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
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
1715
1716
1717
1718
1719
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
1756
1757
1758
1759
1760
1761
1762
1763
1764
1765
1766
1767
1768
1769
1770
1771
1772
1773
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
| | @c -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 1999-2017 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Programs
@chapter Editing Programs
@cindex Lisp editing
@cindex C editing
@cindex program editing
This chapter describes Emacs features for facilitating editing
programs. Some of the things these features can do are:
@itemize @bullet
@item
Find or move over top-level definitions (@pxref{Defuns}).
@item
Apply the usual indentation conventions of the language
(@pxref{Program Indent}).
@item
Balance parentheses (@pxref{Parentheses}).
@item
Insert, kill or align comments (@pxref{Comments}).
@item
Highlight program syntax (@pxref{Font Lock}).
@end itemize
@menu
* Program Modes:: Major modes for editing programs.
* Defuns:: Commands to operate on major top-level parts
of a program.
* Program Indent:: Adjusting indentation to show the nesting.
* Parentheses:: Commands that operate on parentheses.
* Comments:: Inserting, killing, and aligning comments.
* Documentation:: Getting documentation of functions you plan to call.
* Hideshow:: Displaying blocks selectively.
* Symbol Completion:: Completion on symbol names of your program or language.
* MixedCase Words:: Dealing with identifiersLikeThis.
* Semantic:: Suite of editing tools based on source code parsing.
* Misc for Programs:: Other Emacs features useful for editing programs.
* C Modes:: Special commands of C, C++, Objective-C, Java,
IDL, Pike and AWK modes.
* Asm Mode:: Asm mode and its special features.
@ifnottex
* Fortran:: Fortran mode and its special features.
@end ifnottex
@end menu
@node Program Modes
@section Major Modes for Programming Languages
@cindex modes for programming languages
Emacs has specialized major modes (@pxref{Major Modes}) for many
programming languages. A programming language mode typically
specifies the syntax of expressions, the customary rules for
indentation, how to do syntax highlighting for the language, and how
to find the beginning or end of a function definition. It often has
features for compiling and debugging programs as well. The major mode
for each language is named after the language; for instance, the major
mode for the C programming language is @code{c-mode}.
@cindex Perl mode
@cindex Icon mode
@cindex Makefile mode
@cindex Tcl mode
@cindex CPerl mode
@cindex DSSSL mode
@cindex Octave mode
@cindex Metafont mode
@cindex Modula2 mode
@cindex Prolog mode
@cindex Python mode
@cindex Ruby mode
@cindex Simula mode
@cindex VHDL mode
@cindex M4 mode
@cindex Shell-script mode
@cindex OPascal mode
@cindex PostScript mode
@cindex Conf mode
@cindex DNS mode
@cindex Javascript mode
Emacs has programming language modes for Lisp, Scheme, the
Scheme-based DSSSL expression language, Ada, ASM, AWK, C, C++,
Fortran, Icon, IDL (CORBA), IDLWAVE, Java, Javascript, Metafont
(@TeX{}'s companion for font creation), Modula2, Object Pascal, Objective-C,
Octave, Pascal, Perl, Pike, PostScript, Prolog, Python, Ruby, Simula, Tcl,
and VHDL@. An alternative mode for Perl is called CPerl mode. Modes are
also available for the scripting languages of the common GNU and Unix
shells, and MS-DOS/MS-Windows @samp{BAT} files, and for makefiles,
DNS master files, and various sorts of configuration files.
Ideally, Emacs should have a major mode for each programming
language that you might want to edit. If it doesn't have a mode for
your favorite language, the mode might be implemented in a package not
distributed with Emacs (@pxref{Packages}); or you can contribute one.
@kindex DEL @r{(programming modes)}
@findex backward-delete-char-untabify
In most programming languages, indentation should vary from line to
line to illustrate the structure of the program. Therefore, in most
programming language modes, typing @key{TAB} updates the indentation
of the current line (@pxref{Program Indent}). Furthermore, @key{DEL}
is usually bound to @code{backward-delete-char-untabify}, which
deletes backward treating each tab as if it were the equivalent number
of spaces, so that you can delete one column of indentation without
worrying whether the whitespace consists of spaces or tabs.
@cindex mode hook
@vindex c-mode-hook
@vindex lisp-mode-hook
@vindex emacs-lisp-mode-hook
@vindex lisp-interaction-mode-hook
@vindex scheme-mode-hook
Entering a programming language mode runs the custom Lisp functions
specified in the hook variable @code{prog-mode-hook}, followed by
those specified in the mode's own mode hook (@pxref{Major Modes}).
For instance, entering C mode runs the hooks @code{prog-mode-hook} and
@code{c-mode-hook}. @xref{Hooks}, for information about hooks.
@ifnottex
Separate manuals are available for the modes for Ada (@pxref{Top,,
Ada Mode, ada-mode, Ada Mode}), C/C++/Objective C/Java/Corba
IDL/Pike/AWK (@pxref{Top, , CC Mode, ccmode, CC Mode}), and IDLWAVE
(@pxref{Top,, IDLWAVE, idlwave, IDLWAVE User Manual}).
@end ifnottex
@iftex
The Emacs distribution contains Info manuals for the major modes for
Ada, C/C++/Objective C/Java/Corba IDL/Pike/AWK, and IDLWAVE@. For
Fortran mode, @pxref{Fortran,,, emacs-xtra, Specialized Emacs Features}.
@end iftex
@node Defuns
@section Top-Level Definitions, or Defuns
In Emacs, a major definition at the top level in the buffer, such as
a function, is called a @dfn{defun}. The name comes from Lisp, but in
Emacs we use it for all languages.
@menu
* Left Margin Paren:: An open-paren or similar opening delimiter
starts a defun if it is at the left margin.
* Moving by Defuns:: Commands to move over or mark a major definition.
* Imenu:: Making buffer indexes as menus.
* Which Function:: Which Function mode shows which function you are in.
@end menu
@node Left Margin Paren
@subsection Left Margin Convention
@cindex open-parenthesis in leftmost column
@cindex ( in leftmost column
Many programming-language modes assume by default that any opening
delimiter found at the left margin is the start of a top-level
definition, or defun. Therefore, @strong{don't put an opening
delimiter at the left margin unless it should have that significance}.
For instance, never put an open-parenthesis at the left margin in a
Lisp file unless it is the start of a top-level list.
The convention speeds up many Emacs operations, which would
otherwise have to scan back to the beginning of the buffer to analyze
the syntax of the code.
If you don't follow this convention, not only will you have trouble
when you explicitly use the commands for motion by defuns; other
features that use them will also give you trouble. This includes the
indentation commands (@pxref{Program Indent}) and Font Lock mode
(@pxref{Font Lock}).
The most likely problem case is when you want an opening delimiter
at the start of a line inside a string. To avoid trouble, put an
escape character (@samp{\}, in C and Emacs Lisp, @samp{/} in some
other Lisp dialects) before the opening delimiter. This will not
affect the contents of the string, but will prevent that opening
delimiter from starting a defun. Here's an example:
@example
(insert "Foo:
\(bar)
")
@end example
To help you catch violations of this convention, Font Lock mode
highlights confusing opening delimiters (those that ought to be
quoted) in bold red.
@vindex open-paren-in-column-0-is-defun-start
If you need to override this convention, you can do so by setting
the variable @code{open-paren-in-column-0-is-defun-start}.
If this user option is set to @code{t} (the default), opening
parentheses or braces at column zero always start defuns. When it is
@code{nil}, defuns are found by searching for parens or braces at the
outermost level.
Usually, you should leave this option at its default value of
@code{t}. If your buffer contains parentheses or braces in column
zero which don't start defuns, and it is somehow impractical to remove
these parentheses or braces, it might be helpful to set the option to
@code{nil}. Be aware that this might make scrolling and display in
large buffers quite sluggish. Furthermore, the parentheses and braces
must be correctly matched throughout the buffer for it to work
properly.
@node Moving by Defuns
@subsection Moving by Defuns
@cindex defuns
These commands move point or set up the region based on top-level
major definitions, also called @dfn{defuns}.
@table @kbd
@item C-M-a
Move to beginning of current or preceding defun
(@code{beginning-of-defun}).
@item C-M-e
Move to end of current or following defun (@code{end-of-defun}).
@item C-M-h
Put region around whole current or following defun (@code{mark-defun}).
@end table
@cindex move to beginning or end of function
@cindex function, move to beginning or end
@kindex C-M-a
@kindex C-M-e
@kindex C-M-h
@findex beginning-of-defun
@findex end-of-defun
@findex mark-defun
The commands to move to the beginning and end of the current defun
are @kbd{C-M-a} (@code{beginning-of-defun}) and @kbd{C-M-e}
(@code{end-of-defun}). If you repeat one of these commands, or use a
positive numeric argument, each repetition moves to the next defun in
the direction of motion.
