path: root/doc/emacs/kmacro.texi

@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985-1987, 1993-1995, 1997, 2000-2019 Free Software
@c Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Keyboard Macros
@chapter Keyboard Macros
@cindex defining keyboard macros
@cindex keyboard macro

  In this chapter we describe how to record a sequence of editing
commands so you can repeat it conveniently later.

  A @dfn{keyboard macro} is a command defined by an Emacs user to stand for
another sequence of keys.  For example, if you discover that you are
about to type @kbd{C-n M-d C-d} forty times, you can speed your work by
defining a keyboard macro to do @kbd{C-n M-d C-d}, and then executing
it 39 more times.

  You define a keyboard macro by executing and recording the commands
which are its definition.  Put differently, as you define a keyboard
macro, the definition is being executed for the first time.  This way,
you can see the effects of your commands, so that you don't have to
figure them out in your head.  When you close the definition, the
keyboard macro is defined and also has been, in effect, executed once.
You can then do the whole thing over again by invoking the macro.

  Keyboard macros differ from ordinary Emacs commands in that they are
written in the Emacs command language rather than in Lisp.  This makes it
easier for the novice to write them, and makes them more convenient as
temporary hacks.  However, the Emacs command language is not powerful
enough as a programming language to be useful for writing anything
intelligent or general.  For such things, Lisp must be used.

@menu
* Basic Keyboard Macro::     Defining and running keyboard macros.
* Keyboard Macro Ring::      Where previous keyboard macros are saved.
* Keyboard Macro Counter::   Inserting incrementing numbers in macros.
* Keyboard Macro Query::     Making keyboard macros do different things each
                               time.
* Save Keyboard Macro::      Giving keyboard macros names; saving them in
                               files.
* Edit Keyboard Macro::      Editing keyboard macros.
* Keyboard Macro Step-Edit:: Interactively executing and editing a keyboard
                               macro.
@end menu

@node Basic Keyboard Macro
@section Basic Use

@table @kbd
@item @key{F3}
@itemx C-x (
Start defining a keyboard macro
(@code{kmacro-start-macro-or-insert-counter}).
@item @key{F4}
@itemx C-x e
If a keyboard macro is being defined, end the definition; otherwise,
execute the most recent keyboard macro
(@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro}).
@item C-u @key{F3}
@itemx C-u C-x (
Re-execute last keyboard macro, then append keys to its definition.
@item C-u C-u @key{F3}
@itemx C-u C-u C-x (
Append keys to the last keyboard macro without re-executing it.
@item C-x C-k r
Run the last keyboard macro on each line that begins in the region
(@code{apply-macro-to-region-lines}).
@end table

@kindex F3
@kindex F4
@findex kmacro-start-macro-or-insert-counter
@findex kmacro-end-or-call-macro
@findex kmacro-end-and-call-macro
  To start defining a keyboard macro, type @key{F3}.  From then on,
your keys continue to be executed, but also become part of the
definition of the macro.  @samp{Def} appears in the mode line to
remind you of what is going on.  When you are finished, type @key{F4}
(@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro}) to terminate the definition.  For
example,

@example
@key{F3} M-f foo @key{F4}
@end example

@noindent
defines a macro to move forward a word and then insert @samp{foo}.
Note that @key{F3} and @key{F4} do not become part of the macro.

  After defining the macro, you can call it with @key{F4}.  For the
above example, this has the same effect as typing @kbd{M-f foo} again.
(Note the two roles of the @key{F4} command: it ends the macro if you
are in the process of defining one, or calls the last macro
otherwise.)  You can also supply @key{F4} with a numeric prefix
argument @samp{n}, which means to invoke the macro @samp{n} times.  An
argument of zero repeats the macro indefinitely, until it gets an
error or you type @kbd{C-g} (or, on MS-DOS, @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}}).

  The above example demonstrates a handy trick that you can employ
with keyboard macros: if you wish to repeat an operation at regularly
spaced places in the text, include a motion command as part of the
macro.  In this case, repeating the macro inserts the string
@samp{foo} after each successive word.

