unofficial mirror of bug-gnu-emacs@gnu.org 
 help / color / mirror / code / Atom feed
blob 2113381e3a2fcd38cf55e3d3140334d6f31e1a78 62213 bytes (raw)
name: doc/emacs/dired.texi 	 # note: path name is non-authoritative(*)

   1
   2
   3
   4
   5
   6
   7
   8
   9
  10
  11
  12
  13
  14
  15
  16
  17
  18
  19
  20
  21
  22
  23
  24
  25
  26
  27
  28
  29
  30
  31
  32
  33
  34
  35
  36
  37
  38
  39
  40
  41
  42
  43
  44
  45
  46
  47
  48
  49
  50
  51
  52
  53
  54
  55
  56
  57
  58
  59
  60
  61
  62
  63
  64
  65
  66
  67
  68
  69
  70
  71
  72
  73
  74
  75
  76
  77
  78
  79
  80
  81
  82
  83
  84
  85
  86
  87
  88
  89
  90
  91
  92
  93
  94
  95
  96
  97
  98
  99
 100
 101
 102
 103
 104
 105
 106
 107
 108
 109
 110
 111
 112
 113
 114
 115
 116
 117
 118
 119
 120
 121
 122
 123
 124
 125
 126
 127
 128
 129
 130
 131
 132
 133
 134
 135
 136
 137
 138
 139
 140
 141
 142
 143
 144
 145
 146
 147
 148
 149
 150
 151
 152
 153
 154
 155
 156
 157
 158
 159
 160
 161
 162
 163
 164
 165
 166
 167
 168
 169
 170
 171
 172
 173
 174
 175
 176
 177
 178
 179
 180
 181
 182
 183
 184
 185
 186
 187
 188
 189
 190
 191
 192
 193
 194
 195
 196
 197
 198
 199
 200
 201
 202
 203
 204
 205
 206
 207
 208
 209
 210
 211
 212
 213
 214
 215
 216
 217
 218
 219
 220
 221
 222
 223
 224
 225
 226
 227
 228
 229
 230
 231
 232
 233
 234
 235
 236
 237
 238
 239
 240
 241
 242
 243
 244
 245
 246
 247
 248
 249
 250
 251
 252
 253
 254
 255
 256
 257
 258
 259
 260
 261
 262
 263
 264
 265
 266
 267
 268
 269
 270
 271
 272
 273
 274
 275
 276
 277
 278
 279
 280
 281
 282
 283
 284
 285
 286
 287
 288
 289
 290
 291
 292
 293
 294
 295
 296
 297
 298
 299
 300
 301
 302
 303
 304
 305
 306
 307
 308
 309
 310
 311
 312
 313
 314
 315
 316
 317
 318
 319
 320
 321
 322
 323
 324
 325
 326
 327
 328
 329
 330
 331
 332
 333
 334
 335
 336
 337
 338
 339
 340
 341
 342
 343
 344
 345
 346
 347
 348
 349
 350
 351
 352
 353
 354
 355
 356
 357
 358
 359
 360
 361
 362
 363
 364
 365
 366
 367
 368
 369
 370
 371
 372
 373
 374
 375
 376
 377
 378
 379
 380
 381
 382
 383
 384
 385
 386
 387
 388
 389
 390
 391
 392
 393
 394
 395
 396
 397
 398
 399
 400
 401
 402
 403
 404
 405
 406
 407
 408
 409
 410
 411
 412
 413
 414
 415
 416
 417
 418
 419
 420
 421
 422
 423
 424
 425
 426
 427
 428
 429
 430
 431
 432
 433
 434
 435
 436
 437
 438
 439
 440
 441
 442
 443
 444
 445
 446
 447
 448
 449
 450
 451
 452
 453
 454
 455
 456
 457
 458
 459
 460
 461
 462
 463
 464
 465
 466
 467
 468
 469
 470
 471
 472
 473
 474
 475
 476
 477
 478
 479
 480
 481
 482
 483
 484
 485
 486
 487
 488
 489
 490
 491
 492
 493
 494
 495
 496
 497
 498
 499
 500
 501
 502
 503
 504
 505
 506
 507
 508
 509
 510
 511
 512
 513
 514
 515
 516
 517
 518
 519
 520
 521
 522
 523
 524
 525
 526
 527
 528
 529
 530
 531
 532
 533
 534
 535
 536
 537
 538
 539
 540
 541
 542
 543
 544
 545
 546
 547
 548
 549
 550
 551
 552
 553
 554
 555
 556
 557
 558
 559
 560
 561
 562
 563
 564
 565
 566
 567
 568
 569
 570
 571
 572
 573
 574
 575
 576
 577
 578
 579
 580
 581
 582
 583
 584
 585
 586
 587
 588
 589
 590
 591
 592
 593
 594
 595
 596
 597
 598
 599
 600
 601
 602
 603
 604
 605
 606
 607
 608
 609
 610
 611
 612
 613
 614
 615
 616
 617
 618
 619
 620
 621
 622
 623
 624
 625
 626
 627
 628
 629
 630
 631
 632
 633
 634
 635
 636
 637
 638
 639
 640
 641
 642
 643
 644
 645
 646
 647
 648
 649
 650
 651
 652
 653
 654
 655
 656
 657
 658
 659
 660
 661
 662
 663
 664
 665
 666
 667
 668
 669
 670
 671
 672
 673
 674
 675
 676
 677
 678
 679
 680
 681
 682
 683
 684
 685
 686
 687
 688
 689
 690
 691
 692
 693
 694
 695
 696
 697
 698
 699
 700
 701
 702
 703
 704
 705
 706
 707
 708
 709
 710
 711
 712
 713
 714
 715
 716
 717
 718
 719
 720
 721
 722
 723
 724
 725
 726
 727
 728
 729
 730
 731
 732
 733
 734
 735
 736
 737
 738
 739
 740
 741
 742
 743
 744
 745
 746
 747
 748
 749
 750
 751
 752
 753
 754
 755
 756
 757
 758
 759
 760
 761
 762
 763
 764
 765
 766
 767
 768
 769
 770
 771
 772
 773
 774
 775
 776
 777
 778
 779
 780
 781
 782
 783
 784
 785
 786
 787
 788
 789
 790
 791
 792
 793
 794
 795
 796
 797
 798
 799
 800
 801
 802
 803
 804
 805
 806
 807
 808
 809
 810
 811
 812
 813
 814
 815
 816
 817
 818
 819
 820
 821
 822
 823
 824
 825
 826
 827
 828
 829
 830
 831
 832
 833
 834
 835
 836
 837
 838
 839
 840
 841
 842
 843
 844
 845
 846
 847
 848
 849
 850
 851
 852
 853
 854
 855
 856
 857
 858
 859
 860
 861
 862
 863
 864
 865
 866
 867
 868
 869
 870
 871
 872
 873
 874
 875
 876
 877
 878
 879
 880
 881
 882
 883
 884
 885
 886
 887
 888
 889
 890
 891
 892
 893
 894
 895
 896
 897
 898
 899
 900
 901
 902
 903
 904
 905
 906
 907
 908
 909
 910
 911
 912
 913
 914
 915
 916
 917
 918
 919
 920
 921
 922
 923
 924
 925
 926
 927
 928
 929
 930
 931
 932
 933
 934
 935
 936
 937
 938
 939
 940
 941
 942
 943
 944
 945
 946
 947
 948
 949
 950
 951
 952
 953
 954
 955
 956
 957
 958
 959
 960
 961
 962
 963
 964
 965
 966
 967
 968
 969
 970
 971
 972
 973
 974
 975
 976
 977
 978
 979
 980
 981
 982
 983
 984
 985
 986
 987
 988
 989
 990
 991
 992
 993
 994
 995
 996
 997
 998
 999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
 
@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2017 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Dired
@chapter Dired, the Directory Editor
@c This node is referenced in the tutorial.  When renaming or deleting
@c it, the tutorial needs to be adjusted.
@cindex Dired
@cindex file management

  Dired makes an Emacs buffer containing a listing of a directory, and
optionally some of its subdirectories as well.  You can use the normal
Emacs commands to move around in this buffer, and special Dired
commands to operate on the listed files.

    The Dired buffer is read-only, and inserting text in it is not
allowed.  Ordinary printing characters such as @kbd{d} and @kbd{x} are
redefined for special Dired commands.  Some Dired commands @dfn{mark}
or @dfn{flag} the @dfn{current file} (that is, the file on the current
line); other commands operate on the marked files or on the flagged
files.  You first mark certain files in order to operate on all of
them with one command.

