Instead of flagging a file with @samp{D}, you can @dfn{mark} the
file with some other character (usually @samp{*}). Most Dired
commands to operate on files use the files marked with @samp{*}. The
-only command that operates on flagged flies is @kbd{x}, which expunges
+only command that operates on flagged files is @kbd{x}, which expunges
them.
Here are some commands for marking with @samp{*}, for unmarking, and
@item C @var{new} @key{RET}
Copy the specified files (@code{dired-do-copy}). The argument @var{new}
is the directory to copy into, or (if copying a single file) the new
-name.
+name. This is like the shell command @code{cp}.
@vindex dired-copy-preserve-time
If @code{dired-copy-preserve-time} is non-@code{nil}, then copying
with this command preserves the modification time of the old file in
-the copy.
+the copy, like @samp{cp -p}.
@vindex dired-recursive-copies
@cindex recursive copying
The variable @code{dired-recursive-copies} controls whether to copy
-directories recursively. The default is @code{nil}, which means that
-directories cannot be copied.
+directories recursively (like @samp{cp -r}). The default is
+@code{nil}, which means that directories cannot be copied.
@item D
@findex dired-do-delete
@kindex D @r{(Dired)}
-Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}). Like the other
-commands in this section, this command operates on the @emph{marked}
-files, or the next @var{n} files. By contrast, @kbd{x}
+Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}). This is like the
+shell command @code{rm}.
+
+Like the other commands in this section, this command operates on the
+@emph{marked} files, or the next @var{n} files. By contrast, @kbd{x}
(@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}) deletes all @dfn{flagged} files.
@findex dired-do-rename
@kindex R @r{(Dired)}
@cindex renaming files (in Dired)
+@cindex moving files (in Dired)
@item R @var{new} @key{RET}
-Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}). The argument
-@var{new} is the directory to rename into, or (if renaming a single
-file) the new name.
+Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}). If you rename a
+single file, the argument @var{new} is the new name of the file. If
+you rename several files, the argument @var{new} is the directory into
+which to move the files (this is like the shell command @code{mv}).
Dired automatically changes the visited file name of buffers associated
with renamed files so that they refer to the new names.
@kindex H @r{(Dired)}
@cindex hard links (in Dired)
@item H @var{new} @key{RET}
-Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}). The
-argument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (if making
-just one link) the name to give the link.
+Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}).
+This is like the shell command @code{ln}. The argument @var{new} is
+the directory to make the links in, or (if making just one link) the
+name to give the link.
@findex dired-do-symlink
@kindex S @r{(Dired)}
@cindex symbolic links (creation in Dired)
@item S @var{new} @key{RET}
Make symbolic links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-symlink}).
-The argument @var{new} is the directory to make the links in, or (if
-making just one link) the name to give the link.
+This is like @samp{ln -s}. The argument @var{new} is the directory to
+make the links in, or (if making just one link) the name to give the
+link.
@findex dired-do-chmod
@kindex M @r{(Dired)}
@cindex changing file time (in Dired)
@item T @var{timestamp} @key{RET}
Touch the specified files (@code{dired-do-touch}). This means
-updating their modification times to the present time.
+updating their modification times to the present time. This is like
+the shell command @code{touch}.
@findex dired-do-print
@kindex P @r{(Dired)}
removing @samp{x-} from the front of each file name, is also possible:
one method is @kbd{% R ^x-\(.*\)$ @key{RET} \1 @key{RET}}; another is
@kbd{% R ^x- @key{RET} @key{RET}}. (Use @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor
-matches that should span the whole filename.)
+matches that should span the whole file name.)
Normally, the replacement process does not consider the files'
directory names; it operates on the file name within the directory. If
@findex wdired-change-to-wdired-mode
Wdired is a special mode that allows you to perform file operations
by editing the Dired buffer directly (the ``W'' in ``Wdired'' stands
-for ``writable''.) To enter Wdired mode, type @kbd{M-x
+for ``writable.'') To enter Wdired mode, type @kbd{M-x
wdired-change-to-wdired-mode} while in a Dired buffer. Alternatively,
use @samp{Edit File Names} in the @samp{Immediate} menu bar menu.
Apart from simply renaming files, you can move a file to another
directory by typing in the new file name (either absolute or
-relative). To mark a file for deletion, delete the entire filename.
+relative). To mark a file for deletion, delete the entire file name.
To change the target of a symbolic link, edit the link target name
which appears next to the link name.
The default comparison method (used if you type @key{RET} at the
prompt) is to compare just the file names---each file name that does
-not appear in the other directory is ``different''. You can specify
+not appear in the other directory is ``different.'' You can specify
more stringent comparisons by entering a Lisp expression, which can
refer to the variables @code{size1} and @code{size2}, the respective
file sizes; @code{mtime1} and @code{mtime2}, the last modification
@code{fa2}, the respective file attribute lists (as returned by the
function @code{file-attributes}). This expression is evaluated for
each pair of like-named files, and if the expression's value is
-non-@code{nil}, those files are considered ``different''.
+non-@code{nil}, those files are considered ``different.''
- For instance, @code{M-x dired-compare-directories @key{RET} (>
-mtime1 mtime2) @key{RET}} marks files newer in this directory than in
-the other, and marks files older in the other directory than in this
-one. It also marks files with no counterpart, in both directories, as
-always.
+ For instance, the sequence @code{M-x dired-compare-directories
+@key{RET} (> mtime1 mtime2) @key{RET}} marks files newer in this
+directory than in the other, and marks files older in the other
+directory than in this one. It also marks files with no counterpart,
+in both directories, as always.
@cindex drag and drop, Dired
On the X window system, Emacs supports the ``drag and drop''