  After terminating the definition of a keyboard macro, you can append
more keystrokes to its definition by typing @kbd{C-u @key{F3}}.  This
is equivalent to plain @key{F3} followed by retyping the whole
definition so far.  As a consequence, it re-executes the macro as
previously defined.  If you change the variable
@code{kmacro-execute-before-append} to @code{nil}, the existing macro
will not be re-executed before appending to it (the default is
@code{t}).  You can also add to the end of the definition of the last
keyboard macro without re-executing it by typing @kbd{C-u C-u
@key{F3}}.

  When a command reads an argument with the minibuffer, your
minibuffer input becomes part of the macro along with the command.  So
when you replay the macro, the command gets the same argument as when
you entered the macro.  For example,

@example
@key{F3} C-a C-k C-x b foo @key{RET} C-y C-x b @key{RET} @key{F4}
@end example

@noindent
defines a macro that kills the current line, yanks it into the buffer
@samp{foo}, then returns to the original buffer.

  Most keyboard commands work as usual in a keyboard macro definition,
with some exceptions.  Typing @kbd{C-g} (@code{keyboard-quit}) quits
the keyboard macro definition.  Typing @kbd{C-M-c}
(@code{exit-recursive-edit}) can be unreliable: it works as you'd
expect if exiting a recursive edit that started within the macro, but
if it exits a recursive edit that started before you invoked the
keyboard macro, it also necessarily exits the keyboard macro too.
Mouse events are also unreliable, even though you can use them in a
keyboard macro: when the macro replays the mouse event, it uses the
original mouse position of that event, the position that the mouse had
while you were defining the macro.  The effect of this may be hard to
predict.

@findex apply-macro-to-region-lines
@kindex C-x C-k r
  The command @kbd{C-x C-k r} (@code{apply-macro-to-region-lines})
repeats the last defined keyboard macro on each line that begins in
the region.  It does this line by line, by moving point to the
beginning of the line and then executing the macro.

@kindex C-x (
@kindex C-x )
@kindex C-x e
@findex kmacro-start-macro
@findex kmacro-end-macro
  In addition to the @key{F3} and @key{F4} commands described above,
Emacs also supports an older set of key bindings for defining and
executing keyboard macros.  To begin a macro definition, type @kbd{C-x
(} (@code{kmacro-start-macro}); as with @key{F3}, a prefix argument
appends this definition to the last keyboard macro.  To end a macro
definition, type @kbd{C-x )} (@code{kmacro-end-macro}).  To execute
the most recent macro, type @kbd{C-x e}
(@code{kmacro-end-and-call-macro}).  If you enter @kbd{C-x e} while
defining a macro, the macro is terminated and executed immediately.
Immediately after typing @kbd{C-x e}, you can type @kbd{e} repeatedly
to immediately repeat the macro one or more times.  You can also give
@kbd{C-x e} a repeat argument, just like @key{F4} (when it is used to
execute a macro).

  @kbd{C-x )} can be given a repeat count as an argument.  This means
to repeat the macro right after defining it.  The macro definition
itself counts as the first repetition, since it is executed as you
define it, so @kbd{C-u 4 C-x )} executes the macro immediately 3
additional times.

@node Keyboard Macro Ring
@section The Keyboard Macro Ring

  All defined keyboard macros are recorded in the @dfn{keyboard macro
ring}.  There is only one keyboard macro ring, shared by all buffers.

@table @kbd
@item C-x C-k C-k
Execute the keyboard macro at the head of the ring (@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro-repeat}).
@item C-x C-k C-n
Rotate the keyboard macro ring to the next macro (defined earlier)
(@code{kmacro-cycle-ring-next}).
@item C-x C-k C-p
Rotate the keyboard macro ring to the previous macro (defined later)
(@code{kmacro-cycle-ring-previous}).
@end table

  All commands which operate on the keyboard macro ring use the
same @kbd{C-x C-k} prefix.  Most of these commands can be executed and
repeated immediately after each other without repeating the @kbd{C-x
C-k} prefix.  For example,

@example
C-x C-k C-p C-p C-k C-k C-k C-n C-n C-k C-p C-k C-d
@end example

@noindent
will rotate the keyboard macro ring to the second-previous macro,
execute the resulting head macro three times, rotate back to the
original head macro, execute that once, rotate to the previous
macro, execute that, and finally delete it from the macro ring.

