+File: xemacs.info, Node: Keymaps, Next: Rebinding, Up: Key Bindings
+
+Keymaps
+-------
+
+ The bindings between characters and command functions are recorded in
+data structures called "keymaps". Emacs has many of these. One, the
+"global" keymap, defines the meanings of the single-character keys that
+are defined regardless of major mode. It is the value of the variable
+`global-map'.
+
+ Each major mode has another keymap, its "local keymap", which
+contains overriding definitions for the single-character keys that are
+redefined in that mode. Each buffer records which local keymap is
+installed for it at any time, and the current buffer's local keymap is
+the only one that directly affects command execution. The local keymaps
+for Lisp mode, C mode, and many other major modes always exist even when
+not in use. They are the values of the variables `lisp-mode-map',
+`c-mode-map', and so on. For less frequently used major modes, the
+local keymap is sometimes constructed only when the mode is used for the
+first time in a session, to save space.
+
+ There are local keymaps for the minibuffer, too; they contain various
+completion and exit commands.
+
+ * `minibuffer-local-map' is used for ordinary input (no completion).
+
+ * `minibuffer-local-ns-map' is similar, except that <SPC> exits just
+ like <RET>. This is used mainly for Mocklisp compatibility.
+
+ * `minibuffer-local-completion-map' is for permissive completion.
+
+ * `minibuffer-local-must-match-map' is for strict completion and for
+ cautious completion.
+
+ * `repeat-complex-command-map' is for use in `C-x <ESC>'.
+
+ * `isearch-mode-map' contains the bindings of the special keys which
+ are bound in the pseudo-mode entered with `C-s' and `C-r'.
+
+ Finally, each prefix key has a keymap which defines the key sequences
+that start with it. For example, `ctl-x-map' is the keymap used for
+characters following a `C-x'.
+
+ * `ctl-x-map' is the variable name for the map used for characters
+ that follow `C-x'.
+
+ * `help-map' is used for characters that follow `C-h'.
+
+ * `esc-map' is for characters that follow <ESC>. All Meta characters
+ are actually defined by this map.
+
+ * `ctl-x-4-map' is for characters that follow `C-x 4'.
+
+ * `mode-specific-map' is for characters that follow `C-c'.
+
+ The definition of a prefix key is the keymap to use for looking up
+the following character. Sometimes the definition is actually a Lisp
+symbol whose function definition is the following character keymap. The
+effect is the same, but it provides a command name for the prefix key
+that you can use as a description of what the prefix key is for. Thus
+the binding of `C-x' is the symbol `Ctl-X-Prefix', whose function
+definition is the keymap for `C-x' commands, the value of `ctl-x-map'.
+
+ Prefix key definitions can appear in either the global map or a
+local map. The definitions of `C-c', `C-x', `C-h', and <ESC> as prefix
+keys appear in the global map, so these prefix keys are always
+available. Major modes can locally redefine a key as a prefix by
+putting a prefix key definition for it in the local map.
+
+ A mode can also put a prefix definition of a global prefix character
+such as `C-x' into its local map. This is how major modes override the
+definitions of certain keys that start with `C-x'. This case is
+special, because the local definition does not entirely replace the
+global one. When both the global and local definitions of a key are
+other keymaps, the next character is looked up in both keymaps, with
+the local definition overriding the global one. The character after the
+`C-x' is looked up in both the major mode's own keymap for redefined
+`C-x' commands and in `ctl-x-map'. If the major mode's own keymap for
+`C-x' commands contains `nil', the definition from the global keymap
+for `C-x' commands is used.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Rebinding, Next: Disabling, Prev: Keymaps, Up: Key Bindings
+
+Changing Key Bindings
+---------------------
+
+ You can redefine an Emacs key by changing its entry in a keymap.
+You can change the global keymap, in which case the change is effective
+in all major modes except those that have their own overriding local
+definitions for the same key. Or you can change the current buffer's
+local map, which affects all buffers using the same major mode.
+
+* Menu:
+
+* Interactive Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Interactively
+* Programmatic Rebinding:: Changing Key Bindings Programmatically
+* Key Bindings Using Strings:: Using Strings for Changing Key Bindings
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Interactive Rebinding, Next: Programmatic Rebinding, Up: Rebinding
+
+Changing Key Bindings Interactively
+...................................
+
+`M-x global-set-key <RET> KEY CMD <RET>'
+ Defines KEY globally to run CMD.
+
+`M-x local-set-key <RET> KEYS CMD <RET>'
+ Defines KEY locally (in the major mode now in effect) to run CMD.
+
+`M-x local-unset-key <RET> KEYS <RET>'
+ Removes the local binding of KEY.
+
+ CMD is a symbol naming an interactively-callable function.
+
+ When called interactively, KEY is the next complete key sequence
+that you type. When called as a function, KEY is a string, a vector of
+events, or a vector of key-description lists as described in the
+`define-key' function description. The binding goes in the current
+buffer's local map, which is shared with other buffers in the same
+major mode.
+
+ The following example:
+
+ M-x global-set-key <RET> C-f next-line <RET>
+
+redefines `C-f' to move down a line. The fact that CMD is read second
+makes it serve as a kind of confirmation for KEY.
+
+ These functions offer no way to specify a particular prefix keymap as
+the one to redefine in, but that is not necessary, as you can include
+prefixes in KEY. KEY is read by reading characters one by one until
+they amount to a complete key (that is, not a prefix key). Thus, if
+you type `C-f' for KEY, Emacs enters the minibuffer immediately to read
+CMD. But if you type `C-x', another character is read; if that
+character is `4', another character is read, and so on. For example,
+
+ M-x global-set-key <RET> C-x 4 $ spell-other-window <RET>
+
+redefines `C-x 4 $' to run the (fictitious) command
+`spell-other-window'.
+
+ The most general way to modify a keymap is the function
+`define-key', used in Lisp code (such as your init file). `define-key'
+takes three arguments: the keymap, the key to modify in it, and the new
+definition. *Note Init File::, for an example.
+`substitute-key-definition' is used similarly; it takes three
+arguments, an old definition, a new definition, and a keymap, and
+redefines in that keymap all keys that were previously defined with the
+old definition to have the new definition instead.
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Programmatic Rebinding, Next: Key Bindings Using Strings, Prev: Interactive Rebinding, Up: Rebinding
+
+Changing Key Bindings Programmatically
+......................................
+
+ You can use the functions `global-set-key' and `define-key' to
+rebind keys under program control.
+
+``(global-set-key KEYS CMD)''
+ Defines KEYS globally to run CMD.
+
+``(define-key KEYMAP KEYS DEF)''
+ Defines KEYS to run DEF in the keymap KEYMAP.
+
+ KEYMAP is a keymap object.
+
+ KEYS is the sequence of keystrokes to bind.
+
+ DEF is anything that can be a key's definition:
+
+ * `nil', meaning key is undefined in this keymap
+
+ * A command, that is, a Lisp function suitable for interactive
+ calling
+
+ * A string or key sequence vector, which is treated as a keyboard
+ macro
+
+ * A keymap to define a prefix key
+
+ * A symbol so that when the key is looked up, the symbol stands for
+ its function definition, which should at that time be one of the
+ above, or another symbol whose function definition is used, and so
+ on
+
+ * A cons, `(string . defn)', meaning that DEFN is the definition
+ (DEFN should be a valid definition in its own right)
+
+ * A cons, `(keymap . char)', meaning use the definition of CHAR in
+ map KEYMAP
+
+ For backward compatibility, XEmacs allows you to specify key
+sequences as strings. However, the preferred method is to use the
+representations of key sequences as vectors of keystrokes. *Note
+Keystrokes::, for more information about the rules for constructing key
+sequences.
+
+ Emacs allows you to abbreviate representations for key sequences in
+most places where there is no ambiguity. Here are some rules for
+abbreviation:
+
+ * The keysym by itself is equivalent to a list of just that keysym,
+ i.e., `f1' is equivalent to `(f1)'.
+
+ * A keystroke by itself is equivalent to a vector containing just
+ that keystroke, i.e., `(control a)' is equivalent to `[(control
+ a)]'.
+
+ * You can use ASCII codes for keysyms that have them. i.e., `65' is
+ equivalent to `A'. (This is not so much an abbreviation as an
+ alternate representation.)
+
+ Here are some examples of programmatically binding keys:
+
+
+ ;;; Bind `my-command' to <f1>
+ (global-set-key 'f1 'my-command)
+
+ ;;; Bind `my-command' to Shift-f1
+ (global-set-key '(shift f1) 'my-command)
+
+ ;;; Bind `my-command' to C-c Shift-f1
+ (global-set-key '[(control c) (shift f1)] 'my-command)
+
+ ;;; Bind `my-command' to the middle mouse button.
+ (global-set-key 'button2 'my-command)
+
+ ;;; Bind `my-command' to <META> <CTL> <Right Mouse Button>
+ ;;; in the keymap that is in force when you are running `dired'.
+ (define-key dired-mode-map '(meta control button3) 'my-command)
+
+\1f
+File: xemacs.info, Node: Key Bindings Using Strings, Prev: Programmatic Rebinding, Up: Rebinding
+
+Using Strings for Changing Key Bindings
+.......................................
+
+ For backward compatibility, you can still use strings to represent
+key sequences. Thus you can use commands like the following:
+
+ ;;; Bind `end-of-line' to C-f
+ (global-set-key "\C-f" 'end-of-line)
+
+ Note, however, that in some cases you may be binding more than one
+key sequence by using a single command. This situation can arise
+because in ASCII, `C-i' and <TAB> have the same representation.
+Therefore, when Emacs sees:
+
+ (global-set-key "\C-i" 'end-of-line)
+
+ it is unclear whether the user intended to bind `C-i' or <TAB>. The
+solution XEmacs adopts is to bind both of these key sequences.
+
+ After binding a command to two key sequences with a form like:
+
+ (define-key global-map "\^X\^I" 'command-1)
+
+ it is possible to redefine only one of those sequences like so:
+
+ (define-key global-map [(control x) (control i)] 'command-2)
+ (define-key global-map [(control x) tab] 'command-3)
+
+ This applies only when running under a window system. If you are
+talking to Emacs through an ASCII-only channel, you do not get any of
+these features.
+
+ Here is a table of pairs of key sequences that behave in a similar
+fashion:
+
+ control h backspace
+ control l clear
+ control i tab
+ control m return
+ control j linefeed
+ control [ escape
+ control @ control space
+
+\1f
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