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1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
3 @c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @node Dired, Calendar/Diary, Rmail, Top
6 @chapter Dired, the Directory Editor
7 @c This node is referenced in the tutorial. When renaming or deleting
8 @c it, the tutorial needs to be adjusted.
9 @cindex Dired
10 @cindex file management
11
12 Dired makes an Emacs buffer containing a listing of a directory, and
13 optionally some of its subdirectories as well. You can use the normal
14 Emacs commands to move around in this buffer, and special Dired commands
15 to operate on the files listed.
16
17 The Dired buffer is ``read-only,'' and inserting text in it is not
18 useful, so ordinary printing characters such as @kbd{d} and @kbd{x}
19 are redefined for special Dired commands. Some Dired commands
20 @dfn{mark} or @dfn{flag} the @dfn{current file} (that is, the file on
21 the current line); other commands operate on the marked files or on
22 the flagged files. You first mark certain files in order to operate
23 on all of them with on command.
24
25 The Dired-X package provides various extra features for Dired mode.
26 @xref{Top, Dired-X,,dired-x, Dired Extra Version 2 User's Manual}.
27
28 @menu
29 * Enter: Dired Enter. How to invoke Dired.
30 * Navigation: Dired Navigation. Special motion commands in the Dired buffer.
31 * Deletion: Dired Deletion. Deleting files with Dired.
32 * Flagging Many Files:: Flagging files based on their names.
33 * Visit: Dired Visiting. Other file operations through Dired.
34 * Marks vs Flags:: Flagging for deletion vs marking.
35 * Operating on Files:: How to copy, rename, print, compress, etc.
36 either one file or several files.
37 * Shell Commands in Dired:: Running a shell command on the marked files.
38 * Transforming File Names:: Using patterns to rename multiple files.
39 * Comparison in Dired:: Running `diff' by way of Dired.
40 * Subdirectories in Dired:: Adding subdirectories to the Dired buffer.
41 @ifnottex
42 * Subdir Switches:: Subdirectory switches in Dired.
43 @end ifnottex
44 * Subdirectory Motion:: Moving across subdirectories, and up and down.
45 * Hiding Subdirectories:: Making subdirectories visible or invisible.
46 * Updating: Dired Updating. Discarding lines for files of no interest.
47 * Find: Dired and Find. Using `find' to choose the files for Dired.
48 * Wdired:: Operating on files by editing the Dired buffer.
49 * Image-Dired:: Viewing image thumbnails in Dired
50 * Misc: Misc Dired Features. Various other features.
51 @end menu
52
53 @node Dired Enter
54 @section Entering Dired
55
56 @findex dired
57 @kindex C-x d
58 @vindex dired-listing-switches
59 To invoke Dired, do @kbd{C-x d} or @kbd{M-x dired}. The command
60 reads a directory name or wildcard file name pattern as a minibuffer
61 argument to specify the files to list. @kbd{C-x C-f} given a
62 directory name also invokes Dired. Where @code{dired} differs from
63 @code{list-directory} is that it puts the buffer into Dired mode, so
64 that the special commands of Dired are available.
65
66 The variable @code{dired-listing-switches} specifies the options to
67 give to @code{ls} for listing the directory; this string @emph{must}
68 contain @samp{-l}. If you use a numeric prefix argument with the
69 @code{dired} command, you can specify the @code{ls} switches with the
70 minibuffer before you enter the directory specification. No matter
71 how they are specified, the @code{ls} switches can include short
72 options (that is, single characters) requiring no arguments, and long
73 options (starting with @samp{--}) whose arguments are specified with
74 @samp{=}.
75
76 On MS-Windows and MS-DOS systems, Emacs @emph{emulates} @code{ls};
77 see @ref{ls in Lisp}, for options and peculiarities of that emulation.
78
79
80 @findex dired-other-window
81 @kindex C-x 4 d
82 @findex dired-other-frame
83 @kindex C-x 5 d
84 To display the Dired buffer in another window rather than in the
85 selected window, use @kbd{C-x 4 d} (@code{dired-other-window}) instead
86 of @kbd{C-x d}. @kbd{C-x 5 d} (@code{dired-other-frame}) uses a
87 separate frame to display the Dired buffer.
88
89 @node Dired Navigation
90 @section Navigation in the Dired Buffer
91
92 @kindex C-n @r{(Dired)}
93 @kindex C-p @r{(Dired)}
94 All the usual Emacs cursor motion commands are available in Dired
95 buffers. The keys @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} are redefined to put the
96 cursor at the beginning of the file name on the line, rather than at
97 the beginning of the line.
98
99 @kindex SPC @r{(Dired)}
100 For extra convenience, @key{SPC} and @kbd{n} in Dired are equivalent
101 to @kbd{C-n}. @kbd{p} is equivalent to @kbd{C-p}. (Moving by lines is
102 so common in Dired that it deserves to be easy to type.) @key{DEL}
103 (move up and unflag) is often useful simply for moving up.
104
105 @findex dired-goto-file
106 @kindex j @r{(Dired)}
107 @kbd{j} (@code{dired-goto-file}) moves point to the line that
108 describes a specified file or directory.
109
110 Some additional navigation commands are available when the Dired
111 buffer includes several directories. @xref{Subdirectory Motion}.
112
113 @node Dired Deletion
114 @section Deleting Files with Dired
115 @cindex flagging files (in Dired)
116 @cindex deleting files (in Dired)
117
118 One of the most frequent uses of Dired is to first @dfn{flag} files for
119 deletion, then delete the files that were flagged.
120
121 @table @kbd
122 @item d
123 Flag this file for deletion.
124 @item u
125 Remove deletion flag on this line.
126 @item @key{DEL}
127 Move point to previous line and remove the deletion flag on that line.
128 @item x
129 Delete the files that are flagged for deletion.
130 @end table
131
132 @kindex d @r{(Dired)}
133 @findex dired-flag-file-deletion
134 You can flag a file for deletion by moving to the line describing
135 the file and typing @kbd{d} (@code{dired-flag-file-deletion}). The
136 deletion flag is visible as a @samp{D} at the beginning of the line.
137 This command moves point to the next line, so that repeated @kbd{d}
138 commands flag successive files. A numeric argument serves as a repeat
139 count.
140
141 @kindex u @r{(Dired deletion)}
142 @kindex DEL @r{(Dired)}
143 The reason for flagging files for deletion, rather than deleting
144 files immediately, is to reduce the danger of deleting a file
145 accidentally. Until you direct Dired to delete the flagged files, you
146 can remove deletion flags using the commands @kbd{u} and @key{DEL}.
147 @kbd{u} (@code{dired-unmark}) works just like @kbd{d}, but removes
148 flags rather than making flags. @key{DEL}
149 (@code{dired-unmark-backward}) moves upward, removing flags; it is
150 like @kbd{u} with argument @minus{}1.