@findex kmacro-end-or-call-macro-repeat
@kindex C-x C-k C-k
  The command @kbd{C-x C-k C-k} (@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro-repeat})
executes the keyboard macro at the head of the macro ring.  You can
repeat the macro immediately by typing another @kbd{C-k}, or you can
rotate the macro ring immediately by typing @kbd{C-n} or @kbd{C-p}.

  When a keyboard macro is being defined, @kbd{C-x C-k C-k} behaves
like @key{F4} except that, immediately afterward, you can use most key
bindings of this section without the @kbd{C-x C-k} prefix.  For
instance, another @kbd{C-k} will re-execute the macro.

@findex kmacro-cycle-ring-next
@kindex C-x C-k C-n
@findex kmacro-cycle-ring-previous
@kindex C-x C-k C-p
  The commands @kbd{C-x C-k C-n} (@code{kmacro-cycle-ring-next}) and
@kbd{C-x C-k C-p} (@code{kmacro-cycle-ring-previous}) rotate the
macro ring, bringing the next or previous keyboard macro to the head
of the macro ring.  The definition of the new head macro is displayed
in the echo area.  You can continue to rotate the macro ring
immediately by repeating just @kbd{C-n} and @kbd{C-p} until the
desired macro is at the head of the ring.  To execute the new macro
ring head immediately, just type @kbd{C-k}.

  Note that Emacs treats the head of the macro ring as the last
defined keyboard macro.  For instance, @key{F4} will execute that
macro, and @kbd{C-x C-k n} will give it a name.

@vindex kmacro-ring-max
  The maximum number of macros stored in the keyboard macro ring is
determined by the customizable variable @code{kmacro-ring-max}.

@node Keyboard Macro Counter
@section The Keyboard Macro Counter

  Each keyboard macro has an associated counter, which is initialized
to 0 when you start defining the macro.  This @dfn{current counter}
allows you to insert a number into the buffer that depends on the
number of times the macro has been called.  The counter is normally
incremented each time its value is inserted into the buffer.

In addition to the current counter, keyboard macros also maintain the
@dfn{previous counter}, which records the value the current counter
had last time it was incremented or set.  Note that incrementing the
current counter by zero, e.g., with @w{@kbd{C-u 0 C-x C-k C-i}}, also
records the value of the current counter as the previous counter
value.

@table @kbd
@item @key{F3}
In a keyboard macro definition, insert the keyboard macro counter
value in the buffer (@code{kmacro-start-macro-or-insert-counter}).
@item C-x C-k C-i
Insert the keyboard macro counter value in the buffer
(@code{kmacro-insert-counter}).
@item C-x C-k C-c
Set the keyboard macro counter (@code{kmacro-set-counter}).
@item C-x C-k C-a
Add the prefix arg to the keyboard macro counter (@code{kmacro-add-counter}).
@item C-x C-k C-f
Specify the format for inserting the keyboard macro counter
(@code{kmacro-set-format}).
@end table

@findex kmacro-insert-counter
@kindex C-x C-k C-i
  When you are defining a keyboard macro, the command @key{F3}
(@code{kmacro-start-macro-or-insert-counter}) inserts the current
value of the keyboard macro's counter into the buffer, and increments
the counter by 1.  (If you are not defining a macro, @key{F3} begins a
macro definition instead.  @xref{Basic Keyboard Macro}.)  You can use
a numeric prefix argument to specify a different increment.  If you
just specify a @kbd{C-u} prefix, that inserts the previous counter
value, and doesn't change the current value.

  As an example, let us show how the keyboard macro counter can be
used to build a numbered list.  Consider the following key sequence:

@example
@key{F3} C-a @key{F3} . @key{SPC} @key{F4}
@end example

@noindent
As part of this keyboard macro definition, the string @samp{0. } was
inserted into the beginning of the current line.  If you now move
somewhere else in the buffer and type @key{F4} to invoke the macro,
the string @samp{1. } is inserted at the beginning of that line.
Subsequent invocations insert @samp{2. }, @samp{3. }, and so forth.

