Difference between revisions of "Key Bindings"

From WikEmacs
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (cat added)
(Removing unnecessary anchor.)
Line 1: Line 1:
In Emacs, almost any keystroke, optionally combined with one or more [[#modifierKeys|modifier keys]], or any sequence of such keystrokes, can be "bound" to any [[command]].
+
In Emacs, almost any keystroke, optionally combined with one or more modifier keys, or any sequence of such keystrokes, can be "bound" to any [[command]].
  
== <span id="modifierKeys">Modifier keys naming convention</span> ==
+
== Modifier keys naming convention ==
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"

Revision as of 13:46, 30 April 2012

In Emacs, almost any keystroke, optionally combined with one or more modifier keys, or any sequence of such keystrokes, can be "bound" to any command.

Modifier keys naming convention

Modifier key Abbr. Remarks Example Action
Alt A Relatively seldom used in Emacs, because Meta is often "logically" mapped to the "physical" Alt key. A-x Type "x" while holding down the (non-Meta) Alt key
Control C C-x C-f While holding down Ctrl, type first "x" then "f". (This runs the command find-file).
Hyper h Often not mapped to any key (by default). h-x Type "x" while holding down hyper
Meta M Often mapped to Alt on your keyboard M-x find-file RET Either:
  • type "x" while holding down Meta, or
  • type "Esc" then "x"

(M-x activates the minibuffer)

Then type "find-file" in the minibuffer, then Return.

Shift S S-x Type "x" while holding down Shift
Super s Often not mapped to any key by default, or to Window or Menu if present s-x Type "x" while holding down super

By convention, when multiple modifiers are specified, they go in alphabetical order: [C-M-x] not [M-C-x].

Printable cheat sheet for popular modes

Emacs ships with cheat sheets of common and useful key bindings. The pdf files are located in the refcards/ subdirectory of data-directory.

Change key bindings

You can add, remove and change key bindings for any command.

M-x global-set-key or M-x local-set-key
Hit the key sequence you want to bind
Type the command to bind to that key sequence
Invoke [C-x ESC ESC]. The output you see is the full lisp command which does the binding. You can copy this to your Emacs configuration file.

External Links