Previous sections have made references to the text in "the buffer", which implied that there is only one buffer. This is not true; MicroEMACS allows any number of buffers, memory space permitting.

Each buffer has its own buffer name (a 16 character string), and optional associated file name, and a block of text. A value of dot and mark is also associated with any buffer that is not currently being displayed. This remembered value of dot and mark makes a buffer come back in approximately the same state as it was when it was hidden.

Also associated with each buffer is a changed flag. This flag is set when the text in the buffer is modified, and reset when the text in the buffer is written out to its associated file. MicroEMACS will always ask for confirmation before executing a command that would cause changed text to be lost.

C-X C-B (display-buffers)

Create a pop-up window on the screen, and display it in the name, size (in characters), associated file name, and changed flag of all buffers. This command works by creating a special buffer which contains the text of the display, and then selecting it in a window. You can switch into this window if you like. You can even edit the text. MicroEMACS makes no attempt to keep a buffer list which is on the screen updated as other buffers are edited; however, another C-X C-B command will cause the display to be updated in place. On PCs, this function is also bound to F6.

C-X B (use-buffer)

This command prompts for a buffer name, and then switches the buffer being displayed in the current window to that buffer. The buffer will be created if it does not exist.

If you do not enter a buffer name, this command will use the name of the last buffer that you switched from with C-X B. Thus, you can use C-X B repeatedly to switch between two buffers without entering their names each time.

[unbound] (forw-buffer)

This command switches the buffer being displayed to the next buffer in the buffer list. If the end of the buffer list is reached, switch to the first buffer in the list. The list of buffers can be displayed with C-X C-B. When this command is bound to a key, it is useful for quickly flipping among the files being edited. On PCs this command is bound to F8.

[unbound] (back-buffer)

This command is similar to forw-buffer, except that it switches the buffer being displayed to the previous buffer in the buffer list.

C-X K (kill-buffer)

This command prompts for a buffer name, and then destroys the buffer with that name. It will ask for permission to destroy the buffer if the text has been changed since it was written to the associated file. You cannot delete a buffer that is being displayed.

C-X C-Q (toggle-readonly)

This command toggles the read-only flag on the current buffer: if the buffer is currently read-only, it is made read-write; otherwise it is made read-only. This can be useful to counteract the effect of starting MicroEMACS with the -r option.