]> code.delx.au - gnu-emacs/blob - doc/emacs/misc.texi
775cda934978e14159220d15228d3eae749e18e6
[gnu-emacs] / doc / emacs / misc.texi
1 @c This is part of the Emacs manual.
2 @c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2016 Free Software
3 @c Foundation, Inc.
4 @c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
5 @iftex
6 @chapter Miscellaneous Commands
7
8 This chapter contains several brief topics that do not fit anywhere
9 else: reading Usenet news, host and network security,
10 viewing PDFs and other such documents, web
11 browsing, running shell commands and shell subprocesses, using a
12 single shared Emacs for utilities that expect to run an editor as a
13 subprocess, printing, sorting text, editing binary files, saving an
14 Emacs session for later resumption, recursive editing level, following
15 hyperlinks, and various diversions and amusements.
16
17 @end iftex
18
19 @ifnottex
20 @raisesections
21 @end ifnottex
22
23 @node Gnus
24 @section Gnus
25 @cindex Gnus
26 @cindex Usenet news
27 @cindex newsreader
28
29 Gnus is an Emacs package primarily designed for reading and posting
30 Usenet news. It can also be used to read and respond to messages from
31 a number of other sources---email, remote directories, digests, and so
32 on. Here we introduce Gnus and describe several basic features.
33 @ifnottex
34 For full details, see @ref{Top, Gnus,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
35 @end ifnottex
36 @iftex
37 For full details on Gnus, type @kbd{C-h i} and then select the Gnus
38 manual.
39 @end iftex
40
41 @menu
42 * Buffers of Gnus:: The group, summary, and article buffers.
43 * Gnus Startup:: What you should know about starting Gnus.
44 * Gnus Group Buffer:: A short description of Gnus group commands.
45 * Gnus Summary Buffer:: A short description of Gnus summary commands.
46 @end menu
47
48 @node Buffers of Gnus
49 @subsection Gnus Buffers
50
51 Gnus uses several buffers to display information and to receive
52 commands. The three most commonly-used Gnus buffers are the
53 @dfn{group buffer}, the @dfn{summary buffer} and the @dfn{article
54 buffer}.
55
56 The @dfn{group buffer} contains a list of article sources (e.g.,
57 newsgroups and email inboxes), which are collectively referred to as
58 @dfn{groups}. This is the first buffer Gnus displays when it starts
59 up. It normally displays only the groups to which you subscribe and
60 that contain unread articles. From this buffer, you can select a
61 group to read.
62
63 The @dfn{summary buffer} lists the articles in a single group,
64 showing one article per line. By default, it displays each article's
65 author, subject, and line
66 @iftex
67 number.
68 @end iftex
69 @ifnottex
70 number, but this is customizable; @xref{Summary Buffer Format,,, gnus,
71 The Gnus Manual}.
72 @end ifnottex
73 The summary buffer is created when you select a group in the group
74 buffer, and is killed when you exit the group.
75
76 From the summary buffer, you can choose an article to view. The
77 article is displayed in the @dfn{article buffer}. In normal Gnus
78 usage, you view this buffer but do not select it---all useful Gnus
79 commands can be invoked from the summary buffer. But you can select
80 the article buffer, and execute Gnus commands from it, if you wish.
81
82 @node Gnus Startup
83 @subsection When Gnus Starts Up
84
85 @findex gnus
86 @cindex @file{.newsrc} file
87 If your system has been set up for reading Usenet news, getting
88 started with Gnus is easy---just type @kbd{M-x gnus}.
89
90 On starting up, Gnus reads your @dfn{news initialization file}: a
91 file named @file{.newsrc} in your home directory which lists your
92 Usenet newsgroups and subscriptions (this file is not unique to Gnus;
93 it is used by many other newsreader programs). It then tries to
94 contact the system's default news server, which is typically specified
95 by the @env{NNTPSERVER} environment variable.
96
97 If your system does not have a default news server, or if you wish
98 to use Gnus for reading email, then before invoking @kbd{M-x gnus} you
99 need to tell Gnus where to get news and/or mail. To do this,
100 customize the variables @code{gnus-select-method} and/or
101 @code{gnus-secondary-select-methods}.
102 @iftex
103 See the Gnus manual for details.
104 @end iftex
105 @ifnottex
106 @xref{Finding the News,,, gnus, The Gnus Manual}.
107 @end ifnottex
108
109 Once Gnus has started up, it displays the group buffer. By default,
110 the group buffer shows only a small number of @dfn{subscribed groups}.
111 Groups with other statuses---@dfn{unsubscribed}, @dfn{killed}, or
112 @dfn{zombie}---are hidden. The first time you start Gnus, any group
113 to which you are not subscribed is made into a killed group; any group
114 that subsequently appears on the news server becomes a zombie group.
115
116 To proceed, you must select a group in the group buffer to open the
117 summary buffer for that group; then, select an article in the summary
118 buffer to view its article buffer in a separate window. The following
119 sections explain how to use the group and summary buffers to do this.
120
121 To quit Gnus, type @kbd{q} in the group buffer. This automatically
122 records your group statuses in the files @file{.newsrc} and
123 @file{.newsrc.eld}, so that they take effect in subsequent Gnus
124 sessions.
125
126 @node Gnus Group Buffer
127 @subsection Using the Gnus Group Buffer
128
129 The following commands are available in the Gnus group buffer:
130
131 @table @kbd
132 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
133 @findex gnus-group-read-group
134 @item @key{SPC}
135 Switch to the summary buffer for the group on the current line.
136
137 @kindex l @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
138 @kindex A s @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
139 @findex gnus-group-list-groups
140 @item l
141 @itemx A s
142 In the group buffer, list only the groups to which you subscribe and
143 which contain unread articles (this is the default listing).
144
145 @kindex L @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
146 @kindex A u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
147 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
148 @item L
149 @itemx A u
150 List all subscribed and unsubscribed groups, but not killed or zombie
151 groups.
152
153 @kindex A k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
154 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
155 @item A k
156 List killed groups.
157
158 @kindex A z @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
159 @findex gnus-group-list-all-groups
160 @item A z
161 List zombie groups.
162
163 @kindex u @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
164 @findex gnus-group-unsubscribe-current-group
165 @cindex subscribe groups
166 @cindex unsubscribe groups
167 @item u
168 Toggle the subscription status of the group on the current line
169 (i.e., turn a subscribed group into an unsubscribed group, or vice
170 versa). Invoking this on a killed or zombie group turns it into an
171 unsubscribed group.
172
173 @kindex C-k @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
174 @findex gnus-group-kill-group
175 @item C-k
176 Kill the group on the current line. Killed groups are not recorded in
177 the @file{.newsrc} file, and they are not shown in the @kbd{l} or
178 @kbd{L} listings.
179
180 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
181 @item @key{DEL}
182 Move point to the previous group containing unread articles.
183
184 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
185 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
186 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
187 @item n
188 Move point to the next unread group.
189
190 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
191 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
192 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
193 @item p
194 Move point to the previous unread group.
195
196 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Group mode)}
197 @findex gnus-group-exit
198 @item q
199 Update your Gnus settings, and quit Gnus.
200 @end table
201
202 @node Gnus Summary Buffer
203 @subsection Using the Gnus Summary Buffer
204
205 The following commands are available in the Gnus summary buffer:
206
207 @table @kbd
208 @kindex SPC @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
209 @findex gnus-group-read-group
210 @item @key{SPC}
211 If there is no article selected, select the article on the current
212 line and display its article buffer. Otherwise, try scrolling the
213 selected article buffer in its window; on reaching the end of the
214 buffer, select the next unread article.
215
216 Thus, you can read through all articles by repeatedly typing
217 @key{SPC}.
218
219 @kindex DEL @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
220 @findex gnus-summary-prev-page
221 @item @key{DEL}
222 Scroll the text of the article backwards.
223
224 @kindex n @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
225 @findex gnus-group-next-unread-group
226 @findex gnus-summary-next-unread-article
227 @item n
228 Select the next unread article.
229
230 @kindex p @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
231 @findex gnus-group-prev-unread-group
232 @findex gnus-summary-prev-unread-article
233 @item p
234 Select the previous unread article.
235
236 @kindex s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
237 @findex gnus-summary-isearch-article
238 @item s
239 Do an incremental search on the selected article buffer, as if you
240 switched to the buffer and typed @kbd{C-s} (@pxref{Incremental
241 Search}).
242
243 @kindex M-s @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
244 @findex gnus-summary-search-article-forward
245 @item M-s @var{regexp} @key{RET}
246 Search forward for articles containing a match for @var{regexp}.
247
248 @kindex q @r{(Gnus Summary mode)}
249 @item q
250 Exit the summary buffer and return to the group buffer.
251 @end table
252
253 @node Host Security
254 @section Host Security
255 @cindex security
256
257 Emacs runs inside an operating system such as GNU/Linux, and relies on
258 the operating system to check security constraints such as accesses to
259 files. The default settings for Emacs are designed for typical use;
260 they may require some tailoring in environments where security is more
261 of a concern, or less of a concern, than usual. For example,
262 file-local variables can be risky, and you can set the variable
263 @code{enable-local-variables} to @code{:safe} or (even more
264 conservatively) to @code{nil}; conversely, if your files can all be
265 trusted and the default checking for these variables is irritating,
266 you can set @code{enable-local-variables} to @code{:all}. @xref{Safe
267 File Variables}.
268
269 @xref{Security Considerations,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
270 Manual}, for more information about security considerations when using
271 Emacs as part of a larger application.
272
273 @node Network Security
274 @section Network Security
275 @cindex network security manager
276 @cindex NSM
277 @cindex encryption
278 @cindex SSL
279 @cindex TLS
280 @cindex STARTTLS
281
282 Whenever Emacs establishes any network connection, it passes the
283 established connection to the @dfn{Network Security Manager}
284 (@acronym{NSM}). @acronym{NSM} is responsible for enforcing the
285 network security under your control.
286
287 @vindex network-security-level
288 The @code{network-security-level} variable determines the security
289 level that @acronym{NSM} enforces. If its value is @code{low}, no
290 security checks are performed.
291
292 If this variable is @code{medium} (which is the default), a number of
293 checks will be performed. If as result @acronym{NSM} determines that
294 the network connection might not be trustworthy, it will make you
295 aware of that, and will ask you what to do about the network
296 connection.
297
298 You can decide to register a permanent security exception for an
299 unverified connection, a temporary exception, or refuse the connection
300 entirely.
301
302 Below is a list of the checks done on the @code{medium} level.
303
304 @table @asis
305
306 @item unable to verify a @acronym{TLS} certificate
307 If the connection is a @acronym{TLS}, @acronym{SSL} or
308 @acronym{STARTTLS} connection, @acronym{NSM} will check whether
309 the certificate used to establish the identity of the server we're
310 connecting to can be verified.
311
312 While an invalid certificate is often the cause for concern (there
313 could be a Man-in-the-Middle hijacking your network connection and
314 stealing your password), there may be valid reasons for going ahead
315 with the connection anyway. For instance, the server may be using a
316 self-signed certificate, or the certificate may have expired. It's up
317 to you to determine whether it's acceptable to continue with the
318 connection.
319
320 @item a self-signed certificate has changed
321 If you've previously accepted a self-signed certificate, but it has
322 now changed, that could mean that the server has just changed the
323 certificate, but it might also mean that the network connection has
324 been hijacked.
325
326 @item previously encrypted connection now unencrypted
327 If the connection is unencrypted, but it was encrypted in previous
328 sessions, this might mean that there is a proxy between you and the
329 server that strips away @acronym{STARTTLS} announcements, leaving the
330 connection unencrypted. This is usually very suspicious.
331
332 @item talking to an unencrypted service when sending a password
333 When connecting to an @acronym{IMAP} or @acronym{POP3} server, these
334 should usually be encrypted, because it's common to send passwords
335 over these connections. Similarly, if you're sending email via
336 @acronym{SMTP} that requires a password, you usually want that
337 connection to be encrypted. If the connection isn't encrypted,
338 @acronym{NSM} will warn you.
339
340 @end table
341
342 If @code{network-security-level} is @code{high}, the following checks
343 will be made, in addition to the above:
344
345 @table @asis
346 @item a validated certificate changes the public key
347 Servers change their keys occasionally, and that is normally nothing
348 to be concerned about. However, if you are worried that your network
349 connections are being hijacked by agencies who have access to pliable
350 Certificate Authorities which issue new certificates for third-party
351 services, you may want to keep track of these changes.
352
353 @item Diffie-Hellman low prime bits
354 When doing the public key exchange, the number of prime bits
355 should be high to ensure that the channel can't be eavesdropped on by
356 third parties. If this number is too low, you will be warned.
357
358 @item @acronym{RC4} stream cipher
359 The @acronym{RC4} stream cipher is believed to be of low quality and
360 may allow eavesdropping by third parties.
361
362 @item @acronym{SSL1}, @acronym{SSL2} and @acronym{SSL3}
363 The protocols older than @acronym{TLS1.0} are believed to be
364 vulnerable to a variety of attacks, and you may want to avoid using
365 these if what you're doing requires higher security.
366 @end table
367
368 Finally, if @code{network-security-level} is @code{paranoid}, you will
369 also be notified the first time @acronym{NSM} sees any new
370 certificate. This will allow you to inspect all the certificates from
371 all the connections that Emacs makes.
372
373 The following additional variables can be used to control details of
374 @acronym{NSM} operation:
375
376 @table @code
377 @item nsm-settings-file
378 @vindex nsm-settings-file
379 This is the file where @acronym{NSM} stores details about connections.
380 It defaults to @file{~/.emacs.d/network-security.data}.
381
382 @item nsm-save-host-names
383 @vindex nsm-save-host-names
384 By default, host names will not be saved for non-@code{STARTTLS}
385 connections. Instead a host/port hash is used to identify connections.
386 This means that one can't casually read the settings file to see what
387 servers the user has connected to. If this variable is @code{t},
388 @acronym{NSM} will also save host names in the nsm-settings-file.
389 @end table
390
391
392 @node Document View
393 @section Document Viewing
394 @cindex DVI file
395 @cindex PDF file
396 @cindex PS file
397 @cindex PostScript file
398 @cindex OpenDocument file
399 @cindex Microsoft Office file
400 @cindex DocView mode
401 @cindex mode, DocView
402 @cindex document viewer (DocView)
403 @findex doc-view-mode
404
405 DocView mode is a major mode for viewing DVI, PostScript (PS), PDF,
406 OpenDocument, and Microsoft Office documents. It provides features
407 such as slicing, zooming, and searching inside documents. It works by
408 converting the document to a set of images using the @command{gs}
409 (GhostScript) or @command{mudraw}/@command{pdfdraw} (MuPDF) commands
410 and other external tools @footnote{For PostScript files, GhostScript
411 is a hard requirement. For DVI files, @code{dvipdf} or @code{dvipdfm}
412 is needed. For OpenDocument and Microsoft Office documents, the
413 @code{unoconv} tool is needed.}, and displaying those images.
