@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985,86,87,93,94,95,1997,2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002,
+@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Mark, Killing, Help, Top
@chapter The Mark and the Region
button one across a range of text; that puts point where you release the
mouse button, and sets the mark at the other end of that range. Or you
can click mouse button three, which sets the mark at point (like
-@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}) and then moves point (like @kbd{Mouse-1}). Both of
-these methods copy the region into the kill ring in addition to setting
-the mark; that gives behavior consistent with other window-driven
-applications, but if you don't want to modify the kill ring, you must
-use keyboard commands to set the mark. @xref{Mouse Commands}.
+@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}) and then moves point where you clicked (like
+@kbd{Mouse-1}).
+
+ Using the mouse to mark a region copies the region into the kill
+ring in addition to setting the mark; that gives behavior consistent
+with other window-driven applications. If you don't want to modify
+the kill ring, you must use keyboard commands to set the mark.
+@xref{Mouse Commands}.
@kindex C-x C-x
@findex exchange-point-and-mark
- Ordinary terminals have only one cursor, so there is no way for Emacs
-to show you where the mark is located. You have to remember. The usual
-solution to this problem is to set the mark and then use it soon, before
-you forget where it is. Alternatively, you can see where the mark is
-with the command @kbd{C-x C-x} (@code{exchange-point-and-mark}) which
-puts the mark where point was and point where the mark was. The extent
-of the region is unchanged, but the cursor and point are now at the
-previous position of the mark. In Transient Mark mode, this command
-also reactivates the mark.
+ When Emacs was developed, terminals had only one cursor, so Emacs
+does not show where the mark is located--you have to remember. If you
+enable Transient Mark mode (see below), then the region is highlighted
+when it is active; you can tell mark is at the other end of the
+highlighted region. But this only applies when the mark is active.
+
+ The usual solution to this problem is to set the mark and then use
+it soon, before you forget where it is. Alternatively, you can see
+where the mark is with the command @kbd{C-x C-x}
+(@code{exchange-point-and-mark}) which puts the mark where point was
+and point where the mark was. The extent of the region is unchanged,
+but the cursor and point are now at the previous position of the mark.
+In Transient Mark mode, this command also reactivates the mark.
@kbd{C-x C-x} is also useful when you are satisfied with the position
of point but want to move the other end of the region (where the mark
@ref{Mark Ring}.
@kindex C-@@
- There is no such character as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} in 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
-have a terminal where typing @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} does not produce
+ There is no such character as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} in @acronym{ASCII};
+when you type @key{SPC} while holding down @key{CTRL} on a text
+terminal, what you get is the character @kbd{C-@@}. This key is also
+bound to @code{set-mark-command}--so unless you are unlucky enough to
+have a text terminal where typing @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} does not produce
@kbd{C-@@}, you might as well think of this character as
-@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}. Under X, @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} is actually a distinct
-character, but its binding is still @code{set-mark-command}.
+@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.
@node Transient Mark
@section Transient Mark Mode
On a terminal that supports colors, Emacs has the ability to
highlight the current region. But normally it does not. Why not?
- Once you have set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a
-region in that buffer. This is because every command that sets the
-mark also activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Highlighting
-the region all the time would be a nuisance. So normally Emacs
-highlights the region only immediately after you have selected one
-with the mouse.
+ In the normal mode of use, every command that sets the mark also
+activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Thus, once you have
+set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a region in that
+buffer. Highlighting the region all the time would be a nuisance. So
+normally Emacs highlights the region only immediately after you have
+selected one with the mouse.
If you want region highlighting, you can use Transient Mark mode.
-This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region always
-``lasts'' only until you use it; you explicitly must set up a region
-for each command that uses one. In Transient Mark mode, most of the
-time there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it
-exists is useful and not annoying. When Transient Mark mode is
-enabled, Emacs always highlights the region whenever there is a
-region.
+This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region ``lasts''
+only until you use it; operating on the region text deactivates the
+mark, so there is no region any more. Therefore, you must explicitly
+set up a region for each command that uses one.
+
+ When Transient Mark mode is enabled, Emacs highlights the region,
+whenever there is a region. In Transient Mark mode, most of the time
+there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it exists
+is useful and not annoying.
@findex transient-mark-mode
To enable Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}.
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
on a region will get an error and refuse to operate. You can make the
region active again by typing @kbd{C-x C-x}.
