11

I just started using emacs and since I have been using Sublime Text for a while, I am used to the four-grid-layout with 4 windows stacked horizontally and vertically. I have been able to split the screen horizontally only. How do I split it 4 ways?

twodee
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2 Answers2

15

To split the window in half with a vertical divider, use the command split-window-right. To split it in half with a horizontal divider, use the command split-window-below.

For example, assume we have this window by default:

.-------------.
|             |
|             |
|             |
|             |
|             |
'-------------'

M-x split-window-right RET:

.-------------.
|      |      |
|      |      |
|      |      |
|      |      |
|      |      |
'-------------'

M-x split-window-below RET:

.-------------.
|             |
|             |
|-------------|
|             |
|             |
'-------------'

split-window-right is bound to C-x 3 by default. split-window-below is bound to C-x 2 by default.

ErgoEmacs has a good guide on window management and navigation, including how to save a specific arrangement (e.g. a 4-way split) and load it automatically.

JCC
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  • Thanks for that. It works. How do I jump from one window to the other without `C-X o`. Say, I want to jump to the right window to the current one, how do I do that? – twodee Sep 12 '16 at 16:32
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    @CoderDudeTwodee: in general, please post a separate question rather than follow up in comments. In this case, though, you could consider using [`windmove`](https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/WindMove). – Dan Sep 12 '16 at 16:40
  • @Dan thank you, I found out `windmove` in another emacs question. – twodee Sep 12 '16 at 16:43
  • The ErgoEmacs link covers that, among other things. Glad to help! – JCC Sep 12 '16 at 18:40
9

Use the split-window-xxx commands, as described in another answer. If you always want a grid of 4 windows, here's a command you could use:

(defun split-4-ways ()
  (interactive)
  (delete-other-windows)
  (split-window-right)
  (split-window-below)
  (windmove-right)
  (split-window-below)
  (windmove-left))
glucas
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