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(emacs)Basic Picture

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Basic Editing in Picture Mode
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   Most keys do the same thing in Picture mode that they usually do, but
do it in a quarter-plane style.  For example, `C-f' is rebound to run
`picture-forward-column', a command which moves point one column to the
right, inserting a space if necessary so that the actual end of the
line makes no difference.  `C-b' is rebound to run
`picture-backward-column', which always moves point left one column,
converting a tab to multiple spaces if necessary.  `C-n' and `C-p' are
rebound to run `picture-move-down' and `picture-move-up', which can
either insert spaces or convert tabs as necessary to make sure that
point stays in exactly the same column.  `C-e' runs
`picture-end-of-line', which moves to after the last nonblank character
on the line.  There is no need to change `C-a', as the choice of screen
model does not affect beginnings of lines.

   Insertion of text is adapted to the quarter-plane screen model
through the use of Overwrite mode (Note: Minor Modes).
Self-inserting characters replace existing text, column by column,
rather than pushing existing text to the right.  <RET> runs
`picture-newline', which just moves to the beginning of the following
line so that new text will replace that line.

   Picture mode provides erasure instead of deletion and killing of
text.  <DEL> (`picture-backward-clear-column') replaces the preceding
character with a space rather than removing it; this moves point
backwards.  `C-d' (`picture-clear-column') replaces the next character
or characters with spaces, but does not move point.  (If you want to
clear characters to spaces and move forward over them, use <SPC>.)
`C-k' (`picture-clear-line') really kills the contents of lines, but
does not delete the newlines from the buffer.

   To do actual insertion, you must use special commands.  `C-o'
(`picture-open-line') creates a blank line after the current line; it
never splits a line.  `C-M-o' (`split-line') makes sense in Picture
mode, so it is not changed.  `C-j' (`picture-duplicate-line') inserts
below the current line another line with the same contents.

   To do actual deletion in Picture mode, use `C-w', `C-c C-d' (which
is defined as `delete-char', as `C-d' is in other modes), or one of the
picture rectangle commands (Note: Rectangles in Picture).