Getting start with Emacs Text Editor
Emacs, a versatile text editor, can initially seem tedious, but mastering a few basic shortcuts can make it a powerful tool. Hereβs a simplified list of essential shortcuts for beginners.
Navigation
- Moving the Cursor
Up and Down Arrows: Move up and down.
Left and Right Arrows: Move left and right.
Home and End: Jump to the start and end of the line.
2) Scrolling
Page Up and Page Down: Scroll through the text.
Editing
- Cut, Copy, and Paste
Ctrl + K: Cut text.
Ctrl + Y: Paste text.
2) Undo and Redo
Ctrl + / or Ctrl + _: Undo.
File Operations
- Opening and Saving
Ctrl + X + Ctrl + F: Open a file.
Ctrl + X + Ctrl + S: Save the current file.
Ctrl + X + Ctrl + W: Save with a different name.
2) Closing and Quitting
Ctrl + X + K: Close the current file.
Ctrl + X + Ctrl + C: Quit Emacs.
Search and Replace
Search
Ctrl + S: Search forward.
Ctrl + R: Search backward.
Alt + % or Ctrl + X + R: Search and replace.
Miscellaneous
- Help
Ctrl + H + T: Open the Emacs tutorial.
Ctrl + H + A: Search for a command.
Ctrl + H + K: Describe a shortcut.
2) Running Commands
Alt + X: Run a command by name.
3) Customization
Alt + X + Customize: Access the customization interface.
These simplified shortcuts will help you navigate, edit, and manage files in Emacs. As you get comfortable, you can explore more advanced features and customize Emacs to suit your needs. Emacs has a steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, youβll find it to be a powerful ally for text editing and beyond.
Happy editing!