  The Dired-X package provides various extra features for Dired mode.
@xref{Top, Dired-X,,dired-x, Dired Extra User's Manual}.

  You can also view a list of files in a directory with @kbd{C-x C-d}
(@code{list-directory}).  Unlike Dired, this command does not allow
you to operate on the listed files.  @xref{Directories}.

@menu
* Enter: Dired Enter.         How to invoke Dired.
* Navigation: Dired Navigation.   Special motion commands in the Dired buffer.
* Deletion: Dired Deletion.   Deleting files with Dired.
* Flagging Many Files::       Flagging files based on their names.
* Visit: Dired Visiting.      Other file operations through Dired.
* Marks vs Flags::            Flagging for deletion vs marking.
* Operating on Files::        How to copy, rename, print, compress, etc.
                                either one file or several files.
* Shell Commands in Dired::   Running a shell command on the marked files.
* Transforming File Names::   Using patterns to rename multiple files.
* Comparison in Dired::       Running @code{diff} by way of Dired.
* Subdirectories in Dired::   Adding subdirectories to the Dired buffer.
@ifnottex
* Subdir Switches::           Subdirectory switches in Dired.
@end ifnottex
* Subdirectory Motion::       Moving across subdirectories, and up and down.
* Hiding Subdirectories::     Making subdirectories visible or invisible.
* Updating: Dired Updating.   Discarding lines for files of no interest.
* Find: Dired and Find.       Using @code{find} to choose the files for Dired.
* Wdired::                    Operating on files by editing the Dired buffer.
* Image-Dired::               Viewing image thumbnails in Dired.
* Misc: Misc Dired Features.  Various other features.
@end menu

@node Dired Enter
@section Entering Dired

@findex dired
@kindex C-x d
@vindex dired-listing-switches
  To invoke Dired, type @kbd{C-x d} (@code{dired}).  This reads a
directory name using the minibuffer, and opens a @dfn{Dired buffer}
listing the files in that directory.  You can also supply a wildcard
file name pattern as the minibuffer argument, in which case the Dired
buffer lists all files matching that pattern.  A wildcard may appear
in the directory part as well.
For instance,

@example
C-x d  ~/foo/*.el  @key{RET}
C-x d  ~/foo/*/*.el  @key{RET}
@end example

The former lists all the files with extension @samp{.el} in directory
@samp{foo}.  The latter lists the files with extension @samp{.el}
in @samp{foo} subdirectories; the sudirectories are 1 level of depth
below @samp{foo}.

The usual history and completion commands can be used in the minibuffer;
in particular, @kbd{M-n} puts the name of the visited file (if any) in
the minibuffer (@pxref{Minibuffer History}).

  You can also invoke Dired by giving @kbd{C-x C-f} (@code{find-file})
a directory name.

  The variable @code{dired-listing-switches} specifies the options to
give to @command{ls} for listing the directory; this string
@emph{must} contain @samp{-l}.  If you use a prefix argument with the
@code{dired} command, you can specify the @command{ls} switches with the
minibuffer before you enter the directory specification.  No matter
how they are specified, the @command{ls} switches can include short
options (that is, single characters) requiring no arguments, and long
options (starting with @samp{--}) whose arguments are specified with
@samp{=}.

@vindex dired-use-ls-dired
  If your @command{ls} program supports the @samp{--dired} option,
Dired automatically passes it that option; this causes @command{ls} to
emit special escape sequences for certain unusual file names, without
which Dired will not be able to parse those names.  The first time you
run Dired in an Emacs session, it checks whether @command{ls} supports
the @samp{--dired} option by calling it once with that option.  If the
exit code is 0, Dired will subsequently use the @samp{--dired} option;
otherwise it will not.  You can inhibit this check by customizing the
variable @code{dired-use-ls-dired}.  The value @code{unspecified} (the
default) means to perform the check; any other non-@code{nil} value
means to use the @samp{--dired} option; and @code{nil} means not to
use the @samp{--dired} option.

  On MS-Windows and MS-DOS systems, Emacs emulates @command{ls}.
@xref{ls in Lisp}, for options and peculiarities of this emulation.

@findex dired-other-window
@kindex C-x 4 d
@findex dired-other-frame
@kindex C-x 5 d
  To display the Dired buffer in another window, use @kbd{C-x 4 d}
(@code{dired-other-window}).  @kbd{C-x 5 d}
(@code{dired-other-frame}) displays the Dired buffer in a separate
frame.

@kindex q @r{(Dired)}
@findex quit-window
  Typing @kbd{q} (@code{quit-window}) buries the Dired buffer, and
deletes its window if the window was created just for that buffer.

@node Dired Navigation
@section Navigation in the Dired Buffer

@kindex C-n @r{(Dired)}
@kindex C-p @r{(Dired)}
  All the usual Emacs cursor motion commands are available in Dired
buffers.  The keys @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} are redefined to put the
cursor at the beginning of the file name on the line, rather than at
the beginning of the line.

@kindex SPC @r{(Dired)}
  For extra convenience, @key{SPC} and @kbd{n} in Dired are equivalent
to @kbd{C-n}.  @kbd{p} is equivalent to @kbd{C-p}.  (Moving by lines
is so common in Dired that it deserves to be easy to type.)  @key{DEL}
(move up and unflag) is also often useful simply for moving up
(@pxref{Dired Deletion}).

@findex dired-goto-file
@kindex j @r{(Dired)}
  @kbd{j} (@code{dired-goto-file}) prompts for a file name using the
minibuffer, and moves point to the line in the Dired buffer describing
that file.

@cindex searching Dired buffers
@findex dired-isearch-filenames
@vindex dired-isearch-filenames
@findex dired-isearch-filenames-regexp
@kindex M-s f C-s @r{(Dired)}
@kindex M-s f M-C-s @r{(Dired)}
  @kbd{M-s f C-s} (@code{dired-isearch-filenames}) performs a forward
incremental search in the Dired buffer, looking for matches only
amongst the file names and ignoring the rest of the text in the
buffer.  @kbd{M-s f M-C-s} (@code{dired-isearch-filenames-regexp})
does the same, using a regular expression search.  If you change the
variable @code{dired-isearch-filenames} to @code{t}, then the
usual search commands also limit themselves to the file names; for
instance, @kbd{C-s} behaves like @kbd{M-s f C-s}.  If the value is
@code{dwim}, then search commands match the file names only when point
was on a file name initially.  @xref{Search}, for information about
incremental search.

  Some additional navigation commands are available when the Dired
buffer includes several directories.  @xref{Subdirectory Motion}.

@node Dired Deletion
@section Deleting Files with Dired
@cindex flagging files (in Dired)
@cindex deleting files (in Dired)

  One of the most frequent uses of Dired is to first @dfn{flag} files for
deletion, then delete the files that were flagged.

@table @kbd
@item d
Flag this file for deletion (@code{dired-flag-file-deletion}).
@item u
Remove the deletion flag (@code{dired-unmark}).
@item @key{DEL}
Move point to previous line and remove the deletion flag on that line
(@code{dired-unmark-backward}).
@item x
Delete files flagged for deletion (@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}).
@end table

@kindex d @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-flag-file-deletion
  You can flag a file for deletion by moving to the line describing
the file and typing @kbd{d} (@code{dired-flag-file-deletion}).  The
deletion flag is visible as a @samp{D} at the beginning of the line.
This command moves point to the next line, so that repeated @kbd{d}
commands flag successive files.  A numeric prefix argument serves as a
repeat count; a negative count means to flag preceding files.

  If the region is active, the @kbd{d} command flags all files in the
region for deletion; in this case, the command does not move point,
and ignores any prefix argument.

@kindex u @r{(Dired deletion)}
@kindex DEL @r{(Dired)}
  The reason for flagging files for deletion, rather than deleting
files immediately, is to reduce the danger of deleting a file
accidentally.  Until you direct Dired to delete the flagged files, you
can remove deletion flags using the commands @kbd{u} and @key{DEL}.
@kbd{u} (@code{dired-unmark}) works just like @kbd{d}, but removes
flags rather than making flags.  @key{DEL}
(@code{dired-unmark-backward}) moves upward, removing flags; it is
like @kbd{u} with argument @minus{}1.  A numeric prefix argument to
either command serves as a repeat count, with a negative count meaning
to unflag in the opposite direction.  If the region is active, these
commands instead unflag all files in the region, without moving point.

