LispWorks Editor User Guide > 2 General Concepts > 2.5 Executing commands

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2.5.1 Keys -- Command, Ctrl and Meta

Editor commands are initiated by one or more key sequences . A single key sequence usually involves holding down one of two specially defined modifier keys, while at the same time pressing another key which is usually a character key.

Mac OS users will be familiar with the use of the Command key in key sequences such as Command+C . These keys always work in the standard Mac OS way in the LispWorks editor. The remainder of this section describes the use of other modifier key.

The two modifier keys referred to are the Control ( Ctrl ) key and the Meta key .

When using Emacs emulation on a keyboard without a Meta key, the Escape ( Esc ) key can be used instead. Note that Esc must be typed before pressing the required character key, and not held down.

When using Mac OS editor emulation, Esc is the cancel gesture and you may not have an Emacs Meta key. Therefore LispWorks provides an alternate gesture to access editor commands: Ctrl+M . For example, to invoke the command Find Source for Dspec , type

Ctrl+M X Find Source for Dspec

and press Return .

To continue the search, type Ctrl+M , .

You can make either the Alt or the Command key act as the Emacs Meta key. This setting is independent of whether you are using Emacs or Mac OS editor emulation. See the LispWorks IDE User Guide for instructions on changing editor emulation.

An example of a single key sequence command is Ctrl+A which moves the current point to the start of the line. This command is issued by holding down the Control key while at the same time pressing A .

Some key sequences may require more than one key sequence. For example, the key sequence to save the current buffer to a file is Ctrl+X Ctrl+S . Another multi-key sequence is Ctrl+X S which saves all buffers to their relevant files. Note that in this case you do not press the Control key while pressing S .

A few commands require both the Ctrl and Meta key to be held down while pressing the character key. Meta+Ctrl+L , used to select the previous buffer displayed, is one such command. If the Esc key is being used in place of the Meta key, then this key should be pressed before the Ctrl+L part of the key sequence.


LispWorks Editor User Guide (Macintosh version) - 22 Dec 2009

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