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Info Node: (emacs)Minibuffer File

(emacs)Minibuffer File


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Minibuffers for File Names
==========================

   Sometimes the minibuffer starts out with text in it.  For example,
when you are supposed to give a file name, the minibuffer starts out
containing the "default directory", which ends with a slash.  This is
to inform you which directory the file will be found in if you do not
specify a directory.

   For example, the minibuffer might start out with these contents:

     Find File: /u2/emacs/src/

where `Find File: ' is the prompt.  Typing `buffer.c' specifies the
file `/u2/emacs/src/buffer.c'.  To find files in nearby directories,
use `..'; thus, if you type `../lisp/simple.el', you will get the file
named `/u2/emacs/lisp/simple.el'.  Alternatively, you can kill with
`M-<DEL>' the directory names you don't want (Note: Words).

   If you don't want any of the default, you can kill it with `C-a
C-k'.  But you don't need to kill the default; you can simply ignore it.
Insert an absolute file name, one starting with a slash or a tilde,
after the default directory.  For example, to specify the file
`/etc/termcap', just insert that name, giving these minibuffer contents:

     Find File: /u2/emacs/src//etc/termcap

GNU Emacs gives a special meaning to a double slash (which is not
normally a useful thing to write): it means, "ignore everything before
the second slash in the pair."  Thus, `/u2/emacs/src/' is ignored in
the example above, and you get the file `/etc/termcap'.

   If you set `insert-default-directory' to `nil', the default
directory is not inserted in the minibuffer.  This way, the minibuffer
starts out empty.  But the name you type, if relative, is still
interpreted with respect to the same default directory.


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