This is auctex, produced by makeinfo version 4.2 from auc-tex.texi. START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY * AUCTeX: (auctex). A much enhanced LaTeX mode for GNU Emacs. END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY  File: auctex, Node: Top, Next: Copying, Prev: (dir), Up: (dir) AUC TeX ******* AUC TeX is an integrated environment for editing LaTeX and TeX files. This file almost documents AUC TeX version 12. Although AUC TeX contains a large number of features, there are no reasons to despair. You can continue to write TeX and LaTeX documents the way you are used to, and only start using the multiple features in small steps. AUC TeX is not monolithic, each feature described in this manual is useful by itself, but together they provide an environment where you will make very few LaTeX errors, and makes it easy to find the errors that may slip through anyway. If you want to make AUC TeX aware of style files and multi-file documents right away, insert the following in your `.emacs' file. (setq TeX-auto-save t) (setq TeX-parse-self t) (setq-default TeX-master nil) NOTE: This documentation is preliminary. It should however cover most important points. Corrections or perhaps rewrites of sections are VERY WELCOME. Kresten Krab Thorup (6.0) Per Abrahamsen (updates to 11) David Kastrup (updates from almost 12) There is a mailing list for discussion about AUC TeX and announcement of alpha releases, write to `auc-tex-request@sunsite.dk' to join it. Send contributions to `auc-tex@sunsite.dk'. Bug reports, suggestions for new features, and pleas for help should go to either `auc-tex_mgr@sunsite.dk' (the AUC TeX managers), or to `auc-tex@sunsite.dk' (the mailing list) if they might have general interest. Please use the command `M-x TeX-submit-bug-report' to report bugs if possible. * Menu: * Copying:: Copying * Introduction:: Why AUC TeX is good for you. * Frequently Used Commands:: Inserting Frequently Used Commands * Advanced Features:: Advanced Editing Features * Formatting:: Formatting and Printing * Multifile:: Multifile Documents * Parsing Files:: Automatic Parsing of TeX files. * I18n:: Internationalization * Automatic:: Automatic Customization * Style Files:: Writing Your own Style Support * Installation:: How to install AUC TeX * History:: The History of AUC TeX * Projects:: Wishlist * Credit:: Credit * Key Index:: Key Index * Function Index:: Function Index * Variable Index:: Variable Index * Concept Index:: Concept Index  File: auctex, Node: Copying, Next: Introduction, Prev: Top, Up: Top Copying ******* (This text stolen from the TeXinfo 2.16 distribution). The programs currently being distributed that relate to AUC TeX include lisp files for GNU Emacs. These programs are "free"; this means that everyone is free to use them and free to redistribute them on a free basis. The AUC TeX related programs are not in the public domain; they are copyrighted and there are restrictions on their distribution, but these restrictions are designed to permit everything that a good cooperating citizen would want to do. What is not allowed is to try to prevent others from further sharing any version of these programs that they might get from you. Specifically, we want to make sure that you have the right to give away copies of the programs that relate to AUC TeX, that you receive source code or else can get it if you want it, that you can change these programs or use pieces of them in new free programs, and that you know you can do these things. To make sure that everyone has such rights, we have to forbid you to deprive anyone else of these rights. For example, if you distribute copies of the AUC TeX related programs, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And you must tell them their rights. Also, for our own protection, we must make certain that everyone finds out that there is no warranty for the programs that relate to AUC TeX. If these programs are modified by someone else and passed on, we want their recipients to know that what they have is not what we distributed, so that any problems introduced by others will not reflect on our reputation. The precise conditions of the licenses for the programs currently being distributed that relate to AUC TeX are found in the General Public Licenses that accompany them.  File: auctex, Node: Introduction, Next: Frequently Used Commands, Prev: Copying, Up: Top Introduction to AUC TeX *********************** This section of the AUC TeX manual gives a brief overview of what AUC TeX is, and the section is also available as a `README' file. It is *not* an attempt to document AUC TeX. Real documentation for AUC TeX is available in the rest of the manual, which you can find in the `doc' directory. Read the `INSTALLATION' file for information about how to install AUC TeX. It is identical to the Installation chapter in the AUC TeX manual. If you are upgrading from the previous version of AUC TeX, the latest changes can be found in the `CHANGES' file. If you are upgrading from an older version, read the History chapter in the AUC TeX manual. AUC TeX is a comprehensive customizable integrated environment for writing input files for LaTeX using GNU Emacs. AUC TeX lets you run TeX/LaTeX and other LaTeX-related tools, such as a output filters or post processor from inside Emacs. Especially `running LaTeX' is interesting, as AUC TeX