@kbd{C-M-a} with a negative argument @minus{}@var{n} moves forward
@var{n} times to the next beginning of a defun. This is not exactly
the same place that @kbd{C-M-e} with argument @var{n} would move to;
the end of this defun is not usually exactly the same place as the
beginning of the following defun. (Whitespace, comments, and perhaps
declarations can separate them.) Likewise, @kbd{C-M-e} with a
negative argument moves back to an end of a defun, which is not quite
the same as @kbd{C-M-a} with a positive argument.
@kindex C-M-h @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-mark-function
To operate on the current defun, use @kbd{C-M-h}
(@code{mark-defun}), which sets the mark at the end of the current
defun and puts point at its beginning. @xref{Marking Objects}. This
is the easiest way to get ready to kill the defun in order to move it
to a different place in the file. If the defun is directly preceded
by comments (with no intervening blank lines), they are marked, too.
If you use the command while point is between defuns, it uses the
following defun. If you use the command while the mark is already
active, it extends the end of the region to include one more defun.
With a prefix argument, it marks that many defuns or extends the
region by the appropriate number of defuns. With negative prefix
argument it marks defuns in the opposite direction and also changes
the direction of selecting for subsequent uses of @code{mark-defun}.
In C mode, @kbd{C-M-h} runs the function @code{c-mark-function},
which is almost the same as @code{mark-defun}; the difference is that
it backs up over the argument declarations, function name and returned
data type so that the entire C function is inside the region. This is
an example of how major modes adjust the standard key bindings so that
they do their standard jobs in a way better fitting a particular
language. Other major modes may replace any or all of these key
bindings for that purpose.
@node Imenu
@subsection Imenu
@cindex index of buffer definitions
@cindex buffer definitions index
The Imenu facility offers a way to find the major definitions in
a file by name. It is also useful in text formatter major modes,
where it treats each chapter, section, etc., as a definition.
(@xref{Xref}, for a more powerful feature that handles multiple files
together.)
@findex imenu
If you type @kbd{M-x imenu}, it reads the name of a definition using
the minibuffer, then moves point to that definition. You can use
completion to specify the name; the command always displays the whole
list of valid names.
@findex imenu-add-menubar-index
Alternatively, you can bind the command @code{imenu} to a mouse
click. Then it displays mouse menus for you to select a definition
name. You can also add the buffer's index to the menu bar by calling
@code{imenu-add-menubar-index}. If you want to have this menu bar
item available for all buffers in a certain major mode, you can do
this by adding @code{imenu-add-menubar-index} to its mode hook. But
if you have done that, you will have to wait a little while each time
you visit a file in that mode, while Emacs finds all the definitions
in that buffer.
@vindex imenu-auto-rescan
When you change the contents of a buffer, if you add or delete
definitions, you can update the buffer's index based on the
new contents by invoking the @samp{*Rescan*} item in the menu.
Rescanning happens automatically if you set @code{imenu-auto-rescan} to
a non-@code{nil} value. There is no need to rescan because of small
changes in the text.
@vindex imenu-sort-function
You can customize the way the menus are sorted by setting the
variable @code{imenu-sort-function}. By default, names are ordered as
they occur in the buffer; if you want alphabetic sorting, use the
symbol @code{imenu--sort-by-name} as the value. You can also
define your own comparison function by writing Lisp code.
Imenu provides the information to guide Which Function mode
@ifnottex
(@pxref{Which Function}).
@end ifnottex
@iftex
(see below).
@end iftex
The Speedbar can also use it (@pxref{Speedbar}).
@node Which Function
@subsection Which Function Mode
@cindex current function name in mode line
Which Function mode is a global minor mode (@pxref{Minor Modes})
which displays the current function name in the mode line, updating it
as you move around in a buffer.
@findex which-function-mode
@vindex which-func-modes
To either enable or disable Which Function mode, use the command
@kbd{M-x which-function-mode}. Which Function mode is a global minor
mode. By default, it takes effect in all major modes that
know how to support it (i.e., all the major modes that support
Imenu). You can restrict it to a specific list of major modes by
changing the value of the variable @code{which-func-modes} from
@code{t} (which means to support all available major modes) to a list
of major mode names.
@node Program Indent
@section Indentation for Programs
@cindex indentation for programs
The best way to keep a program properly indented is to use Emacs to
reindent it as you change it. Emacs has commands to indent either a
single line, a specified number of lines, or all of the lines inside a
single parenthetical grouping.
@xref{Indentation}, for general information about indentation. This
section describes indentation features specific to programming
language modes.
@menu
* Basic Indent:: Indenting a single line.
* Multi-line Indent:: Commands to reindent many lines at once.
* Lisp Indent:: Specifying how each Lisp function should be indented.
* C Indent:: Extra features for indenting C and related modes.
* Custom C Indent:: Controlling indentation style for C and related modes.
@end menu
@cindex pretty-printer
Emacs also provides a Lisp pretty-printer in the @code{pp} package,
which reformats Lisp objects with nice-looking indentation.
@node Basic Indent
@subsection Basic Program Indentation Commands
@table @kbd
@item @key{TAB}
Adjust indentation of current line (@code{indent-for-tab-command}).
@item @key{RET}
Insert a newline, then adjust indentation of following line
(@code{newline}).
@end table
@kindex TAB @r{(programming modes)}
@findex c-indent-command
@findex indent-line-function
@findex indent-for-tab-command
The basic indentation command is @key{TAB}
(@code{indent-for-tab-command}), which was documented in
@ref{Indentation}. In programming language modes, @key{TAB} indents
the current line, based on the indentation and syntactic content of
the preceding lines; if the region is active, @key{TAB} indents each
line within the region, not just the current line.
The command @key{RET} (@code{newline}), which was documented in
@ref{Inserting Text}, does the same as @kbd{C-j} followed by
@key{TAB}: it inserts a new line, then adjusts the line's indentation.
When indenting a line that starts within a parenthetical grouping,
Emacs usually places the start of the line under the preceding line
within the group, or under the text after the parenthesis. If you
manually give one of these lines a nonstandard indentation (e.g., for
aesthetic purposes), the lines below will follow it.
The indentation commands for most programming language modes assume
that a open-parenthesis, open-brace or other opening delimiter at the
left margin is the start of a function. If the code you are editing
violates this assumption---even if the delimiters occur in strings or
comments---you must set @code{open-paren-in-column-0-is-defun-start}
to @code{nil} for indentation to work properly. @xref{Left Margin
Paren}.
@node Multi-line Indent
@subsection Indenting Several Lines
Sometimes, you may want to reindent several lines of code at a time.
One way to do this is to use the mark; when the mark is active and the
region is non-empty, @key{TAB} indents every line in the region.
Alternatively, the command @kbd{C-M-\} (@code{indent-region}) indents
every line in the region, whether or not the mark is active
(@pxref{Indentation Commands}).
In addition, Emacs provides the following commands for indenting
large chunks of code:
@table @kbd
@item C-M-q
Reindent all the lines within one parenthetical grouping.
@item C-u @key{TAB}
Shift an entire parenthetical grouping rigidly sideways so that its
first line is properly indented.
@item M-x indent-code-rigidly
Shift all the lines in the region rigidly sideways, but do not alter
lines that start inside comments and strings.
@end table
@kindex C-M-q
@findex indent-pp-sexp
To reindent the contents of a single parenthetical grouping,
position point before the beginning of the grouping and type
@kbd{C-M-q}. This changes the relative indentation within the
grouping, without affecting its overall indentation (i.e., the
indentation of the line where the grouping starts). The function that
@kbd{C-M-q} runs depends on the major mode; it is
@code{indent-pp-sexp} in Lisp mode, @code{c-indent-exp} in C mode,
etc. To correct the overall indentation as well, type @key{TAB}
first.
@kindex C-u TAB
If you like the relative indentation within a grouping but not the
indentation of its first line, move point to that first line and type
@kbd{C-u @key{TAB}}. In Lisp, C, and some other major modes,
@key{TAB} with a numeric argument reindents the current line as usual,
then reindents by the same amount all the lines in the parenthetical
grouping starting on the current line. It is clever, though, and does
not alter lines that start inside strings. Neither does it alter C
preprocessor lines when in C mode, but it does reindent any
continuation lines that may be attached to them.
@findex indent-code-rigidly
The command @kbd{M-x indent-code-rigidly} rigidly shifts all the
lines in the region sideways, like @code{indent-rigidly} does
(@pxref{Indentation Commands}). It doesn't alter the indentation of
lines that start inside a string, unless the region also starts inside
that string. The prefix arg specifies the number of columns to
indent.
@node Lisp Indent
@subsection Customizing Lisp Indentation
@cindex customizing Lisp indentation
The indentation pattern for a Lisp expression can depend on the function
called by the expression. For each Lisp function, you can choose among
several predefined patterns of indentation, or define an arbitrary one with
a Lisp program.
The standard pattern of indentation is as follows: the second line of the
expression is indented under the first argument, if that is on the same
line as the beginning of the expression; otherwise, the second line is
indented underneath the function name. Each following line is indented
under the previous line whose nesting depth is the same.
