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Multiple Buffers

EMACS allows you to edit more than one file buffer simultaneously. To start editing another buffer, issue the control sequence <ctrl-x> b. You will be prompted for the name of the new edit buffer. To load a file into this buffer, enter <ctrl-x><ctrl-v> before entering the name of the file that you wish to load.

To alternate between edit buffers, issue the <ctrl-x> b command again and specify the buffername. To see all of the buffers that you are currently editing, type <ctrl-x> <ctrl-b>. To get rid of this information, make sure your text cursor is in the edit window (not the bufferlist window) and enter <ctrl-x> 1 to focus on the window that contains the text cursor (Press left mouse button when mouse cursor is in other window or enter <ctrl-x> o to change window focus).

To edit two buffers simultaneously, type <ctrl-x> 2 to split the edit window into two separate windows. Use the <ctrl-x> o command to move the cursor between windows, then type <ctrl-x> b to name the buffer that should appear in the window that contains the text cursor. If the buffer exists it will be loaded into that window, otherwise a new buffer will be created. You can return to editing a single window by entering <ctrl-x> 1 when the text cursor is over the window you wish to continue editing.

Killing a buffer, which removes a buffer without saving it to a file, is accomplished with the <ctrl-x> k command. The buffer that is killed is the buffer currently being edited.

Copying text between buffers is done by selecting a region of text (as detailed in the section on Emacs Regions), then switching windows with <ctrl-x> o to copy it where you wish in the second buffer.



Larry Latour
Fri Sep 12 08:12:59 EDT 1997