151
152 @kindex x @r{(Dired)}
153 @findex dired-do-flagged-delete
154 @cindex expunging (Dired)
155 To delete the flagged files, type @kbd{x}
156 (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}). (This is also known as
157 @dfn{expunging}.) This command first displays a list of all the file
158 names flagged for deletion, and requests confirmation with @kbd{yes}.
159 If you confirm, Dired deletes the flagged files, then deletes their
160 lines from the text of the Dired buffer. The Dired buffer, with
161 somewhat fewer lines, remains selected.
162
163 If you answer @kbd{no} or quit with @kbd{C-g} when asked to confirm, you
164 return immediately to Dired, with the deletion flags still present in
165 the buffer, and no files actually deleted.
166
167 @cindex recursive deletion
168 @vindex dired-recursive-deletes
169 You can delete empty directories just like other files, but normally
170 Dired cannot delete directories that are nonempty. If the variable
171 @code{dired-recursive-deletes} is non-@code{nil}, then Dired can
172 delete nonempty directories including all their contents. That can
173 be somewhat risky.
174
175 @node Flagging Many Files
176 @section Flagging Many Files at Once
177 @cindex flagging many files for deletion (in Dired)
178
179 @table @kbd
180 @item #
181 Flag all auto-save files (files whose names start and end with @samp{#})
182 for deletion (@pxref{Auto Save}).
183
184 @item ~
185 Flag all backup files (files whose names end with @samp{~}) for deletion
186 (@pxref{Backup}).
187
188 @item &
189 Flag for deletion all files with certain kinds of names which suggest
190 you could easily create those files again.
191
192 @item .@: @r{(Period)}
193 Flag excess numeric backup files for deletion. The oldest and newest
194 few backup files of any one file are exempt; the middle ones are
195 flagged.
196
197 @item % d @var{regexp} @key{RET}
198 Flag for deletion all files whose names match the regular expression
199 @var{regexp}.
200 @end table
201
202 The @kbd{#}, @kbd{~}, @kbd{&}, and @kbd{.} commands flag many files for
203 deletion, based on their file names. These commands are useful
204 precisely because they do not themselves delete any files; you can
205 remove the deletion flags from any flagged files that you really wish to
206 keep.@refill
207
208 @kindex & @r{(Dired)}
209 @findex dired-flag-garbage-files
210 @vindex dired-garbage-files-regexp
211 @cindex deleting some backup files
212 @kbd{&} (@code{dired-flag-garbage-files}) flags files whose names
213 match the regular expression specified by the variable
214 @code{dired-garbage-files-regexp}. By default, this matches certain
215 files produced by @TeX{}, @samp{.bak} files, and the @samp{.orig} and
216 @samp{.rej} files produced by @code{patch}.
217
218 @kindex # @r{(Dired)}
219 @findex dired-flag-auto-save-files
220 @cindex deleting auto-save files
221 @kbd{#} (@code{dired-flag-auto-save-files}) flags for deletion all
222 files whose names look like auto-save files---that is, files whose
223 names begin and end with @samp{#}. @xref{Auto Save}.
224
225 @kindex ~ @r{(Dired)}
226 @findex dired-flag-backup-files
227 @kbd{~} (@code{dired-flag-backup-files}) flags for deletion all
228 files whose names say they are backup files---that is, files whose
229 names end in @samp{~}. @xref{Backup}.
230
231 @kindex . @r{(Dired)}
232 @vindex dired-kept-versions
233 @findex dired-clean-directory
234 @kbd{.} (period, @code{dired-clean-directory}) flags just some of the
235 backup files for deletion: all but the oldest few and newest few backups
236 of any one file. Normally @code{dired-kept-versions} (@strong{not}
237 @code{kept-new-versions}; that applies only when saving) specifies the
238 number of newest versions of each file to keep, and
239 @code{kept-old-versions} specifies the number of oldest versions to
240 keep.
241
242 Period with a positive numeric argument, as in @kbd{C-u 3 .},
243 specifies the number of newest versions to keep, overriding
244 @code{dired-kept-versions}. A negative numeric argument overrides
245 @code{kept-old-versions}, using minus the value of the argument to
246 specify the number of oldest versions of each file to keep.
247
248 @findex dired-flag-files-regexp
249 @kindex % d @r{(Dired)}
250 The @kbd{% d} command flags all files whose names match a specified
251 regular expression (@code{dired-flag-files-regexp}). Only the
252 non-directory part of the file name is used in matching. You can use
253 @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. You can exclude certain
254 subdirectories from marking by hiding them while you use @kbd{% d}.
255 @xref{Hiding Subdirectories}.
256
257 @node Dired Visiting
258 @section Visiting Files in Dired
259
260 There are several Dired commands for visiting or examining the files
261 listed in the Dired buffer. All of them apply to the current line's
262 file; if that file is really a directory, these commands invoke Dired on
263 that subdirectory (making a separate Dired buffer).
264
265 @table @kbd
266 @item f
267 @kindex f @r{(Dired)}
268 @findex dired-find-file
269 Visit the file described on the current line, like typing @kbd{C-x C-f}
270 and supplying that file name (@code{dired-find-file}). @xref{Visiting}.
271
272 @item @key{RET}
273 @itemx e
274 @kindex RET @r{(Dired)}
275 @kindex e @r{(Dired)}
276 Equivalent to @kbd{f}.
277
278 @ignore @c This command seems too risky to document at all.
279 @item a
280 @kindex a @r{(Dired)}
281 @findex dired-find-alternate-file
282 Like @kbd{f}, but replaces the contents of the Dired buffer with
283 that of an alternate file or directory (@code{dired-find-alternate-file}).
284 @end ignore
285
286 @item o
287 @kindex o @r{(Dired)}
288 @findex dired-find-file-other-window
289 Like @kbd{f}, but uses another window to display the file's buffer
290 (@code{dired-find-file-other-window}). The Dired buffer remains visible
291 in the first window. This is like using @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} to visit the
292 file. @xref{Windows}.
293
294 @item C-o
295 @kindex C-o @r{(Dired)}
296 @findex dired-display-file
297 Visit the file described on the current line, and display the buffer in
298 another window, but do not select that window (@code{dired-display-file}).
299
300 @item Mouse-1
301 @itemx Mouse-2
302 @findex dired-mouse-find-file-other-window
303 Visit the file named by the line you click on
304 (@code{dired-mouse-find-file-other-window}). This uses another window
305 to display the file, like the @kbd{o} command.
306
307 @item v
308 @kindex v @r{(Dired)}
309 @findex dired-view-file
310 View the file described on the current line, using @kbd{M-x view-file}
311 (@code{dired-view-file}). Viewing a file with @code{view-file} is
312 like visiting it, but is slanted toward moving around in the file
313 conveniently and does not allow changing the file. @xref{Misc File
314 Ops, View File, Miscellaneous File Operations}.
315
316 @item ^
317 @kindex ^ @r{(Dired)}
318 @findex dired-up-directory
319 Visit the parent directory of the current directory
320 (@code{dired-up-directory}). This is equivalent to moving to the line
321 for @file{..} and typing @kbd{f} there.
