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| author | Richard M. Stallman | 2001-04-26 00:26:05 +0000 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Richard M. Stallman | 2001-04-26 00:26:05 +0000 |
| commit | 8e7692a98a927fc62a7e34c8013f12b9edc94c50 (patch) | |
| tree | 80cf5ea7ec66486b350406652bcf2fc76d7074d6 | |
| parent | 74b1aac110182e2851df79f46bb07eecb911c0ec (diff) | |
| download | emacs-8e7692a98a927fc62a7e34c8013f12b9edc94c50.tar.gz emacs-8e7692a98a927fc62a7e34c8013f12b9edc94c50.zip | |
Explain how META may be labeled.
Use "key" or "event" instead of "character" where appropriate.
Minor clarifications.
| -rw-r--r-- | man/commands.texi | 41 |
1 files changed, 22 insertions, 19 deletions
diff --git a/man/commands.texi b/man/commands.texi index 9363392603f..23b383c565b 100644 --- a/man/commands.texi +++ b/man/commands.texi | |||
| @@ -68,15 +68,17 @@ are mentioned does not matter. | |||
| 68 | @cindex @key{ESC} replacing @key{META} key | 68 | @cindex @key{ESC} replacing @key{META} key |
| 69 | Some terminals have a @key{META} key, and allow you to type Meta | 69 | Some terminals have a @key{META} key, and allow you to type Meta |
| 70 | characters by holding this key down. Thus, @kbd{Meta-a} is typed by | 70 | characters by holding this key down. Thus, @kbd{Meta-a} is typed by |
| 71 | holding down @key{META} and pressing @kbd{a}. The @key{META} key works | 71 | holding down @key{META} and pressing @kbd{a}. The @key{META} key |
| 72 | much like the @key{SHIFT} key. Such a key is not always labeled | 72 | works much like the @key{SHIFT} key. Such a key is not always labeled |
| 73 | @key{META}, however, as this function is often a special option for a key | 73 | @key{META}, however, as this function is often a special option for a |
| 74 | with some other primary purpose.@refill | 74 | key with some other primary purpose. Sometimes it is labeled |
| 75 | @key{ALT} or @key{EDIT}; on a Sun keyboard, it may have a diamond on | ||
| 76 | it. | ||
| 75 | 77 | ||
| 76 | If there is no @key{META} key, you can still type Meta characters | 78 | If there is no @key{META} key, you can still type Meta characters |
| 77 | using two-character sequences starting with @key{ESC}. Thus, to enter | 79 | using two-character sequences starting with @key{ESC}. Thus, you can enter |
| 78 | @kbd{M-a}, you could type @kbd{@key{ESC} a}. To enter @kbd{C-M-a}, you | 80 | @kbd{M-a} by typing @kbd{@key{ESC} a}. You can enter @kbd{C-M-a} by |
| 79 | would type @kbd{@key{ESC} C-a}. @key{ESC} is allowed on terminals with | 81 | typing @kbd{@key{ESC} C-a}. @key{ESC} is allowed on terminals with |
| 80 | @key{META} keys, too, in case you have formed a habit of using it. | 82 | @key{META} keys, too, in case you have formed a habit of using it. |
| 81 | 83 | ||
| 82 | The X Window System provides several other modifier keys that can be | 84 | The X Window System provides several other modifier keys that can be |
| @@ -116,10 +118,11 @@ gets to see them. | |||
| 116 | @cindex key sequence | 118 | @cindex key sequence |
| 117 | @cindex key | 119 | @cindex key |
| 118 | A @dfn{key sequence} (@dfn{key}, for short) is a sequence of input | 120 | A @dfn{key sequence} (@dfn{key}, for short) is a sequence of input |
| 119 | events that are meaningful as a unit---as ``a single command.'' | 121 | events that are meaningful as a unit---as ``a single command.'' Some |
| 120 | Some Emacs command sequences are just one character or one event; for | 122 | Emacs command sequences are just one character or one event; for |
| 121 | example, just @kbd{C-f} is enough to move forward one character. But | 123 | example, just @kbd{C-f} is enough to move forward one character in the |
| 122 | Emacs also has commands that take two or more events to invoke. | 124 | buffer. But Emacs also has commands that take two or more events to |
| 125 | invoke. | ||
| 123 | 126 | ||
| 124 | @cindex complete key | 127 | @cindex complete key |
| 125 | @cindex prefix key | 128 | @cindex prefix key |
| @@ -135,23 +138,23 @@ a complete key or a prefix key. | |||
| 135 | command bindings. A few of them are prefix keys. A prefix key combines | 138 | command bindings. A few of them are prefix keys. A prefix key combines |
