code{("-8")}
1209 before you run Rlogin.)
1210
1211 @kbd{M-x rlogin} sets up the default file directory of the Emacs
1212 buffer to access the remote host via FTP (@pxref{File Names}), and it
1213 tracks the shell commands that change the current directory, just like
1214 Shell mode.
1215
1216 @findex rlogin-directory-tracking-mode
1217 There are two ways of doing directory tracking in an Rlogin
1218 buffer---either with remote directory names
1219 @file{/@var{host}:@var{dir}/} or with local names (that works if the
1220 ``remote'' machine shares file systems with your machine of origin).
1221 You can use the command @code{rlogin-directory-tracking-mode} to switch
1222 modes. No argument means use remote directory names, a positive
1223 argument means use local names, and a negative argument means turn
1224 off directory tracking.
1225
1226 @end ignore
1227
1228 @node Emacs Server, Printing, Shell, Top
1229 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1230 @pindex emacsclient
1231 @cindex Emacs as a server
1232 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1233 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1234
1235 Various programs such as @code{mail} can invoke your choice of editor
1236 to edit a particular piece of text, such as a message that you are
1237 sending. By convention, most of these programs use the environment
1238 variable @env{EDITOR} to specify which editor to run. If you set
1239 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, they invoke Emacs---but in an
1240 inconvenient fashion, by starting a new, separate Emacs process. This
1241 is inconvenient because it takes time and because the new Emacs process
1242 doesn't share the buffers in any existing Emacs process.
1243
1244 You can arrange to use your existing Emacs process as the editor for
1245 programs like @code{mail} by using the Emacs client and Emacs server
1246 programs. Here is how.
1247
1248 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1249 First, the preparation. Within Emacs, call the function
1250 @code{server-start}. (Your @file{.emacs} file can do this automatically
1251 if you add the expression @code{(server-start)} to it.) Then, outside
1252 Emacs, set the @env{EDITOR} environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}.
1253 (Note that some programs use a different environment variable; for
1254 example, to make @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, you should set the
1255 @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.)
1256
1257 @kindex C-x #
1258 @findex server-edit
1259 Then, whenever any program invokes your specified @env{EDITOR}
1260 program, the effect is to send a message to your principal Emacs telling
1261 it to visit a file. (That's what the program @code{emacsclient} does.)
1262 Emacs displays the buffer immediately and you can immediately begin
1263 editing it.
1264
1265 When you've finished editing that buffer, type @kbd{C-x #}
1266 (@code{server-edit}). This saves the file and sends a message back to
1267 the @code{emacsclient} program telling it to exit. The programs that
1268 use @env{EDITOR} wait for the ``editor'' (actually, @code{emacsclient})
1269 to exit. @kbd{C-x #} also checks for other pending external requests
1270 to edit various files, and selects the next such file.
1271
1272 You can switch to a server buffer manually if you wish; you don't
1273 have to arrive at it with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to
1274 say that you are finished with one.
1275
1276 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1277 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1278 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1279 already existed in the Emacs session before the server asked to create
1280 it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to @code{nil},
1281 then a different criterion is used: finishing with a server buffer
1282 kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1283 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1284 ``temporary'' files.
1285
1286 @vindex server-window
1287 If you set the variable @code{server-window} to a window or a frame,
1288 @kbd{C-x #} displays the server buffer in that window or in that frame.
1289
1290 @vindex server-name
1291 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1292 each one a unique ``server name'', using the variable
1293 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1294 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1295 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can visit a server by name
1296 using the @samp{-s} option. @xref{Invoking emacsclient}.
1297
1298 While @code{mail} or another application is waiting for
1299 @code{emacsclient} to finish, @code{emacsclient} does not read terminal
1300 input. So the terminal that @code{mail} was using is effectively
1301 blocked for the duration. In order to edit with your principal Emacs,
1302 you need to be able to use it without using that terminal. There are
1303 three ways to do this:
1304
1305 @itemize @bullet
1306 @item
1307 Using a window system, run @code{mail} and the principal Emacs in two
1308 separate windows. While @code{mail} is waiting for @code{emacsclient},
1309 the window where it was running is blocked, but you can use Emacs by
1310 switching windows.
1311
1312 @item
1313 Using virtual terminals, run @code{mail} in one virtual terminal
1314 and run Emacs in another.
1315
1316 @item
1317 Use Shell mode or Term mode in Emacs to run the other program such as
1318 @code{mail}; then, @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under
1319 Emacs, and you can still use Emacs to edit the file.
1320 @end itemize
1321
1322 If you run @code{emacsclient} with the option @samp{--no-wait}, it
1323 returns immediately without waiting for you to ``finish'' the buffer
1324 in Emacs. Note that server buffers created in this way are not killed
1325 automatically when you finish with them.
1326
1327 @menu
1328 * Invoking emacsclient:: Emacs client startup options.
1329 @end menu
1330
1331 @node Invoking emacsclient,, Emacs Server, Emacs Server
1332 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1333
1334 To run the @code{emacsclient} program, specify file names as arguments,
1335 and optionally line numbers as well, like this:
1336
1337 @example
1338 emacsclient @r{@{}@r{[}+@var{line}@r{[}@var{column}@r{]}@r{]} @var{filename}@r{@}}@dots{}
1339 @end example
1340
1341 @noindent
1342 This tells Emacs to visit each of the specified files; if you specify a
1343 line number for a certain file, Emacs moves to that line in the file.