322 @end table
323
324 @node Marks vs Flags
325 @section Dired Marks vs. Flags
326
327 @cindex marking many files (in Dired)
328 Instead of flagging a file with @samp{D}, you can @dfn{mark} the
329 file with some other character (usually @samp{*}). Most Dired
330 commands to operate on files use the files marked with @samp{*}. The
331 only command that operates on flagged files is @kbd{x}, which expunges
332 them.
333
334 Here are some commands for marking with @samp{*}, for unmarking, and
335 for operating on marks. (@xref{Dired Deletion}, for commands to flag
336 and unflag files.)
337
338 @table @kbd
339 @item m
340 @itemx * m
341 @kindex m @r{(Dired)}
342 @kindex * m @r{(Dired)}
343 @findex dired-mark
344 Mark the current file with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark}). With a numeric
345 argument @var{n}, mark the next @var{n} files starting with the current
346 file. (If @var{n} is negative, mark the previous @minus{}@var{n}
347 files.)
348
349 @item * *
350 @kindex * * @r{(Dired)}
351 @findex dired-mark-executables
352 @cindex marking executable files (in Dired)
353 Mark all executable files with @samp{*}
354 (@code{dired-mark-executables}). With a numeric argument, unmark all
355 those files.
356
357 @item * @@
358 @kindex * @@ @r{(Dired)}
359 @findex dired-mark-symlinks
360 @cindex marking symbolic links (in Dired)
361 Mark all symbolic links with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark-symlinks}).
362 With a numeric argument, unmark all those files.
363
364 @item * /
365 @kindex * / @r{(Dired)}
366 @findex dired-mark-directories
367 @cindex marking subdirectories (in Dired)
368 Mark with @samp{*} all files which are directories, except for
369 @file{.} and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-directories}). With a numeric
370 argument, unmark all those files.
371
372 @item * s
373 @kindex * s @r{(Dired)}
374 @findex dired-mark-subdir-files
375 Mark all the files in the current subdirectory, aside from @file{.}
376 and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-subdir-files}).
377
378 @item u
379 @itemx * u
380 @kindex u @r{(Dired)}
381 @kindex * u @r{(Dired)}
382 @findex dired-unmark
383 Remove any mark on this line (@code{dired-unmark}).
384
385 @item @key{DEL}
386 @itemx * @key{DEL}
387 @kindex * DEL @r{(Dired)}
388 @findex dired-unmark-backward
389 @cindex unmarking files (in Dired)
390 Move point to previous line and remove any mark on that line
391 (@code{dired-unmark-backward}).
392
393 @item * !
394 @itemx U
395 @kindex * ! @r{(Dired)}
396 @kindex U @r{(Dired)}
397 @findex dired-unmark-all-marks
398 Remove all marks from all the files in this Dired buffer
399 (@code{dired-unmark-all-marks}).
400
401 @item * ? @var{markchar}
402 @itemx M-@key{DEL}
403 @kindex * ? @r{(Dired)}
404 @kindex M-DEL @r{(Dired)}
405 @findex dired-unmark-all-files
406 Remove all marks that use the character @var{markchar}
407 (@code{dired-unmark-all-files}). The argument is a single
408 character---do not use @key{RET} to terminate it. See the description
409 of the @kbd{* c} command below, which lets you replace one mark
410 character with another.
411
412 With a numeric argument, this command queries about each marked file,
413 asking whether to remove its mark. You can answer @kbd{y} meaning yes,
414 @kbd{n} meaning no, or @kbd{!} to remove the marks from the remaining
415 files without asking about them.
416
417 @item * C-n
418 @itemx M-@}
419 @findex dired-next-marked-file
420 @kindex * C-n @r{(Dired)}
421 @kindex M-@} @r{(Dired)}
422 Move down to the next marked file (@code{dired-next-marked-file})
423 A file is ``marked'' if it has any kind of mark.
424
425 @item * C-p
426 @itemx M-@{
427 @findex dired-prev-marked-file
428 @kindex * C-p @r{(Dired)}
429 @kindex M-@{ @r{(Dired)}
430 Move up to the previous marked file (@code{dired-prev-marked-file})
431
432 @item t
433 @itemx * t
434 @kindex t @r{(Dired)}
435 @kindex * t @r{(Dired)}
436 @findex dired-toggle-marks
437 @cindex toggling marks (in Dired)
438 Toggle all marks (@code{dired-toggle-marks}): files marked with @samp{*}
439 become unmarked, and unmarked files are marked with @samp{*}. Files
440 marked in any other way are not affected.
441
442 @item * c @var{old-markchar} @var{new-markchar}
443 @kindex * c @r{(Dired)}
444 @findex dired-change-marks
445 Replace all marks that use the character @var{old-markchar} with marks
446 that use the character @var{new-markchar} (@code{dired-change-marks}).
447 This command is the primary way to create or use marks other than
448 @samp{*} or @samp{D}. The arguments are single characters---do not use
449 @key{RET} to terminate them.
450
451 You can use almost any character as a mark character by means of this
452 command, to distinguish various classes of files. If @var{old-markchar}
453 is a space (@samp{ }), then the command operates on all unmarked files;
454 if @var{new-markchar} is a space, then the command unmarks the files it
455 acts on.
456
457 To illustrate the power of this command, here is how to put @samp{D}
458 flags on all the files that have no marks, while unflagging all those
459 that already have @samp{D} flags:
460
461 @example
462 * c D t * c SPC D * c t SPC
463 @end example
464
465 This assumes that no files were already marked with @samp{t}.
466
467 @item % m @var{regexp} @key{RET}
468 @itemx * % @var{regexp} @key{RET}
469 @findex dired-mark-files-regexp
470 @kindex % m @r{(Dired)}
471 @kindex * % @r{(Dired)}
472 Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose names match the regular expression
473 @var{regexp} (@code{dired-mark-files-regexp}). This command is like
474 @kbd{% d}, except that it marks files with @samp{*} instead of flagging
475 with @samp{D}.
476
477 Only the non-directory part of the file name is used in matching. Use
478 @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches. You can exclude
479 subdirectories by temporarily hiding them (@pxref{Hiding
480 Subdirectories}).
481
482 @item % g @var{regexp} @key{RET}
483 @findex dired-mark-files-containing-regexp
484 @kindex % g @r{(Dired)}
485 @cindex finding files containing regexp matches (in Dired)
486 Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose @emph{contents} contain a match for
487 the regular expression @var{regexp}
488 (@code{dired-mark-files-containing-regexp}). This command is like
489 @kbd{% m}, except that it searches the file contents instead of the file
490 name.
491
492 @item C-x u
493 @itemx C-_
494 @itemx C-/
495 @kindex C-_ @r{(Dired)}
496 @findex dired-undo
497 Undo changes in the Dired buffer, such as adding or removing
498 marks (@code{dired-undo}). @emph{This command does not revert the
499 actual file operations, nor recover lost files!} It just undoes
500 changes in the buffer itself.