414
415 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
416 @findex doc-view-toggle-display
417 @cindex doc-view-minor-mode
418 When you visit a document file that can be displayed with DocView
419 mode, Emacs automatically uses DocView mode @footnote{The needed
420 external tools for the document type must be available, and Emacs must
421 be running in a graphical frame and have PNG image support. If any of
422 these requirements is not fulfilled, Emacs falls back to another major
423 mode.}. As an exception, when you visit a PostScript file, Emacs
424 switches to PS mode, a major mode for editing PostScript files as
425 text; however, it also enables DocView minor mode, so you can type
426 @kbd{C-c C-c} to view the document with DocView. In either DocView
427 mode or DocView minor mode, repeating @kbd{C-c C-c}
428 (@code{doc-view-toggle-display}) toggles between DocView and the
429 underlying file contents.
430
431 @findex doc-view-open-text
432 When you visit a file which would normally be handled by DocView
433 mode but some requirement is not met (e.g., you operate in a terminal
434 frame or emacs has no PNG support), you are queried if you want to
435 view the document's contents as plain text. If you confirm, the
436 buffer is put in text mode and DocView minor mode is activated. Thus,
437 by typing @kbd{C-c C-c} you switch to the fallback mode. With another
438 @kbd{C-c C-c} you return to DocView mode. The plain text contents can
439 also be displayed from within DocView mode by typing @kbd{C-c C-t}
440 (@code{doc-view-open-text}).
441
442 You can explicitly enable DocView mode with the command @code{M-x
443 doc-view-mode}. You can toggle DocView minor mode with @code{M-x
444 doc-view-minor-mode}.
445
446 When DocView mode starts, it displays a welcome screen and begins
447 formatting the file, page by page. It displays the first page once
448 that has been formatted.
449
450 To kill the DocView buffer, type @kbd{k}
451 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}). To bury it, type @kbd{q}
452 (@code{quit-window}).
453
454 @menu
455 * Navigation: DocView Navigation. Navigating DocView buffers.
456 * Searching: DocView Searching. Searching inside documents.
457 * Slicing: DocView Slicing. Specifying which part of a page is displayed.
458 * Conversion: DocView Conversion. Influencing and triggering conversion.
459 @end menu
460
461 @node DocView Navigation
462 @subsection DocView Navigation
463
464 In DocView mode, you can scroll the current page using the usual
465 Emacs movement keys: @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, and
466 the arrow keys.
467
468 @vindex doc-view-continuous
469 By default, the line-motion keys @kbd{C-p} and @kbd{C-n} stop
470 scrolling at the beginning and end of the current page, respectively.
471 However, if you change the variable @code{doc-view-continuous} to a
472 non-@code{nil} value, then @kbd{C-p} displays the previous page if you
473 are already at the beginning of the current page, and @kbd{C-n}
474 displays the next page if you are at the end of the current page.
475
476 @findex doc-view-next-page
477 @findex doc-view-previous-page
478 @kindex n @r{(DocView mode)}
479 @kindex p @r{(DocView mode)}
480 @kindex C-x ] @r{(DocView mode)}
481 @kindex C-x [ @r{(DocView mode)}
482 You can also display the next page by typing @kbd{n}, @key{next} or
483 @kbd{C-x ]} (@code{doc-view-next-page}). To display the previous
484 page, type @kbd{p}, @key{prior} or @kbd{C-x [}
485 (@code{doc-view-previous-page}).
486
487 @findex doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page
488 @findex doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page
489 @kindex SPC @r{(DocView mode)}
490 @kindex DEL @r{(DocView mode)}
491 @key{SPC} (@code{doc-view-scroll-up-or-next-page}) is a convenient
492 way to advance through the document. It scrolls within the current
493 page or advances to the next. @key{DEL} moves backwards in a similar
494 way (@code{doc-view-scroll-down-or-previous-page}).
495
496 @findex doc-view-first-page
497 @findex doc-view-last-page
498 @findex doc-view-goto-page
499 @kindex M-< @r{(DocView mode)}
500 @kindex M-> @r{(DocView mode)}
501 To go to the first page, type @kbd{M-<}
502 (@code{doc-view-first-page}); to go to the last one, type @kbd{M->}
503 (@code{doc-view-last-page}). To jump to a page by its number, type
504 @kbd{M-g M-g} or @kbd{M-g g} (@code{doc-view-goto-page}).
505
506 @findex doc-view-enlarge
507 @findex doc-view-shrink
508 @vindex doc-view-resolution
509 @kindex + @r{(DocView mode)}
510 @kindex - @r{(DocView mode)}
511 You can enlarge or shrink the document with @kbd{+}
512 (@code{doc-view-enlarge}) and @kbd{-} (@code{doc-view-shrink}). These
513 commands work by reconverting the document at the new size. To
514 specify the default size for DocView, customize the variable
515 @code{doc-view-resolution}.
516
517 @node DocView Searching
518 @subsection DocView Searching
519
520 In DocView mode, you can search the file's text for a regular
521 expression (@pxref{Regexps}). The interface for searching is inspired
522 by @code{isearch} (@pxref{Incremental Search}).
523
524 @findex doc-view-search
525 @findex doc-view-search-backward
526 @findex doc-view-show-tooltip
527 To begin a search, type @kbd{C-s} (@code{doc-view-search}) or
528 @kbd{C-r} (@code{doc-view-search-backward}). This reads a regular
529 expression using a minibuffer, then echoes the number of matches found
530 within the document. You can move forward and back among the matches
531 by typing @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r}. DocView mode has no way to show
532 the match inside the page image; instead, it displays a tooltip (at
533 the mouse position) listing all matching lines in the current page.
534 To force display of this tooltip, type @kbd{C-t}
535 (@code{doc-view-show-tooltip}).
536
537 To start a new search, use the search command with a prefix
538 argument; i.e., @kbd{C-u C-s} for a forward search or @kbd{C-u C-r}
539 for a backward search.
540
541 @node DocView Slicing
542 @subsection DocView Slicing
543
544 Documents often have wide margins for printing. They are annoying
545 when reading the document on the screen, because they use up screen
546 space and can cause inconvenient scrolling.
547
548 @findex doc-view-set-slice
549 @findex doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse
550 With DocView you can hide these margins by selecting a @dfn{slice}
551 of pages to display. A slice is a rectangle within the page area;
552 once you specify a slice in DocView, it applies to whichever page you
553 look at.
554
555 To specify the slice numerically, type @kbd{s s}
556 (@code{doc-view-set-slice}); then enter the top left pixel position
557 and the slice's width and height.
558 @c ??? how does this work?
559
560 A more convenient graphical way to specify the slice is with @kbd{s
561 m} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-using-mouse}), where you use the mouse to
562 select the slice. Simply press and hold the left mouse button at the
563 upper-left corner of the region you want to have in the slice, then
564 move the mouse pointer to the lower-right corner and release the
565 button.
566
567 The most convenient way is to set the optimal slice by using
568 BoundingBox information automatically determined from the document by
569 typing @kbd{s b} (@code{doc-view-set-slice-from-bounding-box}).
570
571 @findex doc-view-reset-slice
572 To cancel the selected slice, type @kbd{s r}
573 (@code{doc-view-reset-slice}). Then DocView shows the entire page
574 including its entire margins.
575
576 @node DocView Conversion
577 @subsection DocView Conversion
578
579 @vindex doc-view-cache-directory
580 @findex doc-view-clear-cache
581 For efficiency, DocView caches the images produced by @command{gs}.
582 The name of this directory is given by the variable
583 @code{doc-view-cache-directory}. You can clear the cache directory by
584 typing @code{M-x doc-view-clear-cache}.
585
586 @findex doc-view-kill-proc
587 @findex doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer
588 To force reconversion of the currently viewed document, type @kbd{r}
589 or @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). To kill the converter process
590 associated with the current buffer, type @kbd{K}
591 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc}). The command @kbd{k}
592 (@code{doc-view-kill-proc-and-buffer}) kills the converter process and
593 the DocView buffer.
594
595 @node EWW
596 @section Web Browsing with EWW
597
598 @findex eww
599 @findex eww-open-file
600 @dfn{EWW}, the Emacs Web Wowser, is a web browser package for Emacs.
601 It allows browsing URLs within an Emacs buffer. The command @kbd{M-x
602 eww} will open a URL or search the web. You can open a file
603 using the command @kbd{M-x eww-open-file}. You can use EWW as the
604 web browser for @code{browse-url}, @pxref{Browse-URL}. For full
605 details, @pxref{Top, EWW,, eww, The Emacs Web Wowser Manual}.
606
607 @node Embedded WebKit Widgets
608 @section Embedded WebKit Widgets
609 @cindex xwidget
610 @cindex webkit widgets
611 @cindex embedded widgets
612
613 @findex xwidget-webkit-browse-url
614 @findex xwidget-webkit-mode
615 @cindex Xwidget-WebKit mode
616 If Emacs was compiled with the appropriate support packages, it is
617 able to show browser widgets in its buffers. The command @kbd{M-x
618 xwidget-webkit-browse-url} asks for a URL to display in the browser
619 widget. The URL normally defaults to the URL at or before point, but
620 if there is an active region (@pxref{Mark}), the default URL comes
621 from the region instead, after removing any whitespace from it. The
622 command then creates a new buffer with the embedded browser showing
623 the specified URL. The buffer is put in the Xwidget-WebKit mode
624 (similar to Image mode, @pxref{File Conveniences}), which provides
625 one-key commands for scrolling the widget, changing its size, and
626 reloading it. Type @w{@kbd{C-h b}} in that buffer to see the key
627 bindings.
628
629 @node Shell
630 @section Running Shell Commands from Emacs
631 @cindex subshell
632 @cindex shell commands
633
634 Emacs has commands for passing single command lines to shell
635 subprocesses, and for running a shell interactively with input and
636 output to an Emacs buffer, and for running a shell in a terminal
637 emulator window.
638
639 @table @kbd
640 @item M-! @var{cmd} @key{RET}
641 Run the shell command @var{cmd} and display the output
642 (@code{shell-command}).
643 @item M-| @var{cmd} @key{RET}
644 Run the shell command @var{cmd} with region contents as input;
645 optionally replace the region with the output
646 (@code{shell-command-on-region}).
647 @item M-& @var{cmd} @key{RET}
648 Run the shell command @var{cmd} asynchronously, and display the output
649 (@code{async-shell-command}).
650 @item M-x shell
651 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
652 then give commands interactively.
653 @item M-x term
654 Run a subshell with input and output through an Emacs buffer. You can
655 then give commands interactively. Full terminal emulation is
656 available.
657 @end table
658
659 @vindex exec-path
660 Whenever you specify a relative file name for an executable program
661 (either in the @var{cmd} argument to one of the above commands, or in
662 other contexts), Emacs searches for the program in the directories
663 specified by the variable @code{exec-path}. The value of this
664 variable must be a list of directory names; the default value is
665 initialized from the environment variable @env{PATH} when Emacs is
666 started (@pxref{General Variables}).
667
668 @kbd{M-x eshell} invokes a shell implemented entirely in Emacs. It
669 is documented in its own manual.
670 @ifnottex
671 @xref{Top,Eshell,Eshell, eshell, Eshell: The Emacs Shell}.
672 @end ifnottex
673 @iftex
674 See the Eshell Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
675 @end iftex
676
677 @menu
678 * Single Shell:: How to run one shell command and return.
679 * Interactive Shell:: Permanent shell taking input via Emacs.
680 * Shell Mode:: Special Emacs commands used with permanent shell.
681 * Shell Prompts:: Two ways to recognize shell prompts.
682 * History: Shell History. Repeating previous commands in a shell buffer.
683 * Directory Tracking:: Keeping track when the subshell changes directory.
684 * Options: Shell Options. Options for customizing Shell mode.
685 * Terminal emulator:: An Emacs window as a terminal emulator.
686 * Term Mode:: Special Emacs commands used in Term mode.
687 * Remote Host:: Connecting to another computer.
688 * Serial Terminal:: Connecting to a serial port.
689 @end menu
690
691 @node Single Shell
692 @subsection Single Shell Commands
693
694 @kindex M-!
695 @findex shell-command
696 @kbd{M-!} (@code{shell-command}) reads a line of text using the
697 minibuffer and executes it as a shell command, in a subshell made just
698 for that command. Standard input for the command comes from the null
699 device. If the shell command produces any output, the output appears
700 either in the echo area (if it is short), or in an Emacs buffer named
701 @file{*Shell Command Output*}, displayed in another window (if the
702 output is long).
703
704 For instance, one way to decompress a file named @file{foo.gz} is to
705 type @kbd{M-! gunzip foo.gz @key{RET}}. That shell command normally
706 creates the file @file{foo} and produces no terminal output.
707
708 A numeric argument to @code{shell-command}, e.g., @kbd{M-1 M-!},
709 causes it to insert terminal output into the current buffer instead of
710 a separate buffer. It puts point before the output, and sets the mark
711 after the output. For instance, @kbd{M-1 M-! gunzip < foo.gz
712 @key{RET}} would insert the uncompressed form of the file
713 @file{foo.gz} into the current buffer.
714
715 Provided the specified shell command does not end with @samp{&}, it
716 runs @dfn{synchronously}, and you must wait for it to exit before
717 continuing to use Emacs. To stop waiting, type @kbd{C-g} to quit;
718 this sends a @code{SIGINT} signal to terminate the shell command (this
719 is the same signal that @kbd{C-c} normally generates in the shell).
720 Emacs then waits until the command actually terminates. If the shell
721 command doesn't stop (because it ignores the @code{SIGINT} signal),
722 type @kbd{C-g} again; this sends the command a @code{SIGKILL} signal,
723 which is impossible to ignore.
724
725 @kindex M-&
726 @findex async-shell-command
727 A shell command that ends in @samp{&} is executed
728 @dfn{asynchronously}, and you can continue to use Emacs as it runs.
729 You can also type @kbd{M-&} (@code{async-shell-command}) to execute a
730 shell command asynchronously; this is exactly like calling @kbd{M-!}
731 with a trailing @samp{&}, except that you do not need the @samp{&}.
732 The default output buffer for asynchronous shell commands is named
733 @samp{*Async Shell Command*}. Emacs inserts the output into this
734 buffer as it comes in, whether or not the buffer is visible in a
735 window.
736
737 @vindex async-shell-command-buffer
738 If you want to run more than one asynchronous shell command at the
739 same time, they could end up competing for the output buffer. The
740 option @code{async-shell-command-buffer} specifies what to do about
741 this; e.g., whether to rename the pre-existing output buffer, or to
742 use a different buffer for the new command. Consult the variable's
743 documentation for more possibilities.
744
745 @kindex M-|
746 @findex shell-command-on-region
747 @kbd{M-|} (@code{shell-command-on-region}) is like @kbd{M-!}, but
748 passes the contents of the region as the standard input to the shell
749 command, instead of no input. With a numeric argument, it deletes the
750 old region and replaces it with the output from the shell command.
751
752 For example, you can use @kbd{M-|} with the @command{gpg} program to
753 see what keys are in the buffer. If the buffer contains a GnuPG key,
754 type @kbd{C-x h M-| gpg @key{RET}} to feed the entire buffer contents
755 to @command{gpg}. This will output the list of keys to the
756 @file{*Shell Command Output*} buffer.