1344 If you specify a column number as well, Emacs puts point on that column
1345 in the line.
1346
1347 Ordinarily, @code{emacsclient} does not return until you use the
1348 @kbd{C-x #} command on each of these buffers. When that happens,
1349 Emacs sends a message to the @code{emacsclient} program telling it to
1350 return.
1351
1352 If you invoke @code{emacsclient} for more than one file, the
1353 additional client buffers are buried at the bottom of the buffer list
1354 (@pxref{Buffers}). If you call @kbd{C-x #} after you are done editing
1355 a client buffer, the next client buffer is automatically selected.
1356
1357 But if you use the option @samp{-n} or @samp{--no-wait} when running
1358 @code{emacsclient}, then it returns immediately. (You can take as
1359 long as you like to edit the files in Emacs.)
1360
1361 The option @samp{--alternate-editor=@var{command}} specifies a
1362 command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs. This is
1363 useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script. For example, the
1364 following setting for the @env{EDITOR} environment variable will
1365 always give you an editor, even if no Emacs server is running:
1366
1367 @example
1368 EDITOR="emacsclient --alternate-editor emacs +%d %s"
1369 @end example
1370
1371 @noindent
1372 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect, with
1373 the value of the @samp{--alternate-editor} option taking precedence.
1374
1375 @pindex emacs.bash
1376 Alternatively, the file @file{etc/emacs.bash} defines a bash
1377 function which will communicate with a running Emacs server, or start
1378 one if none exists.
1379
1380 If you use several displays, you can tell Emacs on which display to
1381 open the given files with the option @samp{--display=@var{DISPLAY}}.
1382 This can be used typically when connecting from home to an Emacs
1383 server running on your machine at your workplace.
1384
1385 If there is more than one Emacs server running, you can specify a
1386 server name with the option @samp{-s @var{name}}.
1387
1388 You can also use @code{emacsclient} to execute any piece of Emacs Lisp
1389 code, using the option @samp{--eval}. When this option is given, the
1390 rest of the arguments is not taken as a list of files to visit but as
1391 a list of expressions to evaluate.
1392
1393 @node Printing, Sorting, Emacs Server, Top
1394 @section Printing Hard Copies
1395 @cindex hardcopy
1396 @cindex printing
1397
1398 Emacs provides commands for printing hard copies of either an entire
1399 buffer or just part of one, with or without page headers. You can
1400 invoke the printing commands directly, as detailed in the following
1401 section, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar. See also the
1402 hardcopy commands of Dired (@pxref{Misc File Ops}) and the diary
1403 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}).
1404
1405 @table @kbd
1406 @item M-x print-buffer
1407 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the file
1408 name and page number.
1409 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1410 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1411 @item M-x print-region
1412 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1413 @item M-x lpr-region
1414 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1415 @end table
1416
1417 @findex print-buffer
1418 @findex print-region
1419 @findex lpr-buffer
1420 @findex lpr-region
1421 @vindex lpr-switches
1422 The hardcopy commands (aside from the Postscript commands) pass extra
1423 switches to the @code{lpr} program based on the value of the variable
1424 @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of strings, each string
1425 an option starting with @samp{-}. For example, to specify a line width
1426 of 80 columns for all the printing you do in Emacs, set
1427 @code{lpr-switches} like this:
1428
1429 @example
1430 (setq lpr-switches '("-w80"))
1431 @end example
1432
1433 @vindex printer-name
1434 You can specify the printer to use by setting the variable
1435 @code{printer-name}.
1436
1437 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1438 @vindex lpr-commands
1439 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1440 The variable @code{lpr-command} specifies the name of the printer
1441 program to run; the default value depends on your operating system type.
1442 On most systems, the default is @code{"lpr"}. The variable
1443 @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the extra switches to
1444 use to make page headers. The variable @code{lpr-add-switches} controls
1445 whether to supply @samp{-T} and @samp{-J} options (suitable for
1446 @code{lpr}) to the printer program: @code{nil} means don't add them.
1447 @code{lpr-add-switches} should be @code{nil} if your printer program is
1448 not compatible with @code{lpr}.
1449
1450 @menu
1451 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1452 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1453 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1454 @end menu
1455
1456 @node PostScript, PostScript Variables,, Printing
1457 @section PostScript Hardcopy
1458
1459 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1460 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1461
1462 @table @kbd
1463 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1464 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1465 @item M-x ps-print-region
1466 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1467 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1468 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1469 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1470 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1471 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1472 faces used in the text.
1473 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1474 Generate PostScript for the current buffer text.
1475 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1476 Generate PostScript for the current region.
1477 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1478 Generate PostScript for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1479 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1480 Generate PostScript for the current region, showing the faces used.
1481 @item M-x handwrite
1482 Generates/prints PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1483 @end table
1484
1485 @findex ps-print-region
1486 @findex ps-print-buffer
1487 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1488 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1489 The PostScript commands, @code{ps-print-buffer} and
1490 @code{ps-print-region}, print buffer contents in PostScript form. One
1491 command prints the entire buffer; the other, just the region. The
1492 corresponding @samp{-with-faces} commands,
1493 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and @code{ps-print-region-with-faces},
1494 use PostScript features to show the faces (fonts and colors) in the text
1495 properties of the text being printed.
