GNU Info

Info Node: (emacs-lisp-intro.info)Beginning a .emacs File

(emacs-lisp-intro.info)Beginning a .emacs File


Next: Text and Auto-fill Prev: defcustom Up: Emacs Initialization
Enter node , (file) or (file)node

Beginning a `.emacs' File
=========================

   When you start Emacs, it loads your `.emacs' file unless you tell it
not to by specifying `-q' on the command line.  (The `emacs -q' command
gives you a plain, out-of-the-box Emacs.)

   A `.emacs' file contains Lisp expressions.  Often, these are no more
than expressions to set values; sometimes they are function definitions.

   Note: The Init File `~/.emacs', for a short
description of initialization files.

   This chapter goes over some of the same ground, but is a walk among
extracts from a complete, long-used `.emacs' file--my own.

   The first part of the file consists of comments: reminders to myself.
By now, of course, I remember these things, but when I started, I did
not.

     ;;;; Bob's .emacs file
     ; Robert J. Chassell
     ; 26 September 1985

Look at that date!  I started this file a long time ago.  I have been
adding to it ever since.

     ; Each section in this file is introduced by a
     ; line beginning with four semicolons; and each
     ; entry is introduced by a line beginning with
     ; three semicolons.

This describes the usual conventions for comments in Emacs Lisp.
Everything on a line that follows a semicolon is a comment.  Two,
three, and four semicolons are used as section and subsection markers.
(Note: Comments, for more about comments.)

     ;;;; The Help Key
     ; Control-h is the help key;
     ; after typing control-h, type a letter to
     ; indicate the subject about which you want help.
     ; For an explanation of the help facility,
     ; type control-h two times in a row.

Just remember: type `C-h' two times for help.

     ; To find out about any mode, type control-h m
     ; while in that mode.  For example, to find out
     ; about mail mode, enter mail mode and then type
     ; control-h m.

`Mode help', as I call this, is very helpful.  Usually, it tells you
all you need to know.

   Of course, you don't need to include comments like these in your
`.emacs' file.  I included them in mine because I kept forgetting about
Mode help or the conventions for comments--but I was able to remember
to look here to remind myself.


automatically generated by info2www version 1.2.2.9