@vindex lisp-indent-offset
If the variable @code{lisp-indent-offset} is non-@code{nil}, it overrides
the usual indentation pattern for the second line of an expression, so that
such lines are always indented @code{lisp-indent-offset} more columns than
the containing list.
@vindex lisp-body-indent
Certain functions override the standard pattern. Functions whose
names start with @code{def} treat the second lines as the start of
a @dfn{body}, by indenting the second line @code{lisp-body-indent}
additional columns beyond the open-parenthesis that starts the
expression.
@cindex @code{lisp-indent-function} property
You can override the standard pattern in various ways for individual
functions, according to the @code{lisp-indent-function} property of
the function name. This is normally done for macro definitions, using
the @code{declare} construct. @xref{Defining Macros,,, elisp, the
Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}.
@node C Indent
@subsection Commands for C Indentation
Here are special features for indentation in C mode and related modes:
@table @code
@item C-c C-q
@kindex C-c C-q @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-indent-defun
Reindent the current top-level function definition or aggregate type
declaration (@code{c-indent-defun}).
@item C-M-q
@kindex C-M-q @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-indent-exp
Reindent each line in the balanced expression that follows point
(@code{c-indent-exp}). A prefix argument inhibits warning messages
about invalid syntax.
@item @key{TAB}
@findex c-indent-command
Reindent the current line, and/or in some cases insert a tab character
(@code{c-indent-command}).
@vindex c-tab-always-indent
If @code{c-tab-always-indent} is @code{t}, this command always reindents
the current line and does nothing else. This is the default.
If that variable is @code{nil}, this command reindents the current line
only if point is at the left margin or in the line's indentation;
otherwise, it inserts a tab (or the equivalent number of spaces,
if @code{indent-tabs-mode} is @code{nil}).
Any other value (not @code{nil} or @code{t}) means always reindent the
line, and also insert a tab if within a comment or a string.
@end table
To reindent the whole current buffer, type @kbd{C-x h C-M-\}. This
first selects the whole buffer as the region, then reindents that
region.
To reindent the current block, use @kbd{C-M-u C-M-q}. This moves
to the front of the block and then reindents it all.
@node Custom C Indent
@subsection Customizing C Indentation
@cindex style (for indentation)
C mode and related modes use a flexible mechanism for customizing
indentation. C mode indents a source line in two steps: first it
classifies the line syntactically according to its contents and
context; second, it determines the indentation offset associated by
your selected @dfn{style} with the syntactic construct and adds this
onto the indentation of the @dfn{anchor statement}.
@table @kbd
@item C-c . @var{style} @key{RET}
Select a predefined style @var{style} (@code{c-set-style}).
@end table
A @dfn{style} is a named collection of customizations that can be
used in C mode and the related modes. @ref{Styles,,, ccmode, The CC
Mode Manual}, for a complete description. Emacs comes with several
predefined styles, including @code{gnu}, @code{k&r}, @code{bsd},
@code{stroustrup}, @code{linux}, @code{python}, @code{java},
@code{whitesmith}, @code{ellemtel}, and @code{awk}. Some of these
styles are primarily intended for one language, but any of them can be
used with any of the languages supported by these modes. To find out
what a style looks like, select it and reindent some code, e.g., by
typing @kbd{C-M-q} at the start of a function definition.
@kindex C-c . @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-set-style
To choose a style for the current buffer, use the command @w{@kbd{C-c
.}}. Specify a style name as an argument (case is not significant).
This command affects the current buffer only, and it affects only
future invocations of the indentation commands; it does not reindent
the code already in the buffer. To reindent the whole buffer in the
new style, you can type @kbd{C-x h C-M-\}.
@vindex c-default-style
You can also set the variable @code{c-default-style} to specify the
default style for various major modes. Its value should be either the
style's name (a string) or an alist, in which each element specifies
one major mode and which indentation style to use for it. For
example,
@example
(setq c-default-style
'((java-mode . "java")
(awk-mode . "awk")
(other . "gnu")))
@end example
@noindent
specifies explicit choices for Java and AWK modes, and the default
@samp{gnu} style for the other C-like modes. (These settings are
actually the defaults.) This variable takes effect when you select
one of the C-like major modes; thus, if you specify a new default
style for Java mode, you can make it take effect in an existing Java
mode buffer by typing @kbd{M-x java-mode} there.
The @code{gnu} style specifies the formatting recommended by the GNU
Project for C; it is the default, so as to encourage use of our
recommended style.
@xref{Indentation Engine Basics,,, ccmode, the CC Mode Manual}, and
@ref{Customizing Indentation,,, ccmode, the CC Mode Manual}, for more
information on customizing indentation for C and related modes,
including how to override parts of an existing style and how to define
your own styles.
@findex c-guess
@findex c-guess-install
As an alternative to specifying a style, you can tell Emacs to guess
a style by typing @kbd{M-x c-guess} in a sample code buffer. You can
then apply the guessed style to other buffers with @kbd{M-x
c-guess-install}. @xref{Guessing the Style,,, ccmode, the CC Mode
Manual}, for details.
@node Parentheses
@section Commands for Editing with Parentheses
@findex check-parens
@cindex unbalanced parentheses and quotes
This section describes the commands and features that take advantage
of the parenthesis structure in a program, or help you keep it
balanced.
When talking about these facilities, the term ``parenthesis'' also
includes braces, brackets, or whatever delimiters are defined to match
in pairs. The major mode controls which delimiters are significant,
through the syntax table (@pxref{Syntax Tables,, Syntax Tables, elisp,
The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual}). In Lisp, only parentheses count;
in C, these commands apply to braces and brackets too.
You can use @kbd{M-x check-parens} to find any unbalanced
parentheses and unbalanced string quotes in the buffer.
@menu
* Expressions:: Expressions with balanced parentheses.
* Moving by Parens:: Commands for moving up, down and across
in the structure of parentheses.
* Matching:: Insertion of a close-delimiter flashes matching open.
@end menu
@node Expressions
@subsection Expressions with Balanced Parentheses
@cindex sexp
@cindex expression
@cindex balanced expression
Each programming language mode has its own definition of a
@dfn{balanced expression}. Balanced expressions typically include
individual symbols, numbers, and string constants, as well as pieces
of code enclosed in a matching pair of delimiters. The following
commands deal with balanced expressions (in Emacs, such expressions
are referred to internally as @dfn{sexps}@footnote{The word ``sexp''
is used to refer to an expression in Lisp.}).
@table @kbd
@item C-M-f
Move forward over a balanced expression (@code{forward-sexp}).
@item C-M-b
Move backward over a balanced expression (@code{backward-sexp}).
@item C-M-k
Kill balanced expression forward (@code{kill-sexp}).
@item C-M-t
Transpose expressions (@code{transpose-sexps}).
@item C-M-@@
@itemx C-M-@key{SPC}
Put mark after following expression (@code{mark-sexp}).
@end table
@kindex C-M-f
@kindex C-M-b
@findex forward-sexp
@findex backward-sexp
To move forward over a balanced expression, use @kbd{C-M-f}
(@code{forward-sexp}). If the first significant character after point
is an opening delimiter (e.g., @samp{(}, @samp{[} or @samp{@{} in C),
this command moves past the matching closing delimiter. If the
character begins a symbol, string, or number, the command moves over
that.
The command @kbd{C-M-b} (@code{backward-sexp}) moves backward over a
balanced expression---like @kbd{C-M-f}, but in the reverse direction.
If the expression is preceded by any prefix characters (single-quote,
backquote and comma, in Lisp), the command moves back over them as
well.
@kbd{C-M-f} or @kbd{C-M-b} with an argument repeats that operation
the specified number of times; with a negative argument means to move
in the opposite direction. In most modes, these two commands move
across comments as if they were whitespace. Note that their keys,
@kbd{C-M-f} and @kbd{C-M-b}, are analogous to @kbd{C-f} and @kbd{C-b},
which move by characters (@pxref{Moving Point}), and @kbd{M-f} and
@kbd{M-b}, which move by words (@pxref{Words}).
@cindex killing expressions
@kindex C-M-k
@findex kill-sexp
To kill a whole balanced expression, type @kbd{C-M-k}
(@code{kill-sexp}). This kills the text that @kbd{C-M-f} would move
over.
@cindex transposition of expressions
@kindex C-M-t
@findex transpose-sexps
@kbd{C-M-t} (@code{transpose-sexps}) switches the positions of the
previous balanced expression and the next one. It is analogous to the
@kbd{C-t} command, which transposes characters (@pxref{Transpose}).
An argument to @kbd{C-M-t} serves as a repeat count, moving the
previous expression over that many following ones. A negative
argument moves the previous balanced expression backwards across those
before it. An argument of zero, rather than doing nothing, transposes
the balanced expressions ending at or after point and the mark.
