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Questions tagged [prefix-argument]

51 questions
15
votes
2 answers

How to use a numeric prefix to repeat insertion of a digit?

Suppose I want to type '222222' in emacs, how do I use the numeric prefix idiom to achieve this? A naive guess would be 'C-u 6 2' but emacs interprets this as a numeric prefix of 62 and waits for the next command.
dbjergaard
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13
votes
1 answer

How to apply `call-interactively` to an interactive command that accepts the universal argument?

I've read the documentation on how to make interactive calls from within Elisp, but I still can't figure out how to pass the universal argument when using call-interactively on a command that recognizes the universal argument. More specifically, I…
kjo
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12
votes
3 answers

What is a raw prefix argument? (capital P in interactive)

And what can they be used for? (interactive "p") takes a numerical argument from the universal argument right? And the universal argument is just an int either way, so what does capital (interactive "P") do?
24HrRevengeTherapist
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8
votes
1 answer

How to describe a key sequence that starts with `C-u`?

I am trying to use C-h k to describe the function to which a key is bound. But when I use it with a key chord like C-u C-e C-x it retrieves the documentation for C-u before I can finish typing the chord. What is the correct way to describe this type…
lookyhooky
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8
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1 answer

How to pass a prefix argument to helm-m-x?

I have read the prefix has to be added after running helm-m-x, but I don't know how to do it. For example I want to pass an argument to shell. When I run helm-m-x and then C-u I see in the mode-line [prefarg:4]. On the next key press there will be 4…
caisah
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8
votes
3 answers

Swap default behavior of command with C-u behavior

Many Emacs commands alter their behavior when called with one or more C-u prefixes. In some cases the default behavior of a command is less useful to me than the behavior I get when prefixing it with C-u. At the same time, I do not want to get rid…
itsjeyd
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6
votes
2 answers

Insert multiple minus ('-') characters using the universal argument (C-u)

I was manually creating a table in my source code's multiline comments and inserting horizontal separators using - and =. E.g. C-u C-u C-u = as expected and inserts 64 =s at the point. But - is used to provide negative arguments and does not work in…
loonatick
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6
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1 answer

How to rebind "special meaning" of C-u to a different key?

Excerpt from GNU Emacs manual: C-u alone has the special meaning of “four times”: it multiplies the argument for the next command by four. C-u C-u multiplies it by sixteen. Thus, C-u C-u C-f moves forward sixteen characters. Is there a way to get…
Rogach
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6
votes
3 answers

How to find out which function is bound to C-u C-SPC?

C-u C-SPC is used to Move point to where the mark was, and restore the mark from the ring of former marks. When trying to get the function bound to C-u C-SPC with describe-key it just stops processing the query, with reason, in C-u and returns…
marcanuy
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6
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2 answers

How to insert inactive [timestamp] via function?

C-u C-c ! generates a time stamp like [2015-05-04 Mon 17:13] I would like to assign a shortcut (e.g F1) to this action. So far I have: (defun my/timenow (&optional arg) (interactive) (let ((current-prefix-arg 4)) ;; emulate C-u (org-time-stamp…
Leo Ufimtsev
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5
votes
2 answers

How to specify prefix argument in key binding

The description of C-x C-e mentions: ...Interactively, with a non '-' prefix argument, print output into current buffer. I understand this to mean this logic is triggered when I issue C-u C-x C-e, but how would I bind this to C-c c? How do I…
young_souvlaki
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5
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2 answers

Is there an easy way to detect how many `C-u`s a command was given?

I have made the following function to count how many C-u prefixes a command was given (assuming it is called interactively), but I feel this is a common-enough problem that there should be a built-in function (or a package that solves this problem…
Sean Allred
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4
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2 answers

What is the difference between `C-u C-c C-l` and `C-c C-l`?

C-c C-l points to org-insert-link. In the minibuffer I am ask for a link type, link url and description. But C-u C-c C-l shows me dired-like folder structure in the minibuffer and I can navigate to an (image) file and select it. That is nice. I am…
buhtz
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4
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1 answer

Using a number in register as prefix argument

How can I use a number in a register after C-u ? For example my register looks like 1: 24, and I want to do C-u 24 x.
Faruk Akın
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4
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3 answers

Use cases for M-0 & C-0?

The purpose of digit-argument and how to use them is described in Emacs manual. Also read a question that asks how to disable them. Even though have not disabled them, I have changed M-1, M-2, M-3 'cause I prefer to use them for…
nephewtom
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