emacs -- Your Editor: Why

emacs -- Your Editor: Why?

As you have noticed, when you begin to write a new message, you are given on the screen a review of several commands before your first blank line. Included among these are these two:

Use CTRL/B to insert a file, CTRL/E to enter editor

If you use the first one, mm will prompt you to name a file. It must be a file on your pegasus directory. To create a file on your pegasus directory, you may use emacs while at the prompt:

emacs filename [replace 'filename' with a name you choose]

If you use the second one (while within mm), you will also summon emacs, but to work on the current message you are writing rather than on a new file.

Why Use emacs?

  • Without it, you can edit within mm only by 'backing up' to the point you want to change. That's time-consuming and depressing, especially if the change needs to occur several lines away. Once you have made the change, you still have to type all the other portion again. emacs allows you to move around on the screen to make the changes.
  • Without it, you cannot even create a message within nn, the discussion group program. Once you try to create a message within nn, the program automatically summons your editor, emacs.

    What are the disadvantages?

    You have to learn some new commands. The easiest way to do so is to look at the one-page flier "Emacs at a glance" in the racks of the computer labs in Engelhard and Hill. (101 students: it's page 88 in your Supplementary Texts).

    Rather than wait until you absolutely have to use this (as you will on some later work in the term), I urge you now to play with it so that you master the simplest commands (how to load, how to move backwards and forwards by word and by line, how to exit and save, how to exit and abandon). I suggest not trying to learn any of emac's more advanced commands right now. Those alone will get you through all you need for this course and for 95% of all you will likely ever need unless you major in computers. All those commands are on the flier.

    If, however, you insist on learning more, emacs has an online tutorial. To get to it, at type:

    emacs test [or replace 'test' with any other name you choose]

    Once you have a blank screen, enter:

    ctrl-h ctrl-t

    [That means: hold down the control key while you press 'h'; then hold down the control key while you press 't'.] From there, follow the directions on the screen. To end this or any other emacs session, enter:

    ctrl-x ctrl-c

    Don't try to drive your new Rolls Royce until you know how to steer it. I'm delighted that you learned how to crank it, or you would not be reading this message. Once you can steer it, you can go far more places than I know about and soon you will need help from no one.

    Enjoy cyberspace!

    LC