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1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2014
3 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @iftex
6 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
7
8 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
9 else: reading Usenet news, viewing PDFs and other such documents, web
10 browsing, running shell commands and shell subprocesses, using a
11 single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor as a
12 subprocess, printing, sorting text, editing binary files, saving an
13 Emacs session for later resumption, recursive editing level, following
14 hyperlinks, and various diversions and amusements.
15
16 @end iftex
17
18 @ifnottex
19 @raisesections
20 @end ifnottex
21
22 @node Gnus
23 @section Gnus
24 @cindex Gnus
25 @cindex Usenet news
26 @cindex newsreader
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
30 a number of other sources---email, remote directories, digests, and so
31 on. Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
32 @ifnottex
33 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
34 @end ifnottex
35 @iftex
36 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{C-h i} and then select the Gnus
37 manual.
38 @end iftex
39
40 @menu
41 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
42 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
43 * Gnus Group Buffer:: A short description of Gnus group commands.
44 * Gnus Summary Buffer:: A short description of Gnus summary commands.
45 @end menu
46
47 @node Buffers of Gnus
48 @subsection Gnus Buffers
49
50 Gnus uses several buffers to display information and to receive
51 commands. The three most commonly-used Gnus buffers are the
52 @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the @dfn{article
53 buffer}.
54
55 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of article sources (e.g.,
56 newsgroups and email inboxes), which are collectively referred to as
57 @dfn{groups}. This is the first buffer Gnus displays when it starts
58 up. It normally displays only the groups to which you subscribe and
59 that contain unread articles. From this buffer, you can select a
60 group to read.
61
62 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists the articles in a single group,
63 showing one article per line. By default, it displays each article's
64 author, subject, and line
65 @iftex
66 number.
67 @end iftex
68 @ifnottex
69 number, but this is customizable; @xref{Summary Buffer Format,,, gnus,
70 The Gnus Manual}.
71 @end ifnottex
72 The summary buffer is created when you select a group in the group
73 buffer, and is killed when you exit the group.
74
75 From the summary buffer, you can choose an article to view. The
76 article is displayed in the @dfn{article buffer}. In normal Gnus
77 usage, you view this buffer but do not select it---all useful Gnus
78 commands can be invoked from the summary buffer. But you can select
79 the article buffer, and execute Gnus commands from it, if you wish.
80
81 @node Gnus Startup
82 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
83
84 @findex gnus
85 @cindex @file{.newsrc} file
86 If your system has been set up for reading Usenet news, getting
87 started with Gnus is easy---just type @kbd{M-x gnus}.
88
89 On starting up, Gnus reads your @dfn{news initialization file}: a
90 file named @file{.newsrc} in your home directory which lists your
91 Usenet newsgroups and subscriptions (this file is not unique to Gnus;
92 it is used by many other newsreader programs). It then tries to
93 contact the system's default news server, which is typically specified
94 by the @env{NNTPSERVER} environment variable.
95
96 If your system does not have a default news server, or if you wish
97 to use Gnus for reading email, then before invoking @kbd{M-x gnus} you
98 need to tell Gnus where to get news and/or mail. To do this,
99 customize the variables @code{gnus-select-method} and/or
100 @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods}.
101 @iftex
102 See the Gnus manual for details.
103 @end iftex
104 @ifnottex
105 @xref{Finding the News,,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
106 @end ifnottex
107
108 Once Gnus has started up, it displays the group buffer. By default,
109 the group buffer shows only a small number of @dfn{subscribed groups}.
110 Groups with other statuses---@dfn{unsubscribed}, @dfn{killed}, or
111 @dfn{zombie}---are hidden. The first time you start Gnus, any group
112 to which you are not subscribed is made into a killed group; any group
113 that subsequently appears on the news server becomes a zombie group.
114
115 To proceed, you must select a group in the group buffer to open the
116 summary buffer for that group; then, select an article in the summary
117 buffer to view its article buffer in a separate window. The following
118 sections explain how to use the group and summary buffers to do this.
119
120 To quit Gnus, type @kbd{q} in the group buffer. This automatically
121 records your group statuses in the files @file{.newsrc} and
122 @file{.newsrc.eld}, so that they take effect in subsequent Gnus
123 sessions.
124
125 @node Gnus Group Buffer
126 @subsection Using the Gnus Group Buffer
127
128 The following commands are available in the Gnus group buffer:
129
130 @table @kbd
131 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
132 @findex gnus-group-read-group
133 @item @key{SPC}
134 Switch to the summary buffer for the group on the current line.
135
136 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
137 @kindex A s @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
138 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
139 @item l
140 @itemx A s
141 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
142 which contain unread articles (this is the default listing).
143
144 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
145 @kindex A u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
146 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
147 @item L
148 @itemx A u
149 List all subscribed and unsubscribed groups, but not killed or zombie
150 groups.
151
152 @kindex A k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
153 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
154 @item A k
155 List killed groups.
156
157 @kindex A z @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
158 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
159 @item A z
160 List zombie groups.
161
162 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
163 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
164 @cindex subscribe groups
165 @cindex unsubscribe groups
166 @item u
167 Toggle the subscription status of the group on the current line
168 (i.e., turn a subscribed group into an unsubscribed group, or vice
169 versa). Invoking this on a killed or zombie group turns it into an
170 unsubscribed group.
171
172 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
173 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
174 @item C-k
175 Kill the group on the current line. Killed groups are not recorded in
176 the @file{.newsrc} file, and they are not shown in the @kbd{l} or
177 @kbd{L} listings.
178
179 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
180 @item @key{DEL}
181 Move point to the previous group containing unread articles.
182
183 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
184 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
185 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
186 @item n
187 Move point to the next unread group.
188
189 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
190 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
191 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
192 @item p
193 Move point to the previous unread group.
194
195 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
196 @findex gnus-group-exit
197 @item q
198 Update your Gnus settings, and quit Gnus.
199 @end table
200
201 @node Gnus Summary Buffer
202 @subsection Using the Gnus Summary Buffer
203
204 The following commands are available in the Gnus summary buffer:
205
206 @table @kbd
207 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
208 @findex gnus-group-read-group
209 @item @key{SPC}
210 If there is no article selected, select the article on the current
211 line and display its article buffer. Otherwise, try scrolling the
212 selected article buffer in its window; on reaching the end of the
213 buffer, select the next unread article.
214
215 Thus, you can read through all articles by repeatedly typing
216 @key{SPC}.
217
218 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
219 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
220 @item @key{DEL}
221 Scroll the text of the article backwards.
222
223 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
224 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
225 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
226 @item n
227 Select the next unread article.
228
229 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
230 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
231 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
232 @item p
233 Select the previous unread article.
234
235 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
236 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
237 @item s
238 Do an incremental search on the selected article buffer, as if you
239 switched to the buffer and typed @kbd{C-s} (@pxref{Incremental
240 Search}).
241
242 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
243 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
244 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
245 Search forward for articles containing a match for @var{regexp}.
246
247 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
248 @item q
249 Exit the summary buffer and return to the group buffer.
250 @end table
251
252
253 @node Network Security
254 @section Network Security
255 @cindex network security manager
256 @cindex NSM
257 @cindex encryption
258 @cindex SSL
259 @cindex TLS
260 @cindex STARTTLS
261
262 Whenever Emacs establishes any network connection, it passes the
263 established connection to the @dfn{Network Security Manager}
264 (@acronym{NSM}). @acronym{NSM} is responsible for enforcing the
265 network security under your control.
266
267 @vindex network-security-level
268 The @code{network-security-level} variable determines the security
269 level that @acronym{NSM} enforces. If its value is @code{low}, no
270 security checks are performed.
271
272 If this variable is @code{medium} (which is the default), a number of
273 checks will be performed. If as result @acronym{NSM} determines that
274 the network connection might not be trustworthy, it will make you
275 aware of that, and will ask you what to do about the network
276 connection.
277
278 You can decide to register a permanent security exception for an
279 unverified connection, a temporary exception, or refuse the connection
280 entirely.
281
282 Below is a list of the checks done on the @code{medium} level.
283
284 @table @asis
285
286 @item unable to verify a @acronym{TLS} certificate
287 If the connection is a @acronym{TLS}, @acronym{SSL} or
288 @acronym{STARTTLS} connection, @acronym{NSM} will check whether
289 the certificate used to establish the identity of the server we're
290 connecting to can be verified.
291
292 While an invalid certificate is often the cause for concern (there
293 could be a Man-in-the-Middle hijacking your network connection and
294 stealing your password), there may be valid reasons for going ahead
295 with the connection anyway. For instance, the server may be using a
296 self-signed certificate, or the certificate may have expired. It's up
297 to you to determine whether it's acceptable to continue with the
298 connection.