@kindex C-M-@@
@kindex C-M-@key{SPC}
@findex mark-sexp
To operate on balanced expressions with a command which acts on the
region, type @kbd{C-M-@key{SPC}} (@code{mark-sexp}). This sets the
mark where @kbd{C-M-f} would move to. While the mark is active, each
successive call to this command extends the region by shifting the
mark by one expression. Positive or negative numeric arguments move
the mark forward or backward by the specified number of expressions.
The alias @kbd{C-M-@@} is equivalent to @kbd{C-M-@key{SPC}}.
@xref{Marking Objects}, for more information about this and related
commands.
In languages that use infix operators, such as C, it is not possible
to recognize all balanced expressions because there can be multiple
possibilities at a given position. For example, C mode does not treat
@samp{foo + bar} as a single expression, even though it @emph{is} one
C expression; instead, it recognizes @samp{foo} as one expression and
@samp{bar} as another, with the @samp{+} as punctuation between them.
However, C mode recognizes @samp{(foo + bar)} as a single expression,
because of the parentheses.
@node Moving by Parens
@subsection Moving in the Parenthesis Structure
@cindex parenthetical groupings
@cindex parentheses, moving across
@cindex matching parenthesis and braces, moving to
@cindex braces, moving across
@cindex list commands
The following commands move over groupings delimited by parentheses
(or whatever else serves as delimiters in the language you are working
with). They ignore strings and comments, including any parentheses
within them, and also ignore parentheses that are quoted with an
escape character. These commands are mainly intended for editing
programs, but can be useful for editing any text containing
parentheses. They are referred to internally as ``list commands''
because in Lisp these groupings are lists.
These commands assume that the starting point is not inside a string
or a comment. If you invoke them from inside a string or comment, the
results are unreliable.
@table @kbd
@item C-M-n
Move forward over a parenthetical group (@code{forward-list}).
@item C-M-p
Move backward over a parenthetical group (@code{backward-list}).
@item C-M-u
Move up in parenthesis structure (@code{backward-up-list}).
@item C-M-d
Move down in parenthesis structure (@code{down-list}).
@end table
@kindex C-M-n
@kindex C-M-p
@findex forward-list
@findex backward-list
The list commands @kbd{C-M-n} (@code{forward-list}) and
@kbd{C-M-p} (@code{backward-list}) move forward or backward over one
(or @var{n}) parenthetical groupings.
@kindex C-M-u
@findex backward-up-list
@kbd{C-M-n} and @kbd{C-M-p} try to stay at the same level in the
parenthesis structure. To move @emph{up} one (or @var{n}) levels, use
@kbd{C-M-u} (@code{backward-up-list}). @kbd{C-M-u} moves backward up
past one unmatched opening delimiter. A positive argument serves as a
repeat count; a negative argument reverses the direction of motion, so
that the command moves forward and up one or more levels.
@kindex C-M-d
@findex down-list
To move @emph{down} in the parenthesis structure, use @kbd{C-M-d}
(@code{down-list}). In Lisp mode, where @samp{(} is the only opening
delimiter, this is nearly the same as searching for a @samp{(}. An
argument specifies the number of levels to go down.
@node Matching
@subsection Matching Parentheses
@cindex matching parentheses
@cindex parentheses, displaying matches
Emacs has a number of @dfn{parenthesis matching} features, which
make it easy to see how and whether parentheses (or other delimiters)
match up.
Whenever you type a self-inserting character that is a closing
delimiter, Emacs briefly indicates the location of the matching
opening delimiter, provided that is on the screen. If it is not on
the screen, Emacs displays some of the text near it in the echo area.
Either way, you can tell which grouping you are closing off. If the
opening delimiter and closing delimiter are mismatched---such as in
@samp{[x)}---a warning message is displayed in the echo area.
@vindex blink-matching-paren
@vindex blink-matching-paren-distance
@vindex blink-matching-delay
Three variables control the display of matching parentheses:
@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{blink-matching-paren} turns the feature on or off: @code{nil}
disables it, but the default is @code{t} to enable it. Set it to
@code{jump} to make indication work by momentarily moving the cursor
to the matching opening delimiter. Set it to @code{jump-offscreen} to
make the cursor jump, even if the opening delimiter is off screen.
@item
@code{blink-matching-delay} says how many seconds to keep indicating
the matching opening delimiter. This may be an integer or
floating-point number; the default is 1.
@item
@code{blink-matching-paren-distance} specifies how many characters
back to search to find the matching opening delimiter. If the match
is not found in that distance, Emacs stops scanning and nothing is
displayed. The default is 102400.
@end itemize
@cindex Show Paren mode
@cindex highlighting matching parentheses
@findex show-paren-mode
Show Paren mode, a global minor mode, provides a more powerful kind
of automatic matching. Whenever point is before an opening delimiter
or after a closing delimiter, the delimiter, its matching delimiter,
and optionally the text between them are highlighted. To toggle Show
Paren mode, type @kbd{M-x show-paren-mode}. To customize it, type
@kbd{M-x customize-group @key{RET} paren-showing}. The customizable
options which control the operation of this mode include:
@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{show-paren-highlight-open-paren} controls whether to highlight
an open paren when point stands just before it, and hence its position
is marked by the cursor anyway. The default is non-@code{nil} (yes).
@item
@code{show-paren-style} controls whether just the two parens, or also
the space between them get highlighted. The valid options here are
@code{parenthesis} (show the matching paren), @code{expression}
(highlight the entire expression enclosed by the parens), and
@code{mixed} (highlight the matching paren if it is visible, the
expression otherwise).
@item
@code{show-paren-when-point-inside-paren}, when non-@code{nil}, causes
highlighting also when point is on the inside of a parenthesis.
@item
@code{show-paren-when-point-in-periphery}, when non-@code{nil}, causes
highlighting also when point is in whitespace at the beginning or end
of a line, and there is a paren at, respectively, the first or last,
or the last, non-whitespace position on the line.
@end itemize
@cindex Electric Pair mode
@cindex inserting matching parentheses
@findex electric-pair-mode
Electric Pair mode, a global minor mode, provides a way to easily
insert matching delimiters. Whenever you insert an opening delimiter,
the matching closing delimiter is automatically inserted as well,
leaving point between the two. Conversely, when you insert a closing
delimiter over an existing one, no inserting takes places and that
position is simply skipped over. These variables control additional
features of Electric Pair mode:
@itemize @bullet
@item
@vindex electric-pair-preserve-balance
@code{electric-pair-preserve-balance}, when non-@code{nil}, makes the
default pairing logic balance out the number of opening and closing
delimiters.
@item
@vindex electric-pair-delete-adjacent-pairs
@code{electric-pair-delete-adjacent-pairs}, when non-@code{nil}, makes
backspacing between two adjacent delimiters also automatically delete
the closing delimiter.
@item
@vindex electric-pair-open-newline-between-pairs
@code{electric-pair-open-newline-between-pairs}, when non-@code{nil},
makes inserting a newline between two adjacent pairs also
automatically open an extra newline after point.
@item
@vindex electric-pair-skip-whitespace
@code{electric-pair-skip-whitespace}, when non-@code{nil}, causes the minor
mode to skip whitespace forward before deciding whether to skip over
the closing delimiter.
@end itemize
To toggle Electric Pair mode, type @kbd{M-x electric-pair-mode}. To
toggle the mode in a single buffer, use @kbd{M-x
electric-pair-local-mode}.
@node Comments
@section Manipulating Comments
@cindex comments
Because comments are such an important part of programming, Emacs
provides special commands for editing and inserting comments. It can
also do spell checking on comments with Flyspell Prog mode
(@pxref{Spelling}).
Some major modes have special rules for indenting different kinds of
comments. For example, in Lisp code, comments starting with two
semicolons are indented as if they were lines of code, while those
starting with three semicolons are supposed to be aligned to the left
margin and are often used for sectioning purposes. Emacs understand
these conventions; for instance, typing @key{TAB} on a comment line
will indent the comment to the appropriate position.
@example
;; This function is just an example.
;;; Here either two or three semicolons are appropriate.
(defun foo (x)
;;; And now, the first part of the function:
;; The following line adds one.
(1+ x)) ; This line adds one.
@end example
@menu
* Comment Commands:: Inserting, killing, and aligning comments.
* Multi-Line Comments:: Commands for adding and editing multi-line comments.
* Options for Comments::Customizing the comment features.
@end menu
@node Comment Commands
@subsection Comment Commands
@cindex indentation for comments
@cindex alignment for comments
The following commands operate on comments:
@table @asis
@item @kbd{M-;}
Insert or realign comment on current line; if the region is active,
comment or uncomment the region instead (@code{comment-dwim}).
@item @kbd{C-x C-;}
Comment or uncomment the current line (@code{comment-line}).
@item @kbd{C-u M-;}
Kill comment on current line (@code{comment-kill}).
@item @kbd{C-x ;}
Set comment column (@code{comment-set-column}).
@item @kbd{C-M-j}
@itemx @kbd{M-j}
Like @key{RET} followed by inserting and aligning a comment
(@code{comment-indent-new-line}). @xref{Multi-Line Comments}.