757
758 @vindex shell-file-name
759 The above commands use the shell specified by the variable
760 @code{shell-file-name}. Its default value is determined by the
761 @env{SHELL} environment variable when Emacs is started. If the file
762 name is relative, Emacs searches the directories listed in
763 @code{exec-path} (@pxref{Shell}).
764
765 To specify a coding system for @kbd{M-!} or @kbd{M-|}, use the command
766 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately beforehand. @xref{Communication Coding}.
767
768 @vindex shell-command-default-error-buffer
769 By default, error output is intermixed with the regular output in
770 the output buffer. But if you change the value of the variable
771 @code{shell-command-default-error-buffer} to a string, error output is
772 inserted into a buffer of that name.
773
774 @node Interactive Shell
775 @subsection Interactive Subshell
776
777 @findex shell
778 To run a subshell interactively, type @kbd{M-x shell}. This creates
779 (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*shell*}, and runs a shell subprocess
780 with input coming from and output going to that buffer. That is to
781 say, any terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer,
782 advancing point, and any terminal input for the subshell comes from
783 text in the buffer. To give input to the subshell, go to the end of
784 the buffer and type the input, terminated by @key{RET}.
785
786 By default, when the subshell is invoked interactively, the
787 @file{*shell*} buffer is displayed in a new window. This behavior can
788 be customized via @code{display-buffer-alist} (@pxref{Window Choice}).
789
790 While the subshell is waiting or running a command, you can switch
791 windows or buffers and perform other editing in Emacs. Emacs inserts
792 the output from the subshell into the Shell buffer whenever it has
793 time to process it (e.g., while waiting for keyboard input).
794
795 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-input} face
796 @cindex @code{comint-highlight-prompt} face
797 In the Shell buffer, prompts are displayed with the face
798 @code{comint-highlight-prompt}, and submitted input lines are
799 displayed with the face @code{comint-highlight-input}. This makes it
800 easier to distinguish input lines from the shell output.
801 @xref{Faces}.
802
803 To make multiple subshells, invoke @kbd{M-x shell} with a prefix
804 argument (e.g., @kbd{C-u M-x shell}). Then the command will read a
805 buffer name, and create (or reuse) a subshell in that buffer. You can
806 also rename the @file{*shell*} buffer using @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely},
807 then create a new @file{*shell*} buffer using plain @kbd{M-x shell}.
808 Subshells in different buffers run independently and in parallel.
809
810 @vindex explicit-shell-file-name
811 @cindex environment variables for subshells
812 @cindex @env{ESHELL} environment variable
813 @cindex @env{SHELL} environment variable
814 To specify the shell file name used by @kbd{M-x shell}, customize
815 the variable @code{explicit-shell-file-name}. If this is @code{nil}
816 (the default), Emacs uses the environment variable @env{ESHELL} if it
817 exists. Otherwise, it usually uses the variable
818 @code{shell-file-name} (@pxref{Single Shell}); but if the default
819 directory is remote (@pxref{Remote Files}), it prompts you for the
820 shell file name.
821
822 Emacs sends the new shell the contents of the file
823 @file{~/.emacs_@var{shellname}} as input, if it exists, where
824 @var{shellname} is the name of the file that the shell was loaded
825 from. For example, if you use bash, the file sent to it is
826 @file{~/.emacs_bash}. If this file is not found, Emacs tries with
827 @file{~/.emacs.d/init_@var{shellname}.sh}.
828
829 To specify a coding system for the shell, you can use the command
830 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} c} immediately before @kbd{M-x shell}. You can
831 also change the coding system for a running subshell by typing
832 @kbd{C-x @key{RET} p} in the shell buffer. @xref{Communication
833 Coding}.
834
835 @cindex @env{INSIDE_EMACS} environment variable
836 Emacs sets the environment variable @env{INSIDE_EMACS} in the
837 subshell to @samp{@var{version},comint}, where @var{version} is the
838 Emacs version (e.g., @samp{24.1}). Programs can check this variable
839 to determine whether they are running inside an Emacs subshell.
840
841 @node Shell Mode
842 @subsection Shell Mode
843 @cindex Shell mode
844 @cindex mode, Shell
845
846 The major mode for Shell buffers is Shell mode. Many of its special
847 commands are bound to the @kbd{C-c} prefix, and resemble the usual
848 editing and job control characters present in ordinary shells, except
849 that you must type @kbd{C-c} first. Here is a list of Shell mode
850 commands:
851
852 @table @kbd
853 @item @key{RET}
854 @kindex RET @r{(Shell mode)}
855 @findex comint-send-input
856 Send the current line as input to the subshell
857 (@code{comint-send-input}). Any shell prompt at the beginning of the
858 line is omitted (@pxref{Shell Prompts}). If point is at the end of
859 buffer, this is like submitting the command line in an ordinary
860 interactive shell. However, you can also invoke @key{RET} elsewhere
861 in the shell buffer to submit the current line as input.
862
863 @item @key{TAB}
864 @kindex TAB @r{(Shell mode)}
865 @findex completion-at-point
866 @cindex shell completion
867 Complete the command name or file name before point in the shell
868 buffer (@code{completion-at-point}). This uses the usual Emacs
869 completion rules (@pxref{Completion}), with the completion
870 alternatives being file names, environment variable names, the shell
871 command history, and history references (@pxref{History References}).
872 For options controlling the completion, @pxref{Shell Options}.
873
874 @item M-?
875 @kindex M-? @r{(Shell mode)}
876 @findex comint-dynamic-list-filename@dots{}
877 Display temporarily a list of the possible completions of the file
878 name before point (@code{comint-dynamic-list-filename-completions}).
879
880 @item C-d
881 @kindex C-d @r{(Shell mode)}
882 @findex comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof
883 Either delete a character or send @acronym{EOF}
884 (@code{comint-delchar-or-maybe-eof}). Typed at the end of the shell
885 buffer, this sends @acronym{EOF} to the subshell. Typed at any other
886 position in the buffer, this deletes a character as usual.
887
888 @item C-c C-a
889 @kindex C-c C-a @r{(Shell mode)}
890 @findex comint-bol-or-process-mark
891 Move to the beginning of the line, but after the prompt if any
892 (@code{comint-bol-or-process-mark}). If you repeat this command twice
893 in a row, the second time it moves back to the process mark, which is
894 the beginning of the input that you have not yet sent to the subshell.
895 (Normally that is the same place---the end of the prompt on this
896 line---but after @kbd{C-c @key{SPC}} the process mark may be in a
897 previous line.)
898
899 @item C-c @key{SPC}
900 Accumulate multiple lines of input, then send them together. This
901 command inserts a newline before point, but does not send the preceding
902 text as input to the subshell---at least, not yet. Both lines, the one
903 before this newline and the one after, will be sent together (along with
904 the newline that separates them), when you type @key{RET}.
905
906 @item C-c C-u
907 @kindex C-c C-u @r{(Shell mode)}
908 @findex comint-kill-input
909 Kill all text pending at end of buffer to be sent as input
910 (@code{comint-kill-input}). If point is not at end of buffer,
911 this only kills the part of this text that precedes point.
912
913 @item C-c C-w
914 @kindex C-c C-w @r{(Shell mode)}
915 Kill a word before point (@code{backward-kill-word}).
916
917 @item C-c C-c
918 @kindex C-c C-c @r{(Shell mode)}
919 @findex comint-interrupt-subjob
920 Interrupt the shell or its current subjob if any
921 (@code{comint-interrupt-subjob}). This command also kills
922 any shell input pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
923
924 @item C-c C-z
925 @kindex C-c C-z @r{(Shell mode)}
926 @findex comint-stop-subjob
927 Stop the shell or its current subjob if any (@code{comint-stop-subjob}).
928 This command also kills any shell input pending in the shell buffer and
929 not yet sent.
930
931 @item C-c C-\
932 @findex comint-quit-subjob
933 @kindex C-c C-\ @r{(Shell mode)}
934 Send quit signal to the shell or its current subjob if any
935 (@code{comint-quit-subjob}). This command also kills any shell input
936 pending in the shell buffer and not yet sent.
937
938 @item C-c C-o
939 @kindex C-c C-o @r{(Shell mode)}
940 @findex comint-delete-output
941 Delete the last batch of output from a shell command
942 (@code{comint-delete-output}). This is useful if a shell command spews
943 out lots of output that just gets in the way.
944
945 @item C-c C-s
946 @kindex C-c C-s @r{(Shell mode)}
947 @findex comint-write-output
948 Write the last batch of output from a shell command to a file
949 (@code{comint-write-output}). With a prefix argument, the file is
950 appended to instead. Any prompt at the end of the output is not
951 written.
952
953 @item C-c C-r
954 @itemx C-M-l
955 @kindex C-c C-r @r{(Shell mode)}
956 @kindex C-M-l @r{(Shell mode)}
957 @findex comint-show-output
958 Scroll to display the beginning of the last batch of output at the top
959 of the window; also move the cursor there (@code{comint-show-output}).
960
961 @item C-c C-e
962 @kindex C-c C-e @r{(Shell mode)}
963 @findex comint-show-maximum-output
964 Scroll to put the end of the buffer at the bottom of the window
965 (@code{comint-show-maximum-output}).
966
967 @item C-c C-f
968 @kindex C-c C-f @r{(Shell mode)}
969 @findex shell-forward-command
970 @vindex shell-command-regexp
971 Move forward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
972 (@code{shell-forward-command}). The variable @code{shell-command-regexp}
973 specifies how to recognize the end of a command.
974
975 @item C-c C-b
976 @kindex C-c C-b @r{(Shell mode)}
977 @findex shell-backward-command
978 Move backward across one shell command, but not beyond the current line
979 (@code{shell-backward-command}).
980
981 @item M-x dirs
982 Ask the shell for its working directory, and update the Shell buffer's
983 default directory. @xref{Directory Tracking}.
984
985 @item M-x send-invisible @key{RET} @var{text} @key{RET}
986 @findex send-invisible
987 Send @var{text} as input to the shell, after reading it without
988 echoing. This is useful when a shell command runs a program that asks
989 for a password.
990
991 Please note that Emacs will not echo passwords by default. If you
992 really want them to be echoed, evaluate (@pxref{Lisp Eval}) the
993 following Lisp expression:
994
995 @example
996 (remove-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
997 'comint-watch-for-password-prompt)
998 @end example
999
1000 @item M-x comint-continue-subjob
1001 @findex comint-continue-subjob
1002 Continue the shell process. This is useful if you accidentally suspend
1003 the shell process.@footnote{You should not suspend the shell process.
1004 Suspending a subjob of the shell is a completely different matter---that
1005 is normal practice, but you must use the shell to continue the subjob;
1006 this command won't do it.}
1007
1008 @item M-x comint-strip-ctrl-m
1009 @findex comint-strip-ctrl-m
1010 Discard all control-M characters from the current group of shell output.
1011 The most convenient way to use this command is to make it run
1012 automatically when you get output from the subshell. To do that,
1013 evaluate this Lisp expression:
1014
1015 @example
1016 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
1017 'comint-strip-ctrl-m)
1018 @end example
1019
1020 @item M-x comint-truncate-buffer
1021 @findex comint-truncate-buffer
1022 This command truncates the shell buffer to a certain maximum number of
1023 lines, specified by the variable @code{comint-buffer-maximum-size}.
1024 Here's how to do this automatically each time you get output from the
1025 subshell:
1026
1027 @example
1028 (add-hook 'comint-output-filter-functions
1029 'comint-truncate-buffer)
1030 @end example
1031 @end table
1032
1033 @cindex Comint mode
1034 @cindex mode, Comint
1035 Shell mode is a derivative of Comint mode, a general-purpose mode for
1036 communicating with interactive subprocesses. Most of the features of
1037 Shell mode actually come from Comint mode, as you can see from the
1038 command names listed above. The special features of Shell mode include
1039 the directory tracking feature, and a few user commands.
1040
1041 Other Emacs features that use variants of Comint mode include GUD
1042 (@pxref{Debuggers}) and @kbd{M-x run-lisp} (@pxref{External Lisp}).
1043
1044 @findex comint-run
1045 You can use @kbd{M-x comint-run} to execute any program of your choice
1046 in a subprocess using unmodified Comint mode---without the
1047 specializations of Shell mode.
1048
1049 @node Shell Prompts
1050 @subsection Shell Prompts
1051
1052 @cindex prompt, shell
1053 A prompt is text output by a program to show that it is ready to
1054 accept new user input. Normally, Comint mode (and thus Shell mode)
1055 automatically figures out part of the buffer is a prompt, based on the
1056 output of the subprocess. (Specifically, it assumes that any received
1057 output line which doesn't end with a newline is a prompt.)
1058
1059 Comint mode divides the buffer into two types of @dfn{fields}: input
1060 fields (where user input is typed) and output fields (everywhere
1061 else). Prompts are part of the output fields. Most Emacs motion
1062 commands do not cross field boundaries, unless they move over multiple
1063 lines. For instance, when point is in the input field on a shell
1064 command line, @kbd{C-a} puts point at the beginning of the input
1065 field, after the prompt. Internally, the fields are implemented using
1066 the @code{field} text property (@pxref{Text Properties,,, elisp, the
1067 Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}).
1068
1069 @vindex comint-use-prompt-regexp
1070 @vindex shell-prompt-pattern
1071 If you change the variable @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} to a
1072 non-@code{nil} value, then Comint mode recognize prompts using a
1073 regular expression (@pxref{Regexps}). In Shell mode, the regular
1074 expression is specified by the variable @code{shell-prompt-pattern}.
1075 The default value of @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil},
1076 because this method for recognizing prompts is unreliable, but you may
1077 want to set it to a non-@code{nil} value in unusual circumstances. In
1078 that case, Emacs does not divide the Comint buffer into fields, so the
1079 general motion commands behave as they normally do in buffers without
1080 special text properties. However, you can use the paragraph motion
1081 commands to conveniently navigate the buffer (@pxref{Paragraphs}); in
1082 Shell mode, Emacs uses @code{shell-prompt-pattern} as paragraph
1083 boundaries.
1084
1085 @node Shell History
1086 @subsection Shell Command History
1087
1088 Shell buffers support three ways of repeating earlier commands. You
1089 can use keys like those used for the minibuffer history; these work
1090 much as they do in the minibuffer, inserting text from prior commands
1091 while point remains always at the end of the buffer. You can move
1092 through the buffer to previous inputs in their original place, then
1093 resubmit them or copy them to the end. Or you can use a
1094 @samp{!}-style history reference.
1095
1096 @menu
1097 * Ring: Shell Ring. Fetching commands from the history list.
1098 * Copy: Shell History Copying. Moving to a command and then copying it.
1099 * History References:: Expanding @samp{!}-style history references.
1100 @end menu
1101
1102 @node Shell Ring
1103 @subsubsection Shell History Ring
1104
1105 @table @kbd
1106 @findex comint-previous-input
1107 @kindex M-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1108 @item M-p
1109 @itemx C-@key{UP}
1110 Fetch the next earlier old shell command.
1111
1112 @kindex M-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1113 @findex comint-next-input
1114 @item M-n
1115 @itemx C-@key{DOWN}
1116 Fetch the next later old shell command.
1117
1118 @kindex M-r @r{(Shell mode)}
1119 @findex comint-history-isearch-backward-regexp
1120 @item M-r
1121 Begin an incremental regexp search of old shell commands.
1122
1123 @item C-c C-x
1124 @kindex C-c C-x @r{(Shell mode)}
1125 @findex comint-get-next-from-history
1126 Fetch the next subsequent command from the history.
1127
1128 @item C-c .