1496
1497 If you are using a color display, you can print a buffer of program
1498 code with color highlighting by turning on Font-Lock mode in that
1499 buffer, and using @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces}.
1500
1501 @findex ps-spool-region
1502 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1503 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1504 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1505 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print}
1506 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1507 it to the printer.
1508
1509 @findex handwrite
1510 @cindex handwriting
1511 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1512 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1513 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1514 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1515
1516 @ifnottex
1517 The following section describes variables for customizing these commands.
1518 @end ifnottex
1519
1520 @node PostScript Variables, Printing Package, PostScript, Printing
1521 @section Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1522
1523 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1524 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1525 @vindex ps-printer-name
1526 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1527 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1528 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1529 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1530 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1531 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1532 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1533 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1534
1535 @vindex ps-print-header
1536 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1537 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1538 off.
1539
1540 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1541 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1542 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1543 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1544 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1545 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1546 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1547 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1548
1549 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1550 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1551 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1552 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1553 stripes and background image/text.
1554
1555 @vindex ps-paper-type
1556 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1557 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1558 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1559 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1560 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1561 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1562 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1563 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1564
1565 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1566 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1567 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1568 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1569 mode.
1570
1571 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1572 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1573 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1574 default is 1.
1575
1576 @vindex ps-font-family
1577 @vindex ps-font-size
1578 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1579 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1580 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1581 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
1582 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
1583 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
1584
1585 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
1586 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
1587 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
1588 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
1589 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
1590 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
1591 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
1592 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
1593 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
1594 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1595 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
1596 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
1597 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
1598 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
1599 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
1600 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
1601 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
1602
1603 @vindex bdf-directory-list
1604 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
1605 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
1606 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
1607 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
1608
1609 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
1610 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
1611
1612 @node Printing Package,, PostScript Variables, Printing
1613 @section Printing Package
1614 @cindex Printing package
1615
1616 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
1617 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
1618 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
1619 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
1620 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
1621 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
1622 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
1623 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
1624 used.
1625
1626 @findex pr-interface
1627 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
1628 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
1629 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
1630 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
1631 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface RET}; this creates a
1632 @samp{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
1633 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
1634 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
1635 @kbd{mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @kbd{RET}). For
1636 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
1637 Help} button.
1638
1639 @node Sorting, Narrowing, Printing, Top
1640 @section Sorting Text
1641 @cindex sorting
1642
1643 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
1644 operate on the contents of the region.
1645 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
1646 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
1647 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
1648 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
1649 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters `A' through
1650 `Z' come before lower-case `a', in accord with the @acronym{ASCII} character
1651 sequence.
1652
1653 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
1654 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
1655 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
1656 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
1657 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
1658 record as the sort key.
1659
1660 @findex sort-lines
1661 @findex sort-paragraphs
1662 @findex sort-pages
1663 @findex sort-fields
1664 @findex sort-numeric-fields
1665 @vindex sort-numeric-base
1666 @table @kbd
1667 @item M-x sort-lines
1668 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
1669 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
1670
1671 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
1672 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
1673 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
1674 argument means sort into descending order.
1675
1676 @item M-x sort-pages
1677 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
1678 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
1679 argument means sort into descending order.
1680
1681 @item M-x sort-fields
1682 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
1683 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
1684 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
1685 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
1686 2, etc.
1687
1688 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
1689 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
1690 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
1691 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
1692 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
1693
1694 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
1695 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
1696 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
1697 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
1698 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
1699 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
1700 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
1701
1702 @item M-x sort-columns
1703 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
1704 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
1705 for an explanation.
1706
1707 @item M-x reverse-region
1708 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
1709 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
1710 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
1711 @end table
1712
1713 For example, if the buffer contains this:
1714
1715 @smallexample
1716 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1717 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1718 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1719 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1720 the buffer.
1721 @end smallexample
1722
1723 @noindent
1724 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
1725
1726 @smallexample
1727 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1728 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1729 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1730 the buffer.
1731 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1732 @end smallexample
1733
1734 @noindent
1735 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
1736 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
1737
1738 @smallexample
1739 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
1740 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
1741 the buffer.
1742 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
1743 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
1744 @end smallexample
1745
1746 @noindent
1747 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
1748 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
1749
1750 @findex sort-columns
1751 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
1752 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
1753 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
1754 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
1755 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
1756 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
1757 as well as all the lines in between.
1758
1759 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
1760 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
1761 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
1762 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
1763 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
1764
1765 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
1766 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
1767 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
1768 @xref{Rectangles}.
1769
1770 @vindex sort-fold-case
1771 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
1772 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
1773
1774 @node Narrowing, Two-Column, Sorting, Top
1775 @section Narrowing
1776 @cindex widening
1777 @cindex restriction
1778 @cindex narrowing
1779 @cindex accessible portion
1780
1781 @dfn{Narrowing} means focusing in on some portion of the buffer,
1782 making the rest temporarily inaccessible. The portion which you can
1783 still get to is called the @dfn{accessible portion}. Canceling the
1784 narrowing, which makes the entire buffer once again accessible, is
1785 called @dfn{widening}. The bounds of narrowing in effect in a buffer
1786 are called the buffer's @dfn{restriction}.