  The command @kbd{C-x C-k C-i} (@code{kmacro-insert-counter}) does
the same thing as @key{F3}, but it can be used outside a keyboard
macro definition.  When no keyboard macro is being defined or
executed, it inserts and increments the counter of the macro at the
head of the keyboard macro ring.

@findex kmacro-set-counter
@kindex C-x C-k C-c
  The command @kbd{C-x C-k C-c} (@code{kmacro-set-counter}) sets the
current macro counter to the value of the numeric argument.  If you use
it inside the macro, it operates on each repetition of the macro.  If
you specify just @kbd{C-u} as the prefix, while executing the macro,
that resets the counter to the value it had at the beginning of the
current repetition of the macro (undoing any increments so far in this
repetition).

@findex kmacro-add-counter
@kindex C-x C-k C-a
  The command @kbd{C-x C-k C-a} (@code{kmacro-add-counter}) adds the
prefix argument to the current macro counter.  With just @kbd{C-u} as
argument, it resets the counter to the last value inserted by any
keyboard macro.  (Normally, when you use this, the last insertion
will be in the same macro and it will be the same counter.)

@findex kmacro-set-format
@kindex C-x C-k C-f
  The command @kbd{C-x C-k C-f} (@code{kmacro-set-format}) prompts for
the format to use when inserting the macro counter.  The default
format is @samp{%d}, which means to insert the number in decimal
without any padding.  You can exit with empty minibuffer to reset the
format to this default.  You can specify any format string that the
@code{format} function accepts and that makes sense with a single
integer extra argument (@pxref{Formatting Strings,,, elisp, The Emacs
Lisp Reference Manual}).  Do not put the format string inside double
quotes when you insert it in the minibuffer.

  If you use this command while no keyboard macro is being defined or
executed, the new format affects all subsequent macro definitions.
Existing macros continue to use the format in effect when they were
defined.  If you set the format while defining a keyboard macro, this
affects the macro being defined from that point on, but it does not
affect subsequent macros.  Execution of the macro will, at each step,
use the format in effect at that step during its definition.  Changes
to the macro format during execution of a macro, like the
corresponding changes during its definition, have no effect on
subsequent macros.

  The format set by @kbd{C-x C-k C-f} does not affect insertion of
numbers stored in registers.

  If you use a register as a counter, incrementing it on each
repetition of the macro, that accomplishes the same thing as a
keyboard macro counter.  @xref{Number Registers}.  For most purposes,
it is simpler to use a keyboard macro counter.

@node Keyboard Macro Query
@section Executing Macros with Variations

  In a keyboard macro, you can create an effect similar to that of
@code{query-replace}, in that the macro asks you each time around
whether to make a change.

@table @kbd
@item C-x q
When this point is reached during macro execution, ask for confirmation
(@code{kbd-macro-query}).
@end table

@kindex C-x q
@findex kbd-macro-query
  While defining the macro, type @kbd{C-x q} at the point where you
want the query to occur.  During macro definition, the @kbd{C-x q}
does nothing, but when you run the macro later, @kbd{C-x q} asks you
interactively whether to continue.

  The valid responses when @kbd{C-x q} asks are:

@table @asis
@item @key{SPC} (or @kbd{y})
Continue executing the keyboard macro.

@item @key{DEL} (or @kbd{n})
Skip the remainder of this repetition of the macro, and start right
away with the next repetition.

@item @key{RET} (or @kbd{q})
Skip the remainder of this repetition and cancel further repetitions.

