Emacs
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Emacs provides an semi-intuitive semi-menu-based interface for editing text.
The first-time user will appreciate the menus of common features. Advanced
users appreciate the rich programing language of Emacs. The largest
difficulty is learning the more advanced features to get past the novice
stage. The first hurdle is understanding that Emacs divides files,
news, Info pages, mail, etc. into buffers. If you access the Info pages
(under the help headline) while editing a text file, you will need to either
kill the Info buffer, or select the text file buffer (under the buffers
headline) to edit the text file again. The best way to learn how to use
Emacs is to experiment, read the hypertext Info pages,
and use the tutorial. Below follows a number of
helpful hints.
- Special functions are accessed with either the control key
or meta
key. Control functions are indicated in the form of C-y, which means hold
down the control key while pressing y. Meta functions are indicated
in the form of M-y, which means hold down the meta key (usually the
key next to the space bar. On some
keyboards this will be a diamond, or `compose character') while pressing
y. M-x command means press M-x and then enter the command followed by return. If you cannot remember the entire command
name, pressing TAB will complete the name, and `?' provides a list of
possibilities.
- If you make a mistake entering a command, C-g will cancel it.
This only works while entering it, not afterwards.
- If you make an editing mistake, you can select Undo from the Edit menu or type the equivalent C-
_
or C-x u.
- C-h
enters the built-in help system. C-h t invokes
the self-paced tutorial. C-h i
brings up the Info pages.
- If you invoke Emacs from the shell on an Xterm, the shell will be
locked until you quit Emacs, unless you tell it to run Emacs in the
background. This is done by appending an ampersand on the command line,
i.e. emacs text &.
- If you start Emacs in a text-only environment (say you telneted into
your account and started Emacs) and wish to exit, use the sequence
C-x C-c.
- Emacs allows you to create multiple `windows' within its alloted
window to view any of its buffers. C-x 2 creates two windows,
likewise, C-x 1 returns you to one window.
Next: Vi
Up: Editors
Previous: Editors
Caitlin Howell
Thu Jan 16 20:24:40 CST 1997