299
300 @item a self-signed certificate has changed
301 If you've previously accepted a self-signed certificate, but it has
302 now changed, that could mean that the server has just changed the
303 certificate, but it might also mean that the network connection has
304 been hijacked.
305
306 @item previously encrypted connection now unencrypted
307 If the connection is unencrypted, but it was encrypted in previous
308 sessions, this might mean that there is a proxy between you and the
309 server that strips away @acronym{STARTTLS} announcements, leaving the
310 connection unencrypted. This is usually very suspicious.
311
312 @item talking to an unencrypted service when sending a password
313 When connecting to an @acronym{IMAP} or @acronym{POP3} server, these
314 should usually be encrypted, because it's common to send passwords
315 over these connections. Similarly, if you're sending email via
316 @acronym{SMTP} that requires a password, you usually want that
317 connection to be encrypted. If the connection isn't encrypted,
318 @acronym{NSM} will warn you.
319
320 @end table
321
322 If @code{network-security-level} is @code{high}, the following checks
323 will be made, in addition to the above:
324
325 @table @asis
326 @item a validated certificate changes the public key
327 Servers change their keys occasionally, and that is normally nothing
328 to be concerned about. However, if you are worried that your network
329 connections are being hijacked by agencies who have access to pliable
330 Certificate Authorities which issue new certificates for third-party
331 services, you may want to keep track of these changes.
332 @end table
333
334 Finally, if @code{network-security-level} is @code{paranoid}, you will
335 also be notified the first time @acronym{NSM} sees any new
336 certificate. This will allow you to inspect all the certificates from
337 all the connections that Emacs makes.
338
339 The following additional variables can be used to control details of
340 @acronym{NSM} operation:
341
342 @table @code
343 @item nsm-settings-file
344 @vindex nsm-settings-file
345 This is the file where @acronym{NSM} stores details about connections.
346 It defaults to @file{~/.emacs.d/network-security.data}.
347
348 @item nsm-save-host-names
349 @vindex nsm-save-host-names
350 By default, host names will not be saved for non-@code{STARTTLS}
351 connections. Instead a host/port hash is used to identify connections.
352 This means that one can't casually read the settings file to see what
353 servers the user has connected to. If this variable is @code{t},
354 @acronym{NSM} will also save host names in the nsm-settings-file.
355 @end table
356
357
358 @node Document View
359 @section Document Viewing
360 @cindex DVI file
361 @cindex PDF file
362 @cindex PS file
363 @cindex PostScript file
364 @cindex OpenDocument file
365 @cindex Microsoft Office file
366 @cindex DocView mode
367 @cindex mode, DocView
368 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
369 @findex doc-view-mode
370
371 DocView mode is a major mode for viewing DVI, PostScript (PS), PDF,
372 OpenDocument, and Microsoft Office documents. It provides features
373 such as slicing, zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by
374 converting the document to a set of images using the @command{gs}
375 (GhostScript) or @command{mudraw}/@command{pdfdraw} (MuPDF) commands
376 and other external tools @footnote{For PostScript files, GhostScript
377 is a hard requirement. For DVI files, @code{dvipdf} or @code{dvipdfm}
378 is needed. For OpenDocument and Microsoft Office documents, the
379 @code{unoconv} tool is needed.}, and displaying those images.
380
381 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
382 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
383 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
384 When you visit a document file that can be displayed with DocView
385 mode, Emacs automatically uses DocView mode @footnote{The needed
386 external tools for the document type must be available, and Emacs must
387 be running in a graphical frame and have PNG image support. If any of
388 these requirements is not fulfilled, Emacs falls back to another major
389 mode.}. As an exception, when you visit a PostScript file, Emacs
390 switches to PS mode, a major mode for editing PostScript files as
391 text; however, it also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type
392 @kbd{C-c C-c} to view the document with DocView. In either DocView
393 mode or DocView minor mode, repeating @kbd{C-c C-c}
394 (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView and the
395 underlying file contents.
396
397 @findex doc-view-open-text
398 When you visit a file which would normally be handled by DocView
399 mode but some requirement is not met (e.g., you operate in a terminal
400 frame or emacs has no PNG support), you are queried if you want to
401 view the document's contents as plain text. If you confirm, the
402 buffer is put in text mode and DocView minor mode is activated. Thus,
403 by typing @kbd{C-c C-c} you switch to the fallback mode. With another
404 @kbd{C-c C-c} you return to DocView mode. The plain text contents can
405 also be displayed from within DocView mode by typing @kbd{C-c C-t}
406 (@code{doc-view-open-text}).
407
408 You can explicitly enable DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
409 doc-view-mode}. You can toggle DocView minor mode with @code{M-x
410 doc-view-minor-mode}.
411
412 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
413 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
414 that has been formatted.
415
416 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
417 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
418 (@code{quit-window}).
419
420 @menu
421 * Navigation: DocView Navigation. Navigating DocView buffers.
422 * Searching: DocView Searching. Searching inside documents.
423 * Slicing: DocView Slicing. Specifying which part of a page is displayed.
424 * Conversion: DocView Conversion. Influencing and triggering conversion.
425 @end menu
426
427 @node DocView Navigation
428 @subsection DocView Navigation
429
430 In DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
431 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
432 the arrow keys.
433
434 @vindex doc-view-continuous
435 By default, the line-motion keys @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} stop
436 scrolling at the beginning and end of the current page, respectively.
437 However, if you change the variable @code{doc-view-continuous} to a
438 non-@code{nil} value, then @kbd{C-p} displays the previous page if you
439 are already at the beginning of the current page, and @kbd{C-n}
440 displays the next page if you are at the end of the current page.
441
442 @findex doc-view-next-page
443 @findex doc-view-previous-page
444 @kindex n @r{(DocView mode)}
445 @kindex p @r{(DocView mode)}
446 @kindex C-x ] @r{(DocView mode)}
447 @kindex C-x [ @r{(DocView mode)}
448 You can also display the next page by typing @kbd{n}, @key{next} or
449 @kbd{C-x ]} (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous
450 page, type @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [}
451 (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
452
453 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
454 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
455 @kindex SPC @r{(DocView mode)}
456 @kindex DEL @r{(DocView mode)}
457 @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) is a convenient
458 way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the current
459 page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a similar
460 way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
461
462 @findex doc-view-first-page
463 @findex doc-view-last-page
464 @findex doc-view-goto-page
465 @kindex M-< @r{(DocView mode)}
466 @kindex M-> @r{(DocView mode)}
467 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
468 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
469 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
470 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
471
472 @findex doc-view-enlarge
473 @findex doc-view-shrink
474 @vindex doc-view-resolution
475 @kindex + @r{(DocView mode)}
476 @kindex - @r{(DocView mode)}
477 You can enlarge or shrink the document with @kbd{+}
478 (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-} (@code{doc-view-shrink}). These
479 commands work by reconverting the document at the new size. To
480 specify the default size for DocView, customize the variable
481 @code{doc-view-resolution}.
482
483 @node DocView Searching
484 @subsection DocView Searching
485
486 In DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
487 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
488 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
489
490 @findex doc-view-search
491 @findex doc-view-search-backward
492 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
493 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
494 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
495 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
496 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
497 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
498 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
499 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
500 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
501 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
502
503 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
504 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
505 for a backward search.
506
507 @node DocView Slicing
508 @subsection DocView Slicing
509
510 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
511 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
512 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
513
514 @findex doc-view-set-slice
515 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
516 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
517 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
518 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
519 look at.
520
521 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
522 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
523 and the slice's width and height.
524 @c ??? how does this work?
525
526 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
527 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
528 select the slice.
529 @c ??? How does this work?
530
531 The most convenient way is to set the optimal slice by using
532 BoundingBox information automatically determined from the document by
533 typing @kbd{s b} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}).
534
535 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
536 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
537 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
538 including its entire margins.
539
540 @node DocView Conversion
541 @subsection DocView Conversion
542
543 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
544 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
545 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
546 The name of this directory is given by the variable
547 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
548 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
549
550 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
551 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
552 To force reconversion of the currently viewed document, type @kbd{r}
553 or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter process
554 associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
555 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
556 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
557 the DocView buffer.
558
559 @node EWW
560 @section Web Browsing with EWW
561
562 @findex eww
563 @findex eww-open-file
564 @dfn{EWW}, the Emacs Web Wowser, is a web browser package for Emacs.
565 It allows browsing URLs within an Emacs buffer. The command @kbd{M-x
566 eww} will open a URL or search the web. You can open a file
567 using the command @kbd{M-x eww-open-file}. You can use EWW as the
568 web browser for @code{browse-url}, @pxref{Browse-URL}. For full
569 details, @pxref{Top, EWW,, eww, The Emacs Web Wowser Manual}.