@item @kbd{M-x comment-region}
@itemx @kbd{C-c C-c} (in C-like modes)
Add comment delimiters to all the lines in the region.
@end table
@kindex M-;
@findex comment-dwim
The command to create or align a comment is @kbd{M-;}
(@code{comment-dwim}). The word ``dwim'' is an acronym for ``Do What
I Mean''; it indicates that this command can be used for many
different jobs relating to comments, depending on the situation where
you use it.
When a region is active (@pxref{Mark}), @kbd{M-;} either adds
comment delimiters to the region, or removes them. If every line in
the region is already a comment, it uncomments each of those lines
by removing their comment delimiters. Otherwise, it adds comment
delimiters to enclose the text in the region.
If you supply a prefix argument to @kbd{M-;} when a region is
active, that specifies the number of comment delimiters to add or
delete. A positive argument @var{n} adds @var{n} delimiters, while a
negative argument @var{-n} removes @var{n} delimiters.
If the region is not active, and there is no existing comment on the
current line, @kbd{M-;} adds a new comment to the current line. If
the line is blank (i.e., empty or containing only whitespace
characters), the comment is indented to the same position where
@key{TAB} would indent to (@pxref{Basic Indent}). If the line is
non-blank, the comment is placed after the last non-whitespace
character on the line; normally, Emacs tries putting it at the column
specified by the variable @code{comment-column} (@pxref{Options for
Comments}), but if the line already extends past that column, it puts
the comment at some suitable position, usually separated from the
non-comment text by at least one space. In each case, Emacs places
point after the comment's starting delimiter, so that you can start
typing the comment text right away.
You can also use @kbd{M-;} to align an existing comment. If a line
already contains the comment-start string, @kbd{M-;} realigns it to
the conventional alignment and moves point after the comment's
starting delimiter. As an exception, comments starting in column 0
are not moved. Even when an existing comment is properly aligned,
@kbd{M-;} is still useful for moving directly to the start of the
comment text.
@findex comment-line
@kindex C-x C-;
@kbd{C-x C-;} (@code{comment-line}) comments or uncomments complete
lines. When a region is active (@pxref{Mark}), @kbd{C-x C-;} either
comments or uncomments the lines in the region. If the region is not
active, this command comments or uncomments the line point is on.
With a positive prefix argument @var{n}, it operates on @var{n} lines
starting with the current one; with a negative @var{n}, it affects
@var{n} preceding lines. After invoking this command with a negative
argument, successive invocations with a positive argument will operate
on preceding lines as if the argument were negated.
@findex comment-kill
@kindex C-u M-;
@kbd{C-u M-;} (@code{comment-dwim} with a prefix argument) kills any
comment on the current line, along with the whitespace before it.
Since the comment is saved to the kill ring, you can reinsert it on
another line by moving to the end of that line, doing @kbd{C-y}, and
then @kbd{M-;} to realign the comment. You can achieve the same
effect as @kbd{C-u M-;} by typing @kbd{M-x comment-kill}
(@code{comment-dwim} actually calls @code{comment-kill} as a
subroutine when it is given a prefix argument).
@kindex C-c C-c (C mode)
@findex comment-region
@findex uncomment-region
The command @kbd{M-x comment-region} is equivalent to calling
@kbd{M-;} on an active region, except that it always acts on the
region, even if the mark is inactive. In C mode and related modes,
this command is bound to @kbd{C-c C-c}. The command @kbd{M-x
uncomment-region} uncomments each line in the region; a numeric prefix
argument specifies the number of comment delimiters to remove
(negative arguments specify the number of comment to delimiters to
add).
For C-like modes, you can configure the exact effect of @kbd{M-;} by
setting the variables @code{c-indent-comment-alist} and
@code{c-indent-comments-syntactically-p}. For example, on a line
ending in a closing brace, @kbd{M-;} puts the comment one space after
the brace rather than at @code{comment-column}. For full details see
@ref{Comment Commands,,, ccmode, The CC Mode Manual}.
@node Multi-Line Comments
@subsection Multiple Lines of Comments
@kindex C-M-j
@kindex M-j
@cindex blank lines in programs
@findex comment-indent-new-line
@vindex comment-multi-line
If you are typing a comment and wish to continue it to another line,
type @kbd{M-j} or @kbd{C-M-j} (@code{comment-indent-new-line}). This
breaks the current line, and inserts the necessary comment delimiters
and indentation to continue the comment.
For languages with closing comment delimiters (e.g., @samp{*/} in
C), the exact behavior of @kbd{M-j} depends on the value of the
variable @code{comment-multi-line}. If the value is @code{nil}, the
command closes the comment on the old line and starts a new comment on
the new line. Otherwise, it opens a new line within the current
comment delimiters.
When Auto Fill mode is on, going past the fill column while typing a
comment also continues the comment, in the same way as an explicit
invocation of @kbd{M-j}.
To turn existing lines into comment lines, use @kbd{M-;} with the
region active, or use @kbd{M-x comment-region}
@ifinfo
(@pxref{Comment Commands}).
@end ifinfo
@ifnotinfo
as described in the preceding section.
@end ifnotinfo
You can configure C Mode such that when you type a @samp{/} at the
start of a line in a multi-line block comment, this closes the
comment. Enable the @code{comment-close-slash} clean-up for this.
@xref{Clean-ups,,, ccmode, The CC Mode Manual}.
@node Options for Comments
@subsection Options Controlling Comments
@vindex comment-column
@kindex C-x ;
@findex comment-set-column
As mentioned in @ref{Comment Commands}, when the @kbd{M-j} command
adds a comment to a line, it tries to place the comment at the column
specified by the buffer-local variable @code{comment-column}. You can
set either the local value or the default value of this buffer-local
variable in the usual way (@pxref{Locals}). Alternatively, you can
type @kbd{C-x ;} (@code{comment-set-column}) to set the value of
@code{comment-column} in the current buffer to the column where point
is currently located. @kbd{C-u C-x ;} sets the comment column to
match the last comment before point in the buffer, and then does a
@kbd{M-;} to align the current line's comment under the previous one.
@vindex comment-start-skip
The comment commands recognize comments based on the regular
expression that is the value of the variable @code{comment-start-skip}.
Make sure this regexp does not match the null string. It may match more
than the comment starting delimiter in the strictest sense of the word;
for example, in C mode the value of the variable is
@c This stops M-q from breaking the line inside that @code.
@code{@w{"\\(//+\\|/\\*+\\)\\s *"}}, which matches extra stars and
spaces after the @samp{/*} itself, and accepts C++ style comments
also. (Note that @samp{\\} is needed in Lisp syntax to include a
@samp{\} in the string, which is needed to deny the first star its
special meaning in regexp syntax. @xref{Regexp Backslash}.)
@vindex comment-start
@vindex comment-end
When a comment command makes a new comment, it inserts the value of
@code{comment-start} as an opening comment delimiter. It also inserts
the value of @code{comment-end} after point, as a closing comment
delimiter. For example, in Lisp mode, @code{comment-start} is
@samp{";"} and @code{comment-end} is @code{""} (the empty string). In
C mode, @code{comment-start} is @code{"/* "} and @code{comment-end} is
@code{" */"}.
@vindex comment-padding
The variable @code{comment-padding} specifies a string that the
commenting commands should insert between the comment delimiter(s) and
the comment text. The default, @samp{" "}, specifies a single space.
Alternatively, the value can be a number, which specifies that number
of spaces, or @code{nil}, which means no spaces at all.
The variable @code{comment-multi-line} controls how @kbd{M-j} and
Auto Fill mode continue comments over multiple lines.
@xref{Multi-Line Comments}.
@vindex comment-indent-function
The variable @code{comment-indent-function} should contain a function
that will be called to compute the alignment for a newly inserted
comment or for aligning an existing comment. It is set differently by
various major modes. The function is called with no arguments, but with
point at the beginning of the comment, or at the end of a line if a new
comment is to be inserted. It should return the column in which the
comment ought to start. For example, the default hook function bases
its decision on how many comment characters begin an existing comment.
Emacs also tries to align comments on adjacent lines. To override
this, the function may return a cons of two (possibly equal) integers
to indicate an acceptable range of indentation.
@node Documentation
@section Documentation Lookup
Emacs provides several features you can use to look up the
documentation of functions, variables and commands that you plan to
use in your program.
@menu
* Info Lookup:: Looking up library functions and commands in Info files.
* Man Page:: Looking up man pages of library functions and commands.
* Lisp Doc:: Looking up Emacs Lisp functions, etc.
@end menu
@node Info Lookup
@subsection Info Documentation Lookup
@findex info-lookup-symbol
@findex info-lookup-file
@kindex C-h S
For major modes that apply to languages which have documentation in
Info, you can use @kbd{C-h S} (@code{info-lookup-symbol}) to view the
Info documentation for a symbol used in the program. You specify the
symbol with the minibuffer; the default is the symbol appearing in the
buffer at point. For example, in C mode this looks for the symbol in
the C Library Manual. The command only works if the appropriate
manual's Info files are installed.