1129 @kindex C-c . @r{(Shell mode)}
1130 @findex comint-input-previous-argument
1131 Fetch one argument from an old shell command.
1132
1133 @item C-c C-l
1134 @kindex C-c C-l @r{(Shell mode)}
1135 @findex comint-dynamic-list-input-ring
1136 Display the buffer's history of shell commands in another window
1137 (@code{comint-dynamic-list-input-ring}).
1138 @end table
1139
1140 Shell buffers provide a history of previously entered shell
1141 commands. To reuse shell commands from the history, use the editing
1142 commands @kbd{M-p}, @kbd{M-n}, @kbd{M-r} and @kbd{M-s}. These work
1143 just like the minibuffer history commands (@pxref{Minibuffer
1144 History}), except that they operate within the Shell buffer rather
1145 than the minibuffer.
1146
1147 @kbd{M-p} fetches an earlier shell command to the end of the shell
1148 buffer. Successive use of @kbd{M-p} fetches successively earlier
1149 shell commands, each replacing any text that was already present as
1150 potential shell input. @kbd{M-n} does likewise except that it finds
1151 successively more recent shell commands from the buffer.
1152 @kbd{C-@key{UP}} works like @kbd{M-p}, and @kbd{C-@key{DOWN}} like
1153 @kbd{M-n}.
1154
1155 The history search command @kbd{M-r} begins an incremental regular
1156 expression search of previous shell commands. After typing @kbd{M-r},
1157 start typing the desired string or regular expression; the last
1158 matching shell command will be displayed in the current line.
1159 Incremental search commands have their usual effects---for instance,
1160 @kbd{C-s} and @kbd{C-r} search forward and backward for the next match
1161 (@pxref{Incremental Search}). When you find the desired input, type
1162 @key{RET} to terminate the search. This puts the input in the command
1163 line. Any partial input you were composing before navigating the
1164 history list is restored when you go to the beginning or end of the
1165 history ring.
1166
1167 Often it is useful to reexecute several successive shell commands that
1168 were previously executed in sequence. To do this, first find and
1169 reexecute the first command of the sequence. Then type @kbd{C-c C-x};
1170 that will fetch the following command---the one that follows the command
1171 you just repeated. Then type @key{RET} to reexecute this command. You
1172 can reexecute several successive commands by typing @kbd{C-c C-x
1173 @key{RET}} over and over.
1174
1175 The command @kbd{C-c .}@: (@code{comint-input-previous-argument})
1176 copies an individual argument from a previous command, like
1177 @kbd{@key{ESC} .} in Bash. The simplest use copies the last argument from the
1178 previous shell command. With a prefix argument @var{n}, it copies the
1179 @var{n}th argument instead. Repeating @kbd{C-c .} copies from an
1180 earlier shell command instead, always using the same value of @var{n}
1181 (don't give a prefix argument when you repeat the @kbd{C-c .}
1182 command).
1183
1184 These commands get the text of previous shell commands from a special
1185 history list, not from the shell buffer itself. Thus, editing the shell
1186 buffer, or even killing large parts of it, does not affect the history
1187 that these commands access.
1188
1189 @vindex shell-input-ring-file-name
1190 Some shells store their command histories in files so that you can
1191 refer to commands from previous shell sessions. Emacs reads
1192 the command history file for your chosen shell, to initialize its own
1193 command history. The file name is @file{~/.bash_history} for bash,
1194 @file{~/.sh_history} for ksh, and @file{~/.history} for other shells.
1195
1196 @node Shell History Copying
1197 @subsubsection Shell History Copying
1198
1199 @table @kbd
1200 @kindex C-c C-p @r{(Shell mode)}
1201 @findex comint-previous-prompt
1202 @item C-c C-p
1203 Move point to the previous prompt (@code{comint-previous-prompt}).
1204
1205 @kindex C-c C-n @r{(Shell mode)}
1206 @findex comint-next-prompt
1207 @item C-c C-n
1208 Move point to the following prompt (@code{comint-next-prompt}).
1209
1210 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Shell mode)}
1211 @findex comint-copy-old-input
1212 @item C-c @key{RET}
1213 Copy the input command at point, inserting the copy at the end of the
1214 buffer (@code{comint-copy-old-input}). This is useful if you move
1215 point back to a previous command. After you copy the command, you can
1216 submit the copy as input with @key{RET}. If you wish, you can edit
1217 the copy before resubmitting it. If you use this command on an output
1218 line, it copies that line to the end of the buffer.
1219
1220 @item Mouse-2
1221 If @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is @code{nil} (the default), copy
1222 the old input command that you click on, inserting the copy at the end
1223 of the buffer (@code{comint-insert-input}). If
1224 @code{comint-use-prompt-regexp} is non-@code{nil}, or if the click is
1225 not over old input, just yank as usual.
1226 @end table
1227
1228 Moving to a previous input and then copying it with @kbd{C-c
1229 @key{RET}} or @kbd{Mouse-2} produces the same results---the same
1230 buffer contents---that you would get by using @kbd{M-p} enough times
1231 to fetch that previous input from the history list. However, @kbd{C-c
1232 @key{RET}} copies the text from the buffer, which can be different
1233 from what is in the history list if you edit the input text in the
1234 buffer after it has been sent.
1235
1236 @node History References
1237 @subsubsection Shell History References
1238 @cindex history reference
1239
1240 Various shells including csh and bash support @dfn{history
1241 references} that begin with @samp{!} and @samp{^}. Shell mode
1242 recognizes these constructs, and can perform the history substitution
1243 for you.
1244
1245 If you insert a history reference and type @key{TAB}, this searches
1246 the input history for a matching command, performs substitution if
1247 necessary, and places the result in the buffer in place of the history
1248 reference. For example, you can fetch the most recent command
1249 beginning with @samp{mv} with @kbd{! m v @key{TAB}}. You can edit the
1250 command if you wish, and then resubmit the command to the shell by
1251 typing @key{RET}.
1252
1253 @vindex comint-input-autoexpand
1254 @findex comint-magic-space
1255 Shell mode can optionally expand history references in the buffer
1256 when you send them to the shell. To request this, set the variable
1257 @code{comint-input-autoexpand} to @code{input}. You can make
1258 @key{SPC} perform history expansion by binding @key{SPC} to the
1259 command @code{comint-magic-space}.
1260
1261 Shell mode recognizes history references when they follow a prompt.
1262 @xref{Shell Prompts}, for how Shell mode recognizes prompts.
1263
1264 @node Directory Tracking
1265 @subsection Directory Tracking
1266 @cindex directory tracking
1267
1268 @vindex shell-pushd-regexp
1269 @vindex shell-popd-regexp
1270 @vindex shell-cd-regexp
1271 Shell mode keeps track of @samp{cd}, @samp{pushd} and @samp{popd}
1272 commands given to the subshell, in order to keep the Shell buffer's
1273 default directory (@pxref{File Names}) the same as the shell's working
1274 directory. It recognizes these commands by examining lines of input
1275 that you send.
1276
1277 If you use aliases for these commands, you can tell Emacs to
1278 recognize them also, by setting the variables
1279 @code{shell-pushd-regexp}, @code{shell-popd-regexp}, and
1280 @code{shell-cd-regexp} to the appropriate regular expressions
1281 (@pxref{Regexps}). For example, if @code{shell-pushd-regexp} matches
1282 the beginning of a shell command line, that line is regarded as a
1283 @code{pushd} command. These commands are recognized only at the
1284 beginning of a shell command line.
1285
1286 @findex dirs
1287 If Emacs gets confused about changes in the working directory of the
1288 subshell, type @kbd{M-x dirs}. This command asks the shell for its
1289 working directory and updates the default directory accordingly. It
1290 works for shells that support the most common command syntax, but may
1291 not work for unusual shells.
1292
1293 @findex dirtrack-mode
1294 @cindex Dirtrack mode
1295 @cindex mode, Dirtrack
1296 @vindex dirtrack-list
1297 You can also use Dirtrack mode, a buffer-local minor mode that
1298 implements an alternative method of tracking the shell's working
1299 directory. To use this method, your shell prompt must contain the
1300 working directory at all times, and you must supply a regular
1301 expression for recognizing which part of the prompt contains the
1302 working directory; see the documentation of the variable
1303 @code{dirtrack-list} for details. To use Dirtrack mode, type @kbd{M-x
1304 dirtrack-mode} in the Shell buffer, or add @code{dirtrack-mode} to
1305 @code{shell-mode-hook} (@pxref{Hooks}).
1306
1307 @node Shell Options
1308 @subsection Shell Mode Options
1309
1310 @vindex comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input
1311 If the variable @code{comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input} is
1312 non-@code{nil}, insertion and yank commands scroll the selected window
1313 to the bottom before inserting. The default is @code{nil}.
1314
1315 @vindex comint-scroll-show-maximum-output
1316 If @code{comint-scroll-show-maximum-output} is non-@code{nil}, then
1317 arrival of output when point is at the end tries to scroll the last
1318 line of text to the bottom line of the window, showing as much useful
1319 text as possible. (This mimics the scrolling behavior of most
1320 terminals.) The default is @code{t}.
1321
1322 @vindex comint-move-point-for-output
1323 By setting @code{comint-move-point-for-output}, you can opt for
1324 having point jump to the end of the buffer whenever output arrives---no
1325 matter where in the buffer point was before. If the value is
1326 @code{this}, point jumps in the selected window. If the value is
1327 @code{all}, point jumps in each window that shows the Comint buffer. If
1328 the value is @code{other}, point jumps in all nonselected windows that
1329 show the current buffer. The default value is @code{nil}, which means
1330 point does not jump to the end.
1331
1332 @vindex comint-prompt-read-only
1333 If you set @code{comint-prompt-read-only}, the prompts in the Comint
1334 buffer are read-only.
1335
1336 @vindex comint-input-ignoredups
1337 The variable @code{comint-input-ignoredups} controls whether successive
1338 identical inputs are stored in the input history. A non-@code{nil}
1339 value means to omit an input that is the same as the previous input.
1340 The default is @code{nil}, which means to store each input even if it is
1341 equal to the previous input.
1342
1343 @vindex comint-completion-addsuffix
1344 @vindex comint-completion-recexact
1345 @vindex comint-completion-autolist
1346 Three variables customize file name completion. The variable
1347 @code{comint-completion-addsuffix} controls whether completion inserts a
1348 space or a slash to indicate a fully completed file or directory name
1349 (non-@code{nil} means do insert a space or slash).
1350 @code{comint-completion-recexact}, if non-@code{nil}, directs @key{TAB}
1351 to choose the shortest possible completion if the usual Emacs completion
1352 algorithm cannot add even a single character.
1353 @code{comint-completion-autolist}, if non-@code{nil}, says to list all
1354 the possible completions whenever completion is not exact.
1355
1356 @vindex shell-completion-execonly
1357 Command completion normally considers only executable files.
1358 If you set @code{shell-completion-execonly} to @code{nil},
1359 it considers nonexecutable files as well.
1360
1361 @vindex shell-completion-fignore
1362 @vindex comint-completion-fignore
1363 The variable @code{shell-completion-fignore} specifies a list of file
1364 name extensions to ignore in Shell mode completion. The default
1365 setting is @code{nil}, but some users prefer @code{("~" "#" "%")} to
1366 ignore file names ending in @samp{~}, @samp{#} or @samp{%}. Other
1367 related Comint modes use the variable @code{comint-completion-fignore}
1368 instead.
1369
1370 @findex shell-dynamic-complete-command
1371 Some implementation details of the shell command completion may also be found
1372 in the lisp documentation of the @code{shell-dynamic-complete-command}
1373 function.
1374
1375 @findex shell-pushd-tohome
1376 @findex shell-pushd-dextract
1377 @findex shell-pushd-dunique
1378 You can configure the behavior of @samp{pushd}. Variables control
1379 whether @samp{pushd} behaves like @samp{cd} if no argument is given
1380 (@code{shell-pushd-tohome}), pop rather than rotate with a numeric
1381 argument (@code{shell-pushd-dextract}), and only add directories to the
1382 directory stack if they are not already on it
1383 (@code{shell-pushd-dunique}). The values you choose should match the
1384 underlying shell, of course.
1385
1386 @node Terminal emulator
1387 @subsection Emacs Terminal Emulator
1388 @findex term
1389
1390 To run a subshell in a text terminal emulator, use @kbd{M-x term}.
1391 This creates (or reuses) a buffer named @file{*terminal*}, and runs a
1392 subshell with input coming from your keyboard, and output going to
1393 that buffer.
1394
1395 @cindex line mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1396 @cindex char mode @r{(terminal emulator)}
1397 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1398 @dfn{line mode}, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell
1399 Mode}). In @dfn{char mode}, each character is sent directly to the
1400 subshell, as terminal input; the sole exception is the terminal escape
1401 character, which by default is @kbd{C-c} (@pxref{Term Mode}). Any
1402 echoing of your input is the responsibility of the subshell; any
1403 terminal output from the subshell goes into the buffer, advancing
1404 point.
1405
1406 Some programs (such as Emacs itself) need to control the appearance
1407 of the terminal screen in detail. They do this by emitting special
1408 control codes. Term mode recognizes and handles ANSI-standard
1409 VT100-style escape sequences, which are accepted by most modern
1410 terminals, including @command{xterm}. (Hence, you can actually run
1411 Emacs inside an Emacs Term window.)
1412
1413 The @code{term} face specifies the default appearance of text
1414 in the terminal emulator (the default is the same appearance as the
1415 @code{default} face). When terminal control codes are used to change
1416 the appearance of text, these are represented in the terminal emulator
1417 by the faces @code{term-color-black}, @code{term-color-red},
1418 @code{term-color-green}, @code{term-color-yellow}
1419 @code{term-color-blue}, @code{term-color-magenta},
1420 @code{term-color-cyan}, @code{term-color-white},
1421 @code{term-color-underline}, and @code{term-color-bold}.
1422 @xref{Faces}.
1423
1424 You can also Term mode to communicate with a device connected to a
1425 serial port. @xref{Serial Terminal}.
1426
1427 The file name used to load the subshell is determined the same way
1428 as for Shell mode. To make multiple terminal emulators, rename the
1429 buffer @file{*terminal*} to something different using @kbd{M-x
1430 rename-uniquely}, just as with Shell mode.
1431
1432 Unlike Shell mode, Term mode does not track the current directory by
1433 examining your input. But some shells can tell Term what the current
1434 directory is. This is done automatically by @code{bash} version 1.15
1435 and later.
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440 @node Term Mode
1441 @subsection Term Mode
1442 @cindex Term mode
1443 @cindex mode, Term
1444
1445 The terminal emulator uses Term mode, which has two input modes. In
1446 line mode, Term basically acts like Shell mode (@pxref{Shell Mode}).
1447 In char mode, each character is sent directly to the subshell, except
1448 for the Term escape character, normally @kbd{C-c}.
1449
1450 To switch between line and char mode, use these commands:
1451
1452 @table @kbd
1453 @kindex C-c C-j @r{(Term mode)}
1454 @findex term-line-mode
1455 @item C-c C-j
1456 Switch to line mode (@code{term-line-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1457 line mode.
1458
1459 @kindex C-c C-k @r{(Term mode)}
1460 @findex term-char-mode
1461 @item C-c C-k
1462 Switch to char mode (@code{term-char-mode}). Do nothing if already in
1463 char mode.
1464 @end table
1465
1466 The following commands are only available in char mode:
1467
1468 @table @kbd
1469 @item C-c C-c
1470 Send a literal @kbd{C-c} to the sub-shell.
1471
1472 @item C-c @var{char}
1473 This is equivalent to @kbd{C-x @var{char}} in normal Emacs. For
1474 example, @kbd{C-c o} invokes the global binding of @kbd{C-x o}, which
1475 is normally @samp{other-window}.
1476 @end table
1477
1478 @cindex paging in Term mode
1479 Term mode has a page-at-a-time feature. When enabled, it makes
1480 output pause at the end of each screenful:
1481
1482 @table @kbd
1483 @kindex C-c C-q @r{(Term mode)}
1484 @findex term-pager-toggle
1485 @item C-c C-q
1486 Toggle the page-at-a-time feature. This command works in both line
1487 and char modes. When the feature is enabled, the mode-line displays
1488 the word @samp{page}, and each time Term receives more than a
1489 screenful of output, it pauses and displays @samp{**MORE**} in the
1490 mode-line. Type @key{SPC} to display the next screenful of output, or
1491 @kbd{?} to see your other options. The interface is similar to the
1492 @code{more} program.
1493 @end table
1494
1495 @node Remote Host
1496 @subsection Remote Host Shell
1497 @cindex remote host
1498 @cindex connecting to remote host
1499 @cindex Telnet
1500 @cindex Rlogin
1501
1502 You can login to a remote computer, using whatever commands you
1503 would from a regular terminal (e.g., using the @code{telnet} or
1504 @code{rlogin} commands), from a Term window.
1505
1506 A program that asks you for a password will normally suppress
1507 echoing of the password, so the password will not show up in the
1508 buffer. This will happen just as if you were using a real terminal,
1509 if the buffer is in char mode. If it is in line mode, the password is
1510 temporarily visible, but will be erased when you hit return. (This
1511 happens automatically; there is no special password processing.)
1512
1513 When you log in to a different machine, you need to specify the type
1514 of terminal you're using, by setting the @env{TERM} environment
1515 variable in the environment for the remote login command. (If you use
1516 bash, you do that by writing the variable assignment before the remote
1517 login command, without a separating comma.) Terminal types
1518 @samp{ansi} or @samp{vt100} will work on most systems.
1519
1520 @node Serial Terminal
1521 @subsection Serial Terminal
1522 @cindex terminal, serial
1523 @findex serial-term
1524
1525 If you have a device connected to a serial port of your computer,
1526 you can communicate with it by typing @kbd{M-x serial-term}. This
1527 command asks for a serial port name and speed, and switches to a new
1528 Term mode buffer. Emacs communicates with the serial device through
1529 this buffer just like it does with a terminal in ordinary Term mode.
1530
1531 The speed of the serial port is measured in bits per second. The
1532 most common speed is 9600 bits per second. You can change the speed
1533 interactively by clicking on the mode line.
1534
1535 A serial port can be configured even more by clicking on @samp{8N1} in
1536 the mode line. By default, a serial port is configured as @samp{8N1},
1537 which means that each byte consists of 8 data bits, No parity check
1538 bit, and 1 stopbit.
1539
1540 If the speed or the configuration is wrong, you cannot communicate
1541 with your device and will probably only see garbage output in the
1542 window.
1543
1544 @node Emacs Server
1545 @section Using Emacs as a Server
1546 @pindex emacsclient
1547 @cindex Emacs as a server
1548 @cindex server, using Emacs as
1549 @cindex @env{EDITOR} environment variable
1550
1551 Various programs can invoke your choice of editor to edit a
1552 particular piece of text. For instance, version control programs
1553 invoke an editor to enter version control logs (@pxref{Version
1554 Control}), and the Unix @command{mail} utility invokes an editor to
1555 enter a message to send. By convention, your choice of editor is
1556 specified by the environment variable @env{EDITOR}. If you set
1557 @env{EDITOR} to @samp{emacs}, Emacs would be invoked, but in an
1558 inconvenient way---by starting a new Emacs process. This is
1559 inconvenient because the new Emacs process doesn't share buffers, a
1560 command history, or other kinds of information with any existing Emacs
1561 process.
1562
1563 You can solve this problem by setting up Emacs as an @dfn{edit
1564 server}, so that it ``listens'' for external edit requests and acts
1565 accordingly. There are two ways to start an Emacs server:
1566
1567 @itemize
1568 @findex server-start
1569 @item
1570 Run the command @code{server-start} in an existing Emacs process:
1571 either type @kbd{M-x server-start}, or put the expression
1572 @code{(server-start)} in your init file (@pxref{Init File}). The
1573 existing Emacs process is the server; when you exit Emacs, the server
1574 dies with the Emacs process.
1575
1576 @cindex daemon, Emacs
1577 @item
1578 Run Emacs as a @dfn{daemon}, using the @samp{--daemon} command-line
1579 option. @xref{Initial Options}. When Emacs is started this way, it
1580 calls @code{server-start} after initialization, and returns control to
1581 the calling terminal instead of opening an initial frame; it then
1582 waits in the background, listening for edit requests.
1583
1584 @cindex socket activation, systemd, Emacs
1585 @item
1586 An external process can invoke the Emacs server when a connection
1587 event occurs upon a specified socket and pass the socket to the new
1588 Emacs server process. An instance of this is @command{systemd}'s
1589 socket functionaly: the @command{systemd} service creates a socket and
1590 listens for connections on it; when @command{emacsclient} connects to
1591 it for the first time, @command{systemd} can launch the Emacs server
1592 and hand over the socket to it for servicing @command{emacsclient}
1593 connections. A setup to use this functionality could be:
1594
1595 @file{~/.config/systemd/user/emacs.service}:
1596 @example
1597 [Unit]
1598 Description=Emacs
1599
1600 [Service]
1601 Type=forking
1602 ExecStart=/path/to/emacs --daemon
1603 ExecStop=/path/to/emacsclient --eval "(kill-emacs)"
1604 Restart=always
1605
1606 [Install]
1607 WantedBy=default.target
1608 @end example
1609
1610 @file{~/.config/systemd/user/emacs.socket}:
1611 @example
1612 [Socket]
1613 ListenStream=/path/to/.emacs.socket
1614
1615 [Install]
1616 WantedBy=sockets.target
1617 @end example
1618
1619 The @code{ListenStream} path will be the path that Emacs listens for
1620 connections from @command{emacsclient}; this is a file of your choice.
1621 @end itemize
1622
1623 @cindex @env{TEXEDIT} environment variable
1624 Either way, once an Emacs server is started, you can use a shell
1625 command called @command{emacsclient} to connect to the Emacs process
1626 and tell it to visit a file. You can then set the @env{EDITOR}
1627 environment variable to @samp{emacsclient}, so that external programs
1628 will use the existing Emacs process for editing.@footnote{Some
1629 programs use a different environment variable; for example, to make
1630 @TeX{} use @samp{emacsclient}, set the @env{TEXEDIT} environment
1631 variable to @samp{emacsclient +%d %s}.}
1632
1633 @vindex server-name
1634 You can run multiple Emacs servers on the same machine by giving
1635 each one a unique @dfn{server name}, using the variable
1636 @code{server-name}. For example, @kbd{M-x set-variable @key{RET}
1637 server-name @key{RET} foo @key{RET}} sets the server name to
1638 @samp{foo}. The @code{emacsclient} program can specify a server by
1639 name, using the @samp{-s} option (@pxref{emacsclient Options}).
1640
1641 @findex server-eval-at
1642 If you have defined a server by a unique server name, it is possible
1643 to connect to the server from another Emacs instance and evaluate Lisp
1644 expressions on the server, using the @code{server-eval-at} function.
1645 For instance, @code{(server-eval-at "foo" '(+ 1 2))} evaluates the
1646 expression @code{(+ 1 2)} on the @samp{foo} server, and returns
1647 @code{3}. (If there is no server with that name, an error is
1648 signaled.) Currently, this feature is mainly useful for developers.
1649
1650 @menu
1651 * Invoking emacsclient:: Connecting to the Emacs server.
1652 * emacsclient Options:: Emacs client startup options.
1653 @end menu
1654
1655 @node Invoking emacsclient
1656 @subsection Invoking @code{emacsclient}
1657 @cindex @code{emacsclient} invocation
1658
1659 The simplest way to use the @command{emacsclient} program is to run
1660 the shell command @samp{emacsclient @var{file}}, where @var{file} is a
1661 file name. This connects to an Emacs server, and tells that Emacs
1662 process to visit @var{file} in one of its existing frames---either a
1663 graphical frame, or one in a text terminal (@pxref{Frames}). You
1664 can then select that frame to begin editing.
1665
1666 If there is no Emacs server, the @command{emacsclient} program halts
1667 with an error message. If the Emacs process has no existing
1668 frame---which can happen if it was started as a daemon (@pxref{Emacs
1669 Server})---then Emacs opens a frame on the terminal in which you
1670 called @command{emacsclient}.
1671
1672 You can also force @command{emacsclient} to open a new frame on a
1673 graphical display, or on a text terminal, using the @samp{-c} and
1674 @samp{-t} options. @xref{emacsclient Options}.
1675
1676 If you are running on a single text terminal, you can switch between
1677 @command{emacsclient}'s shell and the Emacs server using one of two
1678 methods: (i) run the Emacs server and @command{emacsclient} on
1679 different virtual terminals, and switch to the Emacs server's virtual
1680 terminal after calling @command{emacsclient}; or (ii) call
1681 @command{emacsclient} from within the Emacs server itself, using Shell
1682 mode (@pxref{Interactive Shell}) or Term mode (@pxref{Term Mode});
1683 @code{emacsclient} blocks only the subshell under Emacs, and you can
1684 still use Emacs to edit the file.
1685
1686 @kindex C-x #
1687 @findex server-edit
1688 When you finish editing @var{file} in the Emacs server, type
1689 @kbd{C-x #} (@code{server-edit}) in its buffer. This saves the file
1690 and sends a message back to the @command{emacsclient} program, telling
1691 it to exit. Programs that use @env{EDITOR} usually wait for the
1692 editor---in this case @command{emacsclient}---to exit before doing
1693 something else.
1694
1695 You can also call @command{emacsclient} with multiple file name
1696 arguments: @samp{emacsclient @var{file1} @var{file2} ...} tells the
1697 Emacs server to visit @var{file1}, @var{file2}, and so forth. Emacs
1698 selects the buffer visiting @var{file1}, and buries the other buffers
1699 at the bottom of the buffer list (@pxref{Buffers}). The
1700 @command{emacsclient} program exits once all the specified files are
1701 finished (i.e., once you have typed @kbd{C-x #} in each server
1702 buffer).
1703
1704 @vindex server-kill-new-buffers
1705 @vindex server-temp-file-regexp
1706 Finishing with a server buffer also kills the buffer, unless it
1707 already existed in the Emacs session before the server was asked to
1708 create it. However, if you set @code{server-kill-new-buffers} to
1709 @code{nil}, then a different criterion is used: finishing with a
1710 server buffer kills it if the file name matches the regular expression
1711 @code{server-temp-file-regexp}. This is set up to distinguish certain
1712 temporary files.
1713
1714 Each @kbd{C-x #} checks for other pending external requests to edit
1715 various files, and selects the next such file. You can switch to a
1716 server buffer manually if you wish; you don't have to arrive at it
1717 with @kbd{C-x #}. But @kbd{C-x #} is the way to tell
1718 @command{emacsclient} that you are finished.
1719
1720 @vindex server-window
1721 If you set the value of the variable @code{server-window} to a
1722 window or a frame, @kbd{C-x #} always displays the next server buffer
1723 in that window or in that frame.
1724
1725 @node emacsclient Options
1726 @subsection @code{emacsclient} Options
1727 @cindex @code{emacsclient} options
1728
1729 You can pass some optional arguments to the @command{emacsclient}
1730 program, such as:
1731
1732 @example
1733 emacsclient -c +12 @var{file1} +4:3 @var{file2}
1734 @end example
1735
1736 @noindent
1737 The @samp{+@var{line}} or @samp{+@var{line}:@var{column}} arguments
1738 specify line numbers, or line and column numbers, for the next file
1739 argument. These behave like the command line arguments for Emacs
1740 itself. @xref{Action Arguments}.
1741
1742 The other optional arguments recognized by @command{emacsclient} are
1743 listed below:
1744
1745 @table @samp
1746 @item -a @var{command}
1747 @itemx --alternate-editor=@var{command}
1748 Specify a command to run if @code{emacsclient} fails to contact Emacs.
1749 This is useful when running @code{emacsclient} in a script.
1750
1751 As a special exception, if @var{command} is the empty string, then
1752 @code{emacsclient} starts Emacs in daemon mode (as @command{emacs
1753 --daemon}) and then tries connecting again.
1754
1755 @cindex @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} environment variable
1756 The environment variable @env{ALTERNATE_EDITOR} has the same effect as
1757 the @samp{-a} option. If both are present, the latter takes
1758 precedence.
1759
1760 @cindex client frame
1761 @item -c
1762 @itemx --create-frame
1763 Create a new graphical @dfn{client frame}, instead of using an
1764 existing Emacs frame. See below for the special behavior of @kbd{C-x
1765 C-c} in a client frame. If Emacs cannot create a new graphical frame
1766 (e.g., if it cannot connect to the X server), it tries to create a
1767 text terminal client frame, as though you had supplied the @samp{-t}
1768 option instead.
1769
1770 On MS-Windows, a single Emacs session cannot display frames on both
1771 graphical and text terminals, nor on multiple text terminals. Thus,
1772 if the Emacs server is running on a text terminal, the @samp{-c}
1773 option, like the @samp{-t} option, creates a new frame in the server's
1774 current text terminal. @xref{Windows Startup}.
1775
1776 If you omit a filename argument while supplying the @samp{-c} option,
1777 the new frame displays the @file{*scratch*} buffer by default. You
1778 can customize this behavior with the variable @code{initial-buffer-choice}
1779 (@pxref{Entering Emacs}).
1780
1781 @item -F @var{alist}
1782 @itemx --frame-parameters=@var{alist}
1783 Set the parameters for a newly-created graphical frame
1784 (@pxref{Frame Parameters}).
1785
1786 @item -d @var{display}
1787 @itemx --display=@var{display}
1788 Tell Emacs to open the given files on the X display @var{display}
1789 (assuming there is more than one X display available).
1790
1791 @item -e
1792 @itemx --eval
1793 Tell Emacs to evaluate some Emacs Lisp code, instead of visiting some
1794 files. When this option is given, the arguments to
1795 @command{emacsclient} are interpreted as a list of expressions to
1796 evaluate, @emph{not} as a list of files to visit.
