+@c -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2012
-@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2016 Free Software
+@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
-@node Basic, Minibuffer, Exiting, Top
+@node Basic
@chapter Basic Editing Commands
@kindex C-h t
@xref{Point}.
@kindex RET
+@kindex C-j
@cindex newline
+@c @findex electric-indent-just-newline
To end a line and start a new one, type @key{RET} (@code{newline}).
(The @key{RET} key may be labeled @key{Return} or @key{Enter} on your
keyboard, but we refer to it as @key{RET} in this manual.) This
-command inserts a newline character into the buffer. If point is at
-the end of the line, the effect is to create a new blank line after
-it; if point is in the middle of a line, the line is split at that
-position.
+command inserts a newline character into the buffer, then indents
+(@pxref{Indentation}) according to the major mode. If point is at the end
+of the line, the effect is to create a new blank line after it and
+indent the new line; if point is in the middle of a line, the line is
+split at that position. To turn off the auto-indentation, you can
+either disable Electric Indent mode (@pxref{Indent Convenience}) or
+type @kbd{C-j}, which inserts just a newline, without any
+auto-indentation.
As we explain later in this manual, you can change the way Emacs
handles text insertion by turning on @dfn{minor modes}. For instance,
@findex quoted-insert
Only graphic characters can be inserted by typing the associated
key; other keys act as editing commands and do not insert themselves.
-For instance, @kbd{DEL} runs the command @code{delete-backward-char}
+For instance, @key{DEL} runs the command @code{delete-backward-char}
by default (some modes bind it to a different command); it does not
insert a literal @samp{DEL} character (@acronym{ASCII} character code
127).
the letters @kbd{a} to @kbd{f} serve as part of a character code,
just like digits. Case is ignored.
-@findex ucs-insert
-@kindex C-x 8 RET
+@findex insert-char
+@kindex C-x 8
@cindex Unicode characters, inserting
@cindex insert Unicode character
@cindex characters, inserting by name or code-point
- Instead of @kbd{C-q}, you can use the command @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
-(@code{ucs-insert}). This prompts for the Unicode name or code-point
+@cindex curly quotes
+@cindex curved quotes
+ A few common Unicode characters can be inserted via a command
+starting with @kbd{C-x 8}. For example, @kbd{C-x 8 [} inserts @t{‘}
+which is Unicode code-point @code{U+2018} LEFT SINGLE QUOTATION MARK,
+sometimes called a left single ``curved quote'' or ``curly quote''.
+Similarly, @kbd{C-x 8 ]}, @kbd{C-x 8 @{} and @kbd{C-x 8 @}} insert the
+curved quotes @t{’}, @t{“} and @t{”}, respectively. Also, a working
+Alt key acts like @kbd{C-x 8}; e.g., @kbd{A-[} acts like @kbd{C-x 8 [}
+and inserts @t{‘}. To see which characters have @kbd{C-x 8}
+shorthands, type @kbd{C-x 8 C-h}.
+
+ Alternatively, you can use the command @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
+(@code{insert-char}). This prompts for the Unicode name or code-point
of a character, using the minibuffer. If you enter a name, the
command provides completion (@pxref{Completion}). If you enter a
-code-point, it should be a hexadecimal number (which is the convention
-for Unicode). The command then inserts the corresponding character
-into the buffer. For example, both of the following insert the
-infinity sign (Unicode code-point @code{U+221E}):
+code-point, it should be as a hexadecimal number (the convention for
+Unicode), or a number with a specified radix, e.g., @code{#o23072}
+(octal); @xref{Integer Basics,,, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference
+Manual}. The command then inserts the corresponding character into
+the buffer.
+
+ In some contexts, if you type a quotation using grave accent and
+apostrophe @t{`like this'}, it is converted to a form @t{‘like this’}
+using single quotation marks. Similarly, typing a quotation @t{``like
+this''} using double grave accent and apostrophe converts it to a form
+@t{“like this”} using double quotation marks. @xref{Quotation Marks}.
+
+ For example, the following all insert the same character:
@example
-@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} infinity @key{RET}}
-@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} 221e @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} left single quotation mark @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} left sin @key{TAB} @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET} 2018 @key{RET}}
+@kbd{C-x 8 [}
+@kbd{A-[} @r{(if the Alt key works)}
+@kbd{`} @r{(in Electric Quote mode)}
@end example
- A numeric argument to either @kbd{C-q} or @kbd{C-x 8 @key{RET}}
-specifies how many copies of the character to insert
-(@pxref{Arguments}).
+ A numeric argument to @kbd{C-q} or @kbd{C-x 8 ...} specifies
+how many copies of the character to insert (@pxref{Arguments}).
@node Moving Point
@section Changing the Location of Point
point (@pxref{Point}). The keyboard commands @kbd{C-f}, @kbd{C-b},
@kbd{C-n}, and @kbd{C-p} move point to the right, left, down, and up,
respectively. You can also move point using the @dfn{arrow keys}
-present on most keyboards: @kbd{@key{right}}, @kbd{@key{left}},
-@kbd{@key{down}}, and @kbd{@key{up}}; however, many Emacs users find
+present on most keyboards: @key{RIGHT}, @key{LEFT},
+@key{DOWN}, and @key{UP}; however, many Emacs users find
that it is slower to use the arrow keys than the control keys, because
you need to move your hand to the area of the keyboard where those
keys are located.
