EmacsKeyboardLayout

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The Emacs KeyboardLayout is designed around a combination of frequency of use and mnemonics.

Emacs also assumes the existence of a "META" key in addition to the usual CONTROL key. ON PC keyboards, this tends to be the "ALT" key.

In keeping with Emacs tradition, Control-k is written C-k and Meta-K is written M-k. Emacs is case-sensitive so watch out!

[emacs keyboard layout] (Gnu Emacs 23 on QWERTY keyboard)

Cursor motion:

C-N = Next Line C-P = Previous Line C-F = Forward one character C-B = Backwards one character

So far, so good. Now we learn that Meta or Control keys often "magnify" the effect of a key.

M-F = Forward one word M-B = Backwards one word

Searching is easy and powerful, as demonstrated below:

C-S = begin incremental search forward C-R = begin incremental search backwards

Input/Output? is easy too:

C-X C-S = save buffer to file C-X C-F = "visit" file C-X d = dired (directory editing mode -- like a FileManager)

Cut and Paste is simple but requires some explanation.

In Emacs, there are two pointers into the buffer you must be aware of. The first is the "point" (or cursor). The second is the "mark". It is dropped on a location by pressing C-space or C-@ (generating ASCII NUL).

C-W = cut text between mark and point C-Y = paste text (in Emacs lingo = YANK) C-k = cut from point/cursor to end of line

Getting out of emacs is easy too:

C-X C-C = exit program (ask about saving buffers)

That should be enough to get you started.


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Last edited July 15, 2012 12:36 pm (diff)
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