@kindex x @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-flagged-delete
  To delete flagged files, type @kbd{x}
(@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}).  This command displays a list of all
the file names flagged for deletion, and requests confirmation with
@kbd{yes}.  If you confirm, Dired deletes the flagged files, then
deletes their lines from the text of the Dired buffer.  The Dired
buffer, with somewhat fewer lines, remains selected.

  If you answer @kbd{no} or quit with @kbd{C-g} when asked to confirm, you
return immediately to Dired, with the deletion flags still present in
the buffer, and no files actually deleted.

@cindex recursive deletion
@vindex dired-recursive-deletes
  You can delete empty directories just like other files, but normally
Dired cannot delete directories that are nonempty.  If the variable
@code{dired-recursive-deletes} is non-@code{nil}, then Dired can
delete nonempty directories including all their contents.  That can
be somewhat risky.

@vindex delete-by-moving-to-trash
  If you change the variable @code{delete-by-moving-to-trash} to
@code{t}, the above deletion commands will move the affected files or
directories into the operating system's Trash, instead of deleting
them outright.  @xref{Misc File Ops}.

@node Flagging Many Files
@section Flagging Many Files at Once
@cindex flagging many files for deletion (in Dired)

  The @kbd{#}, @kbd{~}, @kbd{.}, @kbd{% &}, and @kbd{% d} commands
flag many files for deletion, based on their file names:

@table @kbd
@item #
Flag all auto-save files (files whose names start and end with @samp{#})
for deletion (@pxref{Auto Save}).

@item ~
Flag all backup files (files whose names end with @samp{~}) for deletion
(@pxref{Backup}).

@item .@: @r{(Period)}
Flag excess numeric backup files for deletion.  The oldest and newest
few backup files of any one file are exempt; the middle ones are
flagged.

@item % &
Flag for deletion all files with certain kinds of names which suggest
you could easily create those files again.

@item % d @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Flag for deletion all files whose names match the regular expression
@var{regexp}.
@end table

@kindex # @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-flag-auto-save-files
@cindex deleting auto-save files
  @kbd{#} (@code{dired-flag-auto-save-files}) flags all files whose
names look like auto-save files---that is, files whose names begin and
end with @samp{#}.  @xref{Auto Save}.

@kindex ~ @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-flag-backup-files
  @kbd{~} (@code{dired-flag-backup-files}) flags all files whose names
say they are backup files---that is, files whose names end in
@samp{~}.  @xref{Backup}.

@kindex . @r{(Dired)}
@vindex dired-kept-versions
@findex dired-clean-directory
  @kbd{.} (period, @code{dired-clean-directory}) flags just some of
the backup files for deletion: all but the oldest few and newest few
backups of any one file.  Normally, the number of newest versions kept
for each file is given by the variable @code{dired-kept-versions}
(@emph{not} @code{kept-new-versions}; that applies only when saving).
The number of oldest versions to keep is given by the variable
@code{kept-old-versions}.

  Period with a positive numeric argument, as in @kbd{C-u 3 .},
specifies the number of newest versions to keep, overriding
@code{dired-kept-versions}.  A negative numeric argument overrides
@code{kept-old-versions}, using minus the value of the argument to
specify the number of oldest versions of each file to keep.

@kindex % & @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-flag-garbage-files
@vindex dired-garbage-files-regexp
@cindex deleting some backup files
  @kbd{% &} (@code{dired-flag-garbage-files}) flags files whose names
match the regular expression specified by the variable
@code{dired-garbage-files-regexp}.  By default, this matches certain
files produced by @TeX{}, @samp{.bak} files, and the @samp{.orig} and
@samp{.rej} files produced by @code{patch}.

@findex dired-flag-files-regexp
@kindex % d @r{(Dired)}
  @kbd{% d} flags all files whose names match a specified regular
expression (@code{dired-flag-files-regexp}).  Only the non-directory
part of the file name is used in matching.  You can use @samp{^} and
@samp{$} to anchor matches.  You can exclude certain subdirectories
from marking by hiding them while you use @kbd{% d}.  @xref{Hiding
Subdirectories}.

@node Dired Visiting
@section Visiting Files in Dired

  There are several Dired commands for visiting or examining the files
listed in the Dired buffer.  All of them apply to the current line's
file; if that file is really a directory, these commands invoke Dired on
that subdirectory (making a separate Dired buffer).

@table @kbd
@item f
@kindex f @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-find-file
Visit the file described on the current line, like typing @kbd{C-x C-f}
and supplying that file name (@code{dired-find-file}).  @xref{Visiting}.

@item @key{RET}
@itemx e
@kindex RET @r{(Dired)}
@kindex e @r{(Dired)}
Equivalent to @kbd{f}.

@ignore  @c This command seems too risky to document at all.
@item a
@kindex a @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-find-alternate-file
Like @kbd{f}, but replaces the contents of the Dired buffer with
that of an alternate file or directory (@code{dired-find-alternate-file}).
@end ignore

@item o
@kindex o @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-find-file-other-window
Like @kbd{f}, but uses another window to display the file's buffer
(@code{dired-find-file-other-window}).  The Dired buffer remains visible
in the first window.  This is like using @kbd{C-x 4 C-f} to visit the
file.  @xref{Windows}.

@item C-o
@kindex C-o @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-display-file
Visit the file described on the current line, and display the buffer in
another window, but do not select that window (@code{dired-display-file}).

@item mouse-1
@itemx mouse-2
@findex dired-mouse-find-file-other-window
Visit the file whose name you clicked on
(@code{dired-mouse-find-file-other-window}).  This uses another window
to display the file, like the @kbd{o} command.

@item v
@kindex v @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-view-file
View the file described on the current line, with View mode
(@code{dired-view-file}).  View mode provides convenient commands to
navigate the buffer but forbids changing it; @xref{View Mode}.

@item ^
@kindex ^ @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-up-directory
Visit the parent directory of the current directory
(@code{dired-up-directory}).  This is equivalent to moving to the line
for @file{..} and typing @kbd{f} there.
@end table

@node Marks vs Flags
@section Dired Marks vs.@: Flags

@cindex marking many files (in Dired)
  Instead of flagging a file with @samp{D}, you can @dfn{mark} the
file with some other character (usually @samp{*}).  Most Dired
commands to operate on files use the files marked with @samp{*}.  The
only command that operates on flagged files is @kbd{x}, which deletes
them.

  Here are some commands for marking with @samp{*}, for unmarking, and
for operating on marks.  (@xref{Dired Deletion}, for commands to flag
and unflag files.)

@table @kbd
@item m
@itemx * m
@kindex m @r{(Dired)}
@kindex * m @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-mark
Mark the current file with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark}).  If the
region is active, mark all files in the region instead; otherwise, if
a numeric argument @var{n} is supplied, mark the next @var{n} files
instead, starting with the current file (if @var{n} is negative, mark
the previous @minus{}@var{n} files).

@item * *
@kindex * * @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-mark-executables
@cindex marking executable files (in Dired)
Mark all executable files with @samp{*}
(@code{dired-mark-executables}).  With a numeric argument, unmark all
those files.

@item * @@
@kindex * @@ @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-mark-symlinks
@cindex marking symbolic links (in Dired)
Mark all symbolic links with @samp{*} (@code{dired-mark-symlinks}).
With a numeric argument, unmark all those files.

@item * /
@kindex * / @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-mark-directories
@cindex marking subdirectories (in Dired)
Mark with @samp{*} all files which are directories, except for
@file{.} and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-directories}).  With a numeric
argument, unmark all those files.

@item * s
@kindex * s @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-mark-subdir-files
Mark all the files in the current subdirectory, aside from @file{.}
and @file{..} (@code{dired-mark-subdir-files}).

@item u
@itemx * u
@kindex u @r{(Dired)}
@kindex * u @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-unmark
Remove any mark on this line (@code{dired-unmark}).  If the region is
active, unmark all files in the region instead; otherwise, if a
numeric argument @var{n} is supplied, unmark the next @var{n} files
instead, starting with the current file (if @var{n} is negative,
unmark the previous @minus{}@var{n} files).