501
502 In some cases, using this after commands that operate on files can
503 cause trouble. For example, after renaming one or more files,
504 @code{dired-undo} restores the original names in the Dired buffer,
505 which gets the Dired buffer out of sync with the actual contents of
506 the directory.
507 @end table
508
509 @node Operating on Files
510 @section Operating on Files
511 @cindex operating on files in Dired
512
513 This section describes the basic Dired commands to operate on one file
514 or several files. All of these commands are capital letters; all of
515 them use the minibuffer, either to read an argument or to ask for
516 confirmation, before they act. All of them let you specify the
517 files to manipulate in these ways:
518
519 @itemize @bullet
520 @item
521 If you give the command a numeric prefix argument @var{n}, it operates
522 on the next @var{n} files, starting with the current file. (If @var{n}
523 is negative, the command operates on the @minus{}@var{n} files preceding
524 the current line.)
525
526 @item
527 Otherwise, if some files are marked with @samp{*}, the command operates
528 on all those files.
529
530 @item
531 Otherwise, the command operates on the current file only.
532 @end itemize
533
534 @noindent
535 Certain other Dired commands, such as @kbd{!} and the @samp{%}
536 commands, use the same conventions to decide which files to work on.
537
538 @vindex dired-dwim-target
539 @cindex two directories (in Dired)
540 Commands which ask for a destination directory, such as those which
541 copy and rename files or create links for them, try to guess the default
542 target directory for the operation. Normally, they suggest the Dired
543 buffer's default directory, but if the variable @code{dired-dwim-target}
544 is non-@code{nil}, and if there is another Dired buffer displayed in the
545 next window, that other buffer's directory is suggested instead.
546
547 Here are the file-manipulating Dired commands that operate on files.
548
549 @table @kbd
550 @findex dired-do-copy
551 @kindex C @r{(Dired)}
552 @cindex copying files (in Dired)
553 @item C @var{new} @key{RET}
554 Copy the specified files (@code{dired-do-copy}). The argument @var{new}
555 is the directory to copy into, or (if copying a single file) the new
556 name. This is like the shell command @code{cp}.
557
558 @vindex dired-copy-preserve-time
559 If @code{dired-copy-preserve-time} is non-@code{nil}, then copying
560 with this command preserves the modification time of the old file in
561 the copy, like @samp{cp -p}.
562
563 @vindex dired-recursive-copies
564 @cindex recursive copying
565 The variable @code{dired-recursive-copies} controls whether to copy
566 directories recursively (like @samp{cp -r}). The default is
567 @code{nil}, which means that directories cannot be copied.
568
569 @item D
570 @findex dired-do-delete
571 @kindex D @r{(Dired)}
572 Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}). This is like the
573 shell command @code{rm}.
574
575 Like the other commands in this section, this command operates on the
576 @emph{marked} files, or the next @var{n} files. By contrast, @kbd{x}
577 (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}) deletes all @dfn{flagged} files.
578
579 @findex dired-do-rename
580 @kindex R @r{(Dired)}
581 @cindex renaming files (in Dired)
582 @cindex moving files (in Dired)
583 @item R @var{new} @key{RET}
584 Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}). If you rename a
585 single file, the argument @var{new} is the new name of the file. If
586 you rename several files, the argument @var{new} is the directory into
587 which to move the files (this is like the shell command @code{mv}).
588
589 Dired automatically changes the visited file name of buffers associated
590 with renamed files so that they refer to the new names.
591
592 @findex dired-do-hardlink
593 @kindex H @r{(Dired)}
594 @cindex hard links (in Dired)
595 @item H @var{new} @key{RET}
596 Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}).
597 This is like the shell command @code{ln}. The argument @var{new} is
598 the directory to make the links in, or (if making just one link) the
599 name to give the link.
600
601 @findex dired-do-symlink
602 @kindex S @r{(Dired)}
603 @cindex symbolic links (creation in Dired)
604 @item S @var{new} @key{RET}
605 Make symbolic links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-symlink}).
606 This is like @samp{ln -s}. The argument @var{new} is the directory to
607 make the links in, or (if making just one link) the name to give the
608 link.
609
610 @findex dired-do-chmod
611 @kindex M @r{(Dired)}
612 @cindex changing file permissions (in Dired)
613 @item M @var{modespec} @key{RET}
614 Change the mode (also called ``permission bits'') of the specified files
615 (@code{dired-do-chmod}). This uses the @code{chmod} program, so
616 @var{modespec} can be any argument that @code{chmod} can handle.
617
618 @findex dired-do-chgrp
619 @kindex G @r{(Dired)}
620 @cindex changing file group (in Dired)
621 @item G @var{newgroup} @key{RET}
622 Change the group of the specified files to @var{newgroup}
623 (@code{dired-do-chgrp}).
624
625 @findex dired-do-chown
626 @kindex O @r{(Dired)}
627 @cindex changing file owner (in Dired)
628 @item O @var{newowner} @key{RET}
629 Change the owner of the specified files to @var{newowner}
630 (@code{dired-do-chown}). (On most systems, only the superuser can do
631 this.)
632
633 @vindex dired-chown-program
634 The variable @code{dired-chown-program} specifies the name of the
635 program to use to do the work (different systems put @code{chown} in
636 different places).
637
638 @findex dired-do-touch
639 @kindex T @r{(Dired)}
640 @cindex changing file time (in Dired)
641 @item T @var{timestamp} @key{RET}
642 Touch the specified files (@code{dired-do-touch}). This means
643 updating their modification times to the present time. This is like
644 the shell command @code{touch}.
645
646 @findex dired-do-print
647 @kindex P @r{(Dired)}
648 @cindex printing files (in Dired)
649 @item P @var{command} @key{RET}
650 Print the specified files (@code{dired-do-print}). You must specify the
651 command to print them with, but the minibuffer starts out with a
652 suitable guess made using the variables @code{lpr-command} and
653 @code{lpr-switches} (the same variables that @code{lpr-buffer} uses;
654 @pxref{Printing}).
655
656 @findex dired-do-compress
657 @kindex Z @r{(Dired)}
658 @cindex compressing files (in Dired)
659 @item Z
660 Compress the specified files (@code{dired-do-compress}). If the file
661 appears to be a compressed file already, uncompress it instead.
662
663 @findex dired-do-load
664 @kindex L @r{(Dired)}
665 @cindex loading several files (in Dired)
666 @item L
667 Load the specified Emacs Lisp files (@code{dired-do-load}).
668 @xref{Lisp Libraries}.
669
670 @findex dired-do-byte-compile
671 @kindex B @r{(Dired)}
672 @cindex byte-compiling several files (in Dired)
673 @item B
674 Byte compile the specified Emacs Lisp files
675 (@code{dired-do-byte-compile}). @xref{Byte Compilation,, Byte
676 Compilation, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
677
678 @kindex A @r{(Dired)}
679 @findex dired-do-search
680 @cindex search multiple files (in Dired)
681 @item A @var{regexp} @key{RET}
682 Search all the specified files for the regular expression @var{regexp}
683 (@code{dired-do-search}).
