C-u j in Rmail jumps to message number 4

C-u j in Rmail jumps to message number 4

[BP25]

Hi! I tried this with three independent Rmail files: does anybody know
why C-u j in Rmail, shows message number 4?!

Re: C-u j in Rmail jumps to message number 4

[tomas]

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On Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 11:08:59PM +0100, BP25 wrote:
> Hi! I tried this with three independent Rmail files: does anybody know
> why C-u j in Rmail, shows message number 4?!

Because C-u is the "universal argument" -- a way of providing args
to commands. All by itself it just means 4 (yes, hear me out :)

Each additional C-u multiplies that by 4, so twice C-u means 16.

But you can enter digits after C-u (and before the command taking
the argument) to control your argument's value. So

  C-u 4 2 j

would jump to message 42.

This also works for moving around in a text buffer (where the
exponential behaviour of "naked" C-u does make more sense).

Cheers
-- 
t

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Re: C-u j in Rmail jumps to message number 4

[Joost Kremers]

On Tue, Apr 23 2024, tomas@tuxteam.de wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 11:08:59PM +0100, BP25 wrote:
>> Hi! I tried this with three independent Rmail files: does anybody know
>> why C-u j in Rmail, shows message number 4?!
>
> Because C-u is the "universal argument" -- a way of providing args
> to commands. All by itself it just means 4

Yup. For the whole enchilada, see here: (info "(emacs) Arguments")


-- 
Joost Kremers
Life has its moments