@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001,
-@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Buffers, Windows, Files, Top
@chapter Using Multiple Buffers
@findex switch-to-buffer
To select the buffer named @var{bufname}, type @kbd{C-x b @var{bufname}
@key{RET}}. This runs the command @code{switch-to-buffer} with argument
-@var{bufname}. You can use completion on an abbreviation for the buffer
-name you want (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b}
+@var{bufname}. You can use completion to enter the buffer
+name (@pxref{Completion}). An empty argument to @kbd{C-x b}
specifies the buffer that was current most recently among those not
now displayed in any window.
@ref{Special Buffer Frames}, for more about these variables. In
addition, if the value of @code{display-buffer-reuse-frames} is
non-@code{nil}, and the buffer you want to switch to is already
-displayed in some frame, Emacs will raise that frame.
+displayed in some frame, Emacs will just raise that frame.
Most buffers are created by visiting files, or by Emacs commands that
want to display some text, but you can also create a buffer explicitly
The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the
buffers that were current most recently come first.
- @samp{*} in the first field of a line indicates the buffer is ``modified.''
-If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save some with @kbd{C-x s}
-(@pxref{Save Commands}). @samp{%} indicates a read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the
-current buffer. Here is an example of a buffer list:@refill
+ @samp{*} in the first field of a line indicates the buffer is
+``modified.'' If several buffers are modified, it may be time to save
+some with @kbd{C-x s} (@pxref{Save Commands}). @samp{%} indicates a
+read-only buffer. @samp{.} marks the current buffer. Here is an
+example of a buffer list:@refill
@smallexample
CRM Buffer Size Mode File
Note that the buffer @samp{*Help*} was made by a help request; it is
not visiting any file. The buffer @code{src} was made by Dired on the
directory @file{~/cvs/emacs/src/}. You can list only buffers that are
-visiting files by giving the command a prefix; for instance, by typing
+visiting files by giving the command a prefix argument, as in
@kbd{C-u C-x C-b}.
@code{list-buffers} omits buffers whose names begin with a space,
Control}.
@findex rename-buffer
- @kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. Specify
-the new name as a minibuffer argument. There is no default. If you
-specify a name that is in use for some other buffer, an error happens and
-no renaming is done.
+ @kbd{M-x rename-buffer} changes the name of the current buffer. You
+specify the new name as a minibuffer argument; there is no default.
+If you specify a name that is in use for some other buffer, an error
+happens and no renaming is done.
@findex rename-uniquely
@kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} renames the current buffer to a similar
The commands @kbd{M-x append-to-buffer} and @kbd{M-x insert-buffer}
can be used to copy text from one buffer to another. @xref{Accumulating
-Text}.@refill
+Text}.
@node Kill Buffer
@section Killing Buffers
the buffer list manually, you can use all of the commands described
here.
- Normally, the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated automatically when
-buffers are created and killed; its contents are just text. If you have
-created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way to update @samp{*Buffer
-List*} to show what you have done is to type @kbd{g}
-(@code{revert-buffer}) or repeat the @code{buffer-menu} command.
+ Normally, the buffer @samp{*Buffer List*} is not updated
+automatically when buffers are created and killed; its contents are
+just text. If you have created, deleted or renamed buffers, the way
+to update @samp{*Buffer List*} to show what you have done is to type
+@kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}). You can make this happen regularly
+every @code{auto-revert-interval} seconds if you enable Auto Revert
+mode in this buffer, as long as it is not marked modified. Global
+Auto Revert mode applies to the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer only if
+@code{global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers} is non-@code{nil}.
+@iftex
+@xref{Autorevert,,, emacs-xtra}, for details.
+@end iftex
+@ifnottex
+@xref{Autorevert, global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers}, for details.
+@end ifnottex
- The @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer does automatically update every
-@code{auto-revert-interval} seconds if you enable Auto Revert mode in
-it. (As long as it is not marked modified.) Global Auto Revert mode
-does not update the @samp{*Buffer List*} buffer by default, but it
-does if @code{global-auto-revert-non-file-buffers} is non-@code{nil}.
-@inforef{Autorevert,, emacs-xtra}, for details.
The command @code{buffer-menu-other-window} works the same as
@code{buffer-menu}, except that it displays the buffers list in
name is not very important if you are going to @emph{look} at the
buffer names before you type one. But as an experienced user, if you
know the rule, you won't have to look. And then you may find that one
-rule or another is easier for you to remember and utilize fast.
+rule or another is easier for you to remember and apply quickly.
@node Iswitchb
@subsection Switching Between Buffers using Substrings