@item @key{DEL}
@itemx * @key{DEL}
@kindex * DEL @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-unmark-backward
@cindex unmarking files (in Dired)
Move point to previous line and remove any mark on that line
(@code{dired-unmark-backward}).  If the region is active, unmark all
files in the region instead; otherwise, if a numeric argument @var{n}
is supplied, unmark the @var{n} preceding files instead, starting with
the current file (if @var{n} is negative, unmark the next
@minus{}@var{n} files).

@item * !
@itemx U
@kindex * ! @r{(Dired)}
@kindex U @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-unmark-all-marks
Remove all marks from all the files in this Dired buffer
(@code{dired-unmark-all-marks}).

@item * ? @var{markchar}
@itemx M-@key{DEL}
@kindex * ? @r{(Dired)}
@kindex M-DEL @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-unmark-all-files
Remove all marks that use the character @var{markchar}
(@code{dired-unmark-all-files}).  The argument is a single
character---do not use @key{RET} to terminate it.  See the description
of the @kbd{* c} command below, which lets you replace one mark
character with another.

With a numeric argument, this command queries about each marked file,
asking whether to remove its mark.  You can answer @kbd{y} meaning yes,
@kbd{n} meaning no, or @kbd{!} to remove the marks from the remaining
files without asking about them.

@item * C-n
@itemx M-@}
@findex dired-next-marked-file
@kindex * C-n @r{(Dired)}
@kindex M-@} @r{(Dired)}
Move down to the next marked file (@code{dired-next-marked-file})
A file is ``marked'' if it has any kind of mark.

@item * C-p
@itemx M-@{
@findex dired-prev-marked-file
@kindex * C-p @r{(Dired)}
@kindex M-@{ @r{(Dired)}
Move up to the previous marked file (@code{dired-prev-marked-file})

@item t
@itemx * t
@kindex t @r{(Dired)}
@kindex * t @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-toggle-marks
@cindex toggling marks (in Dired)
Toggle all marks (@code{dired-toggle-marks}): files marked with @samp{*}
become unmarked, and unmarked files are marked with @samp{*}.  Files
marked in any other way are not affected.

@item * c @var{old-markchar} @var{new-markchar}
@kindex * c @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-change-marks
Replace all marks that use the character @var{old-markchar} with marks
that use the character @var{new-markchar} (@code{dired-change-marks}).
This command is the primary way to create or use marks other than
@samp{*} or @samp{D}.  The arguments are single characters---do not use
@key{RET} to terminate them.

You can use almost any character as a mark character by means of this
command, to distinguish various classes of files.  If @var{old-markchar}
is a space (@samp{ }), then the command operates on all unmarked files;
if @var{new-markchar} is a space, then the command unmarks the files it
acts on.

To illustrate the power of this command, here is how to put @samp{D}
flags on all the files that have no marks, while unflagging all those
that already have @samp{D} flags:

@example
* c D t  * c @key{SPC} D  * c t @key{SPC}
@end example

This assumes that no files were already marked with @samp{t}.

@item % m @var{regexp} @key{RET}
@itemx * % @var{regexp} @key{RET}
@findex dired-mark-files-regexp
@kindex % m @r{(Dired)}
@kindex * % @r{(Dired)}
Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose names match the regular expression
@var{regexp} (@code{dired-mark-files-regexp}).  This command is like
@kbd{% d}, except that it marks files with @samp{*} instead of flagging
with @samp{D}.

Only the non-directory part of the file name is used in matching.  Use
@samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor matches.  You can exclude
subdirectories by temporarily hiding them (@pxref{Hiding
Subdirectories}).

@item % g @var{regexp} @key{RET}
@findex dired-mark-files-containing-regexp
@kindex % g @r{(Dired)}
@cindex finding files containing regexp matches (in Dired)
Mark (with @samp{*}) all files whose @emph{contents} contain a match for
the regular expression @var{regexp}
(@code{dired-mark-files-containing-regexp}).  This command is like
@kbd{% m}, except that it searches the file contents instead of the file
name.  Note that if a file is visited in an Emacs buffer,
and @code{dired-always-read-filesystem} is @code{nil} (the default), this
command will look in the buffer without revisiting the file, so the results
might be inconsistent with the file on disk if its contents has changed
since it was last visited.  If you don't want this, you may wish
reverting the files you have visited in your buffers, or turning on
the @code{auto-revert} mode in those buffers, before invoking this
command.  @xref{Reverting}.  If you prefer that this command always revisit
the file, without having to revert the file or enable @code{auto-revert}
mode, you might want to set @code{dired-always-read-filesystem} to non-@code{nil}.

@item C-/
@itemx C-x u
@itemx C-_
@kindex C-_ @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-undo
Undo changes in the Dired buffer, such as adding or removing
marks (@code{dired-undo}).  @emph{This command does not revert the
actual file operations, nor recover lost files!}  It just undoes
changes in the buffer itself.

In some cases, using this after commands that operate on files can
cause trouble.  For example, after renaming one or more files,
@code{dired-undo} restores the original names in the Dired buffer,
which gets the Dired buffer out of sync with the actual contents of
the directory.
@end table

@node Operating on Files
@section Operating on Files
@cindex operating on files in Dired

  This section describes the basic Dired commands to operate on one file
or several files.  All of these commands are capital letters; all of
them use the minibuffer, either to read an argument or to ask for
confirmation, before they act.  All of them let you specify the
files to manipulate in these ways:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If you give the command a numeric prefix argument @var{n}, it operates
on the next @var{n} files, starting with the current file.  (If @var{n}
is negative, the command operates on the @minus{}@var{n} files preceding
the current line.)

@item
Otherwise, if some files are marked with @samp{*}, the command operates
on all those files.

@item
Otherwise, the command operates on the current file only.
@end itemize

@noindent
Certain other Dired commands, such as @kbd{!} and the @samp{%}
commands, use the same conventions to decide which files to work on.

@vindex dired-dwim-target
@cindex two directories (in Dired)
  Commands which ask for a destination directory, such as those which
copy and rename files or create links for them, try to guess the default
target directory for the operation.  Normally, they suggest the Dired
buffer's default directory, but if the variable @code{dired-dwim-target}
is non-@code{nil}, and if there is another Dired buffer displayed in the
next window, that other buffer's directory is suggested instead.

  Here are the file-manipulating Dired commands that operate on files.

@table @kbd
@findex dired-do-copy
@kindex C @r{(Dired)}
@cindex copying files (in Dired)
@item C @var{new} @key{RET}
Copy the specified files (@code{dired-do-copy}).  The argument @var{new}
is the directory to copy into, or (if copying a single file) the new
name.  This is like the shell command @code{cp}.

@vindex dired-copy-preserve-time
If @code{dired-copy-preserve-time} is non-@code{nil}, then copying
with this command preserves the modification time of the old file in
the copy, like @samp{cp -p}.

@vindex dired-recursive-copies
@cindex recursive copying
The variable @code{dired-recursive-copies} controls whether to copy
directories recursively (like @samp{cp -r}).  The default is
@code{top}, which means to ask before recursively copying a directory.

@item D
@findex dired-do-delete
@kindex D @r{(Dired)}
Delete the specified files (@code{dired-do-delete}).  This is like the
shell command @code{rm}.

Like the other commands in this section, this command operates on the
@emph{marked} files, or the next @var{n} files.  By contrast, @kbd{x}
(@code{dired-do-flagged-delete}) deletes all @dfn{flagged} files.

@findex dired-do-rename
@kindex R @r{(Dired)}
@cindex renaming files (in Dired)
@cindex moving files (in Dired)
@item R @var{new} @key{RET}
Rename the specified files (@code{dired-do-rename}).  If you rename a
single file, the argument @var{new} is the new name of the file.  If
you rename several files, the argument @var{new} is the directory into
which to move the files (this is like the shell command @command{mv}).

Dired automatically changes the visited file name of buffers associated
with renamed files so that they refer to the new names.

@findex dired-do-hardlink
@kindex H @r{(Dired)}
@cindex hard links (in Dired)
@item H @var{new} @key{RET}
Make hard links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-hardlink}).
This is like the shell command @command{ln}.  The argument @var{new} is
the directory to make the links in, or (if making just one link) the
name to give the link.

@findex dired-do-symlink
@kindex S @r{(Dired)}
@cindex symbolic links (creation in Dired)
@item S @var{new} @key{RET}
Make symbolic links to the specified files (@code{dired-do-symlink}).
This is like @samp{ln -s}.  The argument @var{new} is the directory to
make the links in, or (if making just one link) the name to give the
link.