570
571 @node Shell
572 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
573 @cindex subshell
574 @cindex shell commands
575
576 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to shell
577 subprocesses, and for running a shell interactively with input and
578 output to an Emacs buffer, and for running a shell in a terminal
579 emulator window.
580
581 @table @kbd
582 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
583 Run the shell command @var{cmd} and display the output
584 (@code{shell-command}).
585 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
586 Run the shell command @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
587 optionally replace the region with the output
588 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
589 @item M-& @var{cmd} @key{RET}
590 Run the shell command @var{cmd} asynchronously, and display the output
591 (@code{async-shell-command}).
592 @item M-x shell
593 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
594 then give commands interactively.
595 @item M-x term
596 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
597 then give commands interactively. Full terminal emulation is
598 available.
599 @end table
600
601 @vindex exec-path
602 Whenever you specify a relative file name for an executable program
603 (either in the @var{cmd} argument to one of the above commands, or in
604 other contexts), Emacs searches for the program in the directories
605 specified by the variable @code{exec-path}. The value of this
606 variable must be a list of directory names; the default value is
607 initialized from the environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is
608 started (@pxref{General Variables}).
609
610 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
611 is documented in its own manual.
612 @ifnottex
613 @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
614 @end ifnottex
615 @iftex
616 See the Eshell Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
617 @end iftex
618
619 @menu
620 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
621 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
622 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
623 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
624 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
625 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
626 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
627 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
628 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
629 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
630 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
631 @end menu
632
633 @node Single Shell
634 @subsection Single Shell Commands
635
636 @kindex M-!
637 @findex shell-command
638 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
639 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command, in a subshell made just
640 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
641 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
642 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
643 @file{*Shell Command Output*}, displayed in another window (if the
644 output is long).
645
646 For instance, one way to decompress a file named @file{foo.gz} is to
647 type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command normally
648 creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
649
650 A numeric argument to @code{shell-command}, e.g., @kbd{M-1 M-!},
651 causes it to insert terminal output into the current buffer instead of
652 a separate buffer. It puts point before the output, and sets the mark
653 after the output. For instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz
654 @key{RET}} would insert the uncompressed form of the file
655 @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
656
657 Provided the specified shell command does not end with @samp{&}, it
658 runs @dfn{synchronously}, and you must wait for it to exit before
659 continuing to use Emacs. To stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit;
660 this sends a @code{SIGINT} signal to terminate the shell command (this
661 is the same signal that @kbd{C-c} normally generates in the shell).
662 Emacs then waits until the command actually terminates. If the shell
663 command doesn't stop (because it ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal),
664 type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal,
665 which is impossible to ignore.
666
667 @kindex M-&
668 @findex async-shell-command
669 A shell command that ends in @samp{&} is executed
670 @dfn{asynchronously}, and you can continue to use Emacs as it runs.
671 You can also type @kbd{M-&} (@code{async-shell-command}) to execute a
672 shell command asynchronously; this is exactly like calling @kbd{M-!}
673 with a trailing @samp{&}, except that you do not need the @samp{&}.
674 The default output buffer for asynchronous shell commands is named
675 @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Emacs inserts the output into this
676 buffer as it comes in, whether or not the buffer is visible in a
677 window.
678
679 @vindex async-shell-command-buffer
680 If you want to run more than one asynchronous shell command at the
681 same time, they could end up competing for the output buffer. The
682 option @code{async-shell-command-buffer} specifies what to do about
683 this; e.g., whether to rename the pre-existing output buffer, or to
684 use a different buffer for the new command. Consult the variable's
685 documentation for more possibilities.
686
687 @kindex M-|
688 @findex shell-command-on-region
689 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!}, but
690 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
691 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, it deletes the
692 old region and replaces it with the output from the shell command.
693
694 For example, you can use @kbd{M-|} with the @command{gpg} program to
695 see what keys are in the buffer. If the buffer contains a GnuPG key,
696 type @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents
697 to @command{gpg}. This will output the list of keys to the
698 @file{*Shell Command Output*} buffer.
699
700 @vindex shell-file-name
701 The above commands use the shell specified by the variable
702 @code{shell-file-name}. Its default value is determined by the
703 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
704 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories listed in
705 @code{exec-path} (@pxref{Shell}).
706
707 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
708 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
709
710 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
711 By default, error output is intermixed with the regular output in
712 the output buffer. But if you change the value of the variable
713 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} to a string, error output is
714 inserted into a buffer of that name.
715
716 @node Interactive Shell
717 @subsection Interactive Subshell
718
719 @findex shell
720 To run a subshell interactively, type @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
721 (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*shell*}, and runs a shell subprocess
722 with input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to
723 say, any terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer,
724 advancing point, and any terminal input for the subshell comes from
725 text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end of
726 the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
727
728 While the subshell is waiting or running a command, you can switch
729 windows or buffers and perform other editing in Emacs. Emacs inserts
730 the output from the subshell into the Shell buffer whenever it has
731 time to process it (e.g., while waiting for keyboard input).
732
733 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
734 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
735 In the Shell buffer, prompts are displayed with the face
736 @code{comint-highlight-prompt}, and submitted input lines are
737 displayed with the face @code{comint-highlight-input}. This makes it
738 easier to distinguish input lines from the shell output.
739 @xref{Faces}.
740
741 To make multiple subshells, invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a prefix
742 argument (e.g., @kbd{C-u M-x shell}). Then the command will read a
743 buffer name, and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can
744 also rename the @file{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely},
745 then create a new @file{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
746 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
747
748 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
749 @cindex environment variables for subshells
750 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
751 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
752 To specify the shell file name used by @kbd{M-x shell}, customize
753 the variable @code{explicit-shell-file-name}. If this is @code{nil}
754 (the default), Emacs uses the environment variable @env{ESHELL} if it
755 exists. Otherwise, it usually uses the variable
756 @code{shell-file-name} (@pxref{Single Shell}); but if the default
757 directory is remote (@pxref{Remote Files}), it prompts you for the
758 shell file name.
759
760 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
761 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
762 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
763 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
764 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries with
765 @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
766
767 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
768 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
769 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
770 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
771 Coding}.
772
773 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
774 @cindex @env{EMACS} environment variable
775 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
776 subshell to @samp{@var{version},comint}, where @var{version} is the
777 Emacs version (e.g., @samp{24.1}). Programs can check this variable
778 to determine whether they are running inside an Emacs subshell. (It
779 also sets the @env{EMACS} environment variable to @code{t}, if that
780 environment variable is not already defined. However, this
781 environment variable is deprecated; programs that use it should switch
782 to using @env{INSIDE_EMACS} instead.)
783
784 @node Shell Mode
785 @subsection Shell Mode
786 @cindex Shell mode
787 @cindex mode, Shell
788
789 The major mode for Shell buffers is Shell mode. Many of its special
790 commands are bound to the @kbd{C-c} prefix, and resemble the usual
791 editing and job control characters present in ordinary shells, except
792 that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a list of Shell mode
793 commands:
794
795 @table @kbd
796 @item @key{RET}
797 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
798 @findex comint-send-input
799 Send the current line as input to the subshell
800 (@code{comint-send-input}). Any shell prompt at the beginning of the
801 line is omitted (@pxref{Shell Prompts}). If point is at the end of
802 buffer, this is like submitting the command line in an ordinary
803 interactive shell. However, you can also invoke @key{RET} elsewhere
804 in the shell buffer to submit the current line as input.
805
806 @item @key{TAB}
807 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
808 @findex completion-at-point
809 @cindex shell completion
810 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell
811 buffer (@code{completion-at-point}). This uses the usual Emacs
812 completion rules (@pxref{Completion}), with the completion
813 alternatives being file names, environment variable names, the shell
814 command history, and history references (@pxref{History References}).
815 For options controlling the completion, @pxref{Shell Options}.
816
817 @item M-?
818 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
819 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
820 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file
821 name before point (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
822
823 @item C-d
824 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
825 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
826 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
827 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
828 buffer, this sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
829 position in the buffer, this deletes a character as usual.
830
831 @item C-c C-a
832 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
833 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
834 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
835 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
836 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
837 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
838 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
839 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
840 previous line.)
841
842 @item C-c @key{SPC}
843 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
844 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
845 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
846 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
847 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
848
849 @item C-c C-u
850 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
851 @findex comint-kill-input
852 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
853 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
854 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
855
856 @item C-c C-w
857 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
858 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
859
860 @item C-c C-c
861 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
862 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
863 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
864 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
865 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
866
867 @item C-c C-z
868 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
869 @findex comint-stop-subjob
870 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
871 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
872 not yet sent.