The major mode determines where to look for documentation for the
symbol---which Info files to look in, and which indices to search.
You can also use @kbd{M-x info-lookup-file} to look for documentation
for a file name.
If you use @kbd{C-h S} in a major mode that does not support it,
it asks you to specify the symbol help mode. You should enter
a command such as @code{c-mode} that would select a major
mode which @kbd{C-h S} does support.
@node Man Page
@subsection Man Page Lookup
@cindex man page
On Unix, the main form of on-line documentation was the @dfn{manual
page} or @dfn{man page}. In the GNU operating system, we aim to
replace man pages with better-organized manuals that you can browse
with Info (@pxref{Misc Help}). This process is not finished, so it is
still useful to read manual pages.
@findex man
You can read the man page for an operating system command, library
function, or system call, with the @kbd{M-x man} command. This
prompts for a topic, with completion (@pxref{Completion}), and runs
the @command{man} program to format the corresponding man page. If
the system permits, it runs @command{man} asynchronously, so that you
can keep on editing while the page is being formatted. The result
goes in a buffer named @file{*Man @var{topic}*}. These buffers use a
special major mode, Man mode, that facilitates scrolling and jumping
to other manual pages. For details, type @kbd{C-h m} while in a Man
mode buffer.
@cindex sections of manual pages
Each man page belongs to one of ten or more @dfn{sections}, each
named by a digit or by a digit and a letter. Sometimes there are man
pages with the same name in different sections. To read a man page
from a specific section, type @samp{@var{topic}(@var{section})} or
@samp{@var{section} @var{topic}} when @kbd{M-x man} prompts for the
topic. For example, the man page for the C library function
@code{chmod} is in section 2, but there is a shell command of the same
name, whose man page is in section 1; to view the former, type
@w{@kbd{M-x man @key{RET} chmod(2) @key{RET}}}.
@vindex Man-switches
@kindex M-n @r{(Man mode)}
@kindex M-p @r{(Man mode)}
If you do not specify a section, @kbd{M-x man} normally displays
only the first man page found. On some systems, the @code{man}
program accepts a @samp{-a} command-line option, which tells it to
display all the man pages for the specified topic. To make use of
this, change the value of the variable @code{Man-switches} to
@samp{"-a"}. Then, in the Man mode buffer, you can type @kbd{M-n} and
@kbd{M-p} to switch between man pages in different sections. The mode
line shows how many manual pages are available.
@findex woman
@cindex manual pages, on MS-DOS/MS-Windows
An alternative way of reading manual pages is the @kbd{M-x woman}
command. Unlike @kbd{M-x man}, it does not run any external programs
to format and display the man pages; the formatting is done by Emacs,
so it works on systems such as MS-Windows where the @command{man}
program may be unavailable. It prompts for a man page, and displays
it in a buffer named @file{*WoMan @var{section} @var{topic}}.
@kbd{M-x woman} computes the completion list for manpages the first
time you invoke the command. With a numeric argument, it recomputes
this list; this is useful if you add or delete manual pages.
If you type a name of a manual page and @kbd{M-x woman} finds that
several manual pages by the same name exist in different sections, it
pops up a window with possible candidates asking you to choose one of
them.
For more information about setting up and using @kbd{M-x woman}, see
@ifinfo
@ref{Top, WoMan, Browse UN*X Manual Pages WithOut Man, woman, The
WoMan Manual}.
@end ifinfo
@ifnotinfo
the WoMan Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
@end ifnotinfo
@node Lisp Doc
@subsection Emacs Lisp Documentation Lookup
When editing Emacs Lisp code, you can use the commands @kbd{C-h f}
(@code{describe-function}) and @kbd{C-h v} (@code{describe-variable})
to view the built-in documentation for the Lisp functions and
variables that you want to use. @xref{Name Help}.
@cindex Eldoc mode
@findex eldoc-mode
@findex global-eldoc-mode
Eldoc is a buffer-local minor mode that helps with looking up Lisp
documentation. When it is enabled, the echo area displays some useful
information whenever there is a Lisp function or variable at point;
for a function, it shows the argument list, and for a variable it
shows the first line of the variable's documentation string. To
toggle Eldoc mode, type @kbd{M-x eldoc-mode}. There's also a Global
Eldoc mode, which is turned on by default, and affects buffers, such
as @samp{*scratch*}, whose major mode is Emacs Lisp or Lisp
Interaction (@w{@kbd{M-x global-eldoc-mode}} to turn it off globally).
@node Hideshow
@section Hideshow minor mode
@cindex Hideshow mode
@cindex mode, Hideshow
@findex hs-minor-mode
Hideshow mode is a buffer-local minor mode that allows you to
selectively display portions of a program, which are referred to as
@dfn{blocks}. Type @kbd{M-x hs-minor-mode} to toggle this minor mode
(@pxref{Minor Modes}).
When you use Hideshow mode to hide a block, the block disappears
from the screen, to be replaced by an ellipsis (three periods in a
row). Just what constitutes a block depends on the major mode. In C
mode and related modes, blocks are delimited by braces, while in Lisp
mode they are delimited by parentheses. Multi-line comments also
count as blocks.
Hideshow mode provides the following commands:
@findex hs-hide-all
@findex hs-hide-block
@findex hs-show-all
@findex hs-show-block
@findex hs-show-region
@findex hs-hide-level
@findex hs-minor-mode
@kindex C-c @@ C-h
@kindex C-c @@ C-s
@kindex C-c @@ C-M-h
@kindex C-c @@ C-M-s
@kindex C-c @@ C-r
@kindex C-c @@ C-l
@kindex S-mouse-2
@table @kbd
@item C-c @@ C-h
Hide the current block (@code{hs-hide-block}).
@item C-c @@ C-s
Show the current block (@code{hs-show-block}).
@item C-c @@ C-c
Either hide or show the current block (@code{hs-toggle-hiding}).
@item S-mouse-2
Toggle hiding for the block you click on (@code{hs-mouse-toggle-hiding}).
@item C-c @@ C-M-h
Hide all top-level blocks (@code{hs-hide-all}).
@item C-c @@ C-M-s
Show all blocks in the buffer (@code{hs-show-all}).
@item C-c @@ C-l
Hide all blocks @var{n} levels below this block
(@code{hs-hide-level}).
@end table
@vindex hs-hide-comments-when-hiding-all
@vindex hs-isearch-open
@vindex hs-special-modes-alist
These variables can be used to customize Hideshow mode:
@table @code
@item hs-hide-comments-when-hiding-all
If non-@code{nil}, @kbd{C-c @@ C-M-h} (@code{hs-hide-all}) hides
comments too.
@item hs-isearch-open
This variable specifies the conditions under which incremental search
should unhide a hidden block when matching text occurs within the
block. Its value should be either @code{code} (unhide only code
blocks), @code{comment} (unhide only comments), @code{t} (unhide both
code blocks and comments), or @code{nil} (unhide neither code blocks
nor comments). The default value is @code{code}.
@end table
@node Symbol Completion
@section Completion for Symbol Names
@cindex completion (symbol names)
Completion is normally done in the minibuffer (@pxref{Completion}),
but you can also complete symbol names in ordinary Emacs buffers.
@kindex M-TAB
@kindex C-M-i
In programming language modes, type @kbd{C-M-i} or @kbd{M-@key{TAB}}
to complete the partial symbol before point. On graphical displays,
the @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} key is usually reserved by the window manager
for switching graphical windows, so you should type @kbd{C-M-i} or
@kbd{@key{ESC} @key{TAB}} instead.
@cindex tags-based completion
@findex completion-at-point
@cindex Lisp symbol completion
@cindex completion (Lisp symbols)
In most programming language modes, @kbd{C-M-i} (or
@kbd{M-@key{TAB}}) invokes the command @code{completion-at-point},
which generates its completion list in a flexible way. If Semantic
mode is enabled, it tries to use the Semantic parser data for
completion (@pxref{Semantic}). If Semantic mode is not enabled or
fails at performing completion, it tries to complete using the
selected tags table (@pxref{Tags Tables}). If in Emacs Lisp mode, it
performs completion using the function, variable, or property names
defined in the current Emacs session.
In all other respects, in-buffer symbol completion behaves like
minibuffer completion. For instance, if Emacs cannot complete to a
unique symbol, it displays a list of completion alternatives in
another window. @xref{Completion}.
In Text mode and related modes, @kbd{M-@key{TAB}} completes words
based on the spell-checker's dictionary. @xref{Spelling}.
@node MixedCase Words
@section MixedCase Words
@cindex camel case
Some programming styles make use of mixed-case (or ``CamelCase'')
symbols like @samp{unReadableSymbol}. (In the GNU project, we recommend
using underscores to separate words within an identifier, rather than
using case distinctions.) Emacs has various features to make it easier
to deal with such symbols.