+@item
+If Delete Selection mode is also enabled, some commands delete the
+region when used while the mark is active. @xref{Graphical Kill}.
+
@item
Quitting with @kbd{C-g} deactivates the mark.
(@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
@item
Fill it as text with @kbd{M-x fill-region} (@pxref{Filling}).
@item
-Print hardcopy with @kbd{M-x print-region} (@pxref{Hardcopy}).
+Print hardcopy with @kbd{M-x print-region} (@pxref{Printing}).
@item
Evaluate it as Lisp code with @kbd{M-x eval-region} (@pxref{Lisp Eval}).
+@item
+Undo changes within it using @kbd{C-u C-x u} (@pxref{Undo}).
@end itemize
Most commands that operate on the text in the region have the word
@kbd{M-@@} (@code{mark-word}) puts the mark at the end of the next
word, while @kbd{C-M-@@} (@code{mark-sexp}) puts it at the end of the
next balanced expression (@pxref{Expressions}). These commands handle
-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.
+arguments just like @kbd{M-f} and @kbd{C-M-f}. Repeating these
+commands extends the region. For example, you can type either
+@kbd{C-u 2 M-@@} or @kbd{M-@@ M-@@} to mark the next two words. These
+commands also extend the region in Transient Mark mode, regardless of
+the last command.
@kindex C-x h
@findex mark-whole-buffer
the beginning of the paragraph that surrounds or follows point, and
puts the mark at the end of that paragraph (@pxref{Paragraphs}). It
prepares the region so you can indent, case-convert, or kill a whole
-paragraph. With prefix argument, if the argument's value is positive,
+paragraph. With a prefix argument, if the argument's value is positive,
@kbd{M-h} marks that many paragraphs starting with the one surrounding
point. If the prefix argument is @minus{}@var{n}, @kbd{M-h} also
marks @var{n} paragraphs, running back form the one surrounding point.
In that last case, point moves forward to the end of that paragraph,
-and the mark goes at the start of the region. The @kbd{M-h} command
-also supports the extension of the region, similar to @kbd{M-@@} and
-@kbd{C-M-@@}.
+and the mark goes at the start of the region. Repeating the @kbd{M-h}
+command extends the region to subsequent paragraphs.
@kbd{C-M-h} (@code{mark-defun}) similarly puts point before, and the
mark after, the current (or following) major top-level definition, or
-defun (@pxref{Moving by Defuns}). (Currently it only marks one defun,
-but repeating it marks more defuns, like for @kbd{M-@@}.) @kbd{C-x
-C-p} (@code{mark-page}) puts point before the current page, and mark
-at the end (@pxref{Pages}). The mark goes after the terminating page
-delimiter (to include it in the region), while point goes after the
-preceding page delimiter (to exclude it). A numeric argument
-specifies a later page (if positive) or an earlier page (if negative)
-instead of the current page.
+defun (@pxref{Moving by Defuns}). Repeating @kbd{C-M-h} extends
+the region to subsequent defuns.
+
+ @kbd{C-x C-p} (@code{mark-page}) puts point before the current page,
+and mark at the end (@pxref{Pages}). The mark goes after the
+terminating page delimiter (to include it in the region), while point
+goes after the preceding page delimiter (to exclude it). A numeric
+argument specifies a later page (if positive) or an earlier page (if
+negative) instead of the current page.
Finally, @kbd{C-x h} (@code{mark-whole-buffer}) sets up the entire
buffer as the region, by putting point at the beginning and the mark at
-the end.
+the end. (In some programs this is called ``select all.'')
In Transient Mark mode, all of these commands activate the mark.
where the mark was, and restores the mark from the ring of former
marks.
- If you repeat the character @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}, after typing @kbd{C-u
-C-@key{SPC}}, each repetition moves point to a previous mark position
-from the ring. The mark positions you move through in this way are
-not lost; they go to the end of the ring.
+@vindex set-mark-command-repeat-pop
+ If you set @code{set-mark-command-repeat-pop} to non-@code{nil},
+then when you repeat the character @kbd{C-@key{SPC}} after typing
+@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}}, each repetition moves point to a previous mark
+position from the ring. The mark positions you move through in this
+way are not lost; they go to the end of the ring.
Each buffer has its own mark ring. All editing commands use the current
buffer's mark ring. In particular, @kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} always stays in
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