Learning Common Emacs Commands

This following list summarized some common used Emacs commands:

1. open file/close file

   • C-x C-w: save as to a new file
   • C-x C-s: save current file

2. copy and paste

   • M-w: copy
   • C-y: paste

3. split window

   • C-l C-l --> C-x 2 --> C-x o to switch different window
   • C-x 1: close other windows to keep only one
   • M-x make-frame or M-x delete-frame: open or delete a new emacs window of a file
   • C-x 3: side by side splitting window

4. delete content and paragraphs

   • C-d: delete the next character after the cursor
   • M-d: delete next word
   • C-k: delete to the end of line
   • M-k: kill to the end of the current sentence

5. move to different location

   • C-f or C-b: move forward and backward by a character
   • M-f or M-b: move forward and backward by a word
   • C-n or C-p: move to next or previous line
   • C-a or C-e: move to the beginning or end of the line
   • M-a or M-e: move to the beginning or end of the sentence
   • M-< or M->: move the beginning or end of the file
   • M-g g #: go to specific line #

6. type the same words for multiple lines

   Add text

   • Start rectangle mode

     C-x SPACE

   • Move cursor to the previous (p) or next (n) line

     C-p / C-n

   • Target rectangle area

     C-x r t

   • Type text followed by RET to have text in selected lines

   Remove text

   • Start rectangle mode

     C-x SPACE

   • Move cursor to the previous (p) or next (n) line

     C-p / C-n

   • Move cursor forward (f) or backward (b) by character (C) or line (M).

     M-f / M-b

   • To remove text:

     BACKSPACE

7. search

   • C-s: search forward
   • C-r: search backward
   • keep typing the ctrl-s or ctrl-r to move the cursor. Press enter to end the search

8. move the cursor location

   • C-u 8 C-f: move forward by 8 characters

9. create new file

   • C-x C-f: new file

10. undo and redo

    • C-x u or C-_: undo

11. select all

    • C-x h

12. exit commands

    • Esc-Esc-Esc: 3 times Esc to exit commands

13. quit emacs

    • C-x C-c: quit

14. Help

    • C-H ?: display the help manual of emacs

15. Mark a selection area

    • C-space, C-@: to mark the beginning and end of selection. You can cut the selection area by C-w

16. replace with search

    • Alt+Shift+5: start the process of replace command

    • two queries will pop up: one to ask for the word to be replaced and the other for word to replace with

    • after that, the third query to ask you to type one of the following commands: