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-File: xemacs.info, Node: Minibuffer File, Next: Minibuffer Edit, Prev: Minibuffer, Up: Minibuffer
-
-Minibuffers for File Names
-==========================
-
- Sometimes the minibuffer starts out with text in it. For example,
-when you are supposed to give a file name, the minibuffer starts out
-containing the "default directory", which ends with a slash. This
-informs you in which directory the file will be looked for if you do
-not specify a different one. For example, the minibuffer might start
-out with:
-
- Find File: /u2/emacs/src/
-
-where `Find File: ' is the prompt. Typing `buffer.c' specifies the file
-`/u2/emacs/src/buffer.c'. To find files in nearby directories, use
-`..'; thus, if you type `../lisp/simple.el', the file that you visit
-will be the one named
-`/u2/emacs/lisp/simple.el'. Alternatively, you can use `M-<DEL>' to
-kill directory names you don't want (*note Words::.).
-
- You can also type an absolute file name, one starting with a slash
-or a tilde, ignoring the default directory. For example, to find the
-file `/etc/termcap', just type the name, giving:
-
- Find File: /u2/emacs/src//etc/termcap
-
-Two slashes in a row are not normally meaningful in Unix file names, but
-they are allowed in XEmacs. They mean, "ignore everything before the
-second slash in the pair." Thus, `/u2/emacs/src/' is ignored, and you
-get the file `/etc/termcap'.
-
- If you set `insert-default-directory' to `nil', the default
-directory is not inserted in the minibuffer. This way, the minibuffer
-starts out empty. But the name you type, if relative, is still
-interpreted with respect to the same default directory.
-
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-File: xemacs.info, Node: Minibuffer Edit, Next: Completion, Prev: Minibuffer File, Up: Minibuffer
-
-Editing in the Minibuffer
-=========================
-
- The minibuffer is an Emacs buffer (albeit a peculiar one), and the
-usual Emacs commands are available for editing the text of an argument
-you are entering.
-
- Since <RET> in the minibuffer is defined to exit the minibuffer, you
-must use `C-o' or `C-q <LFD>' to insert a newline into the minibuffer.
-(Recall that a newline is really the <LFD> character.)
-
- The minibuffer has its own window, which always has space on the
-screen but acts as if it were not there when the minibuffer is not in
-use. The minibuffer window is just like the others; you can switch to
-another window with `C-x o', edit text in other windows, and perhaps
-even visit more files before returning to the minibuffer to submit the
-argument. You can kill text in another window, return to the minibuffer
-window, and then yank the text to use it in the argument. *Note
-Windows::.
-
- There are, however, some restrictions on the use of the minibuffer
-window. You cannot switch buffers in it--the minibuffer and its window
-are permanently attached. You also cannot split or kill the minibuffer
-window, but you can make it taller with `C-x ^'.
-
- If you are in the minibuffer and issue a command that displays help
-text in another window, that window will be scrolled if you type
-`M-C-v' while in the minibuffer until you exit the minibuffer. This
-feature is helpful if a completing minibuffer gives you a long list of
-possible completions.
-
- If the variable `minibuffer-confirm-incomplete' is `t', you are
-asked for confirmation if there is no known completion for the text you
-typed. For example, if you attempted to visit a non-existent file, the
-minibuffer might read:
- Find File:chocolate_bar.c [no completions, confirm]
- If you press `Return' again, that confirms the filename. Otherwise,
-you can continue editing it.
-
- Emacs supports recursive use of the minibuffer. However, it is easy
-to do this by accident (because of autorepeating keyboards, for
-example) and get confused. Therefore, most Emacs commands that use the
-minibuffer refuse to operate if the minibuffer window is selected. If
-the minibuffer is active but you have switched to a different window,
-recursive use of the minibuffer is allowed--if you know enough to try
-to do this, you probably will not get confused.
-
- If you set the variable `enable-recursive-minibuffers' to be
-non-`nil', recursive use of the minibuffer is always allowed.
-