@item @kbd{C-r}
Enter a recursive editing level, in which you can perform editing
which is not part of the macro.  When you exit the recursive edit
using @kbd{C-M-c}, you are asked again how to continue with the
keyboard macro.  If you type a @key{SPC} at this time, the rest of the
macro definition is executed.  It is up to you to leave point and the
text in a state such that the rest of the macro will do what you want.
@end table

  @kbd{C-u C-x q}, which is @kbd{C-x q} with a prefix argument,
performs a completely different function.  It enters a recursive edit
reading input from the keyboard, both when you type it during the
definition of the macro, and when it is executed from the macro.  During
definition, the editing you do inside the recursive edit does not become
part of the macro.  During macro execution, the recursive edit gives you
a chance to do some particularized editing on each repetition.
@xref{Recursive Edit}.

@node Save Keyboard Macro
@section Naming and Saving Keyboard Macros

@table @kbd
@item C-x C-k n
Give a command name (for the duration of the Emacs session) to the most
recently defined keyboard macro (@code{kmacro-name-last-macro}).
@item C-x C-k b
Bind the most recently defined keyboard macro to a key sequence (for
the duration of the session) (@code{kmacro-bind-to-key}).
@item M-x insert-kbd-macro
Insert in the buffer a keyboard macro's definition, as Lisp code.
@end table

@cindex saving keyboard macros
@findex kmacro-name-last-macro
@kindex C-x C-k n
  If you wish to save a keyboard macro for later use, you can give it
a name using @kbd{C-x C-k n} (@code{kmacro-name-last-macro}).
This reads a name as an argument using the minibuffer and defines that
name to execute the last keyboard macro, in its current form.  (If you
later add to the definition of this macro, that does not alter the
name's definition as a macro.)  The macro name is a Lisp symbol, and
defining it in this way makes it a valid command name for calling with
@kbd{M-x} or for binding a key to with @code{global-set-key}
(@pxref{Keymaps}).  If you specify a name that has a prior definition
other than a keyboard macro, an error message is shown and nothing is
changed.

@cindex binding keyboard macros
@findex kmacro-bind-to-key
@kindex C-x C-k b
  You can also bind the last keyboard macro (in its current form) to a
key, using @kbd{C-x C-k b} (@code{kmacro-bind-to-key}) followed by the
key sequence you want to bind.  You can bind to any key sequence in
the global keymap, but since most key sequences already have other
bindings, you should select the key sequence carefully.  If you try to
bind to a key sequence with an existing binding (in any keymap), this
command asks you for confirmation before replacing the existing binding.

  To avoid problems caused by overriding existing bindings, the key
sequences @kbd{C-x C-k 0} through @kbd{C-x C-k 9} and @kbd{C-x C-k A}
through @kbd{C-x C-k Z} are reserved for your own keyboard macro
bindings.  In fact, to bind to one of these key sequences, you only
need to type the digit or letter rather than the whole key sequences.
For example,

@example
C-x C-k b 4
@end example

@noindent
will bind the last keyboard macro to the key sequence @kbd{C-x C-k 4}.

@findex insert-kbd-macro
  Once a macro has a command name, you can save its definition in a file.
Then it can be used in another editing session.  First, visit the file
you want to save the definition in.  Then use this command:

@example
M-x insert-kbd-macro @key{RET} @var{macroname} @key{RET}
@end example

@noindent
This inserts some Lisp code that, when executed later, will define the
same macro with the same definition it has now.  (You don't need to
understand Lisp code to do this, because @code{insert-kbd-macro} writes
the Lisp code for you.)  Then save the file.  You can load the file
later with @code{load-file} (@pxref{Lisp Libraries}).  If the file you
save in is your init file @file{~/.emacs} (@pxref{Init File}) then the
macro will be defined each time you run Emacs.

  If you give @code{insert-kbd-macro} a prefix argument, it makes
additional Lisp code to record the keys (if any) that you have bound
to @var{macroname}, so that the macro will be reassigned the same keys
when you load the file.

