Emacs Editor#
The emacs editor
Exiting Emacs#
Files#
| ^x ^f | read a file into emacs |
| ^x ^s | save a file |
| ^x s | save all files |
| ^x i | insert a file at current location |
| ^x ^w | write buffer to a named file |
Motion#
| ^a | beginning of line |
| ^e | end of line |
| Esc < | beginning of buffer |
| Esc > | end of buffer |
Deleting#
| ^d | delete character |
| Esc d | delete following word |
| Esc Del | delete previous word |
| ^k | delete to end-of-line |
| Ctl-Shft-Bksp | delete line |
Locations and Regions#
The current position/location is considered the space between the location of the cursor and the previous character.
This is called the point. A point that is remembered is called a mark.
A region is between the last mark and the current cursor position (the point).
| ^space | set mark here |
| ^x ^x | exchange point and mark |
| ^u ^space | go to previous mark |
Cutting and Pasting#
Unlike other editors, rather than a single cut / paste buffer where only a single item can be cut and paste at a time,
emacs remembers all cuts and copies so that you can paste the last cut or any prior one.
| ^w | delete region and put on kill ring |
| Esc w | copy region to kill ring |
| ^y | yank back (paste) the last thing in the kill ring |
| Esc y | replace last yank with prior thing in the kill ring |
Incremental Search#
Incremental search differs from a typical search feature in that it starts the search with the first character and
refines the search as you type each subsequent character in the search. This way one may find what one is looking for
as soon as possible without typing any more characters than necessary.
| ^s | incremental search forward |
| ^r | incremental search backward |
| ^g | abort search |
^s and ^r can be used while searching in order to find the next occurrence.
Search and Replace#
| Esc % | interactive search & replace |
| Esc x query-replace-regexp | interactive search & replace utilizing regular expressions |
The following valid responses are accepted during the interactive search and replace process.
| space | replace and find next |
| del | no replace, find next |
| ! | replace all remaining non-interactively |
| ^ | go back to previous find |
| , | replace current one and don't find next |
| return | exit function |
| ^r | recursive edit * |
- recursive edit allows you to go back to a normal edit process. You then type "Esc ^c" to exist the recursive edit and return to the search and replace process.
Buffers#
In general, buffers contain files being edited. Emacs can edit any number of files at a time. Emacs also supports multiple windows. Each window would display a particular buffer. Emacs can display any number of windows with any buffer (or the same buffer) at a time. In general, buffers have the same name as the file they hold.
Killing a buffer that contains changes to a file that you have not yet saved will cause the changes to be lost. However, emacs will warn you about this so that it doesn't happen accidentally.
| ^x b | select a different buffer to be displayed in the current window |
| ^x ^b | list all buffers |
| ^x k | kill a buffer |
Multiple Windows#
Window operations do not affect buffers. It only affects what is displayed. So, killing or creating windows does not affect files.
When you split the screen you will see two copies of the same file that may be navigated independently. Generally, after you split a window
you would place a different buffer (representing a different file) in the window by either utilizing a file command or buffer command.
| ^x 2 | split current window above and below |
| ^x 3 | split window side-by-side |
| ^x 1 | delete all other windows (doesn't hurt the buffers) |
| ^x 0 | delete the current window |
Keyboard Macros#
Emacs can remember a sequence of keys and emacs commands and be made to repeat them.
| ^x ( | start learning a sequence |
| ^x ) | stop learning and remember the sequence as a macro |
| ^x e | execute the last learned macro |
Registers#
Emacs has the ability to save and name any number of locations and text that has been cut or copied. Each location or block of text is saved
in a register. Registers are simply variables with single character names. The name used is up to you. Emacs will ask you for the name.
| ^x r s | save marked region in a named register |
| ^x r i | insert saved region into the current location |
| ^x r space | save the current location in a named register |
| ^x r j | jump to the location previously saved |