-
-@node Basic, Undo, Startup Paths, Top
+@c This is part of the XEmacs manual.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95, 1997 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c See file xemacs.texi for copying conditions.
+@node Basic, Undo, Packages, Top
@chapter Basic Editing Commands
@kindex C-h t
We now give the basics of how to enter text, make corrections, and
save the text in a file. If this material is new to you, you might
learn it more easily by running the Emacs learn-by-doing tutorial. To
-do this, type @kbd{Control-h t} (@code{help-with-tutorial}).
+use the tutorial, run Emacs and type @kbd{Control-h t}
+(@code{help-with-tutorial}). You can also use @b{Tutorials} item from
+the @b{Help} menu.
+
+XEmacs comes with many translations of tutorial. If your XEmacs is with
+MULE and you set up language environment correctly, XEmacs chooses right
+tutorial when available (@pxref{Language Environments}). If you want
+specific translation, give @kbd{C-h t} a prefix argument, like @kbd{C-u
+C-h t}.
+
+ To clear the screen and redisplay, type @kbd{C-l} (@code{recenter}).
+
+@menu
+* Inserting Text:: Inserting text by simply typing it.
+* Moving Point:: How to move the cursor to the place where you want to
+ change something.
+* Erasing:: Deleting and killing text.
+* Files: Basic Files. Visiting, creating, and saving files.
+* Help: Basic Help. Asking what a character does.
+* Blank Lines:: Commands to make or delete blank lines.
+* Continuation Lines:: Lines too wide for the screen.
+* Position Info:: What page, line, row, or column is point on?
+* Arguments:: Numeric arguments for repeating a command.
+@c * Repeating:: A short-cut for repeating the previous command.
+@end menu
+
+@node Inserting Text, Moving Point, , Basic
@section Inserting Text
@cindex insertion
@cindex cursor
@cindex graphic characters
To insert printing characters into the text you are editing, just type
-them. This inserts the characters into the buffer at the cursor (that
-is, at @dfn{point}; @pxref{Point}). The cursor moves forward. Any
-characters after the cursor move forward too. If the text in the buffer
-is @samp{FOOBAR}, with the cursor before the @samp{B}, and you type
-@kbd{XX}, the result is @samp{FOOXXBAR}, with the cursor still before the
-@samp{B}.
-
-@kindex DEL
+them. This inserts the characters you type into the buffer at the
+cursor (that is, at @dfn{point}; @pxref{Point}). The cursor moves
+forward, and any text after the cursor moves forward too. If the text
+in the buffer is @samp{FOOBAR}, with the cursor before the @samp{B},
+then if you type @kbd{XX}, you get @samp{FOOXXBAR}, with the cursor
+still before the @samp{B}.
+
+@kindex BS
@cindex deletion
- To @dfn{delete} text you have just inserted, use @key{DEL}.
-@key{DEL} deletes the character @var{before} the cursor (not the one
-that the cursor is on top of or under; that is the character @var{after}
-the cursor). The cursor and all characters after it move backwards.
-Therefore, if you type a printing character and then type @key{DEL},
-they cancel out.
+ To @dfn{delete} text you have just inserted, use @key{BS}. @key{BS}
+deletes the character @emph{before} the cursor (not the one that the
+cursor is on top of or under; that is the character @var{after} the
+cursor). The cursor and all characters after it move backwards.
+Therefore, if you type a printing character and then type @key{BS}, they
+cancel out.
@kindex RET
@cindex newline
To end a line and start typing a new one, type @key{RET}. This
inserts a newline character in the buffer. If point is in the middle of
a line, @key{RET} splits the line. Typing @key{DEL} when the cursor is
-at the beginning of a line rubs out the newline before the line, thus
-joining the line with the preceding line.
+at the beginning of a line deletes the preceding newline, thus joining
+the line with the preceding line.
- Emacs automatically splits lines when they become too long, if you
-turn on a special mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode. @xref{Filling}, for
-information on using Auto Fill mode.