873
874 @item C-c C-\
875 @findex comint-quit-subjob
876 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
877 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
878 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
879 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
880
881 @item C-c C-o
882 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
883 @findex comint-delete-output
884 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
885 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
886 out lots of output that just gets in the way.
887
888 @item C-c C-s
889 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
890 @findex comint-write-output
891 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
892 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
893 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
894 written.
895
896 @item C-c C-r
897 @itemx C-M-l
898 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
899 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
900 @findex comint-show-output
901 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
902 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
903
904 @item C-c C-e
905 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
906 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
907 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
908 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
909
910 @item C-c C-f
911 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
912 @findex shell-forward-command
913 @vindex shell-command-regexp
914 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
915 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
916 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
917
918 @item C-c C-b
919 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
920 @findex shell-backward-command
921 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
922 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
923
924 @item M-x dirs
925 Ask the shell for its working directory, and update the Shell buffer's
926 default directory. @xref{Directory Tracking}.
927
928 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
929 @findex send-invisible
930 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
931 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
932 for a password.
933
934 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
935 really want them to be echoed, evaluate (@pxref{Lisp Eval}) the
936 following Lisp expression:
937
938 @example
939 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
940 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
941 @end example
942
943 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
944 @findex comint-continue-subjob
945 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
946 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
947 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
948 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
949 this command won't do it.}
950
951 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
952 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
953 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
954 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
955 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
956 evaluate this Lisp expression:
957
958 @example
959 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
960 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
961 @end example
962
963 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
964 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
965 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
966 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
967 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
968 subshell:
969
970 @example
971 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
972 'comint-truncate-buffer)
973 @end example
974 @end table
975
976 @cindex Comint mode
977 @cindex mode, Comint
978 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
979 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
980 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
981 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
982 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
983
984 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
985 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
986
987 @findex comint-run
988 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
989 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
990 specializations of Shell mode.
991
992 @node Shell Prompts
993 @subsection Shell Prompts
994
995 @cindex prompt, shell
996 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
997 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
998 automatically figures out part of the buffer is a prompt, based on the
999 output of the subprocess. (Specifically, it assumes that any received
1000 output line which doesn't end with a newline is a prompt.)
1001
1002 Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of @dfn{fields}: input
1003 fields (where user input is typed) and output fields (everywhere
1004 else). Prompts are part of the output fields. Most Emacs motion
1005 commands do not cross field boundaries, unless they move over multiple
1006 lines. For instance, when point is in the input field on a shell
1007 command line, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the beginning of the input
1008 field, after the prompt. Internally, the fields are implemented using
1009 the @code{field} text property (@pxref{Text Properties,,, elisp, the
1010 Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1011
1012 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
1013 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
1014 If you change the variable @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} to a
1015 non-@code{nil} value, then Comint mode recognize prompts using a
1016 regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). In Shell mode, the regular
1017 expression is specified by the variable @code{shell-prompt-pattern}.
1018 The default value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil},
1019 because this method for recognizing prompts is unreliable, but you may
1020 want to set it to a non-@code{nil} value in unusual circumstances. In
1021 that case, Emacs does not divide the Comint buffer into fields, so the
1022 general motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers without
1023 special text properties. However, you can use the paragraph motion
1024 commands to conveniently navigate the buffer (@pxref{Paragraphs}); in
1025 Shell mode, Emacs uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern} as paragraph
1026 boundaries.
1027
1028 @node Shell History
1029 @subsection Shell Command History
1030
1031 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
1032 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
1033 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
1034 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
1035 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
1036 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
1037 @samp{!}-style history reference.
1038
1039 @menu
1040 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
1041 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
1042 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
1043 @end menu
1044
1045 @node Shell Ring
1046 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
1047
1048 @table @kbd
1049 @findex comint-previous-input
1050 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1051 @item M-p
1052 @itemx C-@key{UP}
1053 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
1054
1055 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1056 @findex comint-next-input
1057 @item M-n
1058 @itemx C-@key{DOWN}
1059 Fetch the next later old shell command.
1060
1061 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
1062 @findex comint-history-isearch-backward-regexp
1063 @item M-r
1064 Begin an incremental regexp search of old shell commands.
1065
1066 @item C-c C-x
1067 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
1068 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
1069 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
1070
1071 @item C-c .
1072 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
1073 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
1074 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
1075
1076 @item C-c C-l
1077 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
1078 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
1079 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
1080 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
1081 @end table
1082
1083 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell
1084 commands. To reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing
1085 commands @kbd{M-p}, @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work
1086 just like the minibuffer history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer
1087 History}), except that they operate within the Shell buffer rather
1088 than the minibuffer.
1089
1090 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
1091 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
1092 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
1093 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
1094 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
1095 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
1096 @kbd{M-n}.
1097
1098 The history search command @kbd{M-r} begins an incremental regular
1099 expression search of previous shell commands. After typing @kbd{M-r},
1100 start typing the desired string or regular expression; the last
1101 matching shell command will be displayed in the current line.
1102 Incremental search commands have their usual effects---for instance,
1103 @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r} search forward and backward for the next match
1104 (@pxref{Incremental Search}). When you find the desired input, type
1105 @key{RET} to terminate the search. This puts the input in the command
1106 line. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1107 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1108 history ring.
1109
1110 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1111 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1112 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1113 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1114 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1115 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1116 @key{RET}} over and over.
1117
1118 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1119 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like
1120 @kbd{@key{ESC} .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1121 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1122 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1123 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1124 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1125 command).
1126
1127 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1128 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1129 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1130 that these commands access.
1131
1132 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1133 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1134 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1135 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1136 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1137 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1138
1139 @node Shell History Copying
1140 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1141
1142 @table @kbd
1143 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1144 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1145 @item C-c C-p
1146 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1147
1148 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1149 @findex comint-next-prompt
1150 @item C-c C-n
1151 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1152
1153 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1154 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1155 @item C-c @key{RET}
1156 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1157 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1158 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1159 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1160 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1161 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1162
1163 @item Mouse-2
1164 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1165 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1166 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1167 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1168 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1169 @end table
1170
1171 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1172 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1173 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1174 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1175 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1176 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1177 buffer after it has been sent.
1178
1179 @node History References
1180 @subsubsection Shell History References
1181 @cindex history reference
1182
1183 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1184 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1185 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1186 for you.
1187
1188 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1189 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1190 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1191 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1192 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1193 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1194 typing @key{RET}.
1195
1196 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1197 @findex comint-magic-space
1198 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1199 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1200 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1201 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1202 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1203
1204 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1205 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1206
1207 @node Directory Tracking
1208 @subsection Directory Tracking
1209 @cindex directory tracking
1210
1211 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1212 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1213 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1214 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1215 commands given to the subshell, in order to keep the Shell buffer's
1216 default directory (@pxref{File Names}) the same as the shell's working
1217 directory. It recognizes these commands by examining lines of input
1218 that you send.
1219
1220 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1221 recognize them also, by setting the variables
1222 @code{shell-pushd-regexp}, @code{shell-popd-regexp}, and
1223 @code{shell-cd-regexp} to the appropriate regular expressions
1224 (@pxref{Regexps}). For example, if @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches
1225 the beginning of a shell command line, that line is regarded as a
1226 @code{pushd} command. These commands are recognized only at the
1227 beginning of a shell command line.
1228
1229 @findex dirs
1230 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the working directory of the
1231 subshell, type @kbd{M-x dirs}. This command asks the shell for its
1232 working directory and updates the default directory accordingly. It
1233 works for shells that support the most common command syntax, but may
1234 not work for unusual shells.
1235
1236 @findex dirtrack-mode
1237 @cindex Dirtrack mode
1238 @cindex mode, Dirtrack
1239 @vindex dirtrack-list
1240 You can also use Dirtrack mode, a buffer-local minor mode that
1241 implements an alternative method of tracking the shell's working
1242 directory. To use this method, your shell prompt must contain the
1243 working directory at all times, and you must supply a regular
1244 expression for recognizing which part of the prompt contains the
1245 working directory; see the documentation of the variable
1246 @code{dirtrack-list} for details. To use Dirtrack mode, type @kbd{M-x
1247 dirtrack-mode} in the Shell buffer, or add @code{dirtrack-mode} to
1248 @code{shell-mode-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1249
1250 @node Shell Options
1251 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1252
1253 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1254 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1255 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1256 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1257
1258 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1259 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1260 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1261 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1262 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1263 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1264
1265 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1266 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1267 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1268 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1269 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1270 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1271 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1272 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1273 point does not jump to the end.
1274
1275 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1276 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1277 buffer are read-only.
1278
1279 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1280 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1281 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1282 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1283 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1284 equal to the previous input.
1285
1286 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1287 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1288 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1289 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1290 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1291 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1292 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1293 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1294 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1295 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1296 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1297 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1298
1299 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1300 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1301 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1302 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1303
1304 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
1305 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
1306 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
1307 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
1308 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
1309 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
1310 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
1311 instead.
1312
1313 @findex shell-dynamic-complete-command
1314 Some implementation details of the shell command completion may also be found
1315 in the lisp documentation of the @code{shell-dynamic-complete-command}
1316 function.
1317
1318 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1319 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1320 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1321 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1322 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1323 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1324 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1325 directory stack if they are not already on it
1326 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1327 underlying shell, of course.
1328
1329 @node Terminal emulator
1330 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1331 @findex term
1332
1333 To run a subshell in a text terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}.
1334 This creates (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*terminal*}, and runs a
1335 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1336 that buffer.
1337
1338 @cindex line mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1339 @cindex char mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1340 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1341 @dfn{line mode}, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell
1342 Mode}). In @dfn{char mode}, each character is sent directly to the
1343 subshell, as terminal input; the sole exception is the terminal escape
1344 character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}). Any
1345 echoing of your input is the responsibility of the subshell; any
1346 terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer, advancing
1347 point.
1348
1349 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1350 of the terminal screen in detail. They do this by emitting special
1351 control codes. Term mode recognizes and handles ANSI-standard
1352 VT100-style escape sequences, which are accepted by most modern
1353 terminals, including @command{xterm}. (Hence, you can actually run
1354 Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.)
1355
1356 The @code{term} face specifies the default appearance of text
1357 in the terminal emulator (the default is the same appearance as the
1358 @code{default} face). When terminal control codes are used to change
1359 the appearance of text, these are represented in the terminal emulator
1360 by the faces @code{term-color-black}, @code{term-color-red},
1361 @code{term-color-green}, @code{term-color-yellow}
1362 @code{term-color-blue}, @code{term-color-magenta},
1363 @code{term-color-cyan}, @code{term-color-white},
1364 @code{term-color-underline}, and @code{term-color-bold}.
1365 @xref{Faces}.
1366
1367 You can also Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1368 serial port. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1369
1370 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1371 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1372 buffer @file{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1373 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1374
1375 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1376 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1377 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1378 and later.
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383 @node Term Mode
1384 @subsection Term Mode
1385 @cindex Term mode
1386 @cindex mode, Term
1387
1388 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1389 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}).
1390 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the subshell, except
1391 for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1392
1393 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1394
1395 @table @kbd
1396 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1397 @findex term-line-mode
1398 @item C-c C-j
1399 Switch to line mode (@code{term-line-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1400 line mode.
1401
1402 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1403 @findex term-char-mode
1404 @item C-c C-k
1405 Switch to char mode (@code{term-char-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1406 char mode.
1407 @end table
1408
1409 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1410
1411 @table @kbd
1412 @item C-c C-c
1413 Send a literal @key{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1414
1415 @item C-c @var{char}
1416 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1417 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1418 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1419 @end table
1420
1421 @cindex paging in Term mode
1422 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled, it makes
1423 output pause at the end of each screenful:
1424
1425 @table @kbd
1426 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1427 @findex term-pager-toggle
1428 @item C-c C-q
1429 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1430 and char modes. When the feature is enabled, the mode-line displays
1431 the word @samp{page}, and each time Term receives more than a
1432 screenful of output, it pauses and displays @samp{**MORE**} in the
1433 mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next screenful of output, or
1434 @kbd{?} to see your other options. The interface is similar to the
1435 @code{more} program.
1436 @end table
1437
1438 @node Remote Host
1439 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1440 @cindex remote host
1441 @cindex connecting to remote host
1442 @cindex Telnet
1443 @cindex Rlogin
1444
1445 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1446 would from a regular terminal (e.g., using the @code{telnet} or
1447 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1448
1449 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1450 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1451 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1452 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1453 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1454 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1455
1456 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1457 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1458 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1459 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1460 login command, without a separating comma.) Terminal types
1461 @samp{ansi} or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1462
1463 @node Serial Terminal
1464 @subsection Serial Terminal
1465 @cindex terminal, serial
1466 @findex serial-term
1467
1468 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1469 you can communicate with it by typing @kbd{M-x serial-term}. This
1470 command asks for a serial port name and speed, and switches to a new
1471 Term mode buffer. Emacs communicates with the serial device through
1472 this buffer just like it does with a terminal in ordinary Term mode.
1473
1474 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1475 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1476 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1477
1478 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on ``8N1'' in
1479 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as ``8N1'',
1480 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1481 bit, and 1 stopbit.
1482
1483 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1484 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1485 window.
1486
1487 @node Emacs Server
1488 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1489 @pindex emacsclient
1490 @cindex Emacs as a server
1491 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1492 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1493
1494 Various programs can invoke your choice of editor to edit a
1495 particular piece of text. For instance, version control programs
1496 invoke an editor to enter version control logs (@pxref{Version
1497 Control}), and the Unix @command{mail} utility invokes an editor to
1498 enter a message to send. By convention, your choice of editor is
1499 specified by the environment variable @env{EDITOR}. If you set
1500 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, Emacs would be invoked, but in an
1501 inconvenient way---by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1502 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1503 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1504 process.
1505
1506 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1507 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1508 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1509
1510 @itemize
1511 @findex server-start
1512 @item
1513 Run the command @code{server-start} in an existing Emacs process:
1514 either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the expression
1515 @code{(server-start)} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}). The
1516 existing Emacs process is the server; when you exit Emacs, the server
1517 dies with the Emacs process.
1518
1519 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1520 @item
1521 Run Emacs as a @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line
1522 option. @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it
1523 calls @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to
1524 the calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then
1525 waits in the background, listening for edit requests.
1526 @end itemize
1527
1528 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1529 Either way, once an Emacs server is started, you can use a shell
1530 command called @command{emacsclient} to connect to the Emacs process
1531 and tell it to visit a file. You can then set the @env{EDITOR}
1532 environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}, so that external programs
1533 will use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some
1534 programs use a different environment variable; for example, to make
1535 @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment
1536 variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1537
1538 @vindex server-name
1539 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1540 each one a unique ``server name'', using the variable
1541 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1542 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1543 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1544 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1545
1546 @findex server-eval-at
1547 If you have defined a server by a unique server name, it is possible
1548 to connect to the server from another Emacs instance and evaluate Lisp
1549 expressions on the server, using the @code{server-eval-at} function.
1550 For instance, @code{(server-eval-at "foo" '(+ 1 2))} evaluates the
1551 expression @code{(+ 1 2)} on the @samp{foo} server, and returns
1552 @code{3}. (If there is no server with that name, an error is
1553 signaled.) Currently, this feature is mainly useful for developers.
1554
1555 @menu
1556 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1557 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1558 @end menu
1559
1560 @node Invoking emacsclient
1561 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1562 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1563
1564 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1565 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1566 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1567 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1568 graphical frame, or one in a text terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1569 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1570
1571 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1572 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1573 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1574 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1575 called @command{emacsclient}.
1576
1577 You can also force @command{emacsclient} to open a new frame on a
1578 graphical display, or on a text terminal, using the @samp{-c} and
1579 @samp{-t} options. @xref{emacsclient Options}.
1580
1581 If you are running on a single text terminal, you can switch between
1582 @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server using one of two
1583 methods: (i) run the Emacs server and @command{emacsclient} on
1584 different virtual terminals, and switch to the Emacs server's virtual
1585 terminal after calling @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call
1586 @command{emacsclient} from within the Emacs server itself, using Shell
1587 mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell}) or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode});
1588 @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under Emacs, and you can
1589 still use Emacs to edit the file.
1590
1591 @kindex C-x #
1592 @findex server-edit
1593 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1594 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1595 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1596 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1597 ``editor''---in this case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1598 something else.
1599
1600 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1601 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1602 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1603 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1604 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1605 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1606 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1607 buffer).
1608
1609 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1610 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1611 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1612 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1613 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1614 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1615 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1616 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1617 ``temporary'' files.
1618
1619 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1620 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1621 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1622 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1623 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1624
1625 @vindex server-window
1626 If you set the value of the variable @code{server-window} to a
1627 window or a frame, @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer
1628 in that window or in that frame.