1787
1788 Narrowing can make it easier to concentrate on a single subroutine or
1789 paragraph by eliminating clutter. It can also be used to limit the
1790 range of operation of a replace command or repeating keyboard macro.
1791
1792 @table @kbd
1793 @item C-x n n
1794 Narrow down to between point and mark (@code{narrow-to-region}).
1795 @item C-x n w
1796 Widen to make the entire buffer accessible again (@code{widen}).
1797 @item C-x n p
1798 Narrow down to the current page (@code{narrow-to-page}).
1799 @item C-x n d
1800 Narrow down to the current defun (@code{narrow-to-defun}).
1801 @end table
1802
1803 When you have narrowed down to a part of the buffer, that part appears
1804 to be all there is. You can't see the rest, you can't move into it
1805 (motion commands won't go outside the accessible part), you can't change
1806 it in any way. However, it is not gone, and if you save the file all
1807 the inaccessible text will be saved. The word @samp{Narrow} appears in
1808 the mode line whenever narrowing is in effect.
1809
1810 @kindex C-x n n
1811 @findex narrow-to-region
1812 The primary narrowing command is @kbd{C-x n n} (@code{narrow-to-region}).
1813 It sets the current buffer's restrictions so that the text in the current
1814 region remains accessible, but all text before the region or after the
1815 region is inaccessible. Point and mark do not change.
1816
1817 @kindex C-x n p
1818 @findex narrow-to-page
1819 @kindex C-x n d
1820 @findex narrow-to-defun
1821 Alternatively, use @kbd{C-x n p} (@code{narrow-to-page}) to narrow
1822 down to the current page. @xref{Pages}, for the definition of a page.
1823 @kbd{C-x n d} (@code{narrow-to-defun}) narrows down to the defun
1824 containing point (@pxref{Defuns}).
1825
1826 @kindex C-x n w
1827 @findex widen
1828 The way to cancel narrowing is to widen with @kbd{C-x n w}
1829 (@code{widen}). This makes all text in the buffer accessible again.
1830
1831 You can get information on what part of the buffer you are narrowed down
1832 to using the @kbd{C-x =} command. @xref{Position Info}.
1833
1834 Because narrowing can easily confuse users who do not understand it,
1835 @code{narrow-to-region} is normally a disabled command. Attempting to use
1836 this command asks for confirmation and gives you the option of enabling it;
1837 if you enable the command, confirmation will no longer be required for
1838 it. @xref{Disabling}.
1839
1840 @node Two-Column, Editing Binary Files, Narrowing, Top
1841 @section Two-Column Editing
1842 @cindex two-column editing
1843 @cindex splitting columns
1844 @cindex columns, splitting
1845
1846 Two-column mode lets you conveniently edit two side-by-side columns of
1847 text. It uses two side-by-side windows, each showing its own
1848 buffer.
1849
1850 There are three ways to enter two-column mode:
1851
1852 @table @asis
1853 @item @kbd{@key{F2} 2} or @kbd{C-x 6 2}
1854 @kindex F2 2
1855 @kindex C-x 6 2
1856 @findex 2C-two-columns
1857 Enter two-column mode with the current buffer on the left, and on the
1858 right, a buffer whose name is based on the current buffer's name
1859 (@code{2C-two-columns}). If the right-hand buffer doesn't already
1860 exist, it starts out empty; the current buffer's contents are not
1861 changed.
1862
1863 This command is appropriate when the current buffer is empty or contains
1864 just one column and you want to add another column.
1865
1866 @item @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s}
1867 @kindex F2 s
1868 @kindex C-x 6 s
1869 @findex 2C-split
1870 Split the current buffer, which contains two-column text, into two
1871 buffers, and display them side by side (@code{2C-split}). The current
1872 buffer becomes the left-hand buffer, but the text in the right-hand
1873 column is moved into the right-hand buffer. The current column
1874 specifies the split point. Splitting starts with the current line and
1875 continues to the end of the buffer.
1876
1877 This command is appropriate when you have a buffer that already contains
1878 two-column text, and you wish to separate the columns temporarily.
1879
1880 @item @kbd{@key{F2} b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
1881 @itemx @kbd{C-x 6 b @var{buffer} @key{RET}}
1882 @kindex F2 b
1883 @kindex C-x 6 b
1884 @findex 2C-associate-buffer
1885 Enter two-column mode using the current buffer as the left-hand buffer,
1886 and using buffer @var{buffer} as the right-hand buffer
1887 (@code{2C-associate-buffer}).
1888 @end table
1889
1890 @kbd{@key{F2} s} or @kbd{C-x 6 s} looks for a column separator, which
1891 is a string that appears on each line between the two columns. You can
1892 specify the width of the separator with a numeric argument to
1893 @kbd{@key{F2} s}; that many characters, before point, constitute the
1894 separator string. By default, the width is 1, so the column separator
1895 is the character before point.
1896
1897 When a line has the separator at the proper place, @kbd{@key{F2} s}
1898 puts the text after the separator into the right-hand buffer, and
1899 deletes the separator. Lines that don't have the column separator at
1900 the proper place remain unsplit; they stay in the left-hand buffer, and
1901 the right-hand buffer gets an empty line to correspond. (This is the
1902 way to write a line that ``spans both columns while in two-column
1903 mode'': write it in the left-hand buffer, and put an empty line in the
1904 right-hand buffer.)
