M-! in dired-mode

M-! in dired-mode

[Paul Pogonyshev]

Hi,

M-! runs `shell-command' in `dired-mode'.  However, I cannot figure
when it runs on file under point and when without a file at all, it
seems to be completely random.  I mean, the buffer prompt does
unambigously say whether it will be run on a file or not, but that
prompt itself varies for no apparent reason and I couldn't find
anything in help...

Can anyone enlighten me (or just point to correct info node)?

Paul

Re: M-! in dired-mode

[Juri Linkov]

> M-! runs `shell-command' in `dired-mode'.  However, I cannot figure
> when it runs on file under point and when without a file at all, it
> seems to be completely random.  I mean, the buffer prompt does
> unambigously say whether it will be run on a file or not, but that
> prompt itself varies for no apparent reason and I couldn't find
> anything in help...
>
> Can anyone enlighten me (or just point to correct info node)?

`M-!' doesn't operate on dired files, but ! operates on files under
point with the prompt displaying their names.  So there is a clear
distinction: `!' works only in dired on its files, and `M-!' is a global
command.  My latest week-old unconfirmed patches provide a default value
for the command `M-!': when it is called in a file buffer then the
default value contains the current buffer's file name.  But it could be
improved also in a way that if `M-!' is called in a dired buffer, then
its default value could be a file under point in dired.

-- 
Juri Linkov
http://www.jurta.org/emacs/

Re: M-! in dired-mode

[David Kastrup]

Juri Linkov <juri@jurta.org> writes:

>> M-! runs `shell-command' in `dired-mode'.  However, I cannot figure
>> when it runs on file under point and when without a file at all, it
>> seems to be completely random.  I mean, the buffer prompt does
>> unambigously say whether it will be run on a file or not, but that
>> prompt itself varies for no apparent reason and I couldn't find
>> anything in help...
>>
>> Can anyone enlighten me (or just point to correct info node)?
>
> `M-!' doesn't operate on dired files, but ! operates on files under
> point with the prompt displaying their names.  So there is a clear
> distinction: `!' works only in dired on its files, and `M-!' is a global
> command.

I would have wanted to write the same, however:

    M-! (translated from <escape> !) runs the command dired-smart-shell-command
      which is an interactive compiled Lisp function in `dired-x.el'.
    It is bound to M-!.
    (dired-smart-shell-command CMD &optional INSERT)

    Like function `shell-command', but in the current Virtual Dired directory.

So I don't really know what that does.

-- 
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum

Re: M-! in dired-mode

[Paul Pogonyshev]

Juri Linkov wrote:
> > M-! runs `shell-command' in `dired-mode'.  However, I cannot figure
> > when it runs on file under point and when without a file at all, it
> > seems to be completely random.  I mean, the buffer prompt does
> > unambigously say whether it will be run on a file or not, but that
> > prompt itself varies for no apparent reason and I couldn't find
> > anything in help...
> >
> > Can anyone enlighten me (or just point to correct info node)?
> 
> `M-!' doesn't operate on dired files, but ! operates on files under
> point with the prompt displaying their names.  So there is a clear
> distinction: `!' works only in dired on its files, and `M-!' is a global
> command.  My latest week-old unconfirmed patches provide a default value
> for the command `M-!': when it is called in a file buffer then the
> default value contains the current buffer's file name.  But it could be
> improved also in a way that if `M-!' is called in a dired buffer, then
> its default value could be a file under point in dired.

Ah, that's explain it.  At work I have a keyboard with bad left Alt key,
so it seems randomness just plays when I try to press M-! and it comes
through as just ! (withot Meta).  Somehow I never considered this
possibility.  Sorry for false alarm :-/

Paul