+ Emacs can split lines automatically when they become too long, if you
+turn on a special minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode.
+@xref{Filling}, for how to use Auto Fill mode.
-@findex delete-backward-char
-@findex newline
-@findex self-insert
- Customization information: @key{DEL}, in most modes, runs the command
-@code{delete-backward-char}; @key{RET} runs the command @code{newline},
-and self-inserting printing characters run the command
-@code{self-insert}, which inserts whatever character was typed to invoke
-it. Some major modes rebind @key{DEL} to other commands.
+ If you prefer to have text characters replace (overwrite) existing
+text rather than shove it to the right, you can enable Overwrite mode,
+a minor mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
@cindex quoting
@kindex C-q
@findex quoted-insert
- Direct insertion works for printing characters and @key{SPC}, but
-other characters act as editing commands and do not insert themselves.
-If you need to insert a control character or a character whose code is
-above 200 octal, you must @dfn{quote} it by typing the character
-@kbd{control-q} (@code{quoted-insert}) first. There are two ways to use
-@kbd{C-q}:@refill
+ Direct insertion works for printing characters and @key{SPC}, but other
+characters act as editing commands and do not insert themselves. If you
+need to insert a control character or a character whose code is above 200
+octal, you must @dfn{quote} it by typing the character @kbd{Control-q}
+(@code{quoted-insert}) first. (This character's name is normally written
+@kbd{C-q} for short.) There are two ways to use @kbd{C-q}:
@itemize @bullet
@item
-@kbd{Control-q} followed by any non-graphic character (even @kbd{C-g})
+@kbd{C-q} followed by any non-graphic character (even @kbd{C-g})
inserts that character.
+
@item
-@kbd{Control-q} followed by three octal digits inserts the character
-with the specified character code.
+@kbd{C-q} followed by a sequence of octal digits inserts the character
+with the specified octal character code. You can use any number of
+octal digits; any non-digit terminates the sequence. If the terminating
+character is @key{RET}, it serves only to terminate the sequence; any
+other non-digit is itself used as input after terminating the sequence.
+(The use of octal sequences is disabled in ordinary non-binary Overwrite
+mode, to give you a convenient way to insert a digit instead of
+overwriting with it.)
@end itemize
@noindent
A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} specifies how many copies of the quoted
character should be inserted (@pxref{Arguments}).
- If you prefer to have text characters replace (overwrite) existing
-text instead of moving it to the right, you can enable Overwrite mode, a
-minor mode. @xref{Minor Modes}.
+@findex backward-or-forward-delete-char
+@findex newline
+@findex self-insert
+ Customization information: @key{DEL}, in most modes, runs the command
+@code{backward-or-forward-delete-char}; @key{RET} runs the command
+@code{newline}, and self-inserting printing characters run the command
+@code{self-insert}, which inserts whatever character was typed to invoke
+it. Some major modes rebind @key{DEL} to other commands.
+@node Moving Point, Erasing, Inserting Text, Basic
@section Changing the Location of Point
+@cindex arrow keys
+@kindex LEFT
+@kindex RIGHT
+@kindex UP
+@kindex DOWN
+@cindex moving point
+@cindex movement
+@cindex cursor motion
+@cindex moving the cursor
To do more than insert characters, you have to know how to move point
-(@pxref{Point}). Here are a few of the available commands.
+(@pxref{Point}). The simplest way to do this is with arrow keys, or by
+clicking the left mouse button where you want to move to.
NOTE: Many of the following commands have two versions, one that uses
the function keys (e.g. @key{LEFT} or @key{END}) and one that doesn't.
Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}).
@item C-n
@itemx DOWN
-Move down one line, vertically (@code{next-line}). This command attempts to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in the middle of one line, you end in the middle of the next. When on the last line of text, @kbd{C-n} creates a new line and moves onto it.
+Move down one line, vertically (@code{next-line}). This command
+attempts to keep the horizontal position unchanged, so if you start in
+the middle of one line, you end in the middle of the next. When on the
+last line of text, @kbd{C-n} creates a new line and moves onto it.
@item C-p
@itemx UP
Move up one line, vertically (@code{previous-line}).
Clear the frame and reprint everything (@code{recenter}). Text moves
on the frame to bring point to the center of the window.
@item M-r
-Move point to left margin on the line halfway down the frame or
-window (@code{move-to-window-line}). Text does not move on the
-frame. A numeric argument says how many screen lines down from the
-top of the window (zero for the top). A negative argument counts from
-the bottom (@minus{}1 for the bottom).
+Move point to left margin, vertically centered in the window
+(@code{move-to-window-line}). Text does not move on the screen.
+
+A numeric argument says which screen line to place point on. It counts
+screen lines down from the top of the window (zero for the top line). A
+negative argument counts lines from the bottom (@minus{}1 for the bottom
+line).
@item C-t
Transpose two characters, the ones before and after the cursor
-@*(@code{transpose-chars}).
+(@code{transpose-chars}).
@item M-<
@itemx C-HOME
Move to the top of the buffer (@code{beginning-of-buffer}). With
@itemx C-END
Move to the end of the buffer (@code{end-of-buffer}).
@item M-x goto-char
-Read a number @var{n} and move the cursor to character number @var{n}.
+Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}.
Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
@item M-g
-Read a number @var{n} and move cursor to line number @var{n}
+Read a number @var{n} and move point to line number @var{n}
(@code{goto-line}). Line 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
-@item C-x C-n
+@c @item C-x C-n
+@item M-x set-goal-column
@findex set-goal-column
Use the current column of point as the @dfn{semi-permanent goal column} for
@kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} (@code{set-goal-column}). Henceforth, those
commands always move to this column in each line moved into, or as
close as possible given the contents of the line. This goal column remains
in effect until canceled.
-@item C-u C-x C-n
+@c @item C-u C-x C-n
+@item C-u M-x set-goal-column
Cancel the goal column. Henceforth, @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} once
again try to avoid changing the horizontal position, as usual.
@end table
@vindex track-eol
If you set the variable @code{track-eol} to a non-@code{nil} value,
-@kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} move to the end of the line when at the end of
-the starting line. By default, @code{track-eol} is @code{nil}.
+then @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} when at the end of the starting line move
+to the end of another line. Normally, @code{track-eol} is @code{nil}.
+@xref{Variables}, for how to set variables such as @code{track-eol}.
+
+@vindex next-line-add-newlines
+ Normally, @kbd{C-n} on the last line of a buffer appends a newline to
+it. If the variable @code{next-line-add-newlines} is @code{nil}, then
+@kbd{C-n} gets an error instead (like @kbd{C-p} on the first line).
+@node Erasing, Basic Files, Moving Point, Basic
@section Erasing Text
@table @kbd
@item @key{DEL}
-Delete the character before the cursor (@code{delete-backward-char}).
+Delete the character before or after point
+(@code{backward-or-forward-delete-char}). You can customize
+this behavior by setting the variable @code{delete-key-deletes-forward}.
@item C-d
-Delete the character after the cursor (@code{delete-char}).
+Delete the character after point (@code{delete-char}).
@item C-k
Kill to the end of the line (@code{kill-line}).
@item M-d
(@code{backward-kill-word}).
@end table
- In contrast to the @key{DEL} key, which deletes the character before
-the cursor, @kbd{Control-d} deletes the character after the cursor,
-causing the rest of the text on the line to shift left. If
-@kbd{Control-d} is typed at the end of a line, that line and the next
-line are joined.
-
- To erase a larger amount of text, use @kbd{Control-k}, which kills a
-line at a time. If you use @kbd{C-k} at the beginning or in the middle
-of a line, it kills all the text up to the end of the line. If you use
-@kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that line and the next
-line.
