Slackware Linux Essentials
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17.3 Modes

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Every buffer in Emacs has an associated mode. This mode is very different from the -idea of modes in vi: a mode tells you what kind of buffer you -are in. For example, there is text-mode for normal text files, but there are also modes -such as c-mode for editing C programs, sh-mode for editing shell scripts, latex-mode for -editing LaTeX files, mail-mode for editing email and news -messages, etc. A mode provides special customizations and functionality that is useful -for the kind of file you are editing. It is even possible for a mode to redefine keys and -key commands. For example, in Text mode, the Tab key simply jumps to the next tab stop, -but in many programming language modes, the Tab key indents the -current line according to the depth of the block that line is in.

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The modes mentioned above are called major modes. Each buffer has exactly one major -mode. Additionally, a buffer can have one or more minor modes. A minor mode provides -additional features that may be useful for certain editing tasks. For example, if you hit -the INSERT key, you invoke overwrite-mode, which does what you'd -expect. There is also an auto-fill-mode, which is handy in combination with text-mode or -latex-mode: it causes each line that you type to be automatically wrapped once the line -reaches a certain number of characters. Without auto-fill-mode, you have to type M-q to fill out a paragraph. (Which you can also -use to reformat a paragraph after you've edited some text in it and it is no longer -nicely filled out.)

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17.3.1 Opening -files

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To open a file in Emacs, type

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-C-x C-f
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Emacs will ask you for the name of the file, filling in some default path for you -(which is usually ~/ ). After you type the filename (you can -use Tab completion) and hit ENTER , Emacs -will open the file in a new buffer and display that buffer on the screen.

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Emacs will automatically create a new buffer, it will not load the file into the -current buffer.

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In order to create a new file in emacs, you cannot just go typing right away. You -first have to create a buffer for it, and come up with a filename. You do this by typing -C-x C-f and typing a filename, just as if you were opening an existing file. -Emacs will notice that the file you typed doesn't exist, and will create a new buffer and -report “(New file)” in the minibuffer.

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When you type C-x C-f and then enter a directory name instead of a -filename, Emacs will create a new buffer in which you will find a list of all the files -in that directory. You can move the cursor to the file that you are looking for and type -, and Emacs will open it. (There are in fact a lot more actions you can perform here, -such as deleting, renaming and moving files, etc. Emacs is now in dired-mode, which is -basically a simple file manager.)

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When you have typed C-x C-f and suddenly change your mind, you can type -C-g to cancel the action. C-g works almost everywhere where you want to -cancel an action or command that you've started but don't want to finish.

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