1905
1906 @kindex F2 RET
1907 @kindex C-x 6 RET
1908 @findex 2C-newline
1909 The command @kbd{C-x 6 @key{RET}} or @kbd{@key{F2} @key{RET}}
1910 (@code{2C-newline}) inserts a newline in each of the two buffers at
1911 corresponding positions. This is the easiest way to add a new line to
1912 the two-column text while editing it in split buffers.
1913
1914 @kindex F2 1
1915 @kindex C-x 6 1
1916 @findex 2C-merge
1917 When you have edited both buffers as you wish, merge them with
1918 @kbd{@key{F2} 1} or @kbd{C-x 6 1} (@code{2C-merge}). This copies the
1919 text from the right-hand buffer as a second column in the other buffer.
1920 To go back to two-column editing, use @kbd{@key{F2} s}.
1921
1922 @kindex F2 d
1923 @kindex C-x 6 d
1924 @findex 2C-dissociate
1925 Use @kbd{@key{F2} d} or @kbd{C-x 6 d} to dissociate the two buffers,
1926 leaving each as it stands (@code{2C-dissociate}). If the other buffer,
1927 the one not current when you type @kbd{@key{F2} d}, is empty,
1928 @kbd{@key{F2} d} kills it.
1929
1930 @node Editing Binary Files, Saving Emacs Sessions, Two-Column, Top
1931 @section Editing Binary Files
1932
1933 @cindex Hexl mode
1934 @cindex mode, Hexl
1935 @cindex editing binary files
1936 @cindex hex editing
1937 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
1938 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
1939 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
1940 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
1941 automatically back to binary.
1942
1943 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
1944 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
1945 it is a binary file.
1946
1947 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
1948 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
1949 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
1950 commands of Hexl mode:
1951
1952 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
1953 @table @kbd
1954 @item C-M-d
1955 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
1956
1957 @item C-M-o
1958 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
1959
1960 @item C-M-x
1961 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
1962
1963 @item C-x [
1964 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page.''
1965
1966 @item C-x ]
1967 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page.''
1968
1969 @item M-g
1970 Move to an address specified in hex.
1971
1972 @item M-j
1973 Move to an address specified in decimal.
1974
1975 @item C-c C-c
1976 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
1977 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
1978 @end table
1979
1980 @noindent
1981 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
1982 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
1983 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
1984
1985
1986 @node Saving Emacs Sessions, Recursive Edit, Editing Binary Files, Top
1987 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
1988 @cindex saving sessions
1989 @cindex restore session
1990 @cindex remember editing session
1991 @cindex reload files
1992 @cindex desktop
1993
1994 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
1995 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
1996 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
1997 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop.
1998
1999 @findex desktop-save
2000 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2001 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2002 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2003 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2004 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2005 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2006 sessions, or add this line in your @file{~/.emacs} file:
2007
2008 @example
2009 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2010 @end example
2011
2012 @findex desktop-change-dir
2013 @findex desktop-revert
2014 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your @file{~/.emacs},
2015 then when Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current
2016 directory. Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different
2017 directories, and the starting directory determines which one Emacs
2018 reloads. You can save the current desktop and reload one saved in
2019 another directory by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing
2020 @kbd{M-x desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2021
2022 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2023 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2024 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2025 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2026 since it bypasses the @file{.emacs} init file, where
2027 @code{desktop-save-mode} is usually turned on.
2028
2029 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2030 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2031 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2032 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2033 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2034 remaining buffers are restored ``lazily,'' when Emacs is idle.
2035
2036 @findex desktop-clear
2037 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2038 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2039 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2040 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2041 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2042 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2043 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2044 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2045
2046 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2047 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2048
2049 @node Recursive Edit, Emulation, Saving Emacs Sessions, Top
2050 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2051 @cindex recursive editing level
2052 @cindex editing level, recursive
2053
2054 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2055 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2056 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2057 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2058 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2059 the @code{query-replace}.
2060
2061 @kindex C-M-c
2062 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2063 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2064 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2065 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2066 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2067
2068 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2069 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2070 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2071
2072 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2073 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2074 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2075 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2076 any particular window or buffer.
2077
2078 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2079 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2080 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2081 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2082 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2083 level currently in progress.
2084
2085 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2086 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2087 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2088 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2089 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2090 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2091 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2092
2093 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2094 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command reader.
2095
2096 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2097 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2098 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2099 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2100 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2101 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2102 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2103 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2104 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2105 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2106
2107 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2108 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
2109 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2110 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2111 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2112 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2113 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2114 the order you choose.
2115
2116 @node Emulation, Hyperlinking, Recursive Edit, Top
2117 @section Emulation
2118 @cindex emulating other editors
2119 @cindex other editors
2120 @cindex EDT
2121 @cindex vi
2122 @cindex PC key bindings
2123 @cindex scrolling all windows
2124 @cindex PC selection
2125 @cindex Motif key bindings
2126 @cindex Macintosh key bindings
2127 @cindex WordStar
2128
2129 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2130 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2131
2132 @table @asis
2133 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2134 @findex crisp-mode
2135 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2136 @findex scroll-all-mode
2137 @cindex CRiSP mode
2138 @cindex Brief emulation
2139 @cindex emulation of Brief
2140 @cindex mode, CRiSP
2141 You can turn on key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief editor with
2142 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode}. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs
2143 unless you set the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can
2144 also use the command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2145 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2146 (scrolling all windows together).
