Emacs Help File

  1. Absolutely Essential Commands
  2. Emacs command key sequences use the Control key and the Meta Key (Meta is usually the ESCAPE key.) The notation C- indicates that the Control key is pressed at the same time as the character that follows. Similarly, M- indicates the use of the of the Meta key.

     

    Key Sequence

    Command

    C-h

    Enter the online help system.

    C-x C-s

    Save the file.

    C-x C-c

    Exit emacs.

    C-s

    Search.

    C-d

    Delete a character.

     

  3. File Handling Commands
  4. Key Sequence

    Command

    C-x C-f

    Find a file and read it.

    C-x i

    Insert file at cursor position.

    C-x C-s

    Save file

    C-x C-c

    Search.

     

  5. Cursor Movement Commands
  6. Key Sequence

    Command

    C-f

    Move forward one character.

    C-b

    Move backward one character.

    C-p

    Move to previous line.

    C-n

    Move to next page.

    M-f

    Move one word forward.

    M-b

    Move one word backward.

    C-a

    Move to beginning of line.

    C-e

    End-of-line.

    M-a

    Move backward one sentence.

    M-e

    Move forward one sentence.

    M-[

    Move backward one paragraph.

    M-]

    Move forward one paragraph.

    C-v

    Move forward one screen.

    M-v

    Move backward one screen.

    C-x [

    Move backward one page.

    c-x ]

    Move forward one page.

    M->

    Move to end of file.

    M-<

    Move to beginning of file.

    C-l

    Redraw screen with current line in the center.

    M-n

    Repeat the next command n times.

    C-u n

    Repeat the next command n times

     

  7. Deletion Commands
  8. Key Sequence

    Command

    DEL

    Delete previous character.

    C-d

    Delete character under cursor

    M-DEL

    Delete previous word.

    M-d

    Delete the word the cursor is on.

    C-k

    Delete from the cursor to the end of the line.

    M-k

    Delete the sentence the cursor is on.

    C-x DEL

    Delete previous sentence.

    C-y

    Restore what you’ve deleted.

    C-w

    Delete a marked region.

     

  9. Paragraphs and Regions.
  10. Key Sequence

    Command

    C-@

    C-SPACE

    Mark the beginning (or end) of a region.

    C-x C-p

    Mark page.

    c-x h

    Mark buffer

    M-q

    Reformat paragraph.

    M-g

    Reformat individual paragraphs within a region.

    M-h

    Mark paragraph.

     

  11. Stopping and Undoing Commands
  12. Key Sequence

    Command

    C-g

    Abort current command.

    C-x u

    Undo last edit (can be done repeatedly).

     

  13. Incremental Search Commands
  14. Key Sequence

    Command

    C-s

    Start incremental search forward.

    C-r

    Start incremental search backwards.

    Meta

    Exit a successful search.

    C-g

    Cancel incremental search; return to starting point.

     

  15. Help Commands

Key Sequence

Command

C-h t

Run the emacs tutorial.

C-h I

Start the info documentation reader.

C-h n

View news about updates to emacs.

C-h C-c

View the emacs General Public License.

C-h C-d

View information on ordering emacs from FSF.

C-h C-w

View the (non-)warranty for emacs.