1797
1798 @item -f @var{server-file}
1799 @itemx --server-file=@var{server-file}
1800 @cindex @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE} environment variable
1801 Specify a @dfn{server file} for connecting to an Emacs server via TCP.
1802
1803 An Emacs server usually uses a
1804 local socket to listen for connections. Some operating systems,
1805 such as Microsoft Windows, do not support local sockets; in that case,
1806 the server communicates with @command{emacsclient} via TCP.
1807
1808 @vindex server-auth-dir
1809 @cindex server file
1810 @vindex server-port
1811 When you start a TCP Emacs server, Emacs creates a @dfn{server file}
1812 containing the TCP information to be used by @command{emacsclient} to
1813 connect to the server. The variable @code{server-auth-dir} specifies
1814 the directory containing the server file; by default, this is
1815 @file{~/.emacs.d/server/}. To tell @command{emacsclient} to connect
1816 to the server over TCP with a specific server file, use the @samp{-f}
1817 or @samp{--server-file} option, or set the @env{EMACS_SERVER_FILE}
1818 environment variable.
1819
1820 @item -n
1821 @itemx --no-wait
1822 Let @command{emacsclient} exit immediately, instead of waiting until
1823 all server buffers are finished. You can take as long as you like to
1824 edit the server buffers within Emacs, and they are @emph{not} killed
1825 when you type @kbd{C-x #} in them.
1826
1827 @item --parent-id @var{id}
1828 Open an @command{emacsclient} frame as a client frame in the parent X
1829 window with id @var{id}, via the XEmbed protocol. Currently, this
1830 option is mainly useful for developers.
1831
1832 @item -q
1833 @itemx --quiet
1834 Do not let @command{emacsclient} display messages about waiting for
1835 Emacs or connecting to remote server sockets.
1836
1837 @item -s @var{server-name}
1838 @itemx --socket-name=@var{server-name}
1839 Connect to the Emacs server named @var{server-name}. The server name
1840 is given by the variable @code{server-name} on the Emacs server. If
1841 this option is omitted, @command{emacsclient} connects to the first
1842 server it finds. (This option is not supported on MS-Windows.)
1843
1844 @item -t
1845 @itemx --tty
1846 @itemx -nw
1847 Create a new client frame on the current text terminal, instead of
1848 using an existing Emacs frame. This behaves just like the @samp{-c}
1849 option, described above, except that it creates a text terminal frame
1850 (@pxref{Non-Window Terminals}).
1851
1852 On MS-Windows, @samp{-t} behaves just like @samp{-c} if the Emacs
1853 server is using the graphical display, but if the Emacs server is
1854 running on a text terminal, it creates a new frame in the current text
1855 terminal.
1856 @end table
1857
1858 The new graphical or text terminal frames created by the @samp{-c}
1859 or @samp{-t} options are considered @dfn{client frames}. Any new
1860 frame that you create from a client frame is also considered a client
1861 frame. If you type @kbd{C-x C-c} (@code{save-buffers-kill-terminal})
1862 in a client frame, that command does not kill the Emacs session as it
1863 normally does (@pxref{Exiting}). Instead, Emacs deletes the client
1864 frame; furthermore, if the client frame has an @command{emacsclient}
1865 waiting to regain control (i.e., if you did not supply the @samp{-n}
1866 option), Emacs deletes all other frames of the same client, and marks
1867 the client's server buffers as finished, as though you had typed
1868 @kbd{C-x #} in all of them. If it so happens that there are no
1869 remaining frames after the client frame(s) are deleted, the Emacs
1870 session exits.
1871
1872 As an exception, when Emacs is started as a daemon, all frames are
1873 considered client frames, and @kbd{C-x C-c} never kills Emacs. To
1874 kill a daemon session, type @kbd{M-x kill-emacs}.
1875
1876 Note that the @samp{-t} and @samp{-n} options are contradictory:
1877 @samp{-t} says to take control of the current text terminal to create
1878 a new client frame, while @samp{-n} says not to take control of the
1879 text terminal. If you supply both options, Emacs visits the specified
1880 files(s) in an existing frame rather than a new client frame, negating
1881 the effect of @samp{-t}.
1882
1883 @node Printing
1884 @section Printing Hard Copies
1885 @cindex hardcopy
1886 @cindex printing
1887
1888 Emacs provides commands for printing hardcopies of either an entire
1889 buffer or part of one. You can invoke the printing commands directly,
1890 as detailed below, or using the @samp{File} menu on the menu bar.
1891
1892 @findex htmlfontify-buffer
1893 Aside from the commands described in this section, you can also
1894 print hardcopies from Dired (@pxref{Operating on Files}) and the diary
1895 (@pxref{Displaying the Diary}). You can also ``print'' an Emacs
1896 buffer to HTML with the command @kbd{M-x htmlfontify-buffer}, which
1897 converts the current buffer to a HTML file, replacing Emacs faces with
1898 CSS-based markup. Furthermore, Org mode allows you to print Org
1899 files to a variety of formats, such as PDF (@pxref{Org Mode}).
1900
1901 @table @kbd
1902 @item M-x print-buffer
1903 Print hardcopy of current buffer with page headings containing the
1904 file name and page number.
1905 @item M-x lpr-buffer
1906 Print hardcopy of current buffer without page headings.
1907 @item M-x print-region
1908 Like @code{print-buffer} but print only the current region.
1909 @item M-x lpr-region
1910 Like @code{lpr-buffer} but print only the current region.
1911 @end table
1912
1913 @findex print-buffer
1914 @findex print-region
1915 @findex lpr-buffer
1916 @findex lpr-region
1917 @vindex lpr-switches
1918 @vindex lpr-commands
1919 On most operating system, the above hardcopy commands submit files
1920 for printing by calling the @command{lpr} program. To change the
1921 printer program, customize the variable @code{lpr-command}. To
1922 specify extra switches to give the printer program, customize the list
1923 variable @code{lpr-switches}. Its value should be a list of option
1924 strings, each of which should start with @samp{-} (e.g., the option
1925 string @code{"-w80"} specifies a line width of 80 columns). The
1926 default is the empty list, @code{nil}.
1927
1928 @vindex printer-name
1929 @vindex lpr-printer-switch
1930 To specify the printer to use, set the variable @code{printer-name}.
1931 The default, @code{nil}, specifies the default printer. If you set it
1932 to a printer name (a string), that name is passed to @command{lpr}
1933 with the @samp{-P} switch; if you are not using @command{lpr}, you
1934 should specify the switch with @code{lpr-printer-switch}.
1935
1936 @vindex lpr-headers-switches
1937 @vindex lpr-add-switches
1938 The variable @code{lpr-headers-switches} similarly specifies the
1939 extra switches to use to make page headers. The variable
1940 @code{lpr-add-switches} controls whether to supply @samp{-T} and
1941 @samp{-J} options (suitable for @command{lpr}) to the printer program:
1942 @code{nil} means don't add them (this should be the value if your
1943 printer program is not compatible with @command{lpr}).
1944
1945 @menu
1946 * PostScript:: Printing buffers or regions as PostScript.
1947 * PostScript Variables:: Customizing the PostScript printing commands.
1948 * Printing Package:: An optional advanced printing interface.
1949 @end menu
1950
1951 @node PostScript
1952 @subsection PostScript Hardcopy
1953
1954 These commands convert buffer contents to PostScript,
1955 either printing it or leaving it in another Emacs buffer.
1956
1957 @table @kbd
1958 @item M-x ps-print-buffer
1959 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form.
1960 @item M-x ps-print-region
1961 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form.
1962 @item M-x ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1963 Print hardcopy of the current buffer in PostScript form, showing the
1964 faces used in the text by means of PostScript features.
1965 @item M-x ps-print-region-with-faces
1966 Print hardcopy of the current region in PostScript form, showing the
1967 faces used in the text.
1968 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer
1969 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer text.
1970 @item M-x ps-spool-region
1971 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region.
1972 @item M-x ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
1973 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current buffer, showing the faces used.
1974 @item M-x ps-spool-region-with-faces
1975 Generate and spool a PostScript image for the current region, showing the faces used.
1976 @item M-x ps-despool
1977 Send the spooled PostScript to the printer.
1978 @item M-x handwrite
1979 Generate/print PostScript for the current buffer as if handwritten.
1980 @end table
1981
1982 @findex ps-print-region
1983 @findex ps-print-buffer
1984 @findex ps-print-region-with-faces
1985 @findex ps-print-buffer-with-faces
1986 The @code{ps-print-buffer} and @code{ps-print-region} commands print
1987 buffer contents in PostScript form. One command prints the entire
1988 buffer; the other, just the region. The commands
1989 @code{ps-print-buffer-with-faces} and
1990 @code{ps-print-region-with-faces} behave similarly, but use PostScript
1991 features to show the faces (fonts and colors) of the buffer text.
1992
1993 Interactively, when you use a prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), the command
1994 prompts the user for a file name, and saves the PostScript image in that file
1995 instead of sending it to the printer.
1996
1997 @findex ps-spool-region
1998 @findex ps-spool-buffer
1999 @findex ps-spool-region-with-faces
2000 @findex ps-spool-buffer-with-faces
2001 The commands whose names have @samp{spool} instead of @samp{print},
2002 generate the PostScript output in an Emacs buffer instead of sending
2003 it to the printer.
2004
2005 @findex ps-despool
2006 Use the command @code{ps-despool} to send the spooled images to the
2007 printer. This command sends the PostScript generated by
2008 @samp{-spool-} commands (see commands above) to the printer. With a
2009 prefix argument (@kbd{C-u}), it prompts for a file name, and saves the
2010 spooled PostScript image in that file instead of sending it to the
2011 printer.
2012
2013 @findex handwrite
2014 @cindex handwriting
2015 @kbd{M-x handwrite} is more frivolous. It generates a PostScript
2016 rendition of the current buffer as a cursive handwritten document. It
2017 can be customized in group @code{handwrite}. This function only
2018 supports ISO 8859-1 characters.
2019
2020 @node PostScript Variables
2021 @subsection Variables for PostScript Hardcopy
2022
2023 @vindex ps-lpr-command
2024 @vindex ps-lpr-switches
2025 @vindex ps-printer-name
2026 All the PostScript hardcopy commands use the variables
2027 @code{ps-lpr-command} and @code{ps-lpr-switches} to specify how to print
2028 the output. @code{ps-lpr-command} specifies the command name to run,
2029 @code{ps-lpr-switches} specifies command line options to use, and
2030 @code{ps-printer-name} specifies the printer. If you don't set the
2031 first two variables yourself, they take their initial values from
2032 @code{lpr-command} and @code{lpr-switches}. If @code{ps-printer-name}
2033 is @code{nil}, @code{printer-name} is used.
2034
2035 @vindex ps-print-header
2036 The variable @code{ps-print-header} controls whether these commands
2037 add header lines to each page---set it to @code{nil} to turn headers
2038 off.
2039
2040 @cindex color emulation on black-and-white printers
2041 @vindex ps-print-color-p
2042 If your printer doesn't support colors, you should turn off color
2043 processing by setting @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{nil}. By
2044 default, if the display supports colors, Emacs produces hardcopy output
2045 with color information; on black-and-white printers, colors are emulated
2046 with shades of gray. This might produce illegible output, even if your
2047 screen colors only use shades of gray.
2048
2049 Alternatively, you can set @code{ps-print-color-p} to @code{black-white} to
2050 print colors on black/white printers.
2051
2052 @vindex ps-use-face-background
2053 By default, PostScript printing ignores the background colors of the
2054 faces, unless the variable @code{ps-use-face-background} is
2055 non-@code{nil}. This is to avoid unwanted interference with the zebra
2056 stripes and background image/text.
2057
2058 @vindex ps-paper-type
2059 @vindex ps-page-dimensions-database
2060 The variable @code{ps-paper-type} specifies which size of paper to
2061 format for; legitimate values include @code{a4}, @code{a3},
2062 @code{a4small}, @code{b4}, @code{b5}, @code{executive}, @code{ledger},
2063 @code{legal}, @code{letter}, @code{letter-small}, @code{statement},
2064 @code{tabloid}. The default is @code{letter}. You can define
2065 additional paper sizes by changing the variable
2066 @code{ps-page-dimensions-database}.
2067
2068 @vindex ps-landscape-mode
2069 The variable @code{ps-landscape-mode} specifies the orientation of
2070 printing on the page. The default is @code{nil}, which stands for
2071 portrait mode. Any non-@code{nil} value specifies landscape
2072 mode.
2073
2074 @vindex ps-number-of-columns
2075 The variable @code{ps-number-of-columns} specifies the number of
2076 columns; it takes effect in both landscape and portrait mode. The
2077 default is 1.
2078
2079 @vindex ps-font-family
2080 @vindex ps-font-size
2081 @vindex ps-font-info-database
2082 The variable @code{ps-font-family} specifies which font family to use
2083 for printing ordinary text. Legitimate values include @code{Courier},
2084 @code{Helvetica}, @code{NewCenturySchlbk}, @code{Palatino} and
2085 @code{Times}. The variable @code{ps-font-size} specifies the size of
2086 the font for ordinary text. It defaults to 8.5 points.
2087
2088 @vindex ps-multibyte-buffer
2089 @cindex Intlfonts for PostScript printing
2090 @cindex fonts for PostScript printing
2091 Emacs supports more scripts and characters than a typical PostScript
2092 printer. Thus, some of the characters in your buffer might not be
2093 printable using the fonts built into your printer. You can augment
2094 the fonts supplied with the printer with those from the GNU Intlfonts
2095 package, or you can instruct Emacs to use Intlfonts exclusively. The
2096 variable @code{ps-multibyte-buffer} controls this: the default value,
2097 @code{nil}, is appropriate for printing @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2098 characters; a value of @code{non-latin-printer} is for printers which
2099 have the fonts for @acronym{ASCII}, Latin-1, Japanese, and Korean
2100 characters built into them. A value of @code{bdf-font} arranges for
2101 the BDF fonts from the Intlfonts package to be used for @emph{all}
2102 characters. Finally, a value of @code{bdf-font-except-latin}
2103 instructs the printer to use built-in fonts for @acronym{ASCII} and Latin-1
2104 characters, and Intlfonts BDF fonts for the rest.
2105
2106 @vindex bdf-directory-list
2107 To be able to use the BDF fonts, Emacs needs to know where to find
2108 them. The variable @code{bdf-directory-list} holds the list of
2109 directories where Emacs should look for the fonts; the default value
2110 includes a single directory @file{/usr/local/share/emacs/fonts/bdf}.
2111
2112 Many other customization variables for these commands are defined and
2113 described in the Lisp files @file{ps-print.el} and @file{ps-mule.el}.
2114
2115 @node Printing Package
2116 @subsection Printing Package
2117 @cindex Printing package
2118
2119 The basic Emacs facilities for printing hardcopy can be extended
2120 using the Printing package. This provides an easy-to-use interface
2121 for choosing what to print, previewing PostScript files before
2122 printing, and setting various printing options such as print headers,
2123 landscape or portrait modes, duplex modes, and so forth. On GNU/Linux
2124 or Unix systems, the Printing package relies on the @file{gs} and
2125 @file{gv} utilities, which are distributed as part of the GhostScript
2126 program. On MS-Windows, the @file{gstools} port of Ghostscript can be
2127 used.
