Using Emacs

A hypertext introduction to emacs is available.

If you're working in X-windows, you can choose emacs from the Applications menu (under Accessories). You can also run emacs by typing either of the following two commands in a terminal window: emacs & or (to immediately start editing filename): emacs filename &

Note the ampersand & appearing at the end of the line! This is important when you are working in X-windows, since it runs emacs in the background, meaning that you can run other commands from your terminal window. If you forget the ampserand, you can put emacs into the background by first suspending it (giving it the C-x C-z command key sequence) and then typing the bg command into the shell window.

However if you're not working in X-windows (e.g., you're using a simple text-based terminal from home) do not put the ampersand at the end of this line. Doing so will tie up your terminal, which will be waiting for emacs until such time as you bring it into the foreground by typing the fg command.

The emacs program comes with a tutorial. Once you have started up emacs, hit the help key (normally control-h or control-?) followed by the letter t to begin the tutorial. Alternatively, you can start up emacs in tutorial mode by giving the command emacs -f help-with-tutorial

You can suspend emacs by pressing control-X and then control-Z. Resume it with the fgcommand.

Exit from emacs using control-X control-C.

Using Mobaxterm with ssh -X or ssh -Y, you might notice emacs opens with a small window. You can use emacs-gtk2; use these instructions to compile it.