1629
1630 @node emacsclient Options
1631 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1632 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1633
1634 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1635 program, such as:
1636
1637 @example
1638 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1639 @end example
1640
1641 @noindent
1642 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1643 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1644 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1645 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1646
1647 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1648 listed below:
1649
1650 @table @samp
1651 @item -a @var{command}
1652 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1653 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1654 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script.
1655
1656 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1657 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode (as @command{emacs
1658 --daemon}) and then tries connecting again.
1659
1660 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1661 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1662 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1663 precedence.
1664
1665 @cindex client frame
1666 @item -c
1667 Create a new graphical @dfn{client frame}, instead of using an
1668 existing Emacs frame. See below for the special behavior of @kbd{C-x
1669 C-c} in a client frame. If Emacs cannot create a new graphical frame
1670 (e.g., if it cannot connect to the X server), it tries to create a
1671 text terminal client frame, as though you had supplied the @samp{-t}
1672 option instead.
1673
1674 On MS-Windows, a single Emacs session cannot display frames on both
1675 graphical and text terminals, nor on multiple text terminals. Thus,
1676 if the Emacs server is running on a text terminal, the @samp{-c}
1677 option, like the @samp{-t} option, creates a new frame in the server's
1678 current text terminal. @xref{Windows Startup}.
1679
1680 If you omit a filename argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option,
1681 the new frame displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer by default. You
1682 can customize this behavior with the variable @code{initial-buffer-choice}
1683 (@pxref{Entering Emacs}).
1684
1685 @item -F @var{alist}
1686 @itemx --frame-parameters=@var{alist}
1687 Set the parameters for a newly-created graphical frame
1688 (@pxref{Frame Parameters}).
1689
1690 @item -d @var{display}
1691 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1692 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1693 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1694
1695 @item -e
1696 @itemx --eval
1697 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1698 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1699 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1700 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1701
1702 @item -f @var{server-file}
1703 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1704 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1705 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1706
1707 An Emacs server usually uses an operating system feature called a
1708 ``local socket'' to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1709 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1710 the server communicates with @command{emacsclient} via TCP.
1711
1712 @vindex server-auth-dir
1713 @cindex server file
1714 @vindex server-port
1715 When you start a TCP Emacs server, Emacs creates a @dfn{server file}
1716 containing the TCP information to be used by @command{emacsclient} to
1717 connect to the server. The variable @code{server-auth-dir} specifies
1718 the directory containing the server file; by default, this is
1719 @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. To tell @command{emacsclient} to connect
1720 to the server over TCP with a specific server file, use the @samp{-f}
1721 or @samp{--server-file} option, or set the @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE}
1722 environment variable.
1723
1724 @item -n
1725 @itemx --no-wait
1726 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1727 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1728 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1729 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1730
1731 @item --parent-id @var{id}
1732 Open an @command{emacsclient} frame as a client frame in the parent X
1733 window with id @var{id}, via the XEmbed protocol. Currently, this
1734 option is mainly useful for developers.
1735
1736 @item -q
1737 @itemx --quiet
1738 Do not let @command{emacsclient} display messages about waiting for
1739 Emacs or connecting to remote server sockets.
1740
1741 @item -s @var{server-name}
1742 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1743 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1744 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1745 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1746 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1747
1748 @item -t
1749 @itemx --tty
1750 @itemx -nw
1751 Create a new client frame on the current text terminal, instead of
1752 using an existing Emacs frame. This behaves just like the @samp{-c}
1753 option, described above, except that it creates a text terminal frame
1754 (@pxref{Non-Window Terminals}).
1755
1756 On MS-Windows, @samp{-t} behaves just like @samp{-c} if the Emacs
1757 server is using the graphical display, but if the Emacs server is
1758 running on a text terminal, it creates a new frame in the current text
1759 terminal.
1760 @end table
1761
1762 The new graphical or text terminal frames created by the @samp{-c}
1763 or @samp{-t} options are considered @dfn{client frames}. Any new
1764 frame that you create from a client frame is also considered a client
1765 frame. If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal})
1766 in a client frame, that command does not kill the Emacs session as it
1767 normally does (@pxref{Exiting}). Instead, Emacs deletes the client
1768 frame; furthermore, if the client frame has an @command{emacsclient}
1769 waiting to regain control (i.e., if you did not supply the @samp{-n}
1770 option), Emacs deletes all other frames of the same client, and marks
1771 the client's server buffers as finished, as though you had typed
1772 @kbd{C-x #} in all of them. If it so happens that there are no
1773 remaining frames after the client frame(s) are deleted, the Emacs
1774 session exits.
1775
1776 As an exception, when Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are
1777 considered client frames, and @kbd{C-x C-c} never kills Emacs. To
1778 kill a daemon session, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1779
1780 Note that the @samp{-t} and @samp{-n} options are contradictory:
1781 @samp{-t} says to take control of the current text terminal to create
1782 a new client frame, while @samp{-n} says not to take control of the
1783 text terminal. If you supply both options, Emacs visits the specified
1784 files(s) in an existing frame rather than a new client frame, negating
1785 the effect of @samp{-t}.
1786
1787 @node Printing
1788 @section Printing Hard Copies
1789 @cindex hardcopy
1790 @cindex printing
1791
1792 Emacs provides commands for printing hardcopies of either an entire
1793 buffer or part of one. You can invoke the printing commands directly,
1794 as detailed below, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar.
1795
1796 @findex htmlfontify-buffer
1797 Aside from the commands described in this section, you can also
1798 print hardcopies from Dired (@pxref{Operating on Files}) and the diary
1799 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}). You can also ``print'' an Emacs
1800 buffer to HTML with the command @kbd{M-x htmlfontify-buffer}, which
1801 converts the current buffer to a HTML file, replacing Emacs faces with
1802 CSS-based markup. Furthermore, Org mode allows you to ``print'' Org
1803 files to a variety of formats, such as PDF (@pxref{Org Mode}).
1804
1805 @table @kbd
1806 @item M-x print-buffer
1807 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the
1808 file name and page number.
1809 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1810 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1811 @item M-x print-region
1812 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1813 @item M-x lpr-region
1814 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1815 @end table
1816
1817 @findex print-buffer
1818 @findex print-region
1819 @findex lpr-buffer
1820 @findex lpr-region
1821 @vindex lpr-switches
1822 @vindex lpr-commands
1823 On most operating system, the above hardcopy commands submit files
1824 for printing by calling the @command{lpr} program. To change the
1825 printer program, customize the variable @code{lpr-command}. To
1826 specify extra switches to give the printer program, customize the list
1827 variable @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of option
1828 strings, each of which should start with @samp{-} (e.g., the option
1829 string @code{"-w80"} specifies a line width of 80 columns). The
1830 default is the empty list, @code{nil}.
1831
1832 @vindex printer-name
1833 @vindex lpr-printer-switch
1834 To specify the printer to use, set the variable @code{printer-name}.
1835 The default, @code{nil}, specifies the default printer. If you set it
1836 to a printer name (a string), that name is passed to @command{lpr}
1837 with the @samp{-P} switch; if you are not using @command{lpr}, you
1838 should specify the switch with @code{lpr-printer-switch}.
1839
1840 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1841 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1842 The variable @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the
1843 extra switches to use to make page headers. The variable
1844 @code{lpr-add-switches} controls whether to supply @samp{-T} and
1845 @samp{-J} options (suitable for @command{lpr}) to the printer program:
1846 @code{nil} means don't add them (this should be the value if your
1847 printer program is not compatible with @command{lpr}).
1848
1849 @menu
1850 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1851 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1852 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1853 @end menu
1854
1855 @node PostScript
1856 @subsection PostScript Hardcopy
1857
1858 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1859 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1860
1861 @table @kbd
1862 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1863 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1864 @item M-x ps-print-region
1865 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1866 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1867 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1868 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1869 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1870 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1871 faces used in the text.
1872 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1873 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1874 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1875 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1876 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1877 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1878 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1879 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1880 @item M-x ps-despool
1881 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1882 @item M-x handwrite
1883 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1884 @end table
1885
1886 @findex ps-print-region
1887 @findex ps-print-buffer
1888 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1889 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1890 The @code{ps-print-buffer} and @code{ps-print-region} commands print
1891 buffer contents in PostScript form. One command prints the entire
1892 buffer; the other, just the region. The commands
1893 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and
1894 @code{ps-print-region-with-faces} behave similarly, but use PostScript
1895 features to show the faces (fonts and colors) of the buffer text.
1896
1897 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1898 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1899 instead of sending it to the printer.
1900
1901 @findex ps-spool-region
1902 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1903 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
1904 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1905 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
1906 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
1907 it to the printer.