lets you browse through the errors TeX reported, while it moves the cursor directly to the reported error, and displays some documentation for that particular error. This will even work when the document is spread over several files. AUC TeX automatically indents your `LaTeX-source', not only as you write it -- you can also let it indent and format an entire document. It has a special outline feature, which can greatly help you `getting an overview' of a document. Apart from these special features, AUC TeX provides a large range of handy Emacs macros, which in several different ways can help you write your LaTeX documents fast and painlessly. All features of AUC TeX are documented using the GNU Emacs online documentation system. That is, documentation for any command is just a key click away! AUC TeX is written entirely in Emacs-Lisp, and hence you can easily add new features for your own needs. It was not made as part of any particular employment or project (apart from the AUC TeX project itself). AUC TeX is distributed under the `GNU Emacs General Public License' and may therefore almost freely be copied and redistributed. The next sections are a short introduction to some `actual' features. For further information, refer to the built-in online documentation of AUC TeX. Indentation and formatting ========================== AUC TeX may automatically indent your document as you write it. By pressing instead of at the end of a line, the current line is indented by two spaces according to the current environment level, and the cursor is moved down one line. By pressing , the current line is indented, and the cursor stays where it is. The well-known Emacs feature `format-paragraph' (`M-q') is reimplemented especially for AUC TeX to follow the indentation. A special command `LaTeX-fill-buffer' lets you indent an entire document like the well-known C utility indent (this time, only according to the LaTeX structure :-). Completion ========== By studying your `\documentclass' command (in the top of your document), and consulting a precompiled list of (La)TeX symbols from a large number of TeX and LaTeX files, AUC TeX is aware of the LaTeX commands you should be able to use in this particular document. This `knowledge' of AUC TeX is used for two purposes. 1. To make you able to `complete' partly written LaTeX commands. You may e.g. write `\renew' and press `M-' (`TeX-complete-symbol'), and then AUC TeX will complete the word `\renewcommand' for you. In case of ambiguity it will display a list of possible completions. 2. To aid you inserting environments, that is \begin - \end pairs. This is done by pressing C-c C-e (LaTeX-environment), and you will be prompted for which `environment' to insert. Editing your document ===================== A number of more or less intelligent keyboard macros have been defined to aid you editing your document. The most important are listed below. `LaTeX-environment' (`C-c C-e') Insert a `\begin{}' -- `\end{}' pair as described above. `LaTeX-section' (`C-c C-s') Insert one of `\chapter', `\section', etc. `TeX-font' (`C-c C-f C-r', `C-c C-f C-i', `C-c C-f C-b') Insert one of `\textrm{ }'), `\textit{ \/}' `\textbf{ }' etc. A number of additional functions are available. But it would be far too much to write about here. Refer to the rest of the AUC TeX documentation for further information. Running LaTeX ============= When invoking one of the commands `TeX-command-master' (`C-c C-c') or `TeX-command-region' (`C-c C-r') LaTeX is run on either the entire current document or a given region of it. The Emacs view is split in two, and the output of TeX is printed in the second half of the screen, as you may simultaneously continue editing your document. In case TeX find any errors when processing your input you can call the function `TeX-next-error' (`C-c `') which will move the cursor to the first given error, and display a short explanatory text along with the message TeX gave. This procedure may be repeated until all errors have been displayed. By pressing `C-c C-w' (`TeX-toggle-debug-boxes') you can toggle whether the browser also should notify over-full/under-full boxes or not. Once you've successfully formatted your document, you may preview or print it by invoking `TeX-command-master' again. Outlines ======== Along with AUC TeX comes support for outline mode for Emacs, which lets you browse the sectioning structure of your document, while you will still be able to use the full power of the rest of the AUC TeX functionality. Availability ============ The most recent version is always available at WWW users may want to check out the AUC TeX page at Contacts ======== There has been established a mailing list for help, bug reports, feature requests and general discussion about AUC TeX. You're very welcome to join. Traffic average at an article by day, but they come in bursts. If you are only interested in information on updates, you could refer to the newsgroups `comp.text.tex' and `gnu.emacs.sources'. If you want to contact the AUC TeX mailing list, send mail to in order to join. Articles should be sent to . To contact the current maintainers of AUC TeX directly, email .  