@findex dired-do-chmod
@kindex M @r{(Dired)}
@cindex changing file permissions (in Dired)
@item M @var{modespec} @key{RET}
Change the mode (also called @dfn{permission bits}) of the specified
files (@code{dired-do-chmod}).  @var{modespec} can be in octal or
symbolic notation, like arguments handled by the @command{chmod}
program.

@findex dired-do-chgrp
@kindex G @r{(Dired)}
@cindex changing file group (in Dired)
@item G @var{newgroup} @key{RET}
Change the group of the specified files to @var{newgroup}
(@code{dired-do-chgrp}).

@findex dired-do-chown
@kindex O @r{(Dired)}
@cindex changing file owner (in Dired)
@item O @var{newowner} @key{RET}
Change the owner of the specified files to @var{newowner}
(@code{dired-do-chown}).  (On most systems, only the superuser can do
this.)

@vindex dired-chown-program
The variable @code{dired-chown-program} specifies the name of the
program to use to do the work (different systems put @command{chown}
in different places).

@findex dired-do-touch
@kindex T @r{(Dired)}
@cindex changing file time (in Dired)
@item T @var{timestamp} @key{RET}
Touch the specified files (@code{dired-do-touch}).  This means
updating their modification times to the present time.  This is like
the shell command @code{touch}.

@findex dired-do-print
@kindex P @r{(Dired)}
@cindex printing files (in Dired)
@item P @var{command} @key{RET}
Print the specified files (@code{dired-do-print}).  You must specify the
command to print them with, but the minibuffer starts out with a
suitable guess made using the variables @code{lpr-command} and
@code{lpr-switches} (the same variables that @code{lpr-buffer} uses;
@pxref{Printing}).

@findex dired-do-compress
@kindex Z @r{(Dired)}
@cindex compressing files (in Dired)
@item Z
Compress the specified files (@code{dired-do-compress}).  If the file
appears to be a compressed file already, uncompress it instead.  Each
marked file is compressed into its own archive.

@findex dired-do-compress-to
@kindex c @r{(Dired)}
@cindex compressing files (in Dired)
@item c
Compress the specified files (@code{dired-do-compress-to}) into a
single archive anywhere on the file system. The compression algorithm
is determined by the extension of the archive, see
@code{dired-compress-files-alist}.

@findex epa-dired-do-decrypt
@kindex :d @r{(Dired)}
@cindex decrypting files (in Dired)
@item :d
Decrypt the specified files (@code{epa-dired-do-decrypt}).
@xref{Dired integration,,, epa, EasyPG Assistant User's Manual}.

@findex epa-dired-do-verify
@kindex :v @r{(Dired)}
@cindex verifying digital signatures on files (in Dired)
@item :v
Verify digital signatures on the specified files (@code{epa-dired-do-verify}).
@xref{Dired integration,,, epa, EasyPG Assistant User's Manual}.

@findex epa-dired-do-sign
@kindex :s @r{(Dired)}
@cindex signing files (in Dired)
@item :s
Digitally sign the specified files (@code{epa-dired-do-sign}).
@xref{Dired integration,,, epa, EasyPG Assistant User's Manual}.

@findex epa-dired-do-encrypt
@kindex :e @r{(Dired)}
@cindex encrypting files (in Dired)
@item :e
Encrypt the specified files (@code{epa-dired-do-encrypt}).
@xref{Dired integration,,, epa, EasyPG Assistant User's Manual}.

@findex dired-do-load
@kindex L @r{(Dired)}
@cindex loading several files (in Dired)
@item L
Load the specified Emacs Lisp files (@code{dired-do-load}).
@xref{Lisp Libraries}.

@findex dired-do-byte-compile
@kindex B @r{(Dired)}
@cindex byte-compiling several files (in Dired)
@item B
Byte compile the specified Emacs Lisp files
(@code{dired-do-byte-compile}).  @xref{Byte Compilation,, Byte
Compilation, elisp, The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.

@kindex A @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-find-regexp
@cindex search multiple files (in Dired)
@item A @var{regexp} @key{RET}
Search all the specified files for the regular expression @var{regexp}
(@code{dired-do-find-regexp}).

This command is a variant of @code{xref-find-references}
(@pxref{Identifier Search}), it displays the @file{*xref*} buffer,
where you can navigate between matches and display them as needed
using the commands described in @ref{Xref Commands}.

@vindex grep-find-ignored-files @r{(Dired)}
@vindex grep-find-ignored-directories @r{(Dired)}
If any of the marked files are directories, then this command searches
all of the files in those directories, and any of their
subdirectories, recursively, except files whose names match
@code{grep-find-ignored-files} and subdirectories whose names match
@code{grep-find-ignored-directories}.

@kindex Q @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-find-regexp-and-replace
@cindex search and replace in multiple files (in Dired)
@item Q @var{regexp} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
Perform @code{query-replace-regexp} on each of the specified files,
replacing matches for @var{regexp} with the string
@var{to} (@code{dired-do-find-regexp-and-replace}).

This command is a variant of @code{xref-query-replace-in-results}.  It
presents an @file{*xref*} buffer that lists all the matches of @var{regexp},
and you can use the special commands in that buffer (@pxref{Xref
Commands}).  In particular, if you exit the query replace loop, you
can use @kbd{r} in that buffer to replace more matches.
@xref{Identifier Search}.

Like with @code{dired-do-find-regexp}, if any of the marked files are
directories, this command performs replacements in all of the files in
those directories, and in any of their subdirectories, recursively,
except for files whose names match @code{grep-find-ignored-files} and
subdirectories whose names match @code{grep-find-ignored-directories}.
@end table

@node Shell Commands in Dired
@section Shell Commands in Dired
@cindex shell commands, Dired

@findex dired-do-shell-command
@kindex ! @r{(Dired)}
@kindex X @r{(Dired)}
The Dired command @kbd{!} (@code{dired-do-shell-command}) reads a
shell command string in the minibuffer, and runs that shell command on
one or more files.  The files that the shell command operates on are
determined in the usual way for Dired commands (@pxref{Operating on
Files}).  The command @kbd{X} is a synonym for @kbd{!}.

  The command @kbd{&} (@code{dired-do-async-shell-command}) does the
same, except that it runs the shell command asynchronously.  (You can
also do this with @kbd{!}, by appending a @samp{&} character to the
end of the shell command.)  When the command operates on more than one
file, it runs multiple parallel copies of the specified shell command,
one for each file.  As an exception, if the specified shell command
ends in @samp{;} or @samp{;&}, the shell command is run in the
background on each file sequentially; Emacs waits for each invoked
shell command to terminate before running the next one.

  For both @kbd{!} and @kbd{&}, the working directory for the shell
command is the top-level directory of the Dired buffer.

  If you tell @kbd{!} or @kbd{&} to operate on more than one file, the
shell command string determines how those files are passed to the
shell command:

@itemize @bullet
@item
If you use @samp{*} surrounded by whitespace in the command string,
then the command runs just once, with the list of file names
substituted for the @samp{*}.  The order of file names is the order of
appearance in the Dired buffer.

Thus, @kbd{! tar cf foo.tar * @key{RET}} runs @code{tar} on the entire
list of file names, putting them into one tar file @file{foo.tar}.

If you want to use @samp{*} as a shell wildcard with whitespace around
it, write @samp{*""}.  In the shell, this is equivalent to @samp{*};
but since the @samp{*} is not surrounded by whitespace, Dired does not
treat it specially.

@item
Otherwise, if the command string contains @samp{?} surrounded by
whitespace or @samp{`?`}, Emacs runs the shell command once
@emph{for each file}, substituting the current file name for @samp{?}
and @samp{`?`} each time.  You can use both @samp{?} or @samp{`?`} more
than once in the command; the same file name replaces each occurrence.
If you mix them with @samp{*} the command signals an error.

@item
If the command string contains neither @samp{*} nor @samp{?} nor @samp{`?`},
Emacs runs the shell command once for each file, adding the file name at the
end.  For example, @kbd{! uudecode @key{RET}} runs @code{uudecode} on
each file.
@end itemize

  To iterate over the file names in a more complicated fashion, you might
prefer to use an explicit shell loop.  For example, here is how to uuencode
each file, making the output file name by appending @samp{.uu} to the input
file name:

@example
for file in * ; do uuencode "$file" "$file" >"$file".uu; done
@end example

The same example with @samp{`?`} notation:
@example
uuencode ? ? > `?`.uu
@end example

  The @kbd{!} and @kbd{&} commands do not attempt to update the Dired
buffer to show new or modified files, because they don't know what
files will be changed.  Use the @kbd{g} command to update the Dired
buffer (@pxref{Dired Updating}).