@node Edit Keyboard Macro
@section Editing a Keyboard Macro

@table @kbd
@item C-x C-k C-e
Edit the last defined keyboard macro (@code{kmacro-edit-macro}).
@item C-x C-k e @var{name} @key{RET}
Edit a previously defined keyboard macro @var{name} (@code{edit-kbd-macro}).
@item C-x C-k l
Edit the last 300 keystrokes as a keyboard macro
(@code{kmacro-edit-lossage}).
@end table

@findex kmacro-edit-macro
@kindex C-x C-k C-e
@kindex C-x C-k RET
  You can edit the last keyboard macro by typing @kbd{C-x C-k C-e} or
@kbd{C-x C-k @key{RET}} (@code{kmacro-edit-macro}).  This formats the
macro definition in a buffer and enters a specialized major mode for
editing it.  Type @kbd{C-h m} once in that buffer to display details
of how to edit the macro.  When you are finished editing, type
@kbd{C-c C-c}.

@findex edit-kbd-macro
@kindex C-x C-k e
  You can edit a named keyboard macro or a macro bound to a key by typing
@kbd{C-x C-k e} (@code{edit-kbd-macro}).  Follow that with the
keyboard input that you would use to invoke the macro---@kbd{C-x e} or
@kbd{M-x @var{name}} or some other key sequence.

@findex kmacro-edit-lossage
@kindex C-x C-k l
  You can edit the last 300 keystrokes as a macro by typing
@kbd{C-x C-k l} (@code{kmacro-edit-lossage}).

@node Keyboard Macro Step-Edit
@section Stepwise Editing a Keyboard Macro

@findex kmacro-step-edit-macro
@kindex C-x C-k SPC
  You can interactively replay and edit the last keyboard
macro, one command at a time, by typing @kbd{C-x C-k @key{SPC}}
(@code{kmacro-step-edit-macro}).  Unless you quit the macro using
@kbd{q} or @kbd{C-g}, the edited macro replaces the last macro on the
macro ring.

  This macro editing feature shows the last macro in the minibuffer
together with the first (or next) command to be executed, and prompts
you for an action.  You can enter @kbd{?} to get a summary of your
options.  These actions are available:

@itemize @bullet{}
@item
@key{SPC} and @kbd{y} execute the current command, and advance to the
next command in the keyboard macro.
@item
@kbd{n}, @kbd{d}, and @key{DEL} skip and delete the current command.
@item
@kbd{f} skips the current command in this execution of the keyboard
macro, but doesn't delete it from the macro.
@item
@key{TAB} executes the current command, as well as all similar
commands immediately following the current command; for example, @key{TAB}
may be used to insert a sequence of characters (corresponding to a
sequence of @code{self-insert-command} commands).
@item
@kbd{c} continues execution (without further editing) until the end of
the keyboard macro.  If execution terminates normally, the edited
macro replaces the original keyboard macro.
@item
@kbd{C-k} skips and deletes the rest of the keyboard macro,
terminates step-editing, and replaces the original keyboard macro
with the edited macro.
@item
@kbd{q} and @kbd{C-g} cancels the step-editing of the keyboard macro;
discarding any changes made to the keyboard macro.
@item
@kbd{i @var{key}@dots{} C-j} reads and executes a series of key sequences (not
including the final @kbd{C-j}), and inserts them before the current
command in the keyboard macro, without advancing over the current
command.
@item
@kbd{I @var{key}@dots{}} reads one key sequence, executes it, and inserts it
before the current command in the keyboard macro, without advancing
over the current command.
@item
@kbd{r @var{key}@dots{} C-j} reads and executes a series of key sequences (not
including the final @kbd{C-j}), and replaces the current command in
the keyboard macro with them, advancing over the inserted key
sequences.
@item
@kbd{R @var{key}@dots{}} reads one key sequence, executes it, and replaces the
current command in the keyboard macro with that key sequence,
advancing over the inserted key sequence.
@item
@kbd{a @var{key}@dots{} C-j} executes the current command, then reads and
executes a series of key sequences (not including the final
@kbd{C-j}), and inserts them after the current command in the keyboard
macro; it then advances over the current command and the inserted key
sequences.
@item
@kbd{A @var{key}@dots{} C-j} executes the rest of the commands in the keyboard
macro, then reads and executes a series of key sequences (not
including the final @kbd{C-j}), and appends them at the end of the
keyboard macro; it then terminates the step-editing and replaces the
original keyboard macro with the edited macro.
@end itemize