684
685 This command is a variant of @code{tags-search}. The search stops at
686 the first match it finds; use @kbd{M-,} to resume the search and find
687 the next match. @xref{Tags Search}.
688
689 @kindex Q @r{(Dired)}
690 @findex dired-do-query-replace-regexp
691 @cindex search and replace in multiple files (in Dired)
692 @item Q @var{regexp} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
693 Perform @code{query-replace-regexp} on each of the specified files,
694 replacing matches for @var{regexp} with the string
695 @var{to} (@code{dired-do-query-replace-regexp}).
696
697 This command is a variant of @code{tags-query-replace}. If you exit the
698 query replace loop, you can use @kbd{M-,} to resume the scan and replace
699 more matches. @xref{Tags Search}.
700 @end table
701
702 @node Shell Commands in Dired
703 @section Shell Commands in Dired
704 @cindex shell commands, Dired
705
706 @findex dired-do-shell-command
707 @kindex ! @r{(Dired)}
708 @kindex X @r{(Dired)}
709 The Dired command @kbd{!} (@code{dired-do-shell-command}) reads a
710 shell command string in the minibuffer and runs that shell command on
711 all the specified files. (@kbd{X} is a synonym for @kbd{!}.) You can
712 specify the files to operate on in the usual ways for Dired commands
713 (@pxref{Operating on Files}).
714
715 The working directory for the shell command is the top-level directory
716 of the Dired buffer.
717
718 There are two ways of applying a shell command to multiple files:
719
720 @itemize @bullet
721 @item
722 If you use @samp{*} surrounded by whitespace in the shell command,
723 then the command runs just once, with the list of file names
724 substituted for the @samp{*}. The order of file names is the order of
725 appearance in the Dired buffer.
726
727 Thus, @kbd{! tar cf foo.tar * @key{RET}} runs @code{tar} on the entire
728 list of file names, putting them into one tar file @file{foo.tar}.
729
730 If you want to use @samp{*} as a shell wildcard with whitespace around
731 it, write @samp{*""}. In the shell, this is equivalent to @samp{*};
732 but since the @samp{*} is not surrounded by whitespace, Dired does
733 not treat it specially.
734
735 @item
736 If the command string doesn't contain @samp{*} surrounded by
737 whitespace, then it runs once @emph{for each file}. Normally the file
738 name is added at the end.
739
740 For example, @kbd{! uudecode @key{RET}} runs @code{uudecode} on each
741 file.
742
743 @item
744 However, if the command string contains @samp{?} surrounded by
745 whitespace, the current file name is substituted for @samp{?} (rather
746 than added at the end). You can use @samp{?} this way more than once
747 in the command, and the same file name replaces each occurrence.
748 @end itemize
749
750 To iterate over the file names in a more complicated fashion, use an
751 explicit shell loop. For example, here is how to uuencode each file,
752 making the output file name by appending @samp{.uu} to the input file
753 name:
754
755 @example
756 for file in * ; do uuencode "$file" "$file" >"$file".uu; done
757 @end example
758
759 The @kbd{!} command does not attempt to update the Dired buffer to
760 show new or modified files, because it doesn't understand shell
761 commands, and does not know what files the shell command changed. Use
762 the @kbd{g} command to update the Dired buffer (@pxref{Dired
763 Updating}).
764
765 @node Transforming File Names
766 @section Transforming File Names in Dired
767
768 This section describes Dired commands which alter file names in a
769 systematic way. Each command operates on some or all of the marked
770 files, using a new name made by transforming the existing name.
771
772 Like the basic Dired file-manipulation commands (@pxref{Operating on
773 Files}), the commands described here operate either on the next
774 @var{n} files, or on all files marked with @samp{*}, or on the current
775 file. (To mark files, use the commands described in @ref{Marks vs
776 Flags}.)
777
778 All of the commands described in this section work
779 @emph{interactively}: they ask you to confirm the operation for each
780 candidate file. Thus, you can select more files than you actually
781 need to operate on (e.g., with a regexp that matches many files), and
782 then filter the selected names by typing @kbd{y} or @kbd{n} when the
783 command prompts for confirmation.
784
785 @table @kbd
786 @findex dired-upcase
787 @kindex % u @r{(Dired)}
788 @cindex upcase file names
789 @item % u
790 Rename each of the selected files to an upper-case name
791 (@code{dired-upcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo}
792 and @file{bar}, the new names are @file{FOO} and @file{BAR}.
793
794 @item % l
795 @findex dired-downcase
796 @kindex % l @r{(Dired)}
797 @cindex downcase file names
798 Rename each of the selected files to a lower-case name
799 (@code{dired-downcase}). If the old file names are @file{Foo} and
800 @file{bar}, the new names are @file{foo} and @file{bar}.
801
802 @item % R @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
803 @kindex % R @r{(Dired)}
804 @findex dired-do-rename-regexp
805 @itemx % C @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
806 @kindex % C @r{(Dired)}
807 @findex dired-do-copy-regexp
808 @itemx % H @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
809 @kindex % H @r{(Dired)}
810 @findex dired-do-hardlink-regexp
811 @itemx % S @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
812 @kindex % S @r{(Dired)}
813 @findex dired-do-symlink-regexp
814 These four commands rename, copy, make hard links and make soft links,
815 in each case computing the new name by regular-expression substitution
816 from the name of the old file.
817 @end table
818
819 The four regular-expression substitution commands effectively
820 perform a search-and-replace on the selected file names. They read
821 two arguments: a regular expression @var{from}, and a substitution
822 pattern @var{to}; they match each ``old'' file name against
823 @var{from}, and then replace the matching part with @var{to}. You can
824 use @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{digit}} in @var{to} to refer to all or
825 part of what the pattern matched in the old file name, as in
826 @code{replace-regexp} (@pxref{Regexp Replace}). If the regular
827 expression matches more than once in a file name, only the first match
828 is replaced.
829
830 For example, @kbd{% R ^.*$ @key{RET} x-\& @key{RET}} renames each
831 selected file by prepending @samp{x-} to its name. The inverse of this,
832 removing @samp{x-} from the front of each file name, is also possible:
833 one method is @kbd{% R ^x-\(.*\)$ @key{RET} \1 @key{RET}}; another is
834 @kbd{% R ^x- @key{RET} @key{RET}}. (Use @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor
835 matches that should span the whole file name.)
836
837 Normally, the replacement process does not consider the files'
838 directory names; it operates on the file name within the directory. If
839 you specify a numeric argument of zero, then replacement affects the
840 entire absolute file name including directory name. (A non-zero
841 argument specifies the number of files to operate on.)
842
843 You may want to select the set of files to operate on using the same
844 regexp @var{from} that you will use to operate on them. To do this,
845 mark those files with @kbd{% m @var{from} @key{RET}}, then use the
846 same regular expression in the command to operate on the files. To
847 make this more convenient, the @kbd{%} commands to operate on files
848 use the last regular expression specified in any @kbd{%} command as a
849 default.
