Question on minibuffer editing

Question on minibuffer editing

[Arvind Kumar]

Hi Guys,
   Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f. I am in
one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
setup was!!!

Any help will be appreciated!!
Arvind Kumar

Re: Question on minibuffer editing

[Burton Samograd]

arvindk@xebeo.com (Arvind Kumar) writes:

> Hi Guys,
>    Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f. I am in
> one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
> some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
> do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
> in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
> setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
> setup was!!!

Instead of doing this, you could learn how emacs cursor movement works
a bit better.  To do what you want, you could go backwards word (M-b)
and then delete word (M-d) (M- meaning press Alt and the key given).
Sorry if this is patronizing and you know this, but it doesn't sound
like you do and it's good to learn.

I never use it but I just noticed that my version of emacs (21.3)
does word deletion with M-[backspace] and I've never set anything up
to do it.  Maybe you could do an upgrade and see if that works.

-- 
burton samograd
kruhft@kruhft.dyndns.org
http://kruhftwerk.dyndns.org

Re: Question on minibuffer editing

[Javier Oviedo]

I think that this will do the trick...it is what I use. This will also work
outside of the minibuffer, but I guess you could make it local-set-key for
the minibuffer only?

(global-set-key [C-backspace] 'backward-kill-word)


--
=======
Javier
"Arvind Kumar" <arvindk@xebeo.com> wrote in message
news:4caa7863.0305220244.6951f005@posting.google.com...
> Hi Guys,
>    Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f. I am in
> one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
> some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
> do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
> in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
> setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
> setup was!!!
>
> Any help will be appreciated!!
> Arvind Kumar

Re: Question on minibuffer editing

[Kevin Rodgers]

Arvind Kumar wrote:

>    Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f.


I assume you mean `C-x C-f'.

> I am in
> one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
> some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
> do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
> in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
> setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
> setup was!!!


`M-<delete>' and `M-<backspace>' work for me without any customization.  (On

my keyboard, the Alt key is the meta modifier.)


-- 
<a href="mailto:&lt;kevin.rodgers&#64;ihs.com&gt;">Kevin Rodgers</a>

Re: Question on minibuffer editing

[Barry Margolin]

In article <4caa7863.0305220244.6951f005@posting.google.com>,
Arvind Kumar <arvindk@xebeo.com> wrote:
>Hi Guys,
>   Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f. I am in

C-x f sets the fill column, I think you mean C-x C-f.

>one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
>some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
>do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
>in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
>setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
>setup was!!!

The minibuffer usually has the same basic editing commands as a fundamental
mode buffer.  The only significant difference is that it adds a few keys
for moving back and forth through the history (M-p and M-n) and does
completion.

C-Backspace and M-Backspace should delete the previous word unless you've
done something in your .emacs to override it.

-- 
Barry Margolin, barry.margolin@level3.com
Level(3), Woburn, MA
*** DON'T SEND TECHNICAL QUESTIONS DIRECTLY TO ME, post them to newsgroups.
Please DON'T copy followups to me -- I'll assume it wasn't posted to the group.

Re: Question on minibuffer editing

[Arvind Kumar]

Thank you all for your comments!!! M-b M-d moves the cursor first and
then deletes the word. backward-kill-word is what i was looking for..
I had tried finding out the lisp equivalent without success!! Thanks
again!!
Arvind Kumar



Barry Margolin <barry.margolin@level3.com> wrote in message news:<hu8za.7$Kf1.83@paloalto-snr1.gtei.net>...
> In article <4caa7863.0305220244.6951f005@posting.google.com>,
> Arvind Kumar <arvindk@xebeo.com> wrote:
> >Hi Guys,
> >   Say, for example, I am opening a file in emacs using C-x f. I am in
> 
> C-x f sets the fill column, I think you mean C-x C-f.
> 
> >one directory with long hierarchy. I want to go down the hierarchy to
> >some other path. Keep pressing the backspace button is cumbursome. How
> >do I set the key so that c-backspace or Alt-backspace deletes the word
> >in the minibuffer??? I am sure I was it's possible because i had this
> >setting in my last company. But I can't remember exactly what this
> >setup was!!!
> 
> The minibuffer usually has the same basic editing commands as a fundamental
> mode buffer.  The only significant difference is that it adds a few keys
> for moving back and forth through the history (M-p and M-n) and does
> completion.
> 
> C-Backspace and M-Backspace should delete the previous word unless you've
> done something in your .emacs to override it.