+@cindex killing characters and lines
+@cindex deleting characters and lines
+@cindex erasing characters and lines
+ You already know about the @key{DEL} key which deletes the character
+before point (that is, before the cursor). Another key, @kbd{Control-d}
+(@kbd{C-d} for short), deletes the character after point (that is, the
+character that the cursor is on). This shifts the rest of the text on
+the line to the left. If you type @kbd{C-d} at the end of a line, it
+joins together that line and the next line.
+
+ To erase a larger amount of text, use the @kbd{C-k} key, which kills a
+line at a time. If you type @kbd{C-k} at the beginning or middle of a
+line, it kills all the text up to the end of the line. If you type
+@kbd{C-k} at the end of a line, it joins that line and the next line.
@xref{Killing}, for more flexible ways of killing text.
+@node Basic Files, Basic Help, Erasing, Basic
@section Files
@cindex files
- The commands above are sufficient for creating and altering text in an
-Emacs buffer. More advanced Emacs commands just make things easier. But
-to keep any text permanently you must put it in a @dfn{file}. Files are
-named units of text which are stored by the operating system and which
-you can retrieve by name. To look at or use the contents of a file in
-any way, including editing the file with Emacs, you must specify the
-file name.
+ The commands described above are sufficient for creating and altering
+text in an Emacs buffer; the more advanced Emacs commands just make
+things easier. But to keep any text permanently you must put it in a
+@dfn{file}. Files are named units of text which are stored by the
+operating system for you to retrieve later by name. To look at or use
+the contents of a file in any way, including editing the file with
+Emacs, you must specify the file name.
Consider a file named @file{/usr/rms/foo.c}. To begin editing
this file from Emacs, type:
@end example
@noindent
-The file name is given as an @dfn{argument} to the command @kbd{C-x
-C-f} (@code{find-file}). The command uses the @dfn{minibuffer} to
-read the argument. You have to type @key{RET} to terminate the argument
-(@pxref{Minibuffer}).@refill
+Here the file name is given as an @dfn{argument} to the command @kbd{C-x
+C-f} (@code{find-file}). That command uses the @dfn{minibuffer} to
+read the argument, and you type @key{RET} to terminate the argument
+(@pxref{Minibuffer}).
You can also use the @b{Open...} menu item from the @b{File} menu, then
type the name of the file to the prompt.
- Emacs obeys the command by @dfn{visiting} the file: it creates a
-buffer, copies the contents of the file into the buffer, and then
-displays the buffer for you to edit. You can make changes in the
-buffer, and then @dfn{save} the file by typing @kbd{C-x C-s}
-(@code{save-buffer}) or choosing @b{Save Buffer} from the @b{File} menu.
-This makes the changes permanent by copying the altered contents of the
-buffer back into the file @file{/usr/rms/foo.c}. Until then, the
-changes are only inside your Emacs buffer, and the file @file{foo.c} is
-not changed.@refill
+ Emacs obeys the command by @dfn{visiting} the file: creating a buffer,
+copying the contents of the file into the buffer, and then displaying
+the buffer for you to edit. If you alter the text, you can @dfn{save}
+the new text in the file by typing @kbd{C-x C-s} (@code{save-buffer}) or
+choosing @b{Save Buffer} from the @b{File} menu. This makes the changes
+permanent by copying the altered buffer contents back into the file
+@file{/usr/rms/foo.c}. Until you save, the changes exist only inside
+Emacs, and the file @file{foo.c} is unaltered.
To create a file, visit the file with @kbd{C-x C-f} as if it already
existed or choose @b{Open...} from the @b{File} menu and provide the
-name for the new file in the minibuffer. Emacs will create an empty
-buffer in which you can insert the text you want to put in the file.
-When you save the buffer with @kbd{C-x C-s}, or by choosing @b{Save
-Buffer} from the @b{File} menu, the file is created.
+name for the new file. Emacs will create an empty buffer in which you
+can insert the text you want to put in the file. When you save the
+buffer with @kbd{C-x C-s}, or by choosing @b{Save Buffer} from the
+@b{File} menu, the file is created.