850
851 @node Comparison in Dired
852 @section File Comparison with Dired
853 @cindex file comparison (in Dired)
854 @cindex compare files (in Dired)
855
856 Here are two Dired commands that compare specified files using
857 @code{diff}. They show the output in a buffer using Diff mode
858 (@pxref{Comparing Files}).
859
860 @table @kbd
861 @item =
862 @findex dired-diff
863 @kindex = @r{(Dired)}
864 Compare the current file (the file at point) with another file (the
865 file at the mark) using the @code{diff} program (@code{dired-diff}).
866 The file at the mark is the first argument of @code{diff}, and the
867 file at point is the second argument. This refers to the ordinary
868 Emacs mark, not Dired marks; use @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}
869 (@code{set-mark-command}) to set the mark at the first file's line
870 (@pxref{Setting Mark}).
871
872 @findex dired-backup-diff
873 @kindex M-= @r{(Dired)}
874 @item M-=
875 Compare the current file with its latest backup file
876 (@code{dired-backup-diff}). If the current file is itself a backup,
877 compare it with the file it is a backup of; this way, you can compare
878 a file with any one of its backups.
879
880 The backup file is the first file given to @code{diff}.
881 @end table
882
883 @node Subdirectories in Dired
884 @section Subdirectories in Dired
885 @cindex subdirectories in Dired
886 @cindex expanding subdirectories in Dired
887
888 A Dired buffer displays just one directory in the normal case;
889 but you can optionally include its subdirectories as well.
890
891 The simplest way to include multiple directories in one Dired buffer is
892 to specify the options @samp{-lR} for running @code{ls}. (If you give a
893 numeric argument when you run Dired, then you can specify these options
894 in the minibuffer.) That produces a recursive directory listing showing
895 all subdirectories at all levels.
896
897 More often, you will want to show only specific subdirectories. You
898 can do this with the @kbd{i} command:
899
900 @table @kbd
901 @findex dired-maybe-insert-subdir
902 @kindex i @r{(Dired)}
903 @item i
904 @cindex inserted subdirectory (Dired)
905 @cindex in-situ subdirectory (Dired)
906 Insert the contents of a subdirectory later in the buffer.
907 @end table
908
909 Use the @kbd{i} (@code{dired-maybe-insert-subdir}) command on a line
910 that describes a file which is a directory. It inserts the contents of
911 that directory into the same Dired buffer, and moves there. Inserted
912 subdirectory contents follow the top-level directory of the Dired
913 buffer, just as they do in @samp{ls -lR} output.
914
915 If the subdirectory's contents are already present in the buffer, the
916 @kbd{i} command just moves to it.
917
918 In either case, @kbd{i} sets the Emacs mark before moving, so @kbd{C-u
919 C-@key{SPC}} takes you back to the old position in the buffer (the line
920 describing that subdirectory).
921
922 Use the @kbd{l} command (@code{dired-do-redisplay}) to update the
923 subdirectory's contents. Use @kbd{C-u k} on the subdirectory header
924 line to delete the subdirectory (@pxref{Dired Updating}). You can also
925 hide and show inserted subdirectories (@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}).
926
927
928
929
930 @ifnottex
931 @include dired-xtra.texi
932 @end ifnottex
933
934 @node Subdirectory Motion
935 @section Moving Over Subdirectories
936
937 When a Dired buffer lists subdirectories, you can use the page motion
938 commands @kbd{C-x [} and @kbd{C-x ]} to move by entire directories
939 (@pxref{Pages}).
940
941 @cindex header line (Dired)
942 @cindex directory header lines
943 The following commands move across, up and down in the tree of
944 directories within one Dired buffer. They move to @dfn{directory header
945 lines}, which are the lines that give a directory's name, at the
946 beginning of the directory's contents.
947
948 @table @kbd
949 @findex dired-next-subdir
950 @kindex C-M-n @r{(Dired)}
951 @item C-M-n
952 Go to next subdirectory header line, regardless of level
953 (@code{dired-next-subdir}).
954
955 @findex dired-prev-subdir
956 @kindex C-M-p @r{(Dired)}
957 @item C-M-p
958 Go to previous subdirectory header line, regardless of level
959 (@code{dired-prev-subdir}).
960
961 @findex dired-tree-up
962 @kindex C-M-u @r{(Dired)}
963 @item C-M-u
964 Go up to the parent directory's header line (@code{dired-tree-up}).
965
966 @findex dired-tree-down
967 @kindex C-M-d @r{(Dired)}
968 @item C-M-d
969 Go down in the directory tree, to the first subdirectory's header line
970 (@code{dired-tree-down}).
971
972 @findex dired-prev-dirline
973 @kindex < @r{(Dired)}
974 @item <
975 Move up to the previous directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).
976 These lines are the ones that describe a directory as a file in its
977 parent directory.
978
979 @findex dired-next-dirline
980 @kindex > @r{(Dired)}
981 @item >
982 Move down to the next directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).
983 @end table
984
985 @node Hiding Subdirectories
986 @section Hiding Subdirectories
987 @cindex hiding subdirectories (Dired)
988 @cindex showing hidden subdirectories (Dired)
989
990 @dfn{Hiding} a subdirectory means to make it invisible, except for its
991 header line.
992
993 @table @kbd
994 @item $
995 @findex dired-hide-subdir
996 @kindex $ @r{(Dired)}
997 Hide or show the subdirectory that point is in, and move point to the
998 next subdirectory (@code{dired-hide-subdir}). This is a toggle. A
999 numeric argument serves as a repeat count.
1000
1001 @item M-$
1002 @findex dired-hide-all
1003 @kindex M-$ @r{(Dired)}
1004 Hide all subdirectories in this Dired buffer, leaving only their header
1005 lines (@code{dired-hide-all}). Or, if any subdirectory is currently
1006 hidden, make all subdirectories visible again. You can use this command
1007 to get an overview in very deep directory trees or to move quickly to
1008 subdirectories far away.
1009 @end table
1010
1011 Ordinary Dired commands never consider files inside a hidden
1012 subdirectory. For example, the commands to operate on marked files
1013 ignore files in hidden directories even if they are marked. Thus you
1014 can use hiding to temporarily exclude subdirectories from operations
1015 without having to remove the Dired marks on files in those
1016 subdirectories.
1017
1018 @xref{Dired Updating}, for how to insert or delete a subdirectory listing.
1019
1020 @node Dired Updating
1021 @section Updating the Dired Buffer
1022 @cindex updating Dired buffer
1023 @cindex refreshing displayed files
1024
1025 This section describes commands to update the Dired buffer to reflect
1026 outside (non-Dired) changes in the directories and files, and to delete
1027 part of the Dired buffer.
1028
1029 @table @kbd
1030 @item g
1031 Update the entire contents of the Dired buffer (@code{revert-buffer}).
1032
1033 @item l
1034 Update the specified files (@code{dired-do-redisplay}). You specify the
1035 files for @kbd{l} in the same way as for file operations.
1036
1037 @item k
1038 Delete the specified @emph{file lines}---not the files, just the lines
1039 (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}).
