Re: Using a Custom Emacs mode

[Kevin Rodgers <ihs_4664@yahoo.com>]

Zach Flynn wrote:
 > Ok, so I have an emacs mode that I'd like to use but I don't know how to
 > actually use it in emacs.  For some strange reason, I can't find that
 > explained anywhere.  Can someone tell me how to use a mode that's
 > written for emacs?  It's not one of those ones that emacs comes with.

Short answer:

M-x load-file RET foo.el
M-x foo-mode

Long answer:

You will make things easier on yourself by putting foo.el in the system
site-lisp directory (C-h v load-path) or in any directory of your
choosing that you add to load-path (by modifying your ~/.emacs file).

You will make things run much faster if you M-x byte-compile-file foo.el
(before loading it).

foo.el will likely contain installation instructions in the comment
block near the top of the file, which will suggest autoload commands to
add to your system's default.el file or your personal .emacs file (so
you don't have to explicitly load it).

The installation instructions will also likely show you how to add an
entry to auto-mode-alist, to invoke foo-mode automatically when editing
files with that mode's conventional name.

P.S.  Please post questions to gnu.emacs.help in the future; that's
where I've directed followups to this message.

-- 
Kevin Rodgers