12.1 Configuration and initialization files

There are a number of files that contain configuration and initialization information:

• The LispWorks file config/configure.lisp contains many default configuration settings. You should created a customized copy of this file when you install LispWorks, as described in the LispWorks Release Notes and Installation Guide .
• The LispWorks file config/key-binds.lisp gives the default editor key bindings for Emacs emulation.
• The LispWorks file config/mac-key-binds.lisp gives the editor key bindings for Mac OS editor emulation, if supported on your platform.
• The LispWorks file config/msw-key-binds.lisp gives the editor key bindings for Microsoft Windows editor emulation, if supported on your platform.
• You may have a personal initialization file which is loaded on startup. By default LispWorks looks for a file called .lispworks in your home directory, although you can change its name and location (see "Setting global preferences" in the Common LispWorks User Guide ).

The default location of your home directory varies on Unix systems, but it is typically something lick /home . On Windows, the directory is constructed from the environment variables HOMEDRIVE and HOMEPATH The directory itself has the same name as your user name, so if you log on as john , your home directory might be /home/john on Unix systems or something like C:\Documents and Settings\john on Windows XP.

A sample personal initialization file, the LispWorks file config/a-dot-lispworks.lisp , is supplied. You should created a customized copy of this file when you install LispWorks, as described in the LispWorks Release Notes and Installation Guide .

Many of the customizations discussed in this chapter involve making changes to your personal initialization file.