- To learn more about using files, @pxref{Files}.
+ To learn more about using files, @xref{Files}.
+@node Basic Help, Blank Lines, Basic Files, Basic
@section Help
- If you forget what a key does, you can use the Help character
-(@kbd{C-h}) to find out: Type @kbd{C-h k} followed by the key you want
-to know about. For example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you what @kbd{C-n}
+@cindex getting help with keys
+ If you forget what a key does, you can find out with the Help
+character, which is @kbd{C-h} (or @key{F1}, which is an alias for
+@kbd{C-h}). Type @kbd{C-h k} followed by the key you want to know
+about; for example, @kbd{C-h k C-n} tells you all about what @kbd{C-n}
does. @kbd{C-h} is a prefix key; @kbd{C-h k} is just one of its
subcommands (the command @code{describe-key}). The other subcommands of
-@kbd{C-h} provide different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} three times
-to get a description of all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.@refill
-
-@menu
-* Blank Lines:: Commands to make or delete blank lines.
-* Continuation Lines:: Lines too wide for the frame.
-* Position Info:: What page, line, row, or column is point on?
-* Arguments:: Numeric arguments for repeating a command.
-@end menu
+@kbd{C-h} provide different kinds of help. Type @kbd{C-h} twice to get
+a description of all the help facilities. @xref{Help}.
-@node Blank Lines, Continuation Lines, Basic, Basic
+@node Blank Lines, Continuation Lines, Basic Help, Basic
@section Blank Lines
- Here are special commands and techniques for entering and removing
+@cindex inserting blank lines
+@cindex deleting blank lines
+ Here are special commands and techniques for putting in and taking out
blank lines.
@c widecommands
@cindex blank lines
@findex open-line
@findex delete-blank-lines
- When you want to insert a new line of text before an existing line,
-you just type the new line of text, followed by @key{RET}. If you
-prefer to create a blank line first and then insert the desired text,
-use the key @kbd{C-o} (@code{open-line}), which inserts a newline after
-point but leaves point in front of the newline. Then type
-the text into the new line. @kbd{C-o F O O} has the same effect as
-@kbd{F O O @key{RET}}, except for the final location of point.
-
- To create several blank lines, type @kbd{C-o} several times, or
-give @kbd{C-o} an argument indicating how many blank lines to create.
-@xref{Arguments}, for more information.
-
- If you have many blank lines in a row and want to get rid of them, use
-@kbd{C-x C-o} (@code{delete-blank-lines}). If point is on a blank
-line which is adjacent to at least one other blank line, @kbd{C-x C-o}
-deletes all but one of the blank lines.
-If point is on a blank line with no other adjacent blank line, the
-sole blank line is deleted. If point is on a non-blank
-line, @kbd{C-x C-o} deletes any blank lines following that non-blank
-line.
+ When you want to insert a new line of text before an existing line, you
+can do it by typing the new line of text, followed by @key{RET}.
+However, it may be easier to see what you are doing if you first make a
+blank line and then insert the desired text into it. This is easy to do
+using the key @kbd{C-o} (@code{open-line}), which inserts a newline
+after point but leaves point in front of the newline. After @kbd{C-o},
+type the text for the new line. @kbd{C-o F O O} has the same effect as
+@w{@kbd{F O O @key{RET}}}, except for the final location of point.
+
+ You can make several blank lines by typing @kbd{C-o} several times, or
+by giving it a numeric argument to tell it how many blank lines to make.
+@xref{Arguments}, for how. If you have a fill prefix, then @kbd{C-o}
+command inserts the fill prefix on the new line, when you use it at the
+beginning of a line. @xref{Fill Prefix}.
