Slackware Linux Essentials
Prev	Chapter 17 Emacs	Next

17.2 Buffers

- -

In Emacs, the concept of “buffers” is essential. Every file that you open -is loaded into its own buffer. Furthermore, Emacs has several special buffers, which do -not contain a file but are used for other things. Such special buffers usually have a -name that starts and ends with an asterisk. For example, the buffer that Emacs shows when -it is first started, is the so-called *scratch* buffer. In the *scratch* buffer, you can -type text in the normal way, but text that is typed there is not saved when Emacs is -closed.

- -

There is one other special buffer you need to know about, and that is the minibuffer. -This buffer consists of only one line, and is always on the screen: it is the very last -line of the Emacs window, below the status bar for the current buffer. The minibuffer is -where Emacs shows messages for the user, and it is also the place where commands that -require some user input are executed. For example, when you open a file, Emacs will ask -for its name in the minibuffer.

- -

Switching from one buffer to another can be done with the command C-x b. This will prompt -you for the name of a buffer (a buffer's name is usually the name of the file you are -editing in it), and it gives a default choice, which is normally the buffer that you were -in before you switched to or created the current buffer. Just hitting Enter will switch to that default -buffer.

- -

If you want to switch to another buffer than the default offered by Emacs, just type -its name. Note that you can use so-called Tab-completion here: type -the first few letters of the buffer's name and hit Tab; Emacs will -then complete the name of the buffer. Tab completion works -everywhere in Emacs where it makes sense.

- -

You can get a list of open buffers by hitting C-x C-b. This command will -usually split the screen in two, displaying the buffer you were working in in the top -half, and a new buffer called *Buffer List* in the bottom half. This buffer contains a -list of all the buffers, their sizes and modes, and the files, if any, that those buffers -are visiting (as it is called in Emacs). You can get rid of this split screen by typing -C-x 1.

- -

- - - - - -

Under X, the list of buffers is also available in the Buffer menu in the menu bar.