Subject: emacs

Software Category: Text Editor
Supported by: Academic Computing Services.

The current version is GNU emacs 19.34.

Description:

GNU emacs is a new version of Emacs, written by the author of the original (PDP-10) emacs, Richard Stallman. A text editor whose user functionality encompasses everything other emacs editors do, it is also easily extensible, since its editing commands are written in Lisp.

GNU emacs's many special packages handle mail reading (RMail) and sending (Mail), outline editing (Outline), compiling (Compile), running subshells within emacs windows (Shell), running a Lisp read-eval-print loop (Lisp-Interaction-Mode), and automated psychotherapy (Doctor).

Getting Started:

To open an existing emacs file, or create a new one, enter a command similar to the following at a UNIX prompt, substituting the name of the desired file for filename:

emacs filename

For example, to create a file called program1, enter:

emacs program1

A "reverse video" bar (white lettering on a black field) should appear at the bottom of your UNIX window, indicating that you have entered the emacs application.

For more information on using emacs, refer to the documentation listed below, as well as the Tips and Hints and Possible Problems and Solutions sections.

Documentation:

The following online documents are available:

• The emacs manual, located in /campus/gnu/emacs/19.34/common/doc/emacs.dvi . A hardcopy of this manual is also available at the Help Desk in the VCC.
• The emacs Quick Reference Card located in /dept/its/consult/docs/emacs/emacs.ps. You can also pick up a copy of this Quick Reference Card from the Help Desk in the VCC.
• Memo RPI113: Using UNIX: The Rensselaer Computing System (RCS) also contains a helpful section on using the emacs editor.

You may also find the following interactive help items useful. To use them, enter emacs as described above, then press the key sequences shown below.

Desired action/utility                  Key sequence

Enter the help facility             CTRL-h or ESC x help

Request an interactive tutorial,        CTRL-h t (Help Tutorial) 
which teaches beginners the 
fundamentals of emacs

Find a command, given                   CTRL-h a (Help Apropos) 
its functionality

Describe a given character's            CTRL-h c (Help Character) 
effect

Describe a given Lisp function,         CTRL-h f (Help Function) 
specififed by name

An emacs manual page (man page) also exists on the sytem. To access it, type man emacs at the UNIX prompt.

The elisp archive also contains additional information on using emacs.

Tips and Hints:

A compiled list of helpful tips, tricks, and shortcuts to use as you're working with emacs.

Possible Problems and Solutions:

On occasion, when you are running emacs from a remote login session, you may notice that the program appears to "freeze." One reason for this may be that you are using the CTRL-X CTRL-S key sequence to save the file. Normally, a CTRL-S freezes the screen until you enter CTRL-Q.

To prevent this from happening, try saving your file with the CTRL-X CTRL-W key sequence instead. When you do this, the program will prompt you for a filename under which you wish to save the current buffer. (If you hit the RETURN or Enter key, the file will be saved under the same filename.)

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