1040
1041 @item s
1042 Toggle between alphabetical order and date/time order
1043 (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}).
1044
1045 @item C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}
1046 Refresh the Dired buffer using @var{switches} as
1047 @code{dired-listing-switches}.
1048 @end table
1049
1050 @kindex g @r{(Dired)}
1051 @findex revert-buffer @r{(Dired)}
1052 Type @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}) to update the contents of the
1053 Dired buffer, based on changes in the files and directories listed.
1054 This preserves all marks except for those on files that have vanished.
1055 Hidden subdirectories are updated but remain hidden.
1056
1057 @kindex l @r{(Dired)}
1058 @findex dired-do-redisplay
1059 To update only some of the files, type @kbd{l}
1060 (@code{dired-do-redisplay}). Like the Dired file-operating commands,
1061 this command operates on the next @var{n} files (or previous
1062 @minus{}@var{n} files), or on the marked files if any, or on the
1063 current file. Updating the files means reading their current status,
1064 then updating their lines in the buffer to indicate that status.
1065
1066 If you use @kbd{l} on a subdirectory header line, it updates the
1067 contents of the corresponding subdirectory.
1068
1069 @kindex k @r{(Dired)}
1070 @findex dired-do-kill-lines
1071 To delete the specified @emph{file lines} from the buffer---not
1072 delete the files---type @kbd{k} (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}). Like
1073 the file-operating commands, this command operates on the next @var{n}
1074 files, or on the marked files if any; but it does not operate on the
1075 current file as a last resort.
1076
1077 If you use @kbd{k} with a numeric prefix argument to kill the line
1078 for a file that is a directory, which you have inserted in the Dired
1079 buffer as a subdirectory, it deletes that subdirectory from the buffer
1080 as well. Typing @kbd{C-u k} on the header line for a subdirectory
1081 also deletes the subdirectory from the Dired buffer.
1082
1083 The @kbd{g} command brings back any individual lines that you have
1084 killed in this way, but not subdirectories---you must use @kbd{i} to
1085 reinsert a subdirectory.
1086
1087 @cindex Dired sorting
1088 @cindex sorting Dired buffer
1089 @kindex s @r{(Dired)}
1090 @findex dired-sort-toggle-or-edit
1091 The files in a Dired buffers are normally listed in alphabetical order
1092 by file names. Alternatively Dired can sort them by date/time. The
1093 Dired command @kbd{s} (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}) switches
1094 between these two sorting modes. The mode line in a Dired buffer
1095 indicates which way it is currently sorted---by name, or by date.
1096
1097 @kbd{C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}} lets you specify a new value for
1098 @code{dired-listing-switches}.
1099
1100 @node Dired and Find
1101 @section Dired and @code{find}
1102 @cindex @code{find} and Dired
1103
1104 You can select a set of files for display in a Dired buffer more
1105 flexibly by using the @code{find} utility to choose the files.
1106
1107 @findex find-name-dired
1108 To search for files with names matching a wildcard pattern use
1109 @kbd{M-x find-name-dired}. It reads arguments @var{directory} and
1110 @var{pattern}, and chooses all the files in @var{directory} or its
1111 subdirectories whose individual names match @var{pattern}.
1112
1113 The files thus chosen are displayed in a Dired buffer, in which the
1114 ordinary Dired commands are available.
1115
1116 @findex find-grep-dired
1117 If you want to test the contents of files, rather than their names,
1118 use @kbd{M-x find-grep-dired}. This command reads two minibuffer
1119 arguments, @var{directory} and @var{regexp}; it chooses all the files in
1120 @var{directory} or its subdirectories that contain a match for
1121 @var{regexp}. It works by running the programs @code{find} and
1122 @code{grep}. See also @kbd{M-x grep-find}, in @ref{Grep Searching}.
1123 Remember to write the regular expression for @code{grep}, not for Emacs.
1124 (An alternative method of showing files whose contents match a given
1125 regexp is the @kbd{% g @var{regexp}} command, see @ref{Marks vs Flags}.)
1126
1127 @findex find-dired
1128 The most general command in this series is @kbd{M-x find-dired}, which
1129 lets you specify any condition that @code{find} can test. It takes two
1130 minibuffer arguments, @var{directory} and @var{find-args}; it runs
1131 @code{find} in @var{directory}, passing @var{find-args} to tell
1132 @code{find} what condition to test. To use this command, you need to
1133 know how to use @code{find}.
1134
1135 @vindex find-ls-option
1136 The format of listing produced by these commands is controlled by the
1137 variable @code{find-ls-option}, whose default value specifies using
1138 options @samp{-ld} for @code{ls}. If your listings are corrupted, you
1139 may need to change the value of this variable.
1140
1141 @findex locate
1142 @findex locate-with-filter
1143 @cindex file database (locate)
1144 @vindex locate-command
1145 The command @kbd{M-x locate} provides a similar interface to the
1146 @code{locate} program. @kbd{M-x locate-with-filter} is similar, but
1147 keeps only files whose names match a given regular expression.
1148
1149 These buffers don't work entirely like ordinary Dired buffers: file
1150 operations work, but do not always automatically update the buffer.
1151 Reverting the buffer with @kbd{g} deletes all inserted subdirectories,
1152 and erases all flags and marks.
1153
1154 @node Wdired
1155 @section Editing the Dired Buffer
1156
1157 @cindex wdired mode
1158 @findex wdired-change-to-wdired-mode
1159 Wdired is a special mode that allows you to perform file operations
1160 by editing the Dired buffer directly (the ``W'' in ``Wdired'' stands
1161 for ``writable.'') To enter Wdired mode, type @kbd{C-x C-q} or @kbd{M-x
1162 wdired-change-to-wdired-mode} while in a Dired buffer. Alternatively,
1163 use @samp{Edit File Names} in the @samp{Immediate} menu bar menu.
1164
1165 @findex wdired-finish-edit
1166 While in Wdired mode, you can rename files by editing the file names
1167 displayed in the Dired buffer. All the ordinary Emacs editing
1168 commands, including rectangle operations and @code{query-replace}, are
1169 available for this. Once you are done editing, type @kbd{C-c C-c}
1170 (@code{wdired-finish-edit}). This applies your changes and switches
1171 back to ordinary Dired mode.
1172
1173 Apart from simply renaming files, you can move a file to another
1174 directory by typing in the new file name (either absolute or
1175 relative). To mark a file for deletion, delete the entire file name.
1176 To change the target of a symbolic link, edit the link target name
1177 which appears next to the link name.
1178
1179 The rest of the text in the buffer, such as the file sizes and
1180 modification dates, is marked read-only, so you can't edit it.
1181 However, if you set @code{wdired-allow-to-change-permissions} to
1182 @code{t}, you can edit the file permissions. For example, you can
1183 change @samp{-rw-r--r--} to @samp{-rw-rw-rw-} to make a file
1184 world-writable. These changes also take effect when you type @kbd{C-c
1185 C-c}.
1186
1187 @node Image-Dired
1188 @section Viewing Image Thumbnails in Dired
1189 @cindex image-dired mode
1190 @cindex image-dired
1191
1192 Image-Dired is a facility for browsing image files. It provides viewing
1193 the images either as thumbnails or in full size, either inside Emacs
1194 or through an external viewer.