2128
2129 @findex pr-interface
2130 To use the Printing package, add @code{(require 'printing)} to your
2131 init file (@pxref{Init File}), followed by @code{(pr-update-menus)}.
2132 This function replaces the usual printing commands in the menu bar
2133 with a @samp{Printing} submenu that contains various printing options.
2134 You can also type @kbd{M-x pr-interface @key{RET}}; this creates a
2135 @file{*Printing Interface*} buffer, similar to a customization buffer,
2136 where you can set the printing options. After selecting what and how
2137 to print, you start the print job using the @samp{Print} button (click
2138 @kbd{Mouse-2} on it, or move point over it and type @key{RET}). For
2139 further information on the various options, use the @samp{Interface
2140 Help} button.
2141
2142 @node Sorting
2143 @section Sorting Text
2144 @cindex sorting
2145
2146 Emacs provides several commands for sorting text in the buffer. All
2147 operate on the contents of the region.
2148 They divide the text of the region into many @dfn{sort records},
2149 identify a @dfn{sort key} for each record, and then reorder the records
2150 into the order determined by the sort keys. The records are ordered so
2151 that their keys are in alphabetical order, or, for numeric sorting, in
2152 numeric order. In alphabetic sorting, all upper-case letters @samp{A}
2153 through @samp{Z} come before lower-case @samp{a}, in accordance with the
2154 @acronym{ASCII} character sequence.
2155
2156 The various sort commands differ in how they divide the text into sort
2157 records and in which part of each record is used as the sort key. Most of
2158 the commands make each line a separate sort record, but some commands use
2159 paragraphs or pages as sort records. Most of the sort commands use each
2160 entire sort record as its own sort key, but some use only a portion of the
2161 record as the sort key.
2162
2163 @findex sort-lines
2164 @findex sort-paragraphs
2165 @findex sort-pages
2166 @findex sort-fields
2167 @findex sort-numeric-fields
2168 @vindex sort-numeric-base
2169 @table @kbd
2170 @item M-x sort-lines
2171 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the entire
2172 text of a line. A numeric argument means sort into descending order.
2173
2174 @item M-x sort-paragraphs
2175 Divide the region into paragraphs, and sort by comparing the entire
2176 text of a paragraph (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2177 argument means sort into descending order.
2178
2179 @item M-x sort-pages
2180 Divide the region into pages, and sort by comparing the entire
2181 text of a page (except for leading blank lines). A numeric
2182 argument means sort into descending order.
2183
2184 @item M-x sort-fields
2185 Divide the region into lines, and sort by comparing the contents of
2186 one field in each line. Fields are defined as separated by
2187 whitespace, so the first run of consecutive non-whitespace characters
2188 in a line constitutes field 1, the second such run constitutes field
2189 2, etc.
2190
2191 Specify which field to sort by with a numeric argument: 1 to sort by
2192 field 1, etc. A negative argument means count fields from the right
2193 instead of from the left; thus, minus 1 means sort by the last field.
2194 If several lines have identical contents in the field being sorted, they
2195 keep the same relative order that they had in the original buffer.
2196
2197 @item M-x sort-numeric-fields
2198 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except the specified field is converted
2199 to an integer for each line, and the numbers are compared. @samp{10}
2200 comes before @samp{2} when considered as text, but after it when
2201 considered as a number. By default, numbers are interpreted according
2202 to @code{sort-numeric-base}, but numbers beginning with @samp{0x} or
2203 @samp{0} are interpreted as hexadecimal and octal, respectively.
2204
2205 @item M-x sort-columns
2206 Like @kbd{M-x sort-fields} except that the text within each line
2207 used for comparison comes from a fixed range of columns. With a
2208 prefix argument, sort in reverse order. See below for more details
2209 on this command.
2210
2211 @findex reverse-region
2212 @item M-x reverse-region
2213 Reverse the order of the lines in the region. This is useful for
2214 sorting into descending order by fields, since those sort
2215 commands do not have a feature for doing that.
2216 @end table
2217
2218 For example, if the buffer contains this:
2219
2220 @smallexample
2221 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2222 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2223 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2224 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2225 the buffer.
2226 @end smallexample
2227
2228 @noindent
2229 applying @kbd{M-x sort-lines} to the entire buffer produces this:
2230
2231 @smallexample
2232 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2233 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2234 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2235 the buffer.
2236 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2237 @end smallexample
2238
2239 @noindent
2240 where the upper-case @samp{O} sorts before all lower-case letters. If
2241 you use @kbd{C-u 2 M-x sort-fields} instead, you get this:
2242
2243 @smallexample
2244 implemented, Emacs also checks the first time you modify a buffer
2245 saved. If it has, you are asked to confirm that you want to change
2246 the buffer.
2247 On systems where clash detection (locking of files being edited) is
2248 whether the file has changed on disk since it was last visited or
2249 @end smallexample
2250
2251 @noindent
2252 where the sort keys were @samp{Emacs}, @samp{If}, @samp{buffer},
2253 @samp{systems} and @samp{the}.
2254
2255 @findex sort-columns
2256 @kbd{M-x sort-columns} requires more explanation. You specify the
2257 columns by putting point at one of the columns and the mark at the other
2258 column. Because this means you cannot put point or the mark at the
2259 beginning of the first line of the text you want to sort, this command
2260 uses an unusual definition of ``region'': all of the line point is in is
2261 considered part of the region, and so is all of the line the mark is in,
2262 as well as all the lines in between.
2263
2264 For example, to sort a table by information found in columns 10 to 15,
2265 you could put the mark on column 10 in the first line of the table, and
2266 point on column 15 in the last line of the table, and then run
2267 @code{sort-columns}. Equivalently, you could run it with the mark on
2268 column 15 in the first line and point on column 10 in the last line.
2269
2270 This can be thought of as sorting the rectangle specified by point and
2271 the mark, except that the text on each line to the left or right of the
2272 rectangle moves along with the text inside the rectangle.
2273 @xref{Rectangles}.
2274
2275 @vindex sort-fold-case
2276 Many of the sort commands ignore case differences when comparing, if
2277 @code{sort-fold-case} is non-@code{nil}.
2278
2279 @c Picture Mode documentation
2280 @ifnottex
2281 @include picture-xtra.texi
2282 @end ifnottex
2283
2284
2285 @node Editing Binary Files
2286 @section Editing Binary Files
2287
2288 @cindex Hexl mode
2289 @cindex mode, Hexl
2290 @cindex editing binary files
2291 @cindex hex editing
2292 There is a special major mode for editing binary files: Hexl mode. To
2293 use it, use @kbd{M-x hexl-find-file} instead of @kbd{C-x C-f} to visit
2294 the file. This command converts the file's contents to hexadecimal and
2295 lets you edit the translation. When you save the file, it is converted
2296 automatically back to binary.
2297
2298 You can also use @kbd{M-x hexl-mode} to translate an existing buffer
2299 into hex. This is useful if you visit a file normally and then discover
2300 it is a binary file.
2301
2302 Ordinary text characters overwrite in Hexl mode. This is to reduce
2303 the risk of accidentally spoiling the alignment of data in the file.
2304 There are special commands for insertion. Here is a list of the
2305 commands of Hexl mode:
2306
2307 @c I don't think individual index entries for these commands are useful--RMS.
2308 @table @kbd
2309 @item C-M-d
2310 Insert a byte with a code typed in decimal.
2311
2312 @item C-M-o
2313 Insert a byte with a code typed in octal.
2314
2315 @item C-M-x
2316 Insert a byte with a code typed in hex.
2317
2318 @item C-x [
2319 Move to the beginning of a 1k-byte page.
2320
2321 @item C-x ]
2322 Move to the end of a 1k-byte page.
2323
2324 @item M-g
2325 Move to an address specified in hex.
2326
2327 @item M-j
2328 Move to an address specified in decimal.
2329
2330 @item C-c C-c
2331 Leave Hexl mode, going back to the major mode this buffer had before you
2332 invoked @code{hexl-mode}.
2333 @end table
2334
2335 @noindent
2336 Other Hexl commands let you insert strings (sequences) of binary
2337 bytes, move by @code{short}s or @code{int}s, etc.; type @kbd{C-h a
2338 hexl-@key{RET}} for details.
2339
2340
2341 @node Saving Emacs Sessions
2342 @section Saving Emacs Sessions
2343 @cindex saving sessions
2344 @cindex restore session
2345 @cindex remember editing session
2346 @cindex reload files
2347 @cindex desktop
2348
2349 @vindex desktop-restore-frames
2350 Use the desktop library to save the state of Emacs from one session
2351 to another. Once you save the Emacs @dfn{desktop}---the buffers,
2352 their file names, major modes, buffer positions, and so on---then
2353 subsequent Emacs sessions reload the saved desktop. By default,
2354 the desktop also tries to save the frame and window configuration.
2355 To disable this, set @code{desktop-restore-frames} to @code{nil}.
2356 (See that variable's documentation for some related options
2357 that you can customize to fine-tune this behavior.)
2358
2359 @findex desktop-save
2360 @vindex desktop-save-mode
2361 You can save the desktop manually with the command @kbd{M-x
2362 desktop-save}. You can also enable automatic saving of the desktop
2363 when you exit Emacs, and automatic restoration of the last saved
2364 desktop when Emacs starts: use the Customization buffer (@pxref{Easy
2365 Customization}) to set @code{desktop-save-mode} to @code{t} for future
2366 sessions, or add this line in your init file (@pxref{Init File}):
2367
2368 @example
2369 (desktop-save-mode 1)
2370 @end example
2371
2372 @vindex desktop-auto-save-timeout
2373 @noindent
2374 When @code{desktop-save-mode} is active and the desktop file exists,
2375 Emacs auto-saves it every @code{desktop-auto-save-timeout}
2376 seconds, if that is non-@code{nil} and non-zero.
2377
2378 @findex desktop-change-dir
2379 @findex desktop-revert
2380 @vindex desktop-path
2381 If you turn on @code{desktop-save-mode} in your init file, then when
2382 Emacs starts, it looks for a saved desktop in the current directory.
2383 (More precisely, it looks in the directories specified by
2384 @var{desktop-path}, and uses the first desktop it finds.)
2385 Thus, you can have separate saved desktops in different directories,
2386 and the starting directory determines which one Emacs reloads. You
2387 can save the current desktop and reload one saved in another directory
2388 by typing @kbd{M-x desktop-change-dir}. Typing @kbd{M-x
2389 desktop-revert} reverts to the desktop previously reloaded.
2390
2391 Specify the option @samp{--no-desktop} on the command line when you
2392 don't want it to reload any saved desktop. This turns off
2393 @code{desktop-save-mode} for the current session. Starting Emacs with
2394 the @samp{--no-init-file} option also disables desktop reloading,
2395 since it bypasses the init file, where @code{desktop-save-mode} is
2396 usually turned on.
2397
2398 @vindex desktop-restore-eager
2399 By default, all the buffers in the desktop are restored at one go.
2400 However, this may be slow if there are a lot of buffers in the
2401 desktop. You can specify the maximum number of buffers to restore
2402 immediately with the variable @code{desktop-restore-eager}; the
2403 remaining buffers are restored lazily, when Emacs is idle.
2404
2405 @findex desktop-clear
2406 @vindex desktop-globals-to-clear
2407 @vindex desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp
2408 Type @kbd{M-x desktop-clear} to empty the Emacs desktop. This kills
2409 all buffers except for internal ones, and clears the global variables
2410 listed in @code{desktop-globals-to-clear}. If you want this to
2411 preserve certain buffers, customize the variable
2412 @code{desktop-clear-preserve-buffers-regexp}, whose value is a regular
2413 expression matching the names of buffers not to kill.
2414
2415 If you want to save minibuffer history from one session to
2416 another, use the @code{savehist} library.
2417
2418 @node Recursive Edit
2419 @section Recursive Editing Levels
2420 @cindex recursive editing level
2421 @cindex editing level, recursive
2422
2423 A @dfn{recursive edit} is a situation in which you are using Emacs
2424 commands to perform arbitrary editing while in the middle of another
2425 Emacs command. For example, when you type @kbd{C-r} inside of a
2426 @code{query-replace}, you enter a recursive edit in which you can change
2427 the current buffer. On exiting from the recursive edit, you go back to
2428 the @code{query-replace}. @xref{Query Replace}.
2429
2430 @kindex C-M-c
2431 @findex exit-recursive-edit
2432 @cindex exiting recursive edit
2433 @dfn{Exiting} the recursive edit means returning to the unfinished
2434 command, which continues execution. The command to exit is @kbd{C-M-c}
2435 (@code{exit-recursive-edit}).
2436
2437 You can also @dfn{abort} the recursive edit. This is like exiting,
2438 but also quits the unfinished command immediately. Use the command
2439 @kbd{C-]} (@code{abort-recursive-edit}) to do this. @xref{Quitting}.
2440
2441 The mode line shows you when you are in a recursive edit by displaying
2442 square brackets around the parentheses that always surround the major and
2443 minor mode names. Every window's mode line shows this in the same way,
2444 since being in a recursive edit is true of Emacs as a whole rather than
2445 any particular window or buffer.
2446
2447 It is possible to be in recursive edits within recursive edits. For
2448 example, after typing @kbd{C-r} in a @code{query-replace}, you may type a
2449 command that enters the debugger. This begins a recursive editing level
2450 for the debugger, within the recursive editing level for @kbd{C-r}.
2451 Mode lines display a pair of square brackets for each recursive editing
2452 level currently in progress.
2453
2454 Exiting the inner recursive edit (such as with the debugger @kbd{c}
2455 command) resumes the command running in the next level up. When that
2456 command finishes, you can then use @kbd{C-M-c} to exit another recursive
2457 editing level, and so on. Exiting applies to the innermost level only.
2458 Aborting also gets out of only one level of recursive edit; it returns
2459 immediately to the command level of the previous recursive edit. If you
2460 wish, you can then abort the next recursive editing level.
2461
2462 Alternatively, the command @kbd{M-x top-level} aborts all levels of
2463 recursive edits, returning immediately to the top-level command
2464 reader. It also exits the minibuffer, if it is active.
2465
2466 The text being edited inside the recursive edit need not be the same text
2467 that you were editing at top level. It depends on what the recursive edit
2468 is for. If the command that invokes the recursive edit selects a different
2469 buffer first, that is the buffer you will edit recursively. In any case,
2470 you can switch buffers within the recursive edit in the normal manner (as
2471 long as the buffer-switching keys have not been rebound). You could
2472 probably do all the rest of your editing inside the recursive edit,
2473 visiting files and all. But this could have surprising effects (such as
2474 stack overflow) from time to time. So remember to exit or abort the
2475 recursive edit when you no longer need it.
2476
2477 In general, we try to minimize the use of recursive editing levels in
2478 GNU Emacs. This is because they constrain you to go back in a
2479 particular order---from the innermost level toward the top level. When
2480 possible, we present different activities in separate buffers so that
2481 you can switch between them as you please. Some commands switch to a
2482 new major mode which provides a command to switch back. These
2483 approaches give you more flexibility to go back to unfinished tasks in
2484 the order you choose.