@findex forward-char
Move forward one character (@code{forward-char}).
-@item @key{right}
+@item @key{RIGHT}
@kindex RIGHT
@findex right-char
+@vindex visual-order-cursor-movement
+@cindex cursor, visual-order motion
This command (@code{right-char}) behaves like @kbd{C-f}, with one
exception: when editing right-to-left scripts such as Arabic, it
instead moves @emph{backward} if the current paragraph is a
-right-to-left paragraph. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
+right-to-left paragraph. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}. If
+@code{visual-order-cursor-movement} is non-@code{nil}, this command
+moves to the character that is to the right of the current screen
+position, moving to the next or previous screen line as appropriate.
+Note that this might potentially move point many buffer positions
+away, depending on the surrounding bidirectional context.
@item C-b
@kindex C-b
@findex backward-char
Move backward one character (@code{backward-char}).
-@item @key{left}
+@item @key{LEFT}
@kindex LEFT
@findex left-char
This command (@code{left-char}) behaves like @kbd{C-b}, except it
moves @emph{forward} if the current paragraph is right-to-left.
-@xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
+@xref{Bidirectional Editing}. If @code{visual-order-cursor-movement}
+is non-@code{nil}, this command moves to the character that is to the
+left of the current screen position, moving to the previous or next
+screen line as appropriate.
@item C-n
-@itemx @key{down}
+@itemx @key{DOWN}
@kindex C-n
@kindex DOWN
@findex next-line
middle of one line, you move to the middle of the next.
@item C-p
-@itemx @key{up}
+@itemx @key{UP}
@kindex C-p
@kindex UP
@findex previous-line
@item C-a
@itemx @key{Home}
@kindex C-a
-@kindex HOME
+@kindex HOME key
@findex move-beginning-of-line
Move to the beginning of the line (@code{move-beginning-of-line}).
@item C-e
@itemx @key{End}
@kindex C-e
-@kindex END
+@kindex END key
@findex move-end-of-line
Move to the end of the line (@code{move-end-of-line}).
@findex forward-word
Move forward one word (@code{forward-word}).
-@item C-@key{right}
-@itemx M-@key{right}
+@item C-@key{RIGHT}
+@itemx M-@key{RIGHT}
@kindex C-RIGHT
@kindex M-RIGHT
@findex right-word
@findex backward-word
Move backward one word (@code{backward-word}).
-@item C-@key{left}
-@itemx M-@key{left}
+@item C-@key{LEFT}
+@itemx M-@key{LEFT}
@kindex C-LEFT
@kindex M-LEFT
@findex left-word
-This command (@code{left-word}) behaves like @kbd{M-f}, except it
+This command (@code{left-word}) behaves like @kbd{M-b}, except it
moves @emph{forward} by one word if the current paragraph is
right-to-left. @xref{Bidirectional Editing}.
Scroll one screen backward, and move point onscreen if necessary
(@code{scroll-down-command}). @xref{Scrolling}.
-@item M-x goto-char
+@item M-g c
+@kindex M-g c
@findex goto-char
Read a number @var{n} and move point to buffer position @var{n}.
Position 1 is the beginning of the buffer.
@xref{Select Buffer}, for the behavior of @kbd{M-g M-g} when you give it
a plain prefix argument.
+@item M-g @key{TAB}
+@kindex M-g TAB
+@findex move-to-column
+Read a number @var{n} and move to column @var{n} in the current line.
+Column 0 is the leftmost column. If called with a prefix argument,
+move to the column number specified by the argument's numeric value.
+
@item C-x C-n
@kindex C-x C-n
@findex set-goal-column
@table @kbd
@item @key{DEL}
-@itemx @key{Backspace}
+@itemx @key{BACKSPACE}
Delete the character before point, or the region if it is active
(@code{delete-backward-char}).
-@itemx @key{Delete}
+@item @key{Delete}
Delete the character after point, or the region if it is active
(@code{delete-forward-char}).
If, however, the region is active, @kbd{@key{DEL}} instead deletes
the text in the region. @xref{Mark}, for a description of the region.
- On most keyboards, @key{DEL} is labeled @key{Backspace}, but we
+ On most keyboards, @key{DEL} is labeled @key{BACKSPACE}, but we
refer to it as @key{DEL} in this manual. (Do not confuse @key{DEL}
with the @key{Delete} key; we will discuss @key{Delete} momentarily.)
-On some text-only terminals, Emacs may not recognize the @key{DEL} key
+On some text terminals, Emacs may not recognize the @key{DEL} key
properly. @xref{DEL Does Not Delete}, if you encounter this problem.