@cindex Glasses mode
@findex mode, Glasses
Glasses mode is a buffer-local minor mode that makes it easier to read
such symbols, by altering how they are displayed. By default, it
displays extra underscores between each lower-case letter and the
following capital letter. This does not alter the buffer text, only how
it is displayed.
To toggle Glasses mode, type @kbd{M-x glasses-mode} (@pxref{Minor
Modes}). When Glasses mode is enabled, the minor mode indicator
@samp{o^o} appears in the mode line. For more information about
Glasses mode, type @kbd{C-h P glasses @key{RET}}.
@cindex Subword mode
@findex subword-mode
Subword mode is another buffer-local minor mode. In subword mode,
Emacs's word commands recognize upper case letters in
@samp{StudlyCapsIdentifiers} as word boundaries. When Subword mode is
enabled, the minor mode indicator @samp{,} appears in the mode line.
See also the similar @code{superword-mode} (@pxref{Misc for Programs}).
@node Semantic
@section Semantic
@cindex Semantic package
Semantic is a package that provides language-aware editing commands
based on @code{source code parsers}. This section provides a brief
description of Semantic; for full details,
@ifnottex
see @ref{Top, Semantic,, semantic, Semantic}.
@end ifnottex
@iftex
see the Semantic Info manual, which is distributed with Emacs.
@end iftex
Most of the language-aware features in Emacs, such as Font Lock
mode (@pxref{Font Lock}), rely on rules of thumb@footnote{Regular
expressions and syntax tables.} that usually give good results but are
never completely exact. In contrast, the parsers used by Semantic
have an exact understanding of programming language syntax. This
allows Semantic to provide search, navigation, and completion commands
that are powerful and precise.
@cindex Semantic mode
@cindex mode, Semantic
To begin using Semantic, type @kbd{M-x semantic-mode} or click on
the menu item named @samp{Source Code Parsers (Semantic)} in the
@samp{Tools} menu. This enables Semantic mode, a global minor mode.
When Semantic mode is enabled, Emacs automatically attempts to
parse each file you visit. Currently, Semantic understands C, C++,
Scheme, Javascript, Java, HTML, and Make. Within each parsed buffer,
the following commands are available:
@table @kbd
@item C-c , j
@kindex C-c , j
Prompt for the name of a function defined in the current file, and
move point there (@code{semantic-complete-jump-local}).
@item C-c , J
@kindex C-c , J
Prompt for the name of a function defined in any file Emacs has
parsed, and move point there (@code{semantic-complete-jump}).
@item C-c , @key{SPC}
@kindex C-c , @key{SPC}
Display a list of possible completions for the symbol at point
(@code{semantic-complete-analyze-inline}). This also activates a set
of special key bindings for choosing a completion: @key{RET} accepts
the current completion, @kbd{M-n} and @kbd{M-p} cycle through possible
completions, @key{TAB} completes as far as possible and then cycles,
and @kbd{C-g} or any other key aborts completion.
@item C-c , l
@kindex C-c , l
Display a list of the possible completions of the symbol at point, in
another window (@code{semantic-analyze-possible-completions}).
@end table
@noindent
In addition to the above commands, the Semantic package provides a
variety of other ways to make use of parser information. For
instance, you can use it to display a list of completions when Emacs
is idle.
@ifnottex
@xref{Top, Semantic,, semantic, Semantic}, for details.
@end ifnottex
@node Misc for Programs
@section Other Features Useful for Editing Programs
Some Emacs commands that aren't designed specifically for editing
programs are useful for that nonetheless.
The Emacs commands that operate on words, sentences and paragraphs
are useful for editing code. Most symbols names contain words
(@pxref{Words}), while sentences can be found in strings and comments
(@pxref{Sentences}). As for paragraphs, they are defined in most
programming language modes to begin and end at blank lines
(@pxref{Paragraphs}). Therefore, judicious use of blank lines to make
the program clearer will also provide useful chunks of text for the
paragraph commands to work on. Auto Fill mode, if enabled in a
programming language major mode, indents the new lines which it
creates.
@findex superword-mode
Superword mode is a buffer-local minor mode that causes editing and
motion commands to treat symbols (e.g., @samp{this_is_a_symbol}) as words.
When Superword mode is enabled, the minor mode indicator
@iftex
@samp{@math{^2}}
@end iftex
@ifnottex
@samp{²}
@end ifnottex
appears in the mode line. See also the similar @code{subword-mode}
(@pxref{MixedCase Words}).
@findex electric-layout-mode
Electric Layout mode (@kbd{M-x electric-layout-mode}) is a global
minor mode that automatically inserts newlines when you type certain
characters; for example, @samp{@{}, @samp{@}} and @samp{;} in Javascript
mode.
Apart from Hideshow mode (@pxref{Hideshow}), another way to
selectively display parts of a program is to use the selective display
feature (@pxref{Selective Display}). Programming modes often also
support Outline minor mode (@pxref{Outline Mode}), which can be used
with the Foldout package (@pxref{Foldout}).
@ifinfo
The automatic typing features may be useful for writing programs.
@xref{Top,,Autotyping, autotype, Autotyping}.
@end ifinfo
@findex prettify-symbols-mode
Prettify Symbols mode is a buffer-local minor mode that replaces
certain strings with more attractive versions for display purposes.
For example, in Emacs Lisp mode, it replaces the string @samp{lambda}
with the Greek lambda character @samp{λ}. In a @TeX{} buffer, it will
replace @samp{\alpha} @dots{} @samp{\omega} and other math macros with
their Unicode characters. You may wish to use this in non-programming
modes as well. You can customize the mode by adding more entries to
@code{prettify-symbols-alist}. More elaborate customization is
available via customizing @code{prettify-symbols-compose-predicate} if
its default value @code{prettify-symbols-default-compose-p} is not
appropriate. There is also a global version,
@code{global-prettify-symbols-mode}, which enables the mode in all
buffers that support it.
The symbol at point can be shown in its original form. This is
controlled by the variable @code{prettify-symbols-unprettify-at-point}:
if non-@code{nil}, the original form of symbol at point will be
restored for as long as point is at it.
@node C Modes
@section C and Related Modes
@cindex C mode
@cindex Java mode
@cindex Pike mode
@cindex IDL mode
@cindex CORBA IDL mode
@cindex Objective C mode
@cindex C++ mode
@cindex AWK mode
@cindex mode, Java
@cindex mode, C
@cindex mode, C++
@cindex mode, Objective C
@cindex mode, CORBA IDL
@cindex mode, Pike
@cindex mode, AWK
This section gives a brief description of the special features
available in C, C++, Objective-C, Java, CORBA IDL, Pike and AWK modes.
(These are called ``C mode and related modes''.)
@ifinfo
@xref{Top,, CC Mode, ccmode, CC Mode}, for more details.
@end ifinfo
@ifnotinfo
For more details, see the CC mode Info manual, which is distributed
with Emacs.
@end ifnotinfo
@menu
* Motion in C:: Commands to move by C statements, etc.
* Electric C:: Colon and other chars can automatically reindent.
* Hungry Delete:: A more powerful DEL command.
* Other C Commands:: Filling comments, viewing expansion of macros,
and other neat features.
@end menu
@node Motion in C
@subsection C Mode Motion Commands
This section describes commands for moving point, in C mode and
related modes.
@table @code
@item C-M-a
@itemx C-M-e
@findex c-beginning-of-defun
@findex c-end-of-defun
Move point to the beginning or end of the current function or
top-level definition. In languages with enclosing scopes (such as
C++'s classes) the @dfn{current function} is the immediate one,
possibly inside a scope. Otherwise it is the one defined by the least
enclosing braces. (By contrast, @code{beginning-of-defun} and
@code{end-of-defun} search for braces in column zero.) @xref{Moving
by Defuns}.
@item C-c C-u
@kindex C-c C-u @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-up-conditional
Move point back to the containing preprocessor conditional, leaving the
mark behind. A prefix argument acts as a repeat count. With a negative
argument, move point forward to the end of the containing
preprocessor conditional.
@samp{#elif} is equivalent to @samp{#else} followed by @samp{#if}, so
the function will stop at a @samp{#elif} when going backward, but not
when going forward.
@item C-c C-p
@kindex C-c C-p @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-backward-conditional
Move point back over a preprocessor conditional, leaving the mark
behind. A prefix argument acts as a repeat count. With a negative
argument, move forward.
@item C-c C-n
@kindex C-c C-n @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-forward-conditional
Move point forward across a preprocessor conditional, leaving the mark
behind. A prefix argument acts as a repeat count. With a negative
argument, move backward.
@item M-a
@kindex M-a (C mode)
@findex c-beginning-of-statement
Move point to the beginning of the innermost C statement
(@code{c-beginning-of-statement}). If point is already at the beginning
of a statement, move to the beginning of the preceding statement. With
prefix argument @var{n}, move back @var{n} @minus{} 1 statements.
In comments or in strings which span more than one line, this command
moves by sentences instead of statements.