1908
1909 @findex ps-despool
1910 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the
1911 printer. This command sends the PostScript generated by
1912 @samp{-spool-} commands (see commands above) to the printer. With a
1913 prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), it prompts for a file name, and saves the
1914 spooled PostScript image in that file instead of sending it to the
1915 printer.
1916
1917 @findex handwrite
1918 @cindex handwriting
1919 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
1920 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
1921 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
1922 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
1923
1924 @node PostScript Variables
1925 @subsection Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
1926
1927 @vindex ps-lpr-command
1928 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
1929 @vindex ps-printer-name
1930 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
1931 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
1932 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
1933 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
1934 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
1935 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
1936 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
1937 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
1938
1939 @vindex ps-print-header
1940 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
1941 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
1942 off.
1943
1944 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
1945 @vindex ps-print-color-p
1946 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
1947 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
1948 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
1949 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
1950 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
1951 screen colors only use shades of gray.
1952
1953 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
1954 print colors on black/white printers.
1955
1956 @vindex ps-use-face-background
1957 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
1958 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
1959 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
1960 stripes and background image/text.
1961
1962 @vindex ps-paper-type
1963 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
1964 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
1965 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
1966 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
1967 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
1968 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
1969 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
1970 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
1971
1972 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
1973 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
1974 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
1975 ``portrait'' mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies ``landscape''
1976 mode.
1977
1978 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
1979 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
1980 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
1981 default is 1.
1982
1983 @vindex ps-font-family
1984 @vindex ps-font-size
1985 @vindex ps-font-info-database
1986 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
1987 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
1988 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
1989 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
1990 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
1991
1992 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
1993 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
1994 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
1995 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
1996 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
1997 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
1998 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
1999 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
2000 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
2001 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2002 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
2003 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
2004 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
2005 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
2006 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
2007 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2008 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
2009
2010 @vindex bdf-directory-list
2011 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
2012 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
2013 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
2014 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
2015
2016 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
2017 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
2018
2019 @node Printing Package
2020 @subsection Printing Package
2021 @cindex Printing package
2022
2023 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
2024 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
2025 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
2026 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
2027 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
2028 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
2029 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
2030 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
2031 used.
2032
2033 @findex pr-interface
2034 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
2035 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
2036 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
2037 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
2038 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface @key{RET}}; this creates a
2039 @file{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
2040 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
2041 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
2042 @kbd{Mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @key{RET}). For
2043 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
2044 Help} button.
2045
2046 @node Sorting
2047 @section Sorting Text
2048 @cindex sorting
2049
2050 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
2051 operate on the contents of the region.
2052 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
2053 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
2054 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
2055 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
2056 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters @samp{A}
2057 through @samp{Z} come before lower-case @samp{a}, in accordance with the
2058 @acronym{ASCII} character sequence.
2059
2060 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
2061 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
2062 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
2063 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
2064 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
2065 record as the sort key.
2066
2067 @findex sort-lines
2068 @findex sort-paragraphs
2069 @findex sort-pages
2070 @findex sort-fields
2071 @findex sort-numeric-fields
2072 @vindex sort-numeric-base
2073 @table @kbd
2074 @item M-x sort-lines
2075 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
2076 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
2077
2078 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
2079 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
2080 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2081 argument means sort into descending order.
2082
2083 @item M-x sort-pages
2084 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2085 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2086 argument means sort into descending order.
2087
2088 @item M-x sort-fields
2089 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2090 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2091 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2092 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2093 2, etc.
2094
2095 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2096 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2097 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2098 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2099 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2100
2101 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2102 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2103 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2104 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2105 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2106 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2107 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2108
2109 @item M-x sort-columns
2110 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2111 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. See below
2112 for an explanation.
2113
2114 @findex reverse-region
2115 @item M-x reverse-region
2116 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2117 sorting into descending order by fields or columns, since those sort
2118 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2119 @end table
2120
2121 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2122
2123 @smallexample
2124 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2125 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2126 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2127 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2128 the buffer.
2129 @end smallexample
2130
2131 @noindent
2132 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2133
2134 @smallexample
2135 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2136 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2137 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2138 the buffer.
2139 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2140 @end smallexample
2141
2142 @noindent
2143 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2144 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2145
2146 @smallexample
2147 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2148 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2149 the buffer.
2150 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2151 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2152 @end smallexample
2153
2154 @noindent
2155 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2156 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2157
2158 @findex sort-columns
2159 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2160 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2161 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2162 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2163 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2164 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2165 as well as all the lines in between.
2166
2167 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2168 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2169 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2170 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2171 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2172
2173 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2174 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2175 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2176 @xref{Rectangles}.
2177
2178 @vindex sort-fold-case
2179 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2180 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2181
2182 @c Picture Mode documentation
2183 @ifnottex
2184 @include picture-xtra.texi
2185 @end ifnottex
2186
2187
2188 @node Editing Binary Files
2189 @section Editing Binary Files
2190
2191 @cindex Hexl mode
2192 @cindex mode, Hexl
2193 @cindex editing binary files
2194 @cindex hex editing
2195 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2196 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2197 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2198 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2199 automatically back to binary.
2200
2201 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2202 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2203 it is a binary file.
2204
2205 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2206 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2207 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2208 commands of Hexl mode:
2209
2210 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2211 @table @kbd
2212 @item C-M-d
2213 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2214
2215 @item C-M-o
2216 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2217
2218 @item C-M-x
2219 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2220
2221 @item C-x [
2222 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte ``page''.
2223
2224 @item C-x ]
2225 Move to the end of a 1k-byte ``page''.
2226
2227 @item M-g
2228 Move to an address specified in hex.
2229
2230 @item M-j
2231 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2232
2233 @item C-c C-c
2234 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2235 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2236 @end table
2237
2238 @noindent
2239 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2240 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2241 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2242
2243
2244 @node Saving Emacs Sessions
2245 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2246 @cindex saving sessions
2247 @cindex restore session
2248 @cindex remember editing session
2249 @cindex reload files
2250 @cindex desktop
2251
2252 @vindex desktop-restore-frames
2253 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2254 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2255 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2256 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop. By default,
2257 the desktop also tries to save the frame and window configuration.
2258 To disable this, set @code{desktop-restore-frames} to @code{nil}.
2259 (See that variable's documentation for some related options
2260 that you can customize to fine-tune this behavior.)
2261
2262 @findex desktop-save
2263 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2264 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2265 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2266 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2267 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2268 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2269 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2270
2271 @example
2272 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2273 @end example
2274
2275 @vindex desktop-auto-save-timeout
2276 @noindent
2277 When @code{desktop-save-mode} is active and the desktop file exists,
2278 Emacs auto-saves it every @code{desktop-auto-save-timeout}
2279 seconds, if that is non-@code{nil} and non-zero.
2280
2281 @findex desktop-change-dir
2282 @findex desktop-revert
2283 @vindex desktop-path
2284 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2285 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2286 (More precisely, it looks in the directories specified by
2287 @var{desktop-path}, and uses the first desktop it finds.)
2288 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2289 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2290 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2291 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2292 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2293
2294 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2295 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2296 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2297 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2298 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2299 usually turned on.
2300
2301 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2302 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2303 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2304 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2305 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2306 remaining buffers are restored ``lazily'', when Emacs is idle.
2307
2308 @findex desktop-clear
2309 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2310 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2311 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2312 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2313 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2314 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2315 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2316 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2317
2318 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2319 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2320
2321 @node Recursive Edit
2322 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2323 @cindex recursive editing level
2324 @cindex editing level, recursive
2325
2326 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2327 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2328 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2329 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2330 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2331 the @code{query-replace}. @xref{Query Replace}.
2332
2333 @kindex C-M-c
2334 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2335 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2336 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2337 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2338 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2339
2340 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2341 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2342 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2343
2344 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2345 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2346 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2347 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2348 any particular window or buffer.
2349
2350 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2351 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2352 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2353 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2354 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2355 level currently in progress.
2356
2357 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2358 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2359 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2360 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2361 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2362 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2363 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2364
2365 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2366 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2367 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2368
2369 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2370 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2371 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2372 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2373 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2374 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2375 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2376 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2377 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2378 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2379
2380 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2381 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to ``go back'' in a
2382 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2383 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2384 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2385 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2386 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2387 the order you choose.
2388
2389 @ignore
2390 @c Apart from edt and viper, this is all obsolete.
2391 @c (Can't believe we were saying ``most other editors'' into 2014!)
2392 @c There seems no point having a node just for those, which both have
2393 @c their own manuals.