| 136 | with the following input event to make a longer key sequence, which may | 139 | with the following input event to make a longer key sequence, which may |
| 137 | itself be complete or a prefix. For example, @kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, | 140 | itself be complete or a prefix. For example, @kbd{C-x} is a prefix key, |
| 138 | so @kbd{C-x} and the next input event combine to make a two-character | 141 | so @kbd{C-x} and the next input event combine to make a two-event |
| 139 | key sequence. Most of these key sequences are complete keys, including | 142 | key sequence. Most of these key sequences are complete keys, including |
| 140 | @kbd{C-x C-f} and @kbd{C-x b}. A few, such as @kbd{C-x 4} and @kbd{C-x | 143 | @kbd{C-x C-f} and @kbd{C-x b}. A few, such as @kbd{C-x 4} and @kbd{C-x |
| 141 | r}, are themselves prefix keys that lead to three-character key | 144 | r}, are themselves prefix keys that lead to three-event key |
| 142 | sequences. There's no limit to the length of a key sequence, but in | 145 | sequences. There's no limit to the length of a key sequence, but in |
| 143 | practice people rarely use sequences longer than four events. | 146 | practice people rarely use sequences longer than four events. |
| 144 | 147 | ||
| 145 | By contrast, you can't add more events onto a complete key. For | 148 | By contrast, you can't add more events onto a complete key. For |
| 146 | example, the two-character sequence @kbd{C-f C-k} is not a key, because | 149 | example, the two-event sequence @kbd{C-f C-k} is not a key, because |
| 147 | the @kbd{C-f} is a complete key in itself. It's impossible to give | 150 | the @kbd{C-f} is a complete key in itself. It's impossible to give |
| 148 | @kbd{C-f C-k} an independent meaning as a command. @kbd{C-f C-k} is two | 151 | @kbd{C-f C-k} an independent meaning as a command. @kbd{C-f C-k} is two |
| 149 | key sequences, not one.@refill | 152 | key sequences, not one.@refill |
| 150 | 153 | ||
| 151 | All told, the prefix keys in Emacs are @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-h}, | 154 | All told, the prefix keys in Emacs are @kbd{C-c}, @kbd{C-h}, |
| 152 | @kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}, @kbd{C-x @@}, @kbd{C-x a}, @kbd{C-x n}, @w{@kbd{C-x | 155 | @kbd{C-x}, @kbd{C-x @key{RET}}, @kbd{C-x @@}, @kbd{C-x a}, @kbd{C-x n}, @w{@kbd{C-x |
| 153 | r}}, @kbd{C-x v}, @kbd{C-x 4}, @kbd{C-x 5}, @kbd{C-x 6}, @key{ESC}, | 156 | r}}, @kbd{C-x v}, @kbd{C-x 4}, @kbd{C-x 5}, @kbd{C-x 6}, @key{ESC}, and |
| 154 | @kbd{M-g} and @kbd{M-j}. But this list is not cast in concrete; it is | 157 | @kbd{M-g}. But this list is not cast in concrete; it is |
| 155 | just a matter of Emacs's standard key bindings. If you customize Emacs, | 158 | just a matter of Emacs's standard key bindings. If you customize Emacs, |
| 156 | you can make new prefix keys, or eliminate these. @xref{Key Bindings}. | 159 | you can make new prefix keys, or eliminate these. @xref{Key Bindings}. |
| 157 | 160 | ||
| @@ -163,11 +166,11 @@ definition of @kbd{C-x 4}, then @kbd{C-x 4 f} (or @kbd{C-x 4 | |||
| 163 | @var{anything}}) is no longer a key. | 166 | @var{anything}}) is no longer a key. |
| 164 | 167 | ||
| 165 | Typing the help character (@kbd{C-h} or @key{F1}) after a prefix | 168 | Typing the help character (@kbd{C-h} or @key{F1}) after a prefix |
| 166 | character displays a list of the commands starting with that prefix. | 169 | key displays a list of the commands starting with that prefix. |
| 167 | There are a few prefix characters for which @kbd{C-h} does not | 170 | There are a few prefix keys for which @kbd{C-h} does not |
| 168 | work---for historical reasons, they have other meanings for @kbd{C-h} | 171 | work---for historical reasons, they have other meanings for @kbd{C-h} |
| 169 | which are not easy to change. But @key{F1} should work for all prefix | 172 | which are not easy to change. But @key{F1} should work for all prefix |
| 170 | characters. | 173 | keys. |
| 171 | 174 | ||
| 172 | @node Commands, Text Characters, Keys, Top | 175 | @node Commands, Text Characters, Keys, Top |
| 173 | @section Keys and Commands | 176 | @section Keys and Commands |