- The @key{delete} (@code{delete-forward-char}) command deletes in the
-``opposite direction'': it deletes the character after point, i.e. the
+ The @key{Delete} (@code{delete-forward-char}) command deletes in the
+opposite direction: it deletes the character after point, i.e., the
character under the cursor. If point was at the end of a line, this
joins the following line onto this one. Like @kbd{@key{DEL}}, it
deletes the text in the region if the region is active (@pxref{Mark}).
@kbd{C-d} (@code{delete-char}) deletes the character after point,
-similar to @key{delete}, but regardless of whether the region is
+similar to @key{Delete}, but regardless of whether the region is
active.
@xref{Deletion}, for more detailed information about the above
@item C-/
Undo one entry of the undo records---usually, one command worth
(@code{undo}).
-@itemx C-x u
+
+@item C-x u
@itemx C-_
The same.
@end table
@dfn{continuation}, and the long logical line is called a
@dfn{continued line}. On a graphical display, Emacs indicates line
wrapping with small bent arrows in the left and right window fringes.
-On a text-only terminal, Emacs indicates line wrapping by displaying a
+On a text terminal, Emacs indicates line wrapping by displaying a
@samp{\} character at the right margin.
Most commands that act on lines act on logical lines, not screen
continuing them. This means that every logical line occupies a single
screen line; if it is longer than the width of the window, the rest of
the line is not displayed. On a graphical display, a truncated line
-is indicated by a small straight arrow in the right fringe; on a
-text-only terminal, it is indicated by a @samp{$} character in the
-right margin. @xref{Line Truncation}.
+is indicated by a small straight arrow in the right fringe; on a text
+terminal, it is indicated by a @samp{$} character in the right margin.
+@xref{Line Truncation}.
By default, continued lines are wrapped at the right window edge.
Since the wrapping may occur in the middle of a word, continued lines
@kindex M-=
@findex count-words-region
-@findex count-words
@kbd{M-=} (@code{count-words-region}) displays a message reporting
-the number of lines, words, and characters in the region. @kbd{M-x
-count-words} displays a similar message for the entire buffer, or for
-the region if the region is @dfn{active}. @xref{Mark}, for an
-explanation of the region.
+the number of lines, words, and characters in the region
+(@pxref{Mark}, for an explanation of the region). With a prefix
+argument, @kbd{C-u M-=}, the command displays a count for the entire
+buffer.
+
+@findex count-words
+ The command @kbd{M-x count-words} does the same job, but with a
+different calling convention. It displays a count for the region if
+the region is active, and for the buffer otherwise.
@kindex C-x =
@findex what-cursor-position
@cindex arguments to commands
In the terminology of mathematics and computing, @dfn{argument}
-means ``data provided to a function or operation.'' You can give any
+means ``data provided to a function or operation''. You can give any
Emacs command a @dfn{numeric argument} (also called a @dfn{prefix
argument}). Some commands interpret the argument as a repetition
count. For example, giving @kbd{C-f} an argument of ten causes it to
moves down five lines. The keys @kbd{M-1}, @kbd{M-2}, and so on, as
well as @kbd{M--}, are bound to commands (@code{digit-argument} and
@code{negative-argument}) that set up an argument for the next
-command. @kbd{Meta--} without digits normally means @minus{}1.
+command. @kbd{M--} without digits normally means @minus{}1.
If you enter more than one digit, you need not hold down the
@key{META} key for the second and subsequent digits. Thus, to move
of the prefix argument.
(What if you do want to insert five copies of @samp{0}? Type @kbd{M-5
-C-u 0}. Here, @kbd{C-u} ``terminates'' the prefix argument, so that
+C-u 0}. Here, @kbd{C-u} terminates the prefix argument, so that
the next keystroke begins the command that you want to execute. Note
that this meaning of @kbd{C-u} applies only to this case. For the
usual role of @kbd{C-u}, see below.)
multiplies it by sixteen. Thus, @kbd{C-u C-u C-f} moves forward
sixteen characters. Other useful combinations are @kbd{C-u C-n},
@kbd{C-u C-u C-n} (move down a good fraction of a screen), @kbd{C-u
-C-u C-o} (make ``a lot'' of blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four
+C-u C-o} (make sixteen blank lines), and @kbd{C-u C-k} (kill four
lines).
You can use a numeric argument before a self-inserting character to
value. For example, the command @kbd{M-q} (@code{fill-paragraph})
fills text; with an argument, it justifies the text as well.
(@xref{Filling}, for more information on @kbd{M-q}.) For these
-commands, it is enough to the argument with a single @kbd{C-u}.
+commands, it is enough to specify the argument with a single
+@kbd{C-u}.
Some commands use the value of the argument as a repeat count, but
do something special when there is no argument. For example, the
more convenient, and they are documented in that command's
documentation string.
- We use the term ``prefix argument'' as well as ``numeric argument,''
-to emphasize that you type these argument before the command, and to
-distinguish them from minibuffer arguments that come after the
-command.
+ We use the term @dfn{prefix argument} to emphasize that you type
+such arguments before the command, and to distinguish them from
+minibuffer arguments (@pxref{Minibuffer}), which are entered after
+invoking the command.
@node Repeating
@section Repeating a Command