GNU Info

(emacs)Uniquify

---

Next: Iswitchb Up: Buffer Convenience

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Making Buffer Names Unique
--------------------------

   When several buffers visit identically-named files, Emacs must give
the buffers distinct names.  The usual method for making buffer names
unique adds `<2>', `<3>', etc. to the end of the buffer names (all but
one of them).

   Other methods work by adding parts of each file's directory to the
buffer name.  To select one, customize the variable
`uniquify-buffer-name-style' (Note: Easy Customization).

   For instance, the `forward' naming method puts part of the directory
name at the beginning of the buffer name; using this method, buffers
visiting `/u/mernst/tmp/Makefile' and `/usr/projects/zaphod/Makefile'
would be named `tmp/Makefile' and `zaphod/Makefile', respectively
(instead of `Makefile' and `Makefile<2>').

   By contrast, the `post-forward' naming method would call the buffers
`Makefile|tmp' and `Makefile|zaphod', and the `reverse' naming method
would call them `Makefile\tmp' and `Makefile\zaphod'.  The nontrivial
difference between `post-forward' and `reverse' occurs when just one
directory name is not enough to distinguish two files; then `reverse'
puts the directory names in reverse order, so that `/top/middle/file'
becomes `file\middle\top', while `post-forward' puts them in forward
order after the file name, as in `file|top/middle'.

   Which rule to follow for putting the directory names in the buffer
name is not very important if you are going to _look_ at the buffer
names before you type one.  But as an experienced user, if you know the
rule, you won't have to look.  And then you may find that one rule or
another is easier for you to remember and utilize fast.