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(emacs)Function Keys

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Rebinding Function Keys
-----------------------

   Key sequences can contain function keys as well as ordinary
characters.  Just as Lisp characters (actually integers) represent
keyboard characters, Lisp symbols represent function keys.  If the
function key has a word as its label, then that word is also the name of
the corresponding Lisp symbol.  Here are the conventional Lisp names for
common function keys:

`left', `up', `right', `down'
     Cursor arrow keys.

`begin', `end', `home', `next', `prior'
     Other cursor repositioning keys.

`select', `print', `execute', `backtab'
`insert', `undo', `redo', `clearline'
`insertline', `deleteline', `insertchar', `deletechar'
     Miscellaneous function keys.

`f1', `f2', ... `f35'
     Numbered function keys (across the top of the keyboard).

`kp-add', `kp-subtract', `kp-multiply', `kp-divide'
`kp-backtab', `kp-space', `kp-tab', `kp-enter'
`kp-separator', `kp-decimal', `kp-equal'
     Keypad keys (to the right of the regular keyboard), with names or
     punctuation.

`kp-0', `kp-1', ... `kp-9'
     Keypad keys with digits.

`kp-f1', `kp-f2', `kp-f3', `kp-f4'
     Keypad PF keys.

   These names are conventional, but some systems (especially when using
X) may use different names.  To make certain what symbol is used for a
given function key on your terminal, type `C-h c' followed by that key.

   A key sequence which contains function key symbols (or anything but
ASCII characters) must be a vector rather than a string.  The vector
syntax uses spaces between the elements, and square brackets around the
whole vector.  Thus, to bind function key `f1' to the command `rmail',
write the following:

     (global-set-key [f1] 'rmail)

To bind the right-arrow key to the command `forward-char', you can use
this expression:

     (global-set-key [right] 'forward-char)

This uses the Lisp syntax for a vector containing the symbol `right'.
(This binding is present in Emacs by default.)

   Note: Init Rebinding, for more information about using vectors for
rebinding.

   You can mix function keys and characters in a key sequence.  This
example binds `C-x <NEXT>' to the command `forward-page'.

     (global-set-key [?\C-x next] 'forward-page)

where `?\C-x' is the Lisp character constant for the character `C-x'.
The vector element `next' is a symbol and therefore does not take a
question mark.

   You can use the modifier keys <CTRL>, <META>, <HYPER>, <SUPER>,
<ALT> and <SHIFT> with function keys.  To represent these modifiers,
add the strings `C-', `M-', `H-', `s-', `A-' and `S-' at the front of
the symbol name.  Thus, here is how to make `Hyper-Meta-<RIGHT>' move
forward a word:

     (global-set-key [H-M-right] 'forward-word)