1195
1196 @kindex C-t d @r{(Image-Dired)}
1197 @findex image-dired-display-thumbs
1198 To enter Image-Dired, mark the image files you want to look at in
1199 the Dired buffer, using @kbd{m} as usual. Then type @kbd{C-t d}
1200 (@code{image-dired-display-thumbs}). This creates and switches to a
1201 buffer containing image-dired, corresponding to the marked files.
1202
1203 You can also enter Image-Dired directly by typing @kbd{M-x
1204 image-dired}. This prompts for a directory; specify one that has
1205 image files. This creates thumbnails for all the images in that
1206 directory, and displays them all in the ``thumbnail buffer.'' This
1207 takes a long time if the directory contains many image files, and it
1208 asks for confirmation if the number of image files exceeds
1209 @code{image-dired-show-all-from-dir-max-files}.
1210
1211 With point in the thumbnail buffer, you can type @kbd{RET}
1212 (@code{image-dired-display-thumbnail-original-image}) to display a
1213 sized version of it in another window. This sizes the image to fit
1214 the window. Use the arrow keys to move around in the buffer. For
1215 easy browsing, use @kbd{SPC}
1216 (@code{image-dired-display-next-thumbnail-original}) to advance and
1217 display the next image. Typing @kbd{DEL}
1218 (@code{image-dired-display-previous-thumbnail-original}) backs up to
1219 the previous thumbnail and displays that instead.
1220
1221 @vindex image-dired-external-viewer
1222 To view and the image in its original size, either provide a prefix
1223 argument (@kbd{C-u}) before pressing @kbd{RET}, or type
1224 @kbd{C-@key{RET}} (@code{image-dired-thumbnail-display-external}) to
1225 display the image in an external viewer. You must first configure
1226 @code{image-dired-external-viewer}.
1227
1228 You can delete images through Image-Dired also. Type @kbd{d}
1229 (@code{image-dired-flag-thumb-original-file}) to flag the image file
1230 for deletion in the Dired buffer. You can also delete the thumbnail
1231 image from the thumbnail buffer with @kbd{C-d}
1232 (@code{image-dired-delete-char}).
1233
1234 More advanced features include @dfn{image tags}, which are metadata
1235 used to categorize image files. The tags are stored in a plain text
1236 file configured by @code{image-dired-db-file}.
1237
1238 To tag image files, mark them in the dired buffer (you can also mark
1239 files in Dired from the thumbnail buffer by typing @kbd{m}) and type
1240 @kbd{C-t t} (@code{image-dired-tag-files}). You will be prompted for
1241 a tag. To mark files having a certain tag, type @kbd{C-t f}
1242 (@code{image-dired-mark-tagged-files}). After marking image files
1243 with a certain tag, you can use @kbd{C-t d} to view them.
1244
1245 You can also tag a file directly from the thumbnail buffer by typing
1246 @kbd{t t} and you can remove a tag by typing @kbd{t r}. There is also
1247 a special ``tag'' called ``comment'' for each file (it is not a tag in
1248 the exact same sense as the other tags, it is handled slightly
1249 different). That is used to enter a comment or description about the
1250 image. You comment a file from the thumbnail buffer by typing
1251 @kbd{c}. You will be prompted for a comment. Type @kbd{C-t c} to add
1252 a comment from Dired (@code{image-dired-dired-comment-files}).
1253
1254 Image-Dired also provides simple image manipulation. In the
1255 thumbnail buffer, type @kbd{L} to rotate the original image 90 degrees
1256 anti clockwise, and @kbd{R} to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise. This
1257 rotation is lossless, and uses an external utility called JpegTRAN.
1258
1259 @node Misc Dired Features
1260 @section Other Dired Features
1261
1262 @kindex + @r{(Dired)}
1263 @findex dired-create-directory
1264 An unusual Dired file-operation command is @kbd{+}
1265 (@code{dired-create-directory}). This command reads a directory name,
1266 and creates the directory if it does not already exist.
1267
1268 @cindex Adding to the kill ring in Dired.
1269 @kindex w @r{(Dired)}
1270 @findex dired-copy-filename-as-kill
1271 The @kbd{w} command (@code{dired-copy-filename-as-kill}) puts the
1272 names of the marked (or next @var{n}) files into the kill ring, as if
1273 you had killed them with @kbd{C-w}. The names are separated by a space.
1274
1275 With a zero prefix argument, this uses the absolute file name of
1276 each marked file. With just @kbd{C-u} as the prefix argument, it uses
1277 file names relative to the Dired buffer's default directory. (This
1278 can still contain slashes if in a subdirectory.) As a special case,
1279 if point is on a directory headerline, @kbd{w} gives you the absolute
1280 name of that directory. Any prefix argument or marked files are
1281 ignored in this case.
1282
1283 The main purpose of this command is so that you can yank the file
1284 names into arguments for other Emacs commands. It also displays what
1285 it added to the kill ring, so you can use it to display the list of
1286 currently marked files in the echo area.
1287
1288 @findex dired-compare-directories
1289 The command @kbd{M-x dired-compare-directories} is used to compare
1290 the current Dired buffer with another directory. It marks all the files
1291 that are ``different'' between the two directories. It puts these marks
1292 in all Dired buffers where these files are listed, which of course includes
1293 the current buffer.
1294
1295 The default comparison method (used if you type @key{RET} at the
1296 prompt) is to compare just the file names---each file name that does
1297 not appear in the other directory is ``different.'' You can specify
1298 more stringent comparisons by entering a Lisp expression, which can
1299 refer to the variables @code{size1} and @code{size2}, the respective
1300 file sizes; @code{mtime1} and @code{mtime2}, the last modification
1301 times in seconds, as floating point numbers; and @code{fa1} and
1302 @code{fa2}, the respective file attribute lists (as returned by the
1303 function @code{file-attributes}). This expression is evaluated for
1304 each pair of like-named files, and if the expression's value is
1305 non-@code{nil}, those files are considered ``different.''
1306
1307 For instance, the sequence @code{M-x dired-compare-directories
1308 @key{RET} (> mtime1 mtime2) @key{RET}} marks files newer in this
1309 directory than in the other, and marks files older in the other
1310 directory than in this one. It also marks files with no counterpart,
1311 in both directories, as always.
1312
1313 @cindex drag and drop, Dired
1314 On the X window system, Emacs supports the ``drag and drop''
1315 protocol. You can drag a file object from another program, and drop
1316 it onto a Dired buffer; this either moves, copies, or creates a link
1317 to the file in that directory. Precisely which action is taken is
1318 determined by the originating program. Dragging files out of a Dired
1319 buffer is currently not supported.
1320
1321 @ignore
1322 arch-tag: d105f9b9-fc1b-4c5f-a949-9b2cf3ca2fc1
1323 @end ignore