2147
2148 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2149 @findex edt-emulation-on
2150 @findex edt-emulation-off
2151 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}. @kbd{M-x
2152 edt-emulation-off} restores normal Emacs command bindings.
2153
2154 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2155 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2156 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2157 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2158
2159 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2160 @findex tpu-edt-on
2161 @cindex TPU
2162 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2163
2164 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2165 @findex viper-mode
2166 Viper is the newest emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2167 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2168 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2169 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2170 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2171 Viper, viper}.
2172
2173 @item vi (another emulator)
2174 @findex vi-mode
2175 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2176 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2177 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2178 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2179
2180 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2181 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2182
2183 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2184 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2185
2186 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2187 @findex vip-mode
2188 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2189 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2190 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2191 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2192 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2193
2194 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2195 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2196 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2197 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2198 not use it.
2199
2200 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2201
2202 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2203 @findex wordstar-mode
2204 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2205 key bindings.
2206 @end table
2207
2208 @node Hyperlinking, Thumbnails, Emulation, Top
2209 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2210
2211 @cindex hyperlinking
2212 @cindex navigation
2213 Various modes documented elsewhere have hypertext features so that
2214 you can follow links, usually by clicking @kbd{Mouse-2} on the link or
2215 typing @key{RET} while point is on the link. Clicking @kbd{Mouse-1}
2216 quickly on the link also follows it. (Hold @kbd{Mouse-1} for longer
2217 if you want to set point instead.)
2218
2219 Info mode, Help mode and the Dired-like modes are examples of modes
2220 that have links in the buffer. The Tags facility links between uses
2221 and definitions in source files, see @ref{Tags}. Imenu provides
2222 navigation amongst items indexed in the current buffer, see
2223 @ref{Imenu}. Info-lookup provides mode-specific lookup of definitions
2224 in Info indexes, see @ref{Documentation}. Speedbar maintains a frame
2225 in which links to files, and locations in files are displayed, see
2226 @ref{Speedbar}.
2227
2228 Other non-mode-specific facilities described in this section enable
2229 following links from the current buffer in a context-sensitive
2230 fashion.
2231
2232 @menu
2233 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2234 * Goto-address:: Activating URLs.
2235 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2236 @end menu
2237
2238 @node Browse-URL
2239 @subsection Following URLs
2240 @cindex World Wide Web
2241 @cindex Web
2242 @findex browse-url
2243 @findex browse-url-at-point
2244 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2245 @cindex Browse-URL
2246 @cindex URLs
2247
2248 @table @kbd
2249 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2250 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2251 @end table
2252
2253 The Browse-URL package provides facilities for following URLs specifying
2254 links on the World Wide Web. Usually this works by invoking a web
2255 browser, but you can, for instance, arrange to invoke @code{compose-mail}
2256 from @samp{mailto:} URLs.
2257
2258 The general way to use this feature is to type @kbd{M-x browse-url},
2259 which displays a specified URL. If point is located near a plausible
2260 URL, that URL is used as the default. Other commands are available
2261 which you might like to bind to keys, such as
2262 @code{browse-url-at-point} and @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2263
2264 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2265 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2266 @code{browse-url} Customize group, particularly
2267 @code{browse-url-browser-function}. You can invoke actions dependent
2268 on the type of URL by defining @code{browse-url-browser-function} as
2269 an association list. The package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h
2270 p} under the @samp{hypermedia} keyword provides more information.
2271 Packages with facilities for following URLs should always go through
2272 Browse-URL, so that the customization options for Browse-URL will
2273 affect all browsing in Emacs.
2274
2275 @node Goto-address
2276 @subsection Activating URLs
2277 @findex goto-address
2278 @cindex Goto-address
2279 @cindex URLs, activating
2280
2281 @table @kbd
2282 @item M-x goto-address
2283 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2284 @end table
2285
2286 You can make URLs in the current buffer active with @kbd{M-x
2287 goto-address}. This finds all the URLs in the buffer, and establishes
2288 bindings for @kbd{Mouse-2} and @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} on them. After
2289 activation, if you click on a URL with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or move to a URL
2290 and type @kbd{C-c @key{RET}}, that will display the web page that the URL
2291 specifies. For a @samp{mailto} URL, it sends mail instead, using your
2292 selected mail-composition method (@pxref{Mail Methods}).
2293
2294 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address} to mode hooks and the
2295 hooks used to display an incoming message.
2296 @code{rmail-show-message-hook} is the appropriate hook for Rmail, and
2297 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E. This is not needed for Gnus,
2298 which has a similar feature of its own.
2299
2300
2301 @node FFAP
2302 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2303 @findex find-file-at-point
2304 @findex ffap
2305 @findex dired-at-point
2306 @findex ffap-next
2307 @findex ffap-menu
2308 @cindex finding file at point
2309
2310 FFAP mode replaces certain key bindings for finding files, including
2311 @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive defaults.
2312 These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a prefix
2313 argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL from the
2314 text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the form of a
2315 URL rather than a file name, the commands use @code{browse-url} to
2316 view it.
2317
2318 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2319 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. The
2320 @samp{ffap} package's commentary available via @kbd{C-h p} under the
2321 @samp{files} keyword and the @code{ffap} Custom group provide details.
2322
2323 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2324 @findex ffap-mode
2325 You can turn on FFAP minor mode by calling @code{ffap-bindings} to
2326 make the following key bindings and to install hooks for using
2327 @code{ffap} in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2328
2329 @table @kbd
2330 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2331 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2332 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2333 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2334 @item C-x C-r
2335 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2336 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2337 @item C-x C-v
2338 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2339 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2340 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2341 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2342 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2343 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2344 @item C-x C-d
2345 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2346 @item C-x 4 f
2347 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2348 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2349 @item C-x 4 r
2350 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2351 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2352 @item C-x 4 d
2353 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, analogous to @code{dired-other-window}.
2354 @item C-x 5 f
2355 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2356 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2357 @item C-x 5 r
2358 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2359 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2360 @item C-x 5 d
2361 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2362 @item M-x ffap-next
2363 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2364 @item S-Mouse-3
2365 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2366 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2367 of a mouse click.
2368 @item C-S-Mouse-3
2369 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2370 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2371 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2372 @end table
2373
2374 @node Thumbnails, Dissociated Press, Hyperlinking, Top
2375 @section Viewing Images as Thumbnails
2376 @cindex tumme mode
2377 @cindex thumbnails
2378
2379 Tumme is a facility for browsing image files. It provides viewing
2380 the images either as thumbnails or in full size, either inside Emacs
2381 or through an external viewer.
2382
2383 To enter Tumme, type @kbd{M-x tumme}. It prompts for a directory;
2384 specify one that has images files. This creates thumbnails for all
2385 the images in that directory, and displays them all in the ``thumbnail
2386 buffer.'' This takes a long time if the directory contains many image
2387 files, and it asks for confirmation if the number of image files
2388 exceeds @code{tumme-show-all-from-dir-max-files}.
2389
2390 @kindex C-t d @r{(Tumme)}
2391 @findex tumme-display-thumbs
2392 You can also enter Tumme through Dired. Mark the image files you
2393 want to look at, using @kbd{m} as usual, then type @kbd{C-t d}
2394 (@code{tumme-display-thumbs}). This too creates and switches to
2395 a buffer containing thumbnails, corresponding to the marked files.
2396
2397 With point in the thumbnail buffer, type @kbd{RET}
2398 (@code{tumme-display-thumbnail-original-image}) to display a sized
2399 version of it in another window. This sizes the image to fit the
2400 window. Use the arrow keys to move around in the buffer. For easy
2401 browsing, type @kbd{SPC} (@code{tumme-display-next-thumbnail-original})
2402 to advance and display the next image. Typing @kbd{DEL}
2403 (@code{tumme-display-previous-thumbnail-original}) backs up to the
2404 previous thumbnail and displays that instead.
2405
2406 @vindex tumme-external-viewer
2407 To view and the image in its original size, either provide a prefix
2408 argument (@kbd{C-u}) before pressing @kbd{RET}, or type @kbd{C-@key{RET}}
2409 (@code{tumme-thumbnail-display-external}) to display the image in an
2410 external viewer. You must first configure
2411 @code{tumme-external-viewer}.
2412
2413 You can delete images through Tumme also. Type @kbd{d}
2414 (@code{tumme-flag-thumb-original-file}) to flag the image file for
2415 deletion in the Dired buffer. You can also delete the thumbnail image
2416 from the thumbnail buffer with @kbd{C-d} (@code{tumme-delete-char}).
2417
2418 More advanced features include @dfn{image tags}, which are metadata
2419 used to categorize image files. The tags are stored in a plain text
2420 file configured by @code{tumme-db-file}.
2421
2422 To tag image files, mark them in the dired buffer (you can also mark
2423 files in Dired from the thumbnail buffer by typing @kbd{m}) and type
2424 @kbd{C-t t} (@code{tumme-tag-files}). You will be prompted for a tag.
2425 To mark files having a certain tag, type @kbd{C-t f}
2426 (@code{tumme-mark-tagged-files}). After marking image files with a
2427 certain tag, you can use @kbd{C-t d} to view them.
2428
2429 You can also tag a file directly from the thumbnail buffer by typing
2430 @kbd{t t} and you can remove a tag by typing @kbd{t r}. There is also
2431 a special ``tag'' called ``comment'' for each file (it is not a tag in
2432 the exact same sense as the other tags, it is handled slightly
2433 different). That is used to enter a comment or description about the
2434 image. You comment a file from the thumbnail buffer by typing
2435 @kbd{c}. You will be prompted for a comment. Type @kbd{C-t c} to add
2436 a comment from Dired (@code{tumme-dired-comment-files}).
2437
2438 Tumme also provides simple image manipulation. In the thumbnail
2439 buffer, type @kbd{L} to rotate the original image 90 degrees anti
2440 clockwise, and @kbd{R} to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise. This
2441 rotation is lossless, and uses an external utility called JpegTRAN.