  @xref{Single Shell}, for information about running shell commands
outside Dired.

@node Transforming File Names
@section Transforming File Names in Dired

  This section describes Dired commands which alter file names in a
systematic way.  Each command operates on some or all of the marked
files, using a new name made by transforming the existing name.

  Like the basic Dired file-manipulation commands (@pxref{Operating on
Files}), the commands described here operate either on the next
@var{n} files, or on all files marked with @samp{*}, or on the current
file.  (To mark files, use the commands described in @ref{Marks vs
Flags}.)

  All of the commands described in this section work
@emph{interactively}: they ask you to confirm the operation for each
candidate file.  Thus, you can select more files than you actually
need to operate on (e.g., with a regexp that matches many files), and
then filter the selected names by typing @kbd{y} or @kbd{n} when the
command prompts for confirmation.

@table @kbd
@findex dired-upcase
@kindex % u @r{(Dired)}
@cindex upcase file names
@item % u
Rename each of the selected files to an upper-case name
(@code{dired-upcase}).  If the old file names are @file{Foo}
and @file{bar}, the new names are @file{FOO} and @file{BAR}.

@item % l
@findex dired-downcase
@kindex % l @r{(Dired)}
@cindex downcase file names
Rename each of the selected files to a lower-case name
(@code{dired-downcase}).  If the old file names are @file{Foo} and
@file{bar}, the new names are @file{foo} and @file{bar}.

@item % R @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
@kindex % R @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-rename-regexp
@itemx % C @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
@kindex % C @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-copy-regexp
@itemx % H @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
@kindex % H @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-hardlink-regexp
@itemx % S @var{from} @key{RET} @var{to} @key{RET}
@kindex % S @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-symlink-regexp
These four commands rename, copy, make hard links and make soft links,
in each case computing the new name by regular-expression substitution
from the name of the old file.
@end table

  The four regular-expression substitution commands effectively
perform a search-and-replace on the selected file names.  They read
two arguments: a regular expression @var{from}, and a substitution
pattern @var{to}; they match each old file name against
@var{from}, and then replace the matching part with @var{to}.  You can
use @samp{\&} and @samp{\@var{digit}} in @var{to} to refer to all or
part of what the pattern matched in the old file name, as in
@code{replace-regexp} (@pxref{Regexp Replace}).  If the regular
expression matches more than once in a file name, only the first match
is replaced.

  For example, @kbd{% R ^.*$ @key{RET} x-\& @key{RET}} renames each
selected file by prepending @samp{x-} to its name.  The inverse of this,
removing @samp{x-} from the front of each file name, is also possible:
one method is @kbd{% R ^x-\(.*\)$ @key{RET} \1 @key{RET}}; another is
@kbd{% R ^x- @key{RET} @key{RET}}.  (Use @samp{^} and @samp{$} to anchor
matches that should span the whole file name.)

  Normally, the replacement process does not consider the files'
directory names; it operates on the file name within the directory.  If
you specify a numeric argument of zero, then replacement affects the
entire absolute file name including directory name.  (A non-zero
argument specifies the number of files to operate on.)

  You may want to select the set of files to operate on using the same
regexp @var{from} that you will use to operate on them.  To do this,
mark those files with @kbd{% m @var{from} @key{RET}}, then use the
same regular expression in the command to operate on the files.  To
make this more convenient, the @kbd{%} commands to operate on files
use the last regular expression specified in any @kbd{%} command as a
default.

@node Comparison in Dired
@section File Comparison with Dired
@cindex file comparison (in Dired)
@cindex compare files (in Dired)

@findex dired-diff
@kindex = @r{(Dired)}
  The @kbd{=} (@code{dired-diff}) command compares the current file
(the file at point) with another file (read using the minibuffer)
using the @command{diff} program.  The file specified with the
minibuffer is the first argument of @command{diff}, and file at point
is the second argument.  The output of the @command{diff} program is
shown in a buffer using Diff mode (@pxref{Comparing Files}).

  If the region is active, the default for the file read using the
minibuffer is the file at the mark (i.e., the ordinary Emacs mark,
not a Dired mark; @pxref{Setting Mark}).  Otherwise, if the file at
point has a backup file (@pxref{Backup}), that is the default.

@node Subdirectories in Dired
@section Subdirectories in Dired
@cindex subdirectories in Dired
@cindex expanding subdirectories in Dired

  A Dired buffer usually displays just one directory, but you can
optionally include its subdirectories as well.

  The simplest way to include multiple directories in one Dired buffer is
to specify the options @samp{-lR} for running @command{ls}.  (If you give a
numeric argument when you run Dired, then you can specify these options
in the minibuffer.)  That produces a recursive directory listing showing
all subdirectories at all levels.

  More often, you will want to show only specific subdirectories.  You
can do this with @kbd{i} (@code{dired-maybe-insert-subdir}):

@table @kbd
@findex dired-maybe-insert-subdir
@kindex i @r{(Dired)}
@item i
@cindex inserted subdirectory (Dired)
@cindex in-situ subdirectory (Dired)
Insert the contents of a subdirectory later in the buffer.
@end table

@noindent
If you use this command on a line that describes a file which is a
directory, it inserts the contents of that directory into the same
Dired buffer, and moves there.  Inserted subdirectory contents follow
the top-level directory of the Dired buffer, just as they do in
@samp{ls -lR} output.

  If the subdirectory's contents are already present in the buffer,
the @kbd{i} command just moves to it.

  In either case, @kbd{i} sets the Emacs mark before moving, so
@kbd{C-u C-@key{SPC}} returns to your previous position in the Dired
buffer (@pxref{Setting Mark}).  You can also use @samp{^} to return to
the parent directory in the same Dired buffer (@pxref{Dired
Visiting}).

  Use the @kbd{l} command (@code{dired-do-redisplay}) to update the
subdirectory's contents, and use @kbd{C-u k} on the subdirectory
header line to remove the subdirectory listing (@pxref{Dired
Updating}).  You can also hide and show inserted subdirectories
(@pxref{Hiding Subdirectories}).

@ifnottex
@include dired-xtra.texi
@end ifnottex

@node Subdirectory Motion
@section Moving Over Subdirectories

  When a Dired buffer lists subdirectories, you can use the page motion
commands @kbd{C-x [} and @kbd{C-x ]} to move by entire directories
(@pxref{Pages}).

@cindex header line (Dired)
@cindex directory header lines
  The following commands move across, up and down in the tree of
directories within one Dired buffer.  They move to @dfn{directory header
lines}, which are the lines that give a directory's name, at the
beginning of the directory's contents.

@table @kbd
@findex dired-next-subdir
@kindex C-M-n @r{(Dired)}
@item C-M-n
Go to next subdirectory header line, regardless of level
(@code{dired-next-subdir}).

@findex dired-prev-subdir
@kindex C-M-p @r{(Dired)}
@item C-M-p
Go to previous subdirectory header line, regardless of level
(@code{dired-prev-subdir}).

@findex dired-tree-up
@kindex C-M-u @r{(Dired)}
@item C-M-u
Go up to the parent directory's header line (@code{dired-tree-up}).

@findex dired-tree-down
@kindex C-M-d @r{(Dired)}
@item C-M-d
Go down in the directory tree, to the first subdirectory's header line
(@code{dired-tree-down}).

@findex dired-prev-dirline
@kindex < @r{(Dired)}
@item <
Move up to the previous directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).
These lines are the ones that describe a directory as a file in its
parent directory.

@findex dired-next-dirline
@kindex > @r{(Dired)}
@item >
Move down to the next directory-file line (@code{dired-prev-dirline}).
@end table

@node Hiding Subdirectories
@section Hiding Subdirectories
@cindex hiding subdirectories (Dired)
@cindex showing hidden subdirectories (Dired)

  @dfn{Hiding} a subdirectory means to make it invisible, except for its
header line.

@table @kbd
@item $
@findex dired-hide-subdir
@kindex $ @r{(Dired)}
Hide or show the subdirectory that point is in, and move point to the
next subdirectory (@code{dired-hide-subdir}).  This is a toggle.  A
numeric argument serves as a repeat count.

