Emacs Tips
Character Encoding
To change the character encoding for the current buffer, enter the following M-x command:
set-buffer-file-coding-system
Tab completion works for this command's options, so e.g. type 'utf-8' then hitting tab shows all the file encoding options beginning with 'utf-8'.
Indenting
Spelling
Change Default Dictionary
Emacs uses the ispell package. On a Debian system:
# apt-get install ispell iamerican ibritish
# dpkg-reconfigure dictionaries-common
Within a session, M-x ispell-change-dictionary - Press SPC to see a list of installed dictionaries
Inserting Control Characters
To insert a control character such as ^L (Form Feed), type C-q then the actual character (using the CTRL key).
Emacs Manual (Debian)
The Debian distribution doesn't include the manual in the main distribution section. It can be installed from the non-free section package named emacs21-common-non-dfsg or emacs22-common-non-dfsg.
See http://www.debian.org/vote/2006/vote_001 for an explanation of why the Emacs manual is not considered free.
- -- Frank Dean - 10 Aug 2009
Useful Emacs Add-Ons
Debian Packages
- emacs-goodies-el which includes Markdown-mode
- python-mode
Using Emacs within Firefox
Install the MozEX Firefox extension.
Using Emacs with Windows
Collaborative Editing
- See Collaborative Editing for various options.
One way:
M-x make-frame-on-display <RET> display <RET>
See GNU Emacs Manual - Multiple-Displays
-- Frank Dean - 13 Mar 2010
Related Topics: FirefoxTips, XmlTips
-- Frank Dean - 31 Jan 2009