@ref{Mark Ring}.
@kindex C-@@
- There is no such character as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} in ASCII; when you
+ There is no such character as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} in @acronym{ASCII}; when you
type @key{SPC} while holding down @key{CTRL}, what you get on most
ordinary terminals is the character @kbd{C-@@}. This key is actually
bound to @code{set-mark-command}. But unless you are unlucky enough to
As you move point, you will see the highlighted region grow and
shrink.
-@item
+@item
The mouse commands for specifying the mark also make it active. So do
keyboard commands whose purpose is to specify a region, including
@kbd{M-@@}, @kbd{C-M-@@}, @kbd{M-h}, @kbd{C-M-h}, @kbd{C-x C-p}, and
(@code{exchange-point-and-mark}).
@item
-@kbd{C-s} when the mark is active does not alter the mark.
+Commands that normally set the mark before moving long distances (like
+@kbd{M-<} and @kbd{C-s}) do not alter the mark in Transient Mark mode
+when the mark is active.
@item
Some commands operate on the region if a region is active. For
@item C-u C-x C-x
@kindex C-u C-x C-x
-Activate the mark without changing it, enable Transient Mark mode just
-once until the mark is deactivated. (This is the @kbd{C-x C-x} command,
-@code{exchange-point-and-mark}, with a prefix argument.)
+Activate the mark without changing it; enable Transient Mark mode just
+once, until the mark is deactivated. (This is the @kbd{C-x C-x}
+command, @code{exchange-point-and-mark}, with a prefix argument.)
@end table
One of the secondary features of Transient Mark mode is that certain
-commands operate on the region when there is an active region. If you
-don't use Transient Mark mode, the region once set never becomes
-inactive, so there is no way these commands to make such a
+commands operate only on the region, when there is an active region.
+If you don't use Transient Mark mode, the region once set never
+becomes inactive, so there is no way for these commands to make such a
distinction. Enabling Transient Mark mode momentarily gives you a way
to use these commands on the region.
- The other way momentarily use of Transient Mark mode is useful
-is that it highlights the region for the time being.
+ Momentary use of Transient Mark mode is also a way to highlight the
+region for the time being.
@node Using Region
@section Operating on the Region
arguments just like @kbd{M-f} and @kbd{C-M-f}. If you repeat these
commands, the region is extended. For example, you can type either
@kbd{C-u 2 M-@@} or @kbd{M-@@ M-@@} to mark the next two words.
+The region is also extended when the mark is active in Transient Mark
+mode, regardless of the last command.
@kindex C-x h
@findex mark-whole-buffer
Many commands that can move long distances, such as @kbd{M-<}
(@code{beginning-of-buffer}), start by setting the mark and saving the
old mark on the mark ring. This is to make it easier for you to move
-back later. Searches set the mark if they move point. You can tell
-when a command sets the mark because it displays @samp{Mark set} in the
-echo area.
+back later. Searches set the mark if they move point. However, in
+Transient Mark mode, these commands do not set the mark when the mark
+is already active. You can tell when a command sets the mark because
+it displays @samp{Mark set} in the echo area.
If you want to move back to the same place over and over, the mark
ring may not be convenient enough. If so, you can record the position
rotates the ring, so that successive uses of @kbd{C-x C-@key{SPC}} take
you to earlier and earlier buffers.
+@ignore
+ arch-tag: f35e4d82-911b-4cfc-a3d7-3c87b2abba20
+@end ignore