@item M-$
@findex dired-hide-all
@kindex M-$ @r{(Dired)}
Hide all subdirectories in this Dired buffer, leaving only their header
lines (@code{dired-hide-all}).  Or, if any subdirectory is currently
hidden, make all subdirectories visible again.  You can use this command
to get an overview in very deep directory trees or to move quickly to
subdirectories far away.
@end table

  Ordinary Dired commands never consider files inside a hidden
subdirectory.  For example, the commands to operate on marked files
ignore files in hidden directories even if they are marked.  Thus you
can use hiding to temporarily exclude subdirectories from operations
without having to remove the Dired marks on files in those
subdirectories.

@xref{Subdirectories in Dired}, for how to insert a subdirectory
listing, and @pxref{Dired Updating} for how delete it.

@node Dired Updating
@section Updating the Dired Buffer
@cindex updating Dired buffer
@cindex refreshing displayed files

  This section describes commands to update the Dired buffer to reflect
outside (non-Dired) changes in the directories and files, and to delete
part of the Dired buffer.

@table @kbd
@item g
Update the entire contents of the Dired buffer (@code{revert-buffer}).

@item l
Update the specified files (@code{dired-do-redisplay}).  You specify the
files for @kbd{l} in the same way as for file operations.

@item k
Delete the specified @emph{file lines}---not the files, just the lines
(@code{dired-do-kill-lines}).

@item s
Toggle between alphabetical order and date/time order
(@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}).

@item C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}
Refresh the Dired buffer using @var{switches} as
@code{dired-listing-switches}.
@end table

@kindex g @r{(Dired)}
@findex revert-buffer @r{(Dired)}
  Type @kbd{g} (@code{revert-buffer}) to update the contents of the
Dired buffer, based on changes in the files and directories listed.
This preserves all marks except for those on files that have vanished.
Hidden subdirectories are updated but remain hidden.

@kindex l @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-redisplay
  To update only some of the files, type @kbd{l}
(@code{dired-do-redisplay}).  Like the Dired file-operating commands,
this command operates on the next @var{n} files (or previous
@minus{}@var{n} files), or on the marked files if any, or on the
current file.  Updating the files means reading their current status,
then updating their lines in the buffer to indicate that status.

  If you use @kbd{l} on a subdirectory header line, it updates the
contents of the corresponding subdirectory.

@vindex dired-auto-revert-buffer
  If you use @kbd{C-x d} or some other Dired command to visit a
directory that is already being shown in a Dired buffer, Dired
switches to that buffer but does not update it.  If the buffer is not
up-to-date, Dired displays a warning telling you to type @key{g} to
update it.  You can also tell Emacs to revert each Dired buffer
automatically when you revisit it, by setting the variable
@code{dired-auto-revert-buffer} to a non-@code{nil} value.

@kindex k @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-kill-lines
  To delete @emph{file lines} from the buffer---without actually
deleting the files---type @kbd{k} (@code{dired-do-kill-lines}).  Like
the file-operating commands, this command operates on the next @var{n}
files, or on the marked files if any.  However, it does not operate on
the current file, since otherwise mistyping @kbd{k} could be annoying.

  If you use @kbd{k} to kill the line for a directory file which you
had inserted in the Dired buffer as a subdirectory
(@pxref{Subdirectories in Dired}), it removes the subdirectory listing
as well.  Typing @kbd{C-u k} on the header line for a subdirectory
also removes the subdirectory line from the Dired buffer.

  The @kbd{g} command brings back any individual lines that you have
killed in this way, but not subdirectories---you must use @kbd{i} to
reinsert a subdirectory.

@cindex Dired sorting
@cindex sorting Dired buffer
@kindex s @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-sort-toggle-or-edit
  The files in a Dired buffers are normally listed in alphabetical order
by file names.  Alternatively Dired can sort them by date/time.  The
Dired command @kbd{s} (@code{dired-sort-toggle-or-edit}) switches
between these two sorting modes.  The mode line in a Dired buffer
indicates which way it is currently sorted---by name, or by date.

  @kbd{C-u s @var{switches} @key{RET}} lets you specify a new value for
@code{dired-listing-switches}.

@node Dired and Find
@section Dired and @code{find}
@cindex @code{find} and Dired

  You can select a set of files for display in a Dired buffer more
flexibly by using the @command{find} utility to choose the files.

@findex find-name-dired
  To search for files with names matching a wildcard pattern use
@kbd{M-x find-name-dired}.  It reads arguments @var{directory} and
@var{pattern}, and chooses all the files in @var{directory} or its
subdirectories whose individual names match @var{pattern}.

  The files thus chosen are displayed in a Dired buffer, in which the
ordinary Dired commands are available.

@findex find-grep-dired
  If you want to test the contents of files, rather than their names,
use @kbd{M-x find-grep-dired}.  This command reads two minibuffer
arguments, @var{directory} and @var{regexp}; it chooses all the files
in @var{directory} or its subdirectories that contain a match for
@var{regexp}.  It works by running the programs @command{find} and
@command{grep}.  See also @kbd{M-x grep-find}, in @ref{Grep
Searching}.  Remember to write the regular expression for
@command{grep}, not for Emacs.  (An alternative method of showing
files whose contents match a given regexp is the @kbd{% g
@var{regexp}} command, see @ref{Marks vs Flags}.)

@findex find-dired
  The most general command in this series is @kbd{M-x find-dired},
which lets you specify any condition that @command{find} can test.  It
takes two minibuffer arguments, @var{directory} and @var{find-args};
it runs @command{find} in @var{directory}, passing @var{find-args} to
tell @command{find} what condition to test.  To use this command, you
need to know how to use @command{find}.

@vindex find-ls-option
  The format of listing produced by these commands is controlled by
the variable @code{find-ls-option}.  This is a pair of options; the
first specifying how to call @command{find} to produce the file listing,
and the second telling Dired to parse the output.

@findex locate
@findex locate-with-filter
@cindex file database (locate)
@vindex locate-command
  The command @kbd{M-x locate} provides a similar interface to the
@command{locate} program.  @kbd{M-x locate-with-filter} is similar, but
keeps only files whose names match a given regular expression.

  These buffers don't work entirely like ordinary Dired buffers: file
operations work, but do not always automatically update the buffer.
Reverting the buffer with @kbd{g} deletes all inserted subdirectories,
and erases all flags and marks.

@node Wdired
@section Editing the Dired Buffer

@cindex wdired mode
@findex wdired-change-to-wdired-mode
  Wdired is a special mode that allows you to perform file operations
by editing the Dired buffer directly (the ``W'' in ``Wdired'' stands
for ``writable'').  To enter Wdired mode, type @kbd{C-x C-q}
(@code{dired-toggle-read-only}) while in a Dired buffer.
Alternatively, use the @samp{Immediate / Edit File Names} menu item.

@findex wdired-finish-edit
  While in Wdired mode, you can rename files by editing the file names
displayed in the Dired buffer.  All the ordinary Emacs editing
commands, including rectangle operations and @code{query-replace}, are
available for this.  Once you are done editing, type @kbd{C-c C-c}
(@code{wdired-finish-edit}).  This applies your changes and switches
back to ordinary Dired mode.

  Apart from simply renaming files, you can move a file to another
directory by typing in the new file name (either absolute or
relative).  To mark a file for deletion, delete the entire file name.
To change the target of a symbolic link, edit the link target name
which appears next to the link name.

  If you edit the file names to create a new subdirectory, Wdired will
automatically create these new directories.  To inhibit this behavior,
set @code{wdired-create-parent-directories} to @code{nil}.

  The rest of the text in the buffer, such as the file sizes and
modification dates, is marked read-only, so you can't edit it.
However, if you set @code{wdired-allow-to-change-permissions} to
@code{t}, you can edit the file permissions.  For example, you can
change @samp{-rw-r--r--} to @samp{-rw-rw-rw-} to make a file
world-writable.  These changes also take effect when you type @kbd{C-c
C-c}.

@node Image-Dired
@section Viewing Image Thumbnails in Dired
@cindex image-dired mode
@cindex image-dired

  Image-Dired is a facility for browsing image files.  It provides viewing
the images either as thumbnails or in full size, either inside Emacs
or through an external viewer.