2485
2486 @ignore
2487 @c Apart from edt and viper, this is all obsolete.
2488 @c (Can't believe we were saying "most other editors" into 2014!)
2489 @c There seems no point having a node just for those, which both have
2490 @c their own manuals.
2491 @node Emulation
2492 @section Emulation
2493 @cindex emulating other editors
2494 @cindex other editors
2495 @cindex EDT
2496 @cindex vi
2497 @cindex WordStar
2498
2499 GNU Emacs can be programmed to emulate (more or less) most other
2500 editors. Standard facilities can emulate these:
2501
2502 @table @asis
2503 @item CRiSP/Brief (PC editor)
2504 @findex crisp-mode
2505 @vindex crisp-override-meta-x
2506 @findex scroll-all-mode
2507 @cindex CRiSP mode
2508 @cindex Brief emulation
2509 @cindex emulation of Brief
2510 @cindex mode, CRiSP
2511 @kbd{M-x crisp-mode} enables key bindings to emulate the CRiSP/Brief
2512 editor. Note that this rebinds @kbd{M-x} to exit Emacs unless you set
2513 the variable @code{crisp-override-meta-x}. You can also use the
2514 command @kbd{M-x scroll-all-mode} or set the variable
2515 @code{crisp-load-scroll-all} to emulate CRiSP's scroll-all feature
2516 (scrolling all windows together).
2517
2518 @item EDT (DEC VMS editor)
2519 @findex edt-emulation-on
2520 @findex edt-emulation-off
2521 Turn on EDT emulation with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-on}; restore normal
2522 command bindings with @kbd{M-x edt-emulation-off}.
2523
2524 Most of the EDT emulation commands are keypad keys, and most standard
2525 Emacs key bindings are still available. The EDT emulation rebindings
2526 are done in the global keymap, so there is no problem switching
2527 buffers or major modes while in EDT emulation.
2528
2529 @item TPU (DEC VMS editor)
2530 @findex tpu-edt-on
2531 @cindex TPU
2532 @kbd{M-x tpu-edt-on} turns on emulation of the TPU editor emulating EDT.
2533
2534 @item vi (Berkeley editor)
2535 @findex viper-mode
2536 Viper is an emulator for vi. It implements several levels of
2537 emulation; level 1 is closest to vi itself, while level 5 departs
2538 somewhat from strict emulation to take advantage of the capabilities of
2539 Emacs. To invoke Viper, type @kbd{M-x viper-mode}; it will guide you
2540 the rest of the way and ask for the emulation level. @inforef{Top,
2541 Viper, viper}.
2542
2543 @item vi (another emulator)
2544 @findex vi-mode
2545 @kbd{M-x vi-mode} enters a major mode that replaces the previously
2546 established major mode. All of the vi commands that, in real vi, enter
2547 input mode are programmed instead to return to the previous major
2548 mode. Thus, ordinary Emacs serves as vi's input mode.
2549
2550 Because vi emulation works through major modes, it does not work
2551 to switch buffers during emulation. Return to normal Emacs first.
2552
2553 If you plan to use vi emulation much, you probably want to bind a key
2554 to the @code{vi-mode} command.
2555
2556 @item vi (alternate emulator)
2557 @findex vip-mode
2558 @kbd{M-x vip-mode} invokes another vi emulator, said to resemble real vi
2559 more thoroughly than @kbd{M-x vi-mode}. Input mode in this emulator
2560 is changed from ordinary Emacs so you can use @key{ESC} to go back to
2561 emulated vi command mode. To get from emulated vi command mode back to
2562 ordinary Emacs, type @kbd{C-z}.
2563
2564 This emulation does not work through major modes, and it is possible
2565 to switch buffers in various ways within the emulator. It is not
2566 so necessary to assign a key to the command @code{vip-mode} as
2567 it is with @code{vi-mode} because terminating insert mode does
2568 not use it.
2569
2570 @inforef{Top, VIP, vip}, for full information.
2571
2572 @item WordStar (old wordprocessor)
2573 @findex wordstar-mode
2574 @kbd{M-x wordstar-mode} provides a major mode with WordStar-like
2575 key bindings.
2576 @end table
2577 @end ignore
2578
2579
2580 @node Hyperlinking
2581 @section Hyperlinking and Navigation Features
2582
2583 The following subsections describe convenience features for handling
2584 URLs and other types of links occurring in Emacs buffer text.
2585
2586 @menu
2587 * Browse-URL:: Following URLs.
2588 * Goto Address mode:: Activating URLs.
2589 * FFAP:: Finding files etc. at point.
2590 @end menu
2591
2592 @node Browse-URL
2593 @subsection Following URLs
2594 @cindex World Wide Web
2595 @cindex Web
2596 @findex browse-url
2597 @findex browse-url-at-point
2598 @findex browse-url-at-mouse
2599 @cindex Browse-URL
2600 @cindex URLs
2601
2602 @table @kbd
2603 @item M-x browse-url @key{RET} @var{url} @key{RET}
2604 Load a URL into a Web browser.
2605 @end table
2606
2607 The Browse-URL package allows you to easily follow URLs from within
2608 Emacs. Most URLs are followed by invoking a web browser;
2609 @samp{mailto:} URLs are followed by invoking the @code{compose-mail}
2610 Emacs command to send mail to the specified address (@pxref{Sending
2611 Mail}).
2612
2613 The command @kbd{M-x browse-url} prompts for a URL, and follows it.
2614 If point is located near a plausible URL, that URL is offered as the
2615 default. The Browse-URL package also provides other commands which
2616 you might like to bind to keys, such as @code{browse-url-at-point} and
2617 @code{browse-url-at-mouse}.
2618
2619 @vindex browse-url-mailto-function
2620 @vindex browse-url-browser-function
2621 You can customize Browse-URL's behavior via various options in the
2622 @code{browse-url} Customize group. In particular, the option
2623 @code{browse-url-mailto-function} lets you define how to follow
2624 @samp{mailto:} URLs, while @code{browse-url-browser-function} lets you
2625 define how to follow other types of URLs. For more information, view
2626 the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P browse-url @key{RET}}.
2627
2628 @node Goto Address mode
2629 @subsection Activating URLs
2630 @findex goto-address-mode
2631 @cindex mode, Goto Address
2632 @cindex Goto Address mode
2633 @cindex URLs, activating
2634
2635 @table @kbd
2636 @item M-x goto-address-mode
2637 Activate URLs and e-mail addresses in the current buffer.
2638 @end table
2639
2640 @kindex C-c RET @r{(Goto Address mode)}
2641 @findex goto-address-at-point
2642 You can make Emacs mark out URLs specially in the current buffer, by
2643 typing @kbd{M-x goto-address-mode}. When this buffer-local minor mode
2644 is enabled, it finds all the URLs in the buffer, highlights them, and
2645 turns them into clickable buttons. You can follow the URL by typing
2646 @kbd{C-c @key{RET}} (@code{goto-address-at-point}) while point is on
2647 its text; or by clicking with @kbd{Mouse-2}, or by clicking
2648 @kbd{Mouse-1} quickly (@pxref{Mouse References}). Following a URL is
2649 done by calling @code{browse-url} as a subroutine
2650 (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2651
2652 It can be useful to add @code{goto-address-mode} to mode hooks and
2653 hooks for displaying an incoming message
2654 (e.g., @code{rmail-show-message-hook} for Rmail, and
2655 @code{mh-show-mode-hook} for MH-E). This is not needed for Gnus,
2656 which has a similar feature of its own.
2657
2658 @node FFAP
2659 @subsection Finding Files and URLs at Point
2660 @findex find-file-at-point
2661 @findex ffap
2662 @findex dired-at-point
2663 @findex ffap-next
2664 @findex ffap-menu
2665 @cindex finding file at point
2666
2667 The FFAP package replaces certain key bindings for finding files,
2668 such as @kbd{C-x C-f}, with commands that provide more sensitive
2669 defaults. These commands behave like the ordinary ones when given a
2670 prefix argument. Otherwise, they get the default file name or URL
2671 from the text around point. If what is found in the buffer has the
2672 form of a URL rather than a file name, the commands use
2673 @code{browse-url} to view it (@pxref{Browse-URL}).
2674
2675 This feature is useful for following references in mail or news
2676 buffers, @file{README} files, @file{MANIFEST} files, and so on. For
2677 more information, view the package commentary by typing @kbd{C-h P
2678 ffap @key{RET}}.
2679
2680 @cindex FFAP minor mode
2681 @findex ffap-mode
2682 To enable FFAP, type @kbd{M-x ffap-bindings}. This makes the
2683 following key bindings, and also installs hooks for additional FFAP
2684 functionality in Rmail, Gnus and VM article buffers.
2685
2686 @table @kbd
2687 @item C-x C-f @var{filename} @key{RET}
2688 @kindex C-x C-f @r{(FFAP)}
2689 Find @var{filename}, guessing a default from text around point
2690 (@code{find-file-at-point}).
2691 @item C-x C-r
2692 @kindex C-x C-r @r{(FFAP)}
2693 @code{ffap-read-only}, analogous to @code{find-file-read-only}.
2694 @item C-x C-v
2695 @kindex C-x C-v @r{(FFAP)}
2696 @code{ffap-alternate-file}, analogous to @code{find-alternate-file}.
2697 @item C-x d @var{directory} @key{RET}
2698 @kindex C-x d @r{(FFAP)}
2699 Start Dired on @var{directory}, defaulting to the directory name at
2700 point (@code{dired-at-point}).
2701 @item C-x C-d
2702 @code{ffap-list-directory}, analogous to @code{list-directory}.
2703 @item C-x 4 f
2704 @kindex C-x 4 f @r{(FFAP)}
2705 @code{ffap-other-window}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-window}.
2706 @item C-x 4 r
2707 @code{ffap-read-only-other-window}, analogous to
2708 @code{find-file-read-only-other-window}.
2709 @item C-x 4 d
2710 @code{ffap-dired-other-window}, like @code{dired-other-window}.
2711 @item C-x 5 f
2712 @kindex C-x 5 f @r{(FFAP)}
2713 @code{ffap-other-frame}, analogous to @code{find-file-other-frame}.
2714 @item C-x 5 r
2715 @code{ffap-read-only-other-frame}, analogous to
2716 @code{find-file-read-only-other-frame}.
2717 @item C-x 5 d
2718 @code{ffap-dired-other-frame}, analogous to @code{dired-other-frame}.
2719 @item M-x ffap-next
2720 Search buffer for next file name or URL, then find that file or URL.
2721 @item S-Mouse-3
2722 @kindex S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2723 @code{ffap-at-mouse} finds the file guessed from text around the position
2724 of a mouse click.
2725 @item C-S-Mouse-3
2726 @kindex C-S-Mouse-3 @r{(FFAP)}
2727 Display a menu of files and URLs mentioned in current buffer, then
2728 find the one you select (@code{ffap-menu}).
2729 @end table
2730
2731 @node Amusements
2732 @section Other Amusements
2733 @cindex boredom
2734
2735 @findex animate-birthday-present
2736 @cindex animate
2737 The @code{animate} package makes text dance (e.g., @kbd{M-x
2738 animate-birthday-present}).
2739
2740 @findex blackbox
2741 @findex mpuz
2742 @findex 5x5
2743 @cindex puzzles
2744 @kbd{M-x blackbox}, @kbd{M-x mpuz} and @kbd{M-x 5x5} are puzzles.
2745 @code{blackbox} challenges you to determine the location of objects
2746 inside a box by tomography. @code{mpuz} displays a multiplication
2747 puzzle with letters standing for digits in a code that you must
2748 guess---to guess a value, type a letter and then the digit you think it
2749 stands for. The aim of @code{5x5} is to fill in all the squares.
2750
2751 @findex bubbles
2752 @kbd{M-x bubbles} is a game in which the object is to remove as many
2753 bubbles as you can in the smallest number of moves.
2754
2755 @findex decipher
2756 @cindex ciphers
2757 @cindex cryptanalysis
2758 @kbd{M-x decipher} helps you to cryptanalyze a buffer which is
2759 encrypted in a simple monoalphabetic substitution cipher.
2760
2761 @findex dissociated-press
2762 @kbd{M-x dissociated-press} scrambles the text in the current Emacs
2763 buffer, word by word or character by character, writing its output to
2764 a buffer named @file{*Dissociation*}. A positive argument tells it to
2765 operate character by character, and specifies the number of overlap
2766 characters. A negative argument tells it to operate word by word, and
2767 specifies the number of overlap words. Dissociated Press produces
2768 results fairly like those of a Markov chain, but is however, an
2769 independent, ignoriginal invention; it techniquitously copies several
2770 consecutive characters from the sample text between random jumps,
2771 unlike a Markov chain which would jump randomly after each word or
2772 character. Keep dissociwords out of your documentation, if you want
2773 it to be well userenced and properbose.
2774
2775 @findex dunnet
2776 @kbd{M-x dunnet} runs a text-based adventure game.
2777
2778 @findex gomoku
2779 @cindex Go Moku
2780 If you want a little more personal involvement, try @kbd{M-x gomoku},
2781 which plays the game Go Moku with you.
2782
2783 @cindex tower of Hanoi
2784 @findex hanoi
2785 If you are a little bit bored, you can try @kbd{M-x hanoi}. If you are
2786 considerably bored, give it a numeric argument. If you are very, very
2787 bored, try an argument of 9. Sit back and watch.
2788
2789 @findex life
2790 @cindex Life
2791 @kbd{M-x life} runs Conway's Game of Life cellular automaton.
2792
2793 @findex landmark
2794 @cindex landmark game
2795 @kbd{M-x landmark} runs a relatively non-participatory game in which
2796 a robot attempts to maneuver towards a tree at the center of the
2797 window based on unique olfactory cues from each of the four
2798 directions.
2799
2800 @findex morse-region
2801 @findex unmorse-region
2802 @findex nato-region
2803 @cindex Morse code
2804 @cindex --/---/.-./.../.
2805 @kbd{M-x morse-region} converts the text in the region to Morse
2806 code; @kbd{M-x unmorse-region} converts it back. @kbd{M-x
2807 nato-region} converts the text in the region to NATO phonetic
2808 alphabet; @kbd{M-x denato-region} converts it back.
2809
2810 @findex pong
2811 @cindex Pong game
2812 @findex tetris
2813 @cindex Tetris
2814 @findex snake
2815 @cindex Snake
2816 @kbd{M-x pong}, @kbd{M-x snake} and @kbd{M-x tetris} are
2817 implementations of the well-known Pong, Snake and Tetris games.
2818
2819 @findex solitaire
2820 @cindex solitaire
2821 @kbd{M-x solitaire} plays a game of solitaire in which you jump pegs
2822 across other pegs.
2823
2824 @findex zone
2825 The command @kbd{M-x zone} plays games with the display when Emacs
2826 is idle.
2827
2828 @findex doctor
2829 @cindex Eliza
2830 Finally, if you find yourself frustrated, try describing your
2831 problems to the famous psychotherapist Eliza. Just do @kbd{M-x
2832 doctor}. End each input by typing @key{RET} twice.
2833
2834 @ifnottex
2835 @lowersections
2836 @end ifnottex