+
+ The easy way to get rid of extra blank lines is with the command
+@kbd{C-x C-o} (@code{delete-blank-lines}). @kbd{C-x C-o} in a run of
+several blank lines deletes all but one of them. @kbd{C-x C-o} on a
+solitary blank line deletes that blank line. When point is on a
+nonblank line, @kbd{C-x C-o} deletes any blank lines following that
+nonblank line.
@node Continuation Lines, Position Info, Blank Lines, Basic
@section Continuation Lines
@cindex continuation line
- If you add too many characters to one line without breaking with a
-@key{RET}, the line grows to occupy two (or more) screen lines, with a
-curved arrow at the extreme right margin of all but the last line. The
-curved arrow indicates that the following screen line is not really a
-distinct line in the text, but just the @dfn{continuation} of a line too
-long to fit the frame. You can use Auto Fill mode (@pxref{Filling})
-to have Emacs insert newlines automatically when a line gets too long.
-
+@cindex wrapping
+@cindex line wrapping
+ If you add too many characters to one line without breaking it with
+@key{RET}, the line will grow to occupy two (or more) lines on the
+screen, with a curved arrow at the extreme right margin of all but the
+last of them. The curved arrow says that the following screen line is
+not really a distinct line in the text, but just the @dfn{continuation}
+of a line too long to fit the screen. Continuation is also called
+@dfn{line wrapping}.
+
+ Sometimes it is nice to have Emacs insert newlines automatically when
+a line gets too long. Continuation on the screen does not do that. Use
+Auto Fill mode (@pxref{Filling}) if that's what you want.
@vindex truncate-lines
@cindex truncation
Instead of continuation, long lines can be displayed by @dfn{truncation}.
This means that all the characters that do not fit in the width of the
frame or window do not appear at all. They remain in the buffer,
-temporarily invisible. Three diagonal dots in the last column (instead of
-the curved arrow inform you that truncation is in effect.
+temporarily invisible. Right arrow in the last column (instead of the
+curved arrow) inform you that truncation is in effect.
+
+ Truncation instead of continuation happens whenever horizontal
+scrolling is in use, and optionally in all side-by-side windows
+(@pxref{Windows}). You can enable truncation for a particular buffer by
+setting the variable @code{truncate-lines} to non-@code{nil} in that
+buffer. (@xref{Variables}.) Altering the value of
+@code{truncate-lines} makes it local to the current buffer; until that
+time, the default value is in effect. The default is initially
+@code{nil}. @xref{Locals}.
- To turn off continuation for a particular buffer, set the
-variable @code{truncate-lines} to non-@code{nil} in that buffer.
-Truncation instead of continuation also happens whenever horizontal
-scrolling is in use, and optionally whenever side-by-side windows are in
-use (@pxref{Windows}). Altering the value of @code{truncate-lines} makes
-it local to the current buffer; until that time, the default value is in
-effect. The default is initially @code{nil}. @xref{Locals}.@refill
+ @xref{Display Vars}, for additional variables that affect how text is
+displayed.
@node Position Info, Arguments, Continuation Lines, Basic
@section Cursor Position Information
Print page number of point, and line number within page.
@item M-x what-line
Print line number of point in the buffer.
+@item M-x line-number-mode
+Toggle automatic display of current line number.
@item M-=
-Print number of lines and characters in the current region
-(@code{count-lines-region}).
+Print number of lines and characters in the current region
+(@code{count-lines-region}). @xref{Mark}, for information about the
+region.
@item C-x =
Print character code of character after point, character position of
point, and column of point (@code{what-cursor-position}).
@findex count-lines-region
There are several commands for printing line numbers:
+
@itemize @bullet
@item
@kbd{M-x what-line} counts lines from the beginning of the file and
counts lines within the page, printing both of them. @xref{Pages}, for
the command @kbd{C-x l}, which counts the lines in the current page.
@item
-@kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}) prints the number of lines in
-the region (@pxref{Mark}).