@kindex C-t d @r{(Image-Dired)}
@findex image-dired-display-thumbs
  To enter Image-Dired, mark the image files you want to look at in
the Dired buffer, using @kbd{m} as usual.  Then type @kbd{C-t d}
(@code{image-dired-display-thumbs}).  This creates and switches to a
buffer containing image-dired, corresponding to the marked files.

  You can also enter Image-Dired directly by typing @kbd{M-x
image-dired}.  This prompts for a directory; specify one that has
image files.  This creates thumbnails for all the images in that
directory, and displays them all in the thumbnail buffer.  This
takes a long time if the directory contains many image files, and it
asks for confirmation if the number of image files exceeds
@code{image-dired-show-all-from-dir-max-files}.

  With point in the thumbnail buffer, you can type @key{RET}
(@code{image-dired-display-thumbnail-original-image}) to display a
sized version of it in another window.  This sizes the image to fit
the window.  Use the arrow keys to move around in the buffer.  For
easy browsing, use @key{SPC}
(@code{image-dired-display-next-thumbnail-original}) to advance and
display the next image.  Typing @key{DEL}
(@code{image-dired-display-previous-thumbnail-original}) backs up to
the previous thumbnail and displays that instead.

@vindex image-dired-external-viewer
  To view and the image in its original size, either provide a prefix
argument (@kbd{C-u}) before pressing @key{RET}, or type
@kbd{C-@key{RET}} (@code{image-dired-thumbnail-display-external}) to
display the image in an external viewer.  You must first configure
@code{image-dired-external-viewer}.

  You can delete images through Image-Dired also.  Type @kbd{d}
(@code{image-dired-flag-thumb-original-file}) to flag the image file
for deletion in the Dired buffer.  You can also delete the thumbnail
image from the thumbnail buffer with @kbd{C-d}
(@code{image-dired-delete-char}).

  More advanced features include @dfn{image tags}, which are metadata
used to categorize image files.  The tags are stored in a plain text
file configured by @code{image-dired-db-file}.

  To tag image files, mark them in the dired buffer (you can also mark
files in Dired from the thumbnail buffer by typing @kbd{m}) and type
@kbd{C-t t} (@code{image-dired-tag-files}).  This reads the tag name
in the minibuffer.  To mark files having a certain tag, type @kbd{C-t f}
(@code{image-dired-mark-tagged-files}).  After marking image files
with a certain tag, you can use @kbd{C-t d} to view them.

  You can also tag a file directly from the thumbnail buffer by typing
@kbd{t t} and you can remove a tag by typing @kbd{t r}.  There is also
a special tag called ``comment'' for each file (it is not a tag in
the exact same sense as the other tags, it is handled slightly
differently).  That is used to enter a comment or description about the
image.  You comment a file from the thumbnail buffer by typing
@kbd{c}.  You will be prompted for a comment.  Type @kbd{C-t c} to add
a comment from Dired (@code{image-dired-dired-comment-files}).

  Image-Dired also provides simple image manipulation.  In the
thumbnail buffer, type @kbd{L} to rotate the original image 90 degrees
anti clockwise, and @kbd{R} to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise.  This
rotation is lossless, and uses an external utility called JpegTRAN.

@node Misc Dired Features
@section Other Dired Features

@kindex + @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-create-directory
  The command @kbd{+} (@code{dired-create-directory}) reads a
directory name, and creates that directory.  It signals an error if
the directory already exists.

@cindex searching multiple files via Dired
@kindex M-s a C-s @r{(Dired)}
@kindex M-s a M-C-s @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-do-isearch
@findex dired-do-isearch-regexp
  The command @kbd{M-s a C-s} (@code{dired-do-isearch}) begins a
multi-file incremental search on the marked files.  If a search
fails at the end of a file, typing @kbd{C-s} advances to the next
marked file and repeats the search; at the end of the last marked
file, the search wraps around to the first marked file.  The command
@kbd{M-s a M-C-s} (@code{dired-do-isearch-regexp}) does the same with
a regular expression search.  @xref{Repeat Isearch}, for information
about search repetition.

@cindex adding to the kill ring in Dired
@kindex w @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-copy-filename-as-kill
  The command @kbd{w} (@code{dired-copy-filename-as-kill}) puts the
names of the marked (or next @var{n}) files into the kill ring, as if
you had killed them with @kbd{C-w}.  The names are separated by a
space.

  With a zero prefix argument, this uses the absolute file name of
each marked file.  With just @kbd{C-u} as the prefix argument, it uses
file names relative to the Dired buffer's default directory.  (This
can still contain slashes if in a subdirectory.)  As a special case,
if point is on a directory headerline, @kbd{w} gives you the absolute
name of that directory.  Any prefix argument or marked files are
ignored in this case.

  The main purpose of this command is so that you can yank the file
names into arguments for other Emacs commands.  It also displays what
it added to the kill ring, so you can use it to display the list of
currently marked files in the echo area.

@kindex W @r{(Dired)}
@findex browse-url-of-dired-file
  If you have an HTML file in the file listing, it can be useful to
view that file with a browser.  The @kbd{W}
(@code{browse-url-of-dired-file}) command will use the standard
configured browser to view that file.

@kindex ( @r{(Dired)}
@findex dired-hide-details-mode
@vindex dired-hide-details-hide-symlink-targets
@vindex dired-hide-details-hide-information-lines
@cindex hiding details in Dired
  The command @kbd{(} (@code{dired-hide-details-mode}) toggles whether
details, such as ownership or file permissions, are visible in the
current Dired buffer.  By default, it also hides the targets of
symbolic links, and all lines other than the header line and
file/directory listings.  To change this, customize the options
@code{dired-hide-details-hide-symlink-targets} and
@code{dired-hide-details-hide-information-lines}, respectively.

@cindex Dired and version control
  If the directory you are visiting is under version control
(@pxref{Version Control}), then the normal VC diff and log commands
will operate on the selected files.

@findex dired-compare-directories
  The command @kbd{M-x dired-compare-directories} is used to compare
the current Dired buffer with another directory.  It marks all the files
that differ between the two directories.  It puts these marks
in all Dired buffers where these files are listed, which of course includes
the current buffer.

  The default comparison method (used if you type @key{RET} at the
prompt) is to compare just the file names---file names differ if
they do not appear in the other directory.  You can specify
more stringent comparisons by entering a Lisp expression, which can
refer to the variables @code{size1} and @code{size2}, the respective
file sizes; @code{mtime1} and @code{mtime2}, the last modification
times in seconds, as floating point numbers; and @code{fa1} and
@code{fa2}, the respective file attribute lists (as returned by the
function @code{file-attributes}).  This expression is evaluated for
each pair of like-named files, and files differ if the expression's
value is non-@code{nil}.

  For instance, the sequence @code{M-x dired-compare-directories
@key{RET} (> mtime1 mtime2) @key{RET}} marks files newer in this
directory than in the other, and marks files older in the other
directory than in this one.  It also marks files with no counterpart,
in both directories, as always.

@cindex drag and drop, Dired
  On the X Window System, Emacs supports the drag and drop
protocol.  You can drag a file object from another program, and drop
it onto a Dired buffer; this either moves, copies, or creates a link
to the file in that directory.  Precisely which action is taken is
determined by the originating program.  Dragging files out of a Dired
buffer is currently not supported.

debug log:

solving 2113381e3a ...
found 2113381e3a in https://yhetil.org/emacs-bugs/877ezcxtd3.fsf@calancha-pc/
found 28cb51d88b in https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git
preparing index
index prepared:
100644 28cb51d88bbe9ffb113e46812f4ab2bef29c2ec3	doc/emacs/dired.texi

applying [1/1] https://yhetil.org/emacs-bugs/877ezcxtd3.fsf@calancha-pc/
diff --git a/doc/emacs/dired.texi b/doc/emacs/dired.texi
index 28cb51d88b..2113381e3a 100644

Checking patch doc/emacs/dired.texi...
Applied patch doc/emacs/dired.texi cleanly.

index at:
100644 2113381e3a2fcd38cf55e3d3140334d6f31e1a78	doc/emacs/dired.texi

(*) Git path names are given by the tree(s) the blob belongs to.
    Blobs themselves have no identifier aside from the hash of its contents.^

Code repositories for project(s) associated with this public inbox

	https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git

This is a public inbox, see mirroring instructions
for how to clone and mirror all data and code used for this inbox;
as well as URLs for read-only IMAP folder(s) and NNTP newsgroup(s).