File: auctex, Node: Frequently Used Commands, Next: Advanced Features, Prev: Introduction, Up: Top Inserting Frequently Used Commands ********************************** The most commonly used commands/macros of AUC TeX are those which simply insert templates for often used TeX and/or LaTeX constructs, like font changes, handling of environments, etc. These features are very simple, and easy to learn, and help you avoid stupid mistakes like mismatched braces, or `\begin{}'-`\end{}' pairs. * Menu: * Quotes:: Inserting double quotes * Font Specifiers:: Inserting Font Specifiers * Sectioning:: Inserting chapters, sections, etc. * Environments:: Inserting Environment Templates  File: auctex, Node: Quotes, Next: Font Specifiers, Prev: Frequently Used Commands, Up: Frequently Used Commands Insertion of Quotes, Dollars, and Braces ======================================== In TeX, literal double quotes `"like this"' are seldom used, instead two single quotes are used ```like this'''. To help you insert these efficiently, AUC TeX allows you to continue to press `"' to insert two single quotes. To get a literal double quote, press `"' twice. - Command: TeX-insert-quote COUNT (`"') Insert the appropriate quote marks for TeX. Inserts the value of `TeX-open-quote' (normally ```') or `TeX-close-quote' (normally `''') depending on the context. With prefix argument, always inserts `"' characters. - User Option: TeX-open-quote String inserted by typing `"' to open a quotation. - User Option: TeX-close-quote String inserted by typing `"' to close a quotation. If you include the style file `german' `TeX-open-quote' and `TeX-close-quote' will both be set to `"'. In AUC TeX, dollar signs should match like they do in TeX. This has been partially implemented, we assume dollar signs always match within a paragraph. The first `$' you insert in a paragraph will do nothing special. The second `$' will match the first. This will be indicated by moving the cursor temporarily over the first dollar sign. If you enter a dollar sign that matches a double dollar sign `$$' AUC TeX will automatically insert two dollar signs. If you enter a second dollar sign that matches a single dollar sign, the single dollar sign will automatically be converted to a double dollar sign. - Command: TeX-insert-dollar ARG (`$') Insert dollar sign. Show matching dollar sign if this dollar sign end the TeX math mode. Ensure double dollar signs match up correctly by inserting extra dollar signs when needed. With optional ARG, insert that many dollar signs. To avoid unbalanced braces, it is useful to insert them pairwise. You can do this by typing `C-c {'. - Command: TeX-insert-braces (`C-c {') Make a pair of braces and position the cursor to type inside of them.  File: auctex, Node: Font Specifiers, Next: Sectioning, Prev: Quotes, Up: Frequently Used Commands Inserting Font Specifiers ========================= Perhaps the most used keyboard commands of AUC TeX are the short-cuts available for easy insertion of font changing macros. They all put the font change inside a TeX group, a practice that help preventing subtle errors. The most significant advantage of using these command instead of typing it in yourself, is that the braces will always match correctly. If you give an argument (that is, type `C-u') to the font command, the innermost font will be replaced, i.e. the font in the TeX group around point will be changed. The following table shows the available commands, with `-!-' indicating the position where the text will be inserted. `C-c C-f C-r' Insert roman \textrm{-!-} text. `C-c C-f C-b' Insert bold face `\textbf{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-i' Insert italics `\textit{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-e' Insert emphasized `\emph{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-s' Insert slanted `\textsl{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-t' Insert typewriter `\texttt{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-c' Insert SMALL CAPS `\textsc{-!-}' text. `C-c C-f C-d' Delete the innermost font specification containing point. - Command: TeX-font ARG (`C-c C-f') Insert template for font change command. If REPLACE is not nil, replace current font. WHAT determines the font to use, as specified by `TeX-font-list'. - User Option: TeX-font-list List of fonts used by TeX-font. Each entry is a list with three elements. The first element is the key to activate the font. The second element is the string to insert before point, and the third element is the string to insert after point. An optional fourth element means always replace if not nil.  File: auctex, Node: Sectioning, Next: Environments, Prev: Font Specifiers, Up: Frequently Used Commands Inserting chapters, sections, etc. ================================== Insertion of sectioning macros, that is `\chapter', `\section', `\subsection', etc. and accompanying `\label''s may be eased by using `C-c C-s'. This command is highly customizable, the following describes the default behavior. When invoking you will be asked for a section macro to insert. An appropriate default is automatically selected by AUC TeX, that is either: at the top of the document; the top level sectioning for that document style, and any other place: The same as the last occurring sectioning command. Next, you will be asked for the actual name of that section, and last you will be asked for a label to be associated with that section. The label will be prefixed by the value specified in `LaTeX-section-hook'. - Command: LaTeX-section ARG (`C-c C-s') Insert