+@kbd{M-=} (@code{count-lines-region}) prints the number of lines in the
+region (@pxref{Mark}). @xref{Pages}, for the command @kbd{C-x l} which
+counts the lines in the
@end itemize
@kindex C-x =
@findex what-cursor-position
- The command @kbd{C-x =} (@code{what-cursor-position}) provides
-information about point and about the column the cursor is in.
-It prints a line in the echo area that looks like this:
+ The command @kbd{C-x =} (@code{what-cursor-position}) can be used to find out
+the column that the cursor is in, and other miscellaneous information about
+point. It prints a line in the echo area that looks like this:
@example
-Char: x (0170) point=65986 of 563027(12%) column 44
+Char: c (0143, 99, 0x63) point=18862 of 24800(76%) column 53
@end example
@noindent
-(In fact, this is the output produced when point is before @samp{column 44}
-in the example.)
+(In fact, this is the output produced when point is before @samp{column
+53} in the example.)
- The two values after @samp{Char:} describe the character following point,
-first by showing it and second by giving its octal character code.
+ The four values after @samp{Char:} describe the character that follows
+point, first by showing it and then by giving its character code in
+octal, decimal and hex.
@samp{point=} is followed by the position of point expressed as a character
count. The front of the buffer counts as position 1, one character later
in the buffer. Afterward in parentheses comes the position expressed as a
percentage of the total size.
- @samp{column} is followed by the horizontal position of point, in columns
-from the left edge of the window.
+ @samp{column} is followed by the horizontal position of point, in
+columns from the left edge of the window.
If the buffer has been narrowed, making some of the text at the
beginning and the end temporarily invisible, @kbd{C-x =} prints
might say:
@smallexample
-Char: x (0170) point=65986 of 563025(12%) <65102 - 68533> column 44
+Char: c (0143, 99, 0x63) point=19674 of 24575(80%) <19591 - 19703> column 69
@end smallexample
@noindent
@section Numeric Arguments
@cindex numeric arguments
- Any Emacs command can be given a @dfn{numeric argument}. Some commands
-interpret the argument as a repetition count. For example, giving an
-argument of ten to the key @kbd{C-f} (the command @code{forward-char}, move
-forward one character) moves forward ten characters. With these commands,
-no argument is equivalent to an argument of one. Negative arguments are
-allowed. Often they tell a command to move or act backwards.
+ In mathematics and computer usage, the word @dfn{argument} means
+``data provided to a function or operation.'' Any Emacs command can be
+given a @dfn{numeric argument} (also called a @dfn{prefix argument}).
+Some commands interpret the argument as a repetition count. For
+example, giving an argument of ten to the key @kbd{C-f} (the command
+@code{forward-char}, move forward one character) moves forward ten
+characters. With these commands, no argument is equivalent to an
+argument of one. Negative arguments are allowed. Often they tell a
+command to move or act in the opposite direction.
@kindex M-1
@kindex M-@t{-}
M-5 C-n
@end example
@noindent
-moves down five lines. The characters @kbd{Meta-1}, @kbd{Meta-2}, and
-so on, as well as @kbd{Meta--}, do this because they are keys bound to
-commands (@code{digit-argument} and @code{negative-argument}) that are
-defined to contribute to an argument for the next command.
+would move down five lines. The characters @kbd{Meta-1}, @kbd{Meta-2},
+and so on, as well as @kbd{Meta--}, do this because they are keys bound
+to commands (@code{digit-argument} and @code{negative-argument}) that
+are defined to contribute to an argument for the next command. Digits
+and @kbd{-} modified with Control, or Control and Meta, also specify
+numeric arguments.
@kindex C-u
@findex universal-argument
Another way of specifying an argument is to use the @kbd{C-u}
-(@code{universal-argument}) command followed by the digits of the argument.
-With @kbd{C-u}, you can type the argument digits without holding
-down shift keys. To type a negative argument, start with a minus sign.
-Just a minus sign normally means @minus{}1. @kbd{C-u} works on all terminals.
