@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, 2000-2014 Free Software
+@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Buffers
@chapter Using Multiple Buffers
A buffer's size cannot be larger than some maximum, which is defined
by the largest buffer position representable by @dfn{Emacs integers}.
This is because Emacs tracks buffer positions using that data type.
-For typical 64-bit machines, this maximum buffer size is @math{2^61 -
-2} bytes, or about 2 EiB@. For typical 32-bit machines, the maximum is
-usually @math{2^29 - 2} bytes, or about 512 MiB@. Buffer sizes are
+For typical 64-bit machines, this maximum buffer size is @math{2^{61} - 2}
+bytes, or about 2 EiB@. For typical 32-bit machines, the maximum is
+usually @math{2^{29} - 2} bytes, or about 512 MiB@. Buffer sizes are
also limited by the amount of memory in the system.
@menu
* Select Buffer:: Creating a new buffer or reselecting an old one.
* List Buffers:: Getting a list of buffers that exist.
-* Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-onlyness; copying text.
+* Misc Buffer:: Renaming; changing read-only status; copying text.
* Kill Buffer:: Killing buffers you no longer need.
* Several Buffers:: How to go through the list of all buffers
and operate variously on several of them.
@kindex C-x C-b
@findex list-buffers
To display a list of existing buffers, type @kbd{C-x C-b}. Each
-line in the list shows one buffer's name, major mode and visited file.
+line in the list shows one buffer's name, size, major mode and visited file.
The buffers are listed in the order that they were current; the
buffers that were current most recently come first.
% HELLO 1607 Fundamental ~/cvs/emacs/etc/HELLO
% NEWS 481184 Outline ~/cvs/emacs/etc/NEWS
*scratch* 191 Lisp Interaction
- * *Messages* 1554 Fundamental
+ * *Messages* 1554 Messages
@end smallexample
@noindent
@menu
* Uniquify:: Making buffer names unique with directory parts.
-* Iswitchb:: Switching between buffers with substrings.
+* Icomplete:: Fast minibuffer selection.
* Buffer Menus:: Configurable buffer menu.
@end menu
@cindex unique buffer names
@cindex directories in buffer names
When several buffers visit identically-named files, Emacs must give
-the buffers distinct names. The usual method for making buffer names
-unique adds @samp{<2>}, @samp{<3>}, etc. to the end of the buffer
-names (all but one of them).
+the buffers distinct names. The default method
+(@code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} set to
+@code{post-forward-angle-brackets}) for making buffer names unique
+adds @samp{<dir1>}, @samp{<dir2>}, etc. to the end of the buffer
+names.
@vindex uniquify-buffer-name-style
- Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the
-buffer name. To select one, load the library @file{uniquify} (e.g.,
-using @code{(require 'uniquify)}), and customize the variable
-@code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
-
- To begin with, the @code{forward} naming method includes part of the
-file's directory name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this
-method, buffers visiting the files @file{/u/rms/tmp/Makefile} and
+ There are several styles to make buffer names unique. To select
+one, customize the variable @code{uniquify-buffer-name-style}
+(@pxref{Easy Customization}).
+
+ The @code{forward} naming method includes part of the file's
+directory name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this method,
+buffers visiting the files @file{/u/rms/tmp/Makefile} and
@file{/usr/projects/zaphod/Makefile} would be named
-@samp{tmp/Makefile} and @samp{zaphod/Makefile}, respectively (instead
-of @samp{Makefile} and @samp{Makefile<2>}).
+@samp{tmp/Makefile} and @samp{zaphod/Makefile}.
In contrast, the @code{post-forward} naming method would call the
-buffers @samp{Makefile|tmp} and @samp{Makefile|zaphod}, and the
+buffers @samp{Makefile|tmp} and @samp{Makefile|zaphod}. The default
+method @code{post-forward-angle-brackets} is like @code{post-forward}
+except that it prepends the unique path in angle brackets. The
@code{reverse} naming method would call them @samp{Makefile\tmp} and
@samp{Makefile\zaphod}. The nontrivial difference between
@code{post-forward} and @code{reverse} occurs when just one directory
name is not enough to distinguish two files; then @code{reverse} puts
the directory names in reverse order, so that @file{/top/middle/file}
becomes @samp{file\middle\top}, while @code{post-forward} puts them in
-forward order after the file name, as in @samp{file|top/middle}.
+forward order after the file name, as in @samp{file|top/middle}. If
+@code{uniquify-buffer-name-style} is set to @code{nil}, the buffer
+names simply get a @samp{<2>} etc. prepended. This used to be the
+default behavior in Emacs versions up to 24.4.
Which rule to follow for putting the directory names in the buffer
name is not very important if you are going to @emph{look} at the
know the rule, you won't have to look. And then you may find that one
rule or another is easier for you to remember and apply quickly.
-@node Iswitchb
-@subsection Switching Between Buffers using Substrings
-
-@findex iswitchb-mode
-@cindex Iswitchb mode
-@cindex mode, Iswitchb
-@kindex C-x b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
-@kindex C-x 4 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
-@kindex C-x 5 b @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
-@kindex C-x 4 C-o @r{(Iswitchb mode)}
-
- Iswitchb global minor mode provides convenient switching between
-buffers using substrings of their names. It replaces the normal
-definitions of @kbd{C-x b}, @kbd{C-x 4 b}, @kbd{C-x 5 b}, and @kbd{C-x
-4 C-o} with alternative commands that are somewhat ``smarter''.
-
- When one of these commands prompts you for a buffer name, you can
-type in just a substring of the name you want to choose. As you enter
-the substring, Iswitchb mode continuously displays a list of buffers
-that match the substring you have typed.
-
- At any time, you can type @key{RET} to select the first buffer in
-the list. So the way to select a particular buffer is to make it the
+@node Icomplete
+@subsection Fast minibuffer selection
+
+@findex icomplete-mode
+@cindex Icomplete mode
+
+ Icomplete global minor mode provides a convenient way to quickly select an
+element among the possible completions in a minibuffer. When enabled, typing
+in the minibuffer continuously displays a list of possible completions that
+match the string you have typed.
+
+ At any time, you can type @key{C-j} to select the first completion in
+the list. So the way to select a particular completion is to make it the
first in the list. There are two ways to do this. You can type more
-of the buffer name and thus narrow down the list, excluding unwanted
-buffers above the desired one. Alternatively, you can use @kbd{C-s}
-and @kbd{C-r} to rotate the list until the desired buffer is first.
+of the completion name and thus narrow down the list, excluding unwanted
+completions above the desired one. Alternatively, you can use @kbd{C-.}
+and @kbd{C-,} to rotate the list until the desired buffer is first.
- @key{TAB} while entering the buffer name performs completion on the
-string you have entered, based on the displayed list of buffers.
+ @key{M-TAB} will select the first completion in the list, like @key{C-j} but
+without exiting the minibuffer, so you can edit it further. This is typically
+used when entering a file name, where @key{M-TAB} can be used a few times to
+descend in the hierarchy of directories.
- To enable Iswitchb mode, type @kbd{M-x iswitchb-mode}, or customize
-the variable @code{iswitchb-mode} to @code{t} (@pxref{Easy
+ To enable Icomplete mode, type @kbd{M-x icomplete-mode}, or customize
+the variable @code{icomplete-mode} to @code{t} (@pxref{Easy
Customization}).
@node Buffer Menus