Moving the Cursor Without the Mouse


Using the control characters is easy once you learn the commands. In the following description, CTRL-x means to hold down the key marked CTRL and then type x.

  To move forward one character, type:    CTRL-f
  To move backward one character, type:   CTRL-b

  To move to the next line, type:         CTRL-n
  To move to the previous line, type:     CTRL-p

  To move to the end of a line:           CTRL-e
  To move to the beginning of a line:     CTRL-a
There are also some useful commands that use the ESC key (escape). Sometimes this key is referred to as Meta or M. To use one of the following commands, press the ESC key and release it, then press the character.

You can also use the Compose Character or ALT key to produce Meta commands. While holding down the Meta key, press the following character.

  To move forward one word:	             ESC f   or   M-f
  To move backwards one word:	             ESC b   or   M-b

  To move to the end of a sentence:	     ESC e   or   M-e
  To move to the beginning of a sentence:    ESC a   or   M-a

  To move to the end of the buffer:          ESC >   or   M->
  To move to the beginning of the buffer:    ESC <   or   M-<
Notice how most of the commands are mnemonic. For more information, type help at your athena% prompt, and select the following menus:

7. Text Processing
1. Emacs Text Editor
2. Getting Started
7. Moving the Cursor
You can also buy a copy of Essential Emacs at Graphic Arts in the basement of buildings 11 or pick up a copy of the Emacs Quick Reference Card in Graphics Arts or the OLC office (11-115).