@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
-@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2001-2011
-@c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2001-2015 Free Software
+@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
-@node Indentation, Text, Modes, Top
+@node Indentation
@chapter Indentation
@cindex indentation
@cindex tabs
ways.
@table @kbd
-@item C-j
-@kindex C-j
-@findex newline-and-indent
-Perform @key{RET} followed by @key{TAB} (@code{newline-and-indent}).
-
@item C-M-o
@kindex C-M-o
@findex split-line
@kindex C-x TAB
@findex indent-rigidly
@cindex remove indentation
-Shift each line in the region by a fixed distance, to the right or
-left (@code{indent-rigidly}). The distance to move is determined by
-the numeric argument (positive to move rightward, negative to move
-leftward).
-
-This command can be used to remove all indentation from the lines in
-the region, by invoking it with a large negative argument,
-e.g. @kbd{C-u -1000 C-x @key{TAB}}.
+This command is used to change the indentation of all lines that begin
+in the region, moving the affected lines as a ``rigid'' unit.
+
+If called with no argument, the command activates a transient mode for
+adjusting the indentation of the affected lines interactively. While
+this transient mode is active, typing @key{LEFT} or @key{RIGHT}
+indents leftward and rightward, respectively, by one space. You can
+also type @kbd{S-@key{LEFT}} or @kbd{S-@key{RIGHT}} to indent leftward
+or rightward to the next tab stop (@pxref{Tab Stops}). Typing any
+other key disables the transient mode, and resumes normal editing.
+
+If called with a prefix argument @var{n}, this command indents the
+lines forward by @var{n} spaces (without enabling the transient mode).
+Negative values of @var{n} indent backward, so you can remove all
+indentation from the lines in the region using a large negative
+argument, like this:
+
+@smallexample
+C-u -999 C-x @key{TAB}
+@end smallexample
@end table
@node Tab Stops
Emacs defines certain column numbers to be @dfn{tab stops}. These
are used as stopping points by @key{TAB} when inserting whitespace in
Text mode and related modes (@pxref{Indentation}), and by commands
-like @kbd{M-i} (@pxref{Indentation Commands}). By default, tab stops
-are located every 8 columns. These positions are stored in the
-variable @code{tab-stop-list}, whose value is a list of column numbers
-in increasing order.
+like @kbd{M-i} (@pxref{Indentation Commands}). The variable
+@code{tab-stop-list} controls these positions. The default value is
+@code{nil}, which means a tab stop every 8 columns. The value can
+also be a list of zero-based column numbers (in increasing order) at
+which to place tab stops. Emacs extends the list forever by repeating
+the difference between the last and next-to-last elements.
@findex edit-tab-stops
@kindex C-c C-c @r{(Edit Tab Stops)}
@noindent
The first line contains a colon at each tab stop. The numbers on the
next two lines are present just to indicate where the colons are.
+If the value of @code{tab-stop-list} is @code{nil}, as it is by default,
+no colons are displayed initially.
You can edit this buffer to specify different tab stops by placing
colons on the desired columns. The buffer uses Overwrite mode
-(@pxref{Minor Modes}). When you are done, type @kbd{C-c C-c} to make
+(@pxref{Minor Modes}). Remember that Emacs will extend the list of
+tab stops forever by repeating the difference between the last two
+explicit stops that you place. When you are done, type @kbd{C-c C-c} to make
the new tab stops take effect. Normally, the new tab stop settings
apply to all buffers. However, if you have made the
@code{tab-stop-list} variable local to the buffer where you called
@cindex mode, Electric Indent
@findex electric-indent-mode
Electric Indent mode is a global minor mode that automatically
-indents the line after every @key{RET} you type. To toggle this minor
-mode, type @kbd{M-x electric-indent-mode}.
+indents the line after every @key{RET} you type. This mode is enabled
+by default. To toggle this minor mode, type @kbd{M-x
+electric-indent-mode}. To toggle the mode in a single buffer,
+use @kbd{M-x electric-indent-local-mode}.