+(@code{universal-argument}) command followed by the digits of the
+argument. With @kbd{C-u}, you can type the argument digits without
+holding down modifier keys; @kbd{C-u} works on all terminals. To type a
+negative argument, type a minus sign after @kbd{C-u}. Just a minus sign
+without digits normally means @minus{}1.
@kbd{C-u} followed by a character which is neither a digit nor a minus
sign has the special meaning of ``multiply by four''. It multiplies the
in the usual size frame. Other useful combinations are @kbd{C-u C-n},
@kbd{C-u C-u C-n} (move down a good fraction of a frame), @kbd{C-u C-u
C-o} (make ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four
-lines).@refill
+lines).
Some commands care only about whether there is an argument and not about
its value. For example, the command @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph}) with
the end of the line, it kills the newline itself. Thus, two @kbd{C-k}
commands with no arguments can kill a non-blank line, just like @kbd{C-k}
with an argument of one. (@xref{Killing}, for more information on
-@kbd{C-k}.)@refill
+@kbd{C-k}.)
A few commands treat a plain @kbd{C-u} differently from an ordinary
argument. A few others may treat an argument of just a minus sign
-differently from an argument of @minus{}1. These unusual cases will be
-described when they come up; they are always to make the individual
-command more convenient to use.
+differently from an argument of @minus{}1. These unusual cases are
+described when they come up; they are always for reasons of convenience
+of use of the individual command.
+
+ You can use a numeric argument to insert multiple copies of a
+character. This is straightforward unless the character is a digit; for
+example, @kbd{C-u 6 4 a} inserts 64 copies of the character @samp{a}.
+But this does not work for inserting digits; @kbd{C-u 6 4 1} specifies
+an argument of 641, rather than inserting anything. To separate the
+digit to insert from the argument, type another @kbd{C-u}; for example,
+@kbd{C-u 6 4 C-u 1} does insert 64 copies of the character @samp{1}.
+
+ We use the term ``prefix argument'' as well as ``numeric argument'' to
+emphasize that you type the argument before the command, and to
+distinguish these arguments from minibuffer arguments that come after
+the command.
-@c section Autoarg Mode
@ignore
-@cindex autoarg mode
- Users of ASCII keyboards may prefer to use Autoarg mode. Autoarg mode
-means that you don't need to type @kbd{C-u} to specify a numeric argument.
-Instead, you type just the digits. Digits followed by an ordinary
-inserting character are themselves inserted, but digits followed by an
-Escape or Control character serve as an argument to it and are not
-inserted. A minus sign can also be part of an argument, but only at the
-beginning. If you type a minus sign following some digits, both the digits
-and the minus sign are inserted.
-
- To use Autoarg mode, set the variable Autoarg Mode nonzero.
-@xref{Variables}.
-
- Autoargument digits echo at the bottom of the frame; the first
-nondigit causes them to be inserted or uses them as an argument. To
-insert some digits and nothing else, you must follow them with a Space
-and then rub it out. @kbd{C-g} cancels the digits, while Delete inserts
-them all and then rubs out the last.
+@node Repeating
+@section Repeating a Command
+@cindex repeating a command
+
+@kindex C-x z
+@findex repeat
+ The command @kbd{C-x z} (@code{repeat}) provides another way to repeat
+an Emacs command many times. This command repeats the previous Emacs
+command, whatever that was. Repeating a command uses the same arguments
+that were used before; it does not read new arguments each time.
+
+ To repeat the command more than once, type additional @kbd{z}'s: each
+@kbd{z} repeats the command one more time. Repetition ends when you
+type a character other than @kbd{z}, or press a mouse button.
+
+ For example, suppose you type @kbd{C-u 2 0 C-d} to delete 20
+characters. You can repeat that command (including its argument) three
+additional times, to delete a total of 80 characters, by typing @kbd{C-x
+z z z}. The first @kbd{C-x z} repeats the command once, and each
+subsequent @kbd{z} repeats it once again.
+
@end ignore
projects / chise / xemacs-chise.git.1 / blobdiff