a sectioning command. Determine the type of section to be inserted, by the argument ARG. * If ARG is nil or missing, use the current level. * If ARG is a list (selected by C-u), go downward one level. * If ARG is negative, go up that many levels. * If ARG is positive or zero, use absolute level: + 0 : part + 1 : chapter + 2 : section + 3 : subsection + 4 : subsubsection + 5 : paragraph + 6 : subparagraph The following variables can be set to customize the function. `LaTeX-section-hook' Hooks to be run when inserting a section. `LaTeX-section-label' Prefix to all section references. The precise behavior of `LaTeX-section' is defined by the contents of `LaTeX-section-hook'. - User Option: LaTeX-section-hook List of hooks to run when a new section is inserted. The following variables are set before the hooks are run LEVEL Numeric section level, default set by prefix arg to `LaTeX-section'. NAME Name of the sectioning command, derived from LEVEL. TITLE The title of the section, default to an empty string. TOC Entry for the table of contents list, default nil. DONE-MARK Position of point afterwards, default nil meaning after the inserted text. A number of hooks are already defined. Most likely, you will be able to get the desired functionality by choosing from these hooks. `LaTeX-section-heading' Query the user about the name of the sectioning command. Modifies LEVEL and NAME. `LaTeX-section-title' Query the user about the title of the section. Modifies TITLE. `LaTeX-section-toc' Query the user for the toc entry. Modifies TOC. `LaTeX-section-section' Insert LaTeX section command according to NAME, TITLE, and TOC. If TOC is nil, no toc entry is inserted. If TOC or TITLE are empty strings, DONE-MARK will be placed at the point they should be inserted. `LaTeX-section-label' Insert a label after the section command. Controlled by the variable `LaTeX-section-label'. To get a full featured `LaTeX-section' command, insert (setq LaTeX-section-hook '(LaTeX-section-heading LaTeX-section-title LaTeX-section-toc LaTeX-section-section LaTeX-section-label)) in your `.emacs' file. The behavior of `LaTeX-section-label' is determined by the variable `LaTeX-section-label'. - User Option: LaTeX-section-label Default prefix when asking for a label. If it is a string, it is used unchanged for all kinds of sections. If it is nil, no label is inserted. If it is a list, the list is searched for a member whose car is equal to the name of the sectioning command being inserted. The cdr is then used as the prefix. If the name is not found, or if the cdr is nil, no label is inserted. By default, chapters have a prefix of `cha:' while sections and subsections have a prefix of `sec:'. Labels are not automatically inserted for other types of sections.  File: auctex, Node: Environments, Prev: Sectioning, Up: Frequently Used Commands Inserting Environment Templates =============================== A large apparatus is available that supports insertions of environments, that is `\begin{}' -- `\end{}' pairs. AUC TeX is aware of most of the actual environments available in a specific document. This is achieved by examining your `\documentclass' command, and consulting a precompiled list of environments available in a large number of styles. You insert an environment with `C-c C-e', and select an environment type. Depending on the environment, AUC TeX may ask more questions about the optional parts of the selected environment type. With `C-u C-c C-e' you will change the current environment. - Command: LaTeX-environment ARG (`C-c C-e') AUC TeX will prompt you for an environment to insert. At this prompt, you may press or to complete a partially written name, and/or to get a list of available environments. After selection of a specific environment AUC TeX may prompt you for further specifications. If the optional argument ARG is not-nil (i.e. you have given a prefix argument), the current environment is modified and no new environment is inserted. As a default selection, AUC TeX will suggest the environment last inserted or, as the first choice the value of the variable `LaTeX-default-environment'. - User Option: LaTeX-default-environment Default environment to insert when invoking `LaTeX-environment' first time. If the document is empty, or the cursor is placed at the top of the document, AUC TeX will default to insert a `document' environment. Most of these are described further in the following sections, and you may easily specify more, as described in `Customizing environments'. * Menu: * Equations:: Equations * Floats:: Floats * Itemize-like:: Itemize-like * Tabular-like:: Tabular-like * Customizing environments:: Customizing environments You can close the current environment with `C-c ]', but we suggest that you use `C-c C-e' to insert complete environments instead. - Command: LaTeX-close-environment (`C-c ]') Insert an `\end' that matches the current environment.  File: auctex, Node: Equations, Next: Floats, Prev: Environments, Up: Environments Equations --------- When inserting equation-like environments, the `\label' will have a default prefix, which is controlled by the following variables: - User Option: LaTeX-equation-label Prefix to use for `equation' labels. - User Option: LaTeX-eqnarray-label Prefix to use for `eqnarray' labels. - User Option: LaTeX-amsmath-label Prefix to use for amsmath equation labels. Amsmath equations include `align', `alignat', `xalignat', `aligned', `flalign' and `gather'.  