Common Emacs Commands

The following table lists commonly used emacs key sequences for use on the UCS AIX systems. The table is probably of use to beginning emacs users who know the basics but would like to extend their knowledge of emacs or who just want to be reminded of commnds.

In the examples below C refers to the Control Key (^), and M is the meta key (usually Esc).

In sequences in which the Control key appears, remember to hold down both keys at the same time.

Where commands contain the meta key hit the meta key first, let go, then add the sequence to finish the command.

Prefix Sequences

M               prefix command
C-c             prefix command (UCS AIX only)
C-x             prefix command

Saving, Exiting, Undoing and Help

C-x C-s         save the current file
C-x C-w         save the file with a new name

C-x C-c         exit the editor

C-_             undo the last command
C-x u           undo the last command

C-g             pay attention emacs - give back control
C-l             redraw the screen

C-c C-c         save the file and exit the editor (UCS AIX only)

C-c C-h         enter the emacs help subsystem (UCS AIX only)

Line Manipulation


C-f             move forward a single character
C-b             move backwards a single character

C-n             move to the next line
C-p             move to the previous line

C-a             move to the beginning of the line
C-e             move to the end of the line

C-v             scroll forward
M v             scroll back

RET             create a newline
C-o             create a newline at the cursor position

C-d             delete the character at the cursor position
DEL             delete the previous character
C-h             delete the previous character
C-x C-o         delete blank lines

C-k             delete the rest of the line (kill)
C-y             yank back the text after a line delete

C-c =           current line number (UCS AIX only)
C-x =           current cursor position on the line (counts from zero)

Marking and Copying (using the "kill" ring)

C-@             set the mark

C-w             kill from the mark to the current cursor position
M w             copy to the "kill" buffer from the mark to the cursor position

C-y             yank back the text from the "kill" ring

Paragraph Filling

C-x .           set the fill prefix
C-x f           set the fill column
M q             fill the current paragraph

Searching Out Text

C-s             search the file for text (forward direction)
C-r             search the file for text (backward direction)


Bringing Files into the Editor
C-x C-f         bring the file into the editor (new buffer)
C-x i           insert the file within the current file

Keyboard Macros
C-x (           start to define a macro
C-x )           end the macro definition
C-x e           execute the macro

Window Manipulation

C-x o           go to the other window
C-x 0           delete this window
C-x 1           delete all other windows
C-x 2           split the window vertically
C-x 3           split the window horizontally

Miscellaneous

M %             query replace
M $             check the spelling of a word
M !             execute a shell command

C-t             transpose two characters
M t             transpose two words
C-x C-t         transpose two lines

C-x C-u         uppercase a region
C-x C-l         lowercase a region