2394 @node Emulation
2395 @section Emulation
2396 @cindex emulating other editors
2397 @cindex other editors
2398 @cindex EDT
2399 @cindex vi
2400 @cindex WordStar
2401
2402 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2403 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2404
2405 @table @asis
2406 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2407 @findex crisp-mode
2408 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2409 @findex scroll-all-mode
2410 @cindex CRiSP mode
2411 @cindex Brief emulation
2412 @cindex emulation of Brief
2413 @cindex mode, CRiSP
2414 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode} enables key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief
2415 editor. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs unless you set
2416 the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can also use the
2417 command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2418 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2419 (scrolling all windows together).
2420
2421 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2422 @findex edt-emulation-on
2423 @findex edt-emulation-off
2424 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}; restore normal
2425 command bindings with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off}.
2426
2427 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2428 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2429 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2430 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2431
2432 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2433 @findex tpu-edt-on
2434 @cindex TPU
2435 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2436
2437 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2438 @findex viper-mode
2439 Viper is an emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2440 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2441 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2442 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2443 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2444 Viper, viper}.
2445
2446 @item vi (another emulator)
2447 @findex vi-mode
2448 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2449 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2450 ``input'' mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2451 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's ``input'' mode.
2452
2453 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2454 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2455
2456 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2457 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2458
2459 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2460 @findex vip-mode
2461 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2462 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. ``Input'' mode in this emulator
2463 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2464 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2465 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2466
2467 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2468 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2469 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2470 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2471 not use it.
2472
2473 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2474
2475 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2476 @findex wordstar-mode
2477 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2478 key bindings.
2479 @end table
2480 @end ignore
2481
2482
2483 @node Hyperlinking
2484 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2485
2486 The following subsections describe convenience features for handling
2487 URLs and other types of links occurring in Emacs buffer text.
2488
2489 @menu
2490 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2491 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2492 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2493 @end menu
2494
2495 @node Browse-URL
2496 @subsection Following URLs
2497 @cindex World Wide Web
2498 @cindex Web
2499 @findex browse-url
2500 @findex browse-url-at-point
2501 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2502 @cindex Browse-URL
2503 @cindex URLs
2504
2505 @table @kbd
2506 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2507 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2508 @end table
2509
2510 The Browse-URL package allows you to easily follow URLs from within
2511 Emacs. Most URLs are followed by invoking a web browser;
2512 @samp{mailto:} URLs are followed by invoking the @code{compose-mail}
2513 Emacs command to send mail to the specified address (@pxref{Sending
2514 Mail}).
2515
2516 The command @kbd{M-x browse-url} prompts for a URL, and follows it.
2517 If point is located near a plausible URL, that URL is offered as the
2518 default. The Browse-URL package also provides other commands which
2519 you might like to bind to keys, such as @code{browse-url-at-point} and
2520 @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2521
2522 @vindex browse-url-mailto-function
2523 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2524 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2525 @code{browse-url} Customize group. In particular, the option
2526 @code{browse-url-mailto-function} lets you define how to follow
2527 @samp{mailto:} URLs, while @code{browse-url-browser-function} lets you
2528 define how to follow other types of URLs. For more information, view
2529 the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P browse-url @key{RET}}.
2530
2531 @node Goto Address mode
2532 @subsection Activating URLs
2533 @findex goto-address-mode
2534 @cindex mode, Goto Address
2535 @cindex Goto Address mode
2536 @cindex URLs, activating
2537
2538 @table @kbd
2539 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2540 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2541 @end table
2542
2543 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Goto Address mode)}
2544 @findex goto-address-at-point
2545 You can make Emacs mark out URLs specially in the current buffer, by
2546 typing @kbd{M-x goto-address-mode}. When this buffer-local minor mode
2547 is enabled, it finds all the URLs in the buffer, highlights them, and
2548 turns them into clickable buttons. You can follow the URL by typing
2549 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} (@code{goto-address-at-point}) while point is on
2550 its text; or by clicking with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or by clicking
2551 @kbd{Mouse-1} quickly (@pxref{Mouse References}). Following a URL is
2552 done by calling @code{browse-url} as a subroutine
2553 (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2554
2555 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2556 hooks for displaying an incoming message
2557 (e.g., @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and
2558 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus,
2559 which has a similar feature of its own.
2560
2561 @node FFAP
2562 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2563 @findex find-file-at-point
2564 @findex ffap
2565 @findex dired-at-point
2566 @findex ffap-next
2567 @findex ffap-menu
2568 @cindex finding file at point
2569
2570 The FFAP package replaces certain key bindings for finding files,
2571 such as @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive
2572 defaults. These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a
2573 prefix argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL
2574 from the text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the
2575 form of a URL rather than a file name, the commands use
2576 @code{browse-url} to view it (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2577
2578 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2579 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. For
2580 more information, view the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P
2581 ffap @key{RET}}.
2582
2583 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2584 @findex ffap-mode
2585 To enable FFAP, type @kbd{M-x ffap-bindings}. This makes the
2586 following key bindings, and also installs hooks for additional FFAP
2587 functionality in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2588
2589 @table @kbd
2590 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2591 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2592 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2593 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2594 @item C-x C-r
2595 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2596 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2597 @item C-x C-v
2598 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2599 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2600 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2601 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2602 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2603 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2604 @item C-x C-d
2605 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2606 @item C-x 4 f
2607 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2608 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2609 @item C-x 4 r
2610 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2611 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2612 @item C-x 4 d
2613 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, like @code{dired-other-window}.
2614 @item C-x 5 f
2615 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2616 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2617 @item C-x 5 r
2618 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2619 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2620 @item C-x 5 d
2621 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2622 @item M-x ffap-next
2623 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2624 @item S-Mouse-3
2625 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2626 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2627 of a mouse click.
2628 @item C-S-Mouse-3
2629 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2630 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2631 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2632 @end table
2633
2634 @node Amusements
2635 @section Other Amusements
2636 @cindex boredom
2637
2638 @findex animate-birthday-present
2639 @cindex animate
2640 The @code{animate} package makes text dance (e.g., @kbd{M-x
2641 animate-birthday-present}).
2642
2643 @findex blackbox
2644 @findex mpuz
2645 @findex 5x5
2646 @cindex puzzles
2647 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2648 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2649 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2650 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2651 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2652 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2653
2654 @findex bubbles
2655 @kbd{M-x bubbles} is a game in which the object is to remove as many
2656 bubbles as you can in the smallest number of moves.
2657
2658 @findex decipher
2659 @cindex ciphers
2660 @cindex cryptanalysis
2661 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is
2662 encrypted in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2663
2664 @findex dissociated-press
2665 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} scrambles the text in the current Emacs
2666 buffer, word by word or character by character, writing its output to
2667 a buffer named @file{*Dissociation*}. A positive argument tells it to
2668 operate character by character, and specifies the number of overlap
2669 characters. A negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and
2670 specifies the number of overlap words. Dissociated Press produces
2671 results fairly like those of a Markov chain, but is however, an
2672 independent, ignoriginal invention; it techniquitously copies several
2673 consecutive characters from the sample text between random jumps,
2674 unlike a Markov chain which would jump randomly after each word or
2675 character. Keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want
2676 it to be well userenced and properbose.
2677
2678 @findex dunnet
2679 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs an text-based adventure game.
2680
2681 @findex gomoku
2682 @cindex Go Moku
2683 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2684 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2685
2686 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2687 @findex hanoi
2688 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2689 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2690 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2691
2692 @findex life
2693 @cindex Life
2694 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's ``Life'' cellular automaton.
2695
2696 @findex landmark
2697 @cindex landmark game
2698 @kbd{M-x landmark} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which
2699 a robot attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the
2700 window based on unique olfactory cues from each of the four
2701 directions.
2702
2703 @findex morse-region
2704 @findex unmorse-region
2705 @findex nato-region
2706 @cindex Morse code
2707 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2708 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts the text in the region to Morse
2709 code; @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. @kbd{M-x
2710 nato-region} converts the text in the region to NATO phonetic
2711 alphabet; @kbd{M-x denato-region} converts it back.
2712
2713 @findex pong
2714 @cindex Pong game
2715 @findex tetris
2716 @cindex Tetris
2717 @findex snake
2718 @cindex Snake
2719 @kbd{M-x pong}, @kbd{M-x snake} and @kbd{M-x tetris} are
2720 implementations of the well-known Pong, Snake and Tetris games.
2721
2722 @findex solitaire
2723 @cindex solitaire
2724 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2725 across other pegs.
2726
2727 @findex zone
2728 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs
2729 is idle.
2730
2731 @findex doctor
2732 @cindex Eliza
2733 Finally, if you find yourself frustrated, try describing your
2734 problems to the famous psychotherapist Eliza. Just do @kbd{M-x
2735 doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2736
2737 @ifnottex
2738 @lowersections
2739 @end ifnottex