C-@,C-space,M-space (set-mark)

Set the value of the mark to be equal to the dot. Use this command to mark the beginning of a region of text to be operated on by a region command such as C-W. You can also use this command to mark current location so it can be returned to later by C-X C-X. This command also pushes the new value of the mark onto a 16-entry ring of marks for the current window.

If you precede this command with an argument (i.e., precede it with a C-U), it sets the dot to the most recent mark that was stored in the ring, and moves that mark to the end of the ring. It also sets the mark to the next most recent mark in the ring, if any. By repeatedly using this command with an argument, you can cycle through the entire ring of marks, returning to those marked locations in sequence.

C-X C-X (swap-dot-and-mark)

Exchange the positions of the dot and the mark. This is useful for switching back and forth between two points in a file.

C-A (goto-bol)

Move to the beginning of the current line. Any argument is ignored. Always succeeds. On PCs, this function is bound to the Home key.

C-B (back-char)

Move backwards character by character. The number of characters to move is specified by the argument. If no argument is given it moves backwards by 1 character. A newline counts as a single character. Fails if executed at the beginning of the buffer. On PCs, this function is bound to the Left arrow key.

C-E (goto-eol)

Move to the end of the current line. Any argument is ignored. Always succeeds. On PCs, this function is bound to the End key.

C-F (forw-char)

Move forwards character by character. The number of characters to move is specified by the argument. If no argument is given it moves forwards by 1 character. A newline counts as a single character. Fails if executed at the end of the buffer. On PCs, this function is bound to the Right arrow key.

C-N (forw-line)

Move forward by lines. Attempt to preserve the current horizontal position. The number of lines to move is specified by the argument. If no argument is given it moves by 1 line. Fails if executed at the end of the buffer. On PCs, this function is bound to the Down arrow key.

C-P (back-line)

Move backwards by lines. Attempt to preserve the current horizontal position. The number of lines to move is specified by the argument. If no argument is given it moves by 1 line. Fails if executed at the beginning of the buffer. On PCs, this function is bound to the Up arrow key.

C-V (forw-page)

Move forward by pages. If an argument is given, it specifies the number of pages to move. If no argument is given, 1 is assumed. A page is a group of lines about 20% smaller than a window. If possible, dot is kept where it is; otherwise it it moved to the middle of the new page. On PCs, this function is bound to the PgDn key.

There is a compile time option that makes this command take an argument in lines instead of screenfuls. Look in def.h for the gory details.

M-V,C-Z (back-page)

Move backwards by pages. If an argument is given, it specifies the number of pages to move. If no argument is given, 1 is assumed. A page is a group of lines about 20% smaller than a window. If possible, dot is kept where it is; otherwise it it moved to the middle of the new page. On PCs, this function is bound to the PgUp key.

There is a compile time option that makes this command take an argument in lines instead of screenfuls. Look in def.h for the gory details.

M-< (goto-bob)

Move to the beginning of the buffer. Any argument is ignored. Dot is set to the first character of the first line in the buffer. On PCs, this function is bound to the Control-Home key.

M-> (goto-eob)

Move to the end of the buffer. Any argument is ignored. Dot is set to the first character in the fake line immediately after the buffer. The window is set to display dot near the center of the screen. On PCs, this function is bound to the Control-End key.

C-X G (goto-line)

This command moves the dot to a specific line number. If an argument is provided, the dot is moved to that line number. If no argument is provided, the command prompts on the echo line for a line number. This is useful for fixing a source file using error messages produced by a compiler.

C-X = (display-position)

This command displays information about the current position of the dot. The information is displayed on the echo line, and includes the following:

• The octal and hex values of the character at the dot.

• The current line number, in decimal.

• The current screen row and column, in decimal.

• The approximate position of the dot in the buffer, measured as a percentage of the buffer size.

• The number of characters in the buffer.