Init File Syntax
----------------
The `.emacs' file contains one or more Lisp function call
expressions. Each of these consists of a function name followed by
arguments, all surrounded by parentheses. For example, `(setq
fill-column 60)' calls the function `setq' to set the variable
`fill-column' (Note:Filling) to 60.
The second argument to `setq' is an expression for the new value of
the variable. This can be a constant, a variable, or a function call
expression. In `.emacs', constants are used most of the time. They
can be:
Numbers:
Numbers are written in decimal, with an optional initial minus
sign.
Strings:
Lisp string syntax is the same as C string syntax with a few extra
features. Use a double-quote character to begin and end a string
constant.
In a string, you can include newlines and special characters
literally. But often it is cleaner to use backslash sequences for
them: `\n' for newline, `\b' for backspace, `\r' for carriage
return, `\t' for tab, `\f' for formfeed (control-L), `\e' for
escape, `\\' for a backslash, `\"' for a double-quote, or `\OOO'
for the character whose octal code is OOO. Backslash and
double-quote are the only characters for which backslash sequences
are mandatory.
`\C-' can be used as a prefix for a control character, as in
`\C-s' for ASCII control-S, and `\M-' can be used as a prefix for
a Meta character, as in `\M-a' for `Meta-A' or `\M-\C-a' for
`Control-Meta-A'.
If you want to include non-ASCII characters in strings in your init
file, you should consider putting a `-*-coding: CODING-SYSTEM-*-'
tag on the first line which states the coding system used to save
your `.emacs', as explained in Note:Recognize Coding. This is
because the defaults for decoding non-ASCII text might not yet be
set up by the time Emacs reads those parts of your init file which
use such strings, possibly leading Emacs to decode those strings
incorrectly.
Characters:
Lisp character constant syntax consists of a `?' followed by
either a character or an escape sequence starting with `\'.
Examples: `?x', `?\n', `?\"', `?\)'. Note that strings and
characters are not interchangeable in Lisp; some contexts require
one and some contexts require the other.
Note:Non-ASCII Rebinding, for information about binding
commands to keys which send non-ASCII characters.
True:
`t' stands for `true'.
False:
`nil' stands for `false'.
Other Lisp objects:
Write a single-quote (`'') followed by the Lisp object you want.