2442
2443 @node Dissociated Press, Amusements, Thumbnails, Top
2444 @section Dissociated Press
2445
2446 @findex dissociated-press
2447 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} is a command for scrambling a file of text
2448 either word by word or character by character. Starting from a buffer of
2449 straight English, it produces extremely amusing output. The input comes
2450 from the current Emacs buffer. Dissociated Press writes its output in a
2451 buffer named @samp{*Dissociation*}, and redisplays that buffer after every
2452 couple of lines (approximately) so you can read the output as it comes out.
2453
2454 Dissociated Press asks every so often whether to continue generating
2455 output. Answer @kbd{n} to stop it. You can also stop at any time by
2456 typing @kbd{C-g}. The dissociation output remains in the
2457 @samp{*Dissociation*} buffer for you to copy elsewhere if you wish.
2458
2459 @cindex presidentagon
2460 Dissociated Press operates by jumping at random from one point in the
2461 buffer to another. In order to produce plausible output rather than
2462 gibberish, it insists on a certain amount of overlap between the end of
2463 one run of consecutive words or characters and the start of the next.
2464 That is, if it has just output `president' and then decides to jump
2465 to a different point in the file, it might spot the `ent' in `pentagon'
2466 and continue from there, producing `presidentagon'.@footnote{This
2467 dissociword actually appeared during the Vietnam War, when it was very
2468 appropriate. Bush has made it appropriate again.} Long sample texts
2469 produce the best results.
2470
2471 @cindex againformation
2472 A positive argument to @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} tells it to operate
2473 character by character, and specifies the number of overlap characters. A
2474 negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and specifies the number
2475 of overlap words. In this mode, whole words are treated as the elements to
2476 be permuted, rather than characters. No argument is equivalent to an
2477 argument of two. For your againformation, the output goes only into the
2478 buffer @samp{*Dissociation*}. The buffer you start with is not changed.
2479
2480 @cindex Markov chain
2481 @cindex ignoriginal
2482 @cindex techniquitous
2483 Dissociated Press produces results fairly like those of a Markov
2484 chain based on a frequency table constructed from the sample text. It
2485 is, however, an independent, ignoriginal invention. Dissociated Press
2486 techniquitously copies several consecutive characters from the sample
2487 between random choices, whereas a Markov chain would choose randomly
2488 for each word or character. This makes for more plausible sounding
2489 results, and runs faster.
2490
2491 @cindex outragedy
2492 @cindex buggestion
2493 @cindex properbose
2494 @cindex mustatement
2495 @cindex developediment
2496 @cindex userenced
2497 It is a mustatement that too much use of Dissociated Press can be a
2498 developediment to your real work, sometimes to the point of outragedy.
2499 And keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want it to be well
2500 userenced and properbose. Have fun. Your buggestions are welcome.
2501
2502 @node Amusements, Customization, Dissociated Press, Top
2503 @section Other Amusements
2504 @cindex boredom
2505 @findex hanoi
2506 @findex yow
2507 @findex gomoku
2508 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2509
2510 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2511 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2512 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2513
2514 @cindex Go Moku
2515 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2516 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2517
2518 @findex blackbox
2519 @findex mpuz
2520 @findex 5x5
2521 @cindex puzzles
2522 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2523 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2524 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2525 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2526 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2527 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2528
2529 @findex decipher
2530 @cindex ciphers
2531 @cindex cryptanalysis
2532 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is encrypted
2533 in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2534
2535 @findex dunnet
2536 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an adventure-style exploration game, which is
2537 a bigger sort of puzzle.
2538
2539 @findex lm
2540 @cindex landmark game
2541 @kbd{M-x lm} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which a robot
2542 attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the window based on
2543 unique olfactory cues from each of the four directions.
2544
2545 @findex life
2546 @cindex Life
2547 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2548
2549 @findex morse-region
2550 @findex unmorse-region
2551 @cindex Morse code
2552 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2553 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts text in a region to Morse code and
2554 @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. No cause for remorse.
2555
2556 @findex pong
2557 @cindex Pong game
2558 @kbd{M-x pong} plays a Pong-like game, bouncing the ball off opposing
2559 bats.
2560
2561 @findex solitaire
2562 @cindex solitaire
2563 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2564 across other pegs.
2565
2566 @findex studlify-region
2567 @cindex StudlyCaps
2568 @kbd{M-x studlify-region} studlify-cases the region, producing
2569 text like this:
2570
2571 @example
2572 M-x stUdlIfY-RegioN stUdlIfY-CaSeS thE region.
2573 @end example
2574
2575 @findex tetris
2576 @cindex Tetris
2577 @findex snake
2578 @cindex Snake
2579 @kbd{M-x tetris} runs an implementation of the well-known Tetris game.
2580 Likewise, @kbd{M-x snake} provides an implementation of Snake.
2581
2582 When you are frustrated, try the famous Eliza program. Just do
2583 @kbd{M-x doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2584
2585 @cindex Zippy
2586 When you are feeling strange, type @kbd{M-x yow}.
2587
2588 @findex zone
2589 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs is
2590 idle.
2591
2592 @ifnottex
2593 @lowersections
2594 @end ifnottex
2595
2596 @ignore
2597 arch-tag: 8f094220-c0d5-4e9e-af7d-3e0da8187474
2598 @end ignore