@item M-e
@kindex M-e (C mode)
@findex c-end-of-statement
Move point to the end of the innermost C statement or sentence; like
@kbd{M-a} except that it moves in the other direction
(@code{c-end-of-statement}).
@end table
@node Electric C
@subsection Electric C Characters
In C mode and related modes, certain printing characters are
@dfn{electric}---in addition to inserting themselves, they also
reindent the current line, and optionally also insert newlines. The
electric characters are @kbd{@{}, @kbd{@}}, @kbd{:}, @kbd{#},
@kbd{;}, @kbd{,}, @kbd{<}, @kbd{>}, @kbd{/}, @kbd{*}, @kbd{(}, and
@kbd{)}.
You might find electric indentation inconvenient if you are editing
chaotically indented code. If you are new to CC Mode, you might find
it disconcerting. You can toggle electric action with the command
@kbd{C-c C-l}; when it is enabled, @samp{/l} appears in the mode line
after the mode name:
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-l
@kindex C-c C-l @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-toggle-electric-state
Toggle electric action (@code{c-toggle-electric-state}). With a
positive prefix argument, this command enables electric action, with a
negative one it disables it.
@end table
Electric characters insert newlines only when, in addition to the
electric state, the @dfn{auto-newline} feature is enabled (indicated
by @samp{/la} in the mode line after the mode name). You can turn
this feature on or off with the command @kbd{C-c C-a}:
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-a
@kindex C-c C-a @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-toggle-auto-newline
Toggle the auto-newline feature (@code{c-toggle-auto-newline}). With a
prefix argument, this command turns the auto-newline feature on if the
argument is positive, and off if it is negative.
@end table
Usually the CC Mode style configures the exact circumstances in
which Emacs inserts auto-newlines. You can also configure this
directly. @xref{Custom Auto-newlines,,, ccmode, The CC Mode Manual}.
@node Hungry Delete
@subsection Hungry Delete Feature in C
@cindex hungry deletion (C Mode)
If you want to delete an entire block of whitespace at point, you
can use @dfn{hungry deletion}. This deletes all the contiguous
whitespace either before point or after point in a single operation.
@dfn{Whitespace} here includes tabs and newlines, but not comments or
preprocessor commands.
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-@key{DEL}
@itemx C-c @key{DEL}
@findex c-hungry-delete-backwards
@kindex C-c C-@key{DEL} (C Mode)
@kindex C-c @key{DEL} (C Mode)
Delete the entire block of whitespace preceding point (@code{c-hungry-delete-backwards}).
@item C-c C-d
@itemx C-c C-@key{Delete}
@itemx C-c @key{Delete}
@findex c-hungry-delete-forward
@kindex C-c C-d (C Mode)
@kindex C-c C-@key{Delete} (C Mode)
@kindex C-c @key{Delete} (C Mode)
Delete the entire block of whitespace after point (@code{c-hungry-delete-forward}).
@end table
As an alternative to the above commands, you can enable @dfn{hungry
delete mode}. When this feature is enabled (indicated by @samp{/h} in
the mode line after the mode name), a single @key{DEL} deletes all
preceding whitespace, not just one space, and a single @kbd{C-d}
(but @emph{not} plain @key{Delete}) deletes all following whitespace.
@table @kbd
@item M-x c-toggle-hungry-state
@findex c-toggle-hungry-state
Toggle the hungry-delete feature
(@code{c-toggle-hungry-state}). With a prefix argument,
this command turns the hungry-delete feature on if the argument is
positive, and off if it is negative.
@end table
@vindex c-hungry-delete-key
The variable @code{c-hungry-delete-key} controls whether the
hungry-delete feature is enabled.
@node Other C Commands
@subsection Other Commands for C Mode
@table @kbd
@item M-x c-context-line-break
@findex c-context-line-break
This command inserts a line break and indents the new line in a manner
appropriate to the context. In normal code, it does the work of
@key{RET} (@code{newline}), in a C preprocessor line it additionally
inserts a @samp{\} at the line break, and within comments it's like
@kbd{M-j} (@code{c-indent-new-comment-line}).
@code{c-context-line-break} isn't bound to a key by default, but it
needs a binding to be useful. The following code will bind it to
@key{RET}. We use @code{c-initialization-hook} here to make sure
the keymap is loaded before we try to change it.
@example
(defun my-bind-clb ()
(define-key c-mode-base-map "\C-m"
'c-context-line-break))
(add-hook 'c-initialization-hook 'my-bind-clb)
@end example
@item C-M-h
Put mark at the end of a function definition, and put point at the
beginning (@code{c-mark-function}).
@item M-q
@kindex M-q @r{(C mode)}
@findex c-fill-paragraph
Fill a paragraph, handling C and C++ comments (@code{c-fill-paragraph}).
If any part of the current line is a comment or within a comment, this
command fills the comment or the paragraph of it that point is in,
preserving the comment indentation and comment delimiters.
@item C-c C-e
@cindex macro expansion in C
@cindex expansion of C macros
@findex c-macro-expand
@kindex C-c C-e @r{(C mode)}
Run the C preprocessor on the text in the region, and show the result,
which includes the expansion of all the macro calls
(@code{c-macro-expand}). The buffer text before the region is also
included in preprocessing, for the sake of macros defined there, but the
output from this part isn't shown.
When you are debugging C code that uses macros, sometimes it is hard to
figure out precisely how the macros expand. With this command, you
don't have to figure it out; you can see the expansions.
@item C-c C-\
@findex c-backslash-region
@kindex C-c C-\ @r{(C mode)}
Insert or align @samp{\} characters at the ends of the lines of the
region (@code{c-backslash-region}). This is useful after writing or
editing a C macro definition.
If a line already ends in @samp{\}, this command adjusts the amount of
whitespace before it. Otherwise, it inserts a new @samp{\}. However,
the last line in the region is treated specially; no @samp{\} is
inserted on that line, and any @samp{\} there is deleted.
@item M-x cpp-highlight-buffer
@cindex preprocessor highlighting
@findex cpp-highlight-buffer
Highlight parts of the text according to its preprocessor conditionals.
This command displays another buffer named @file{*CPP Edit*}, which
serves as a graphic menu for selecting how to display particular kinds
of conditionals and their contents. After changing various settings,
click on @samp{[A]pply these settings} (or go to that buffer and type
@kbd{a}) to rehighlight the C mode buffer accordingly.
@item C-c C-s
@findex c-show-syntactic-information
@kindex C-c C-s @r{(C mode)}
Display the syntactic information about the current source line
(@code{c-show-syntactic-information}). This information directs how
the line is indented.
@item M-x cwarn-mode
@itemx M-x global-cwarn-mode
@findex cwarn-mode
@findex global-cwarn-mode
@vindex global-cwarn-mode
@cindex CWarn mode
@cindex suspicious constructions in C, C++
CWarn minor mode highlights certain suspicious C and C++ constructions:
@itemize @bullet{}
@item
Assignments inside expressions.
@item
Semicolon following immediately after @samp{if}, @samp{for}, and @samp{while}
(except after a @samp{do @dots{} while} statement);
@item
C++ functions with reference parameters.
@end itemize
@noindent
You can enable the mode for one buffer with the command @kbd{M-x
cwarn-mode}, or for all suitable buffers with the command @kbd{M-x
global-cwarn-mode} or by customizing the variable
@code{global-cwarn-mode}. You must also enable Font Lock mode to make
it work.
@item M-x hide-ifdef-mode
@findex hide-ifdef-mode
@cindex Hide-ifdef mode
@vindex hide-ifdef-shadow
Hide-ifdef minor mode hides selected code within @samp{#if} and
@samp{#ifdef} preprocessor blocks. If you change the variable
@code{hide-ifdef-shadow} to @code{t}, Hide-ifdef minor mode
shadows preprocessor blocks by displaying them with a less
prominent face, instead of hiding them entirely. See the
documentation string of @code{hide-ifdef-mode} for more information.
@item M-x ff-find-related-file
@cindex related files
@findex ff-find-related-file
@vindex ff-related-file-alist
Find a file related in a special way to the file visited by the
current buffer. Typically this will be the header file corresponding
to a C/C++ source file, or vice versa. The variable
@code{ff-related-file-alist} specifies how to compute related file
names.
@end table
@node Asm Mode
@section Asm Mode
@cindex Asm mode
@cindex assembler mode
Asm mode is a major mode for editing files of assembler code. It
defines these commands:
@table @kbd
@item @key{TAB}
@code{tab-to-tab-stop}.
@c FIXME: Maybe this should be consistent with other programming modes.
@item C-j
Insert a newline and then indent using @code{tab-to-tab-stop}.
@item :
Insert a colon and then remove the indentation from before the label
preceding colon. Then do @code{tab-to-tab-stop}.
@item ;
Insert or align a comment.
@end table
The variable @code{asm-comment-char} specifies which character
starts comments in assembler syntax.
@ifnottex
@include fortran-xtra.texi
@end ifnottex
|