File: auctex, Node: Floats, Next: Itemize-like, Prev: Equations, Up: Environments Floats ------ Figures and tables (i.e., floats) may also be inserted using AUC TeX. After choosing either `figure' or `table' in the environment list described above, you will be prompted for a number of additional things. FLOAT-TO This field is the option of float environments that controls how they are placed in the final document. In LaTeX this is a sequence of the letters `htbp' as described in the LaTeX manual. The value will default to the value of `LaTeX-float'. CAPTION This is the caption of the float. LABEL The label of this float. The label will have a default prefix, which is controlled by the variables `LaTeX-figure-label' and `LaTeX-table-label'. Moreover, in the case of a `figure' environment, you will be asked if you want to insert a `center' environment inside the figure. - User Option: LaTeX-float Default placement for floats. - User Option: LaTeX-figure-label Prefix to use for figure labels. - User Option: LaTeX-table-label Prefix to use for table labels.  File: auctex, Node: Itemize-like, Next: Tabular-like, Prev: Floats, Up: Environments Itemize-like ------------ In an itemize-like environment, nodes (i.e., `\item's) may be inserted using `C-c '. - Command: LaTeX-insert-item (`C-c ') Close the current item, move to the next line and insert an appropriate `\item' for the current environment. That is, `itemize' and `enumerate' will have `\item ' inserted, while `description' will have `\item[]' inserted.  File: auctex, Node: Tabular-like, Next: Customizing environments, Prev: Itemize-like, Up: Environments Tabular-like ------------ When inserting Tabular-like environments, that is, `tabular' `array' etc., you will be prompted for a template for that environment.  File: auctex, Node: Customizing environments, Prev: Tabular-like, Up: Environments Customizing environments ------------------------ *Note Adding Environments::, for how to customize the list of known environments.  File: auctex, Node: Advanced Features, Next: Formatting, Prev: Frequently Used Commands, Up: Top Advanced Editing Features ************************* The previous chapter described how to write the main body of the text easily and with a minimum of errors. In this chapter we will describe some features for entering more specialized sorts of text, and for indenting and navigating through the document. * Menu: * Mathematics:: Entering Mathematics * Completion:: Completion * Commenting:: Commenting * Marking and formatting:: Marking, Formatting and Indenting * Outline:: Hiding text  File: auctex, Node: Mathematics, Next: Completion, Prev: Advanced Features, Up: Advanced Features Entering Mathematics ==================== TeX is written by a mathematician, and has always contained good support for formatting mathematical text. AUC TeX supports this tradition, by offering a special minor mode for entering text with many mathematical symbols. You can enter this mode by typing `C-c ~'. - Command: LaTeX-math-mode (`C-c ~') Toggle LaTeX-math-mode. This is a minor mode rebinding the key `LaTeX-math-abbrev-prefix' to allow easy typing of mathematical symbols. ``' will read a character from the keyboard, and insert the symbol as specified in `LaTeX-math-list'. If given a prefix argument, the symbol will be surrounded by dollar signs. You can use another prefix key (instead of ``') by setting the variable LaTeX-math-abbrev-prefix. - User Option: LaTeX-math-abbrev-prefix A string containing the prefix of `LaTeX-math-mode' commands; This value defaults to ``'. The variable `LaTeX-math-list' holds the actual mapping. - User Option: LaTeX-math-list A list containing key command mappings to use in `LaTeX-math-mode'. The car of each element is the key and the cdr is the macro name. The AUC TeX distributions includes a reference card for `LaTeX-math-mode' with a list of all math mode commands.  File: auctex, Node: Completion, Next: Commenting, Prev: Mathematics, Up: Advanced Features Completion ========== Emacs lisp programmers probably know the `lisp-complete-symbol' command, usually bound to `M-'. Users of the wonderful ispell mode know and love the `ispell-complete-word' command from that package. Similarly, AUC TeX has a `TeX-complete-symbol' command, usually bound to `M-'. Using `LaTeX-complete-symbol' makes it easier to type and remember the names of long LaTeX macros. In order to use `TeX-complete-symbol', you should write a backslash and the start of the macro. Typing `M-' will now complete as much of the macro, as it unambiguously can. For example, if you type ``\renewc'' and then ``M-', it will expand to ``\renewcommand''. - Command: TeX-complete-symbol (`M-') Complete TeX symbol before point. A more direct way to insert a macro is with `TeX-insert-macro', bound to `C-c C-m'. It has the advantage over completion that it knows about the argument of most standard LaTeX macros, and will prompt for them. It also knows about the type of the arguments, so it will for example give completion for the argument to `\include'. Some examples are listed below. - Command: TeX-insert-macro (`C-c C-m') Prompt (with completion) for the name of a TeX macro, and if AUC TeX knows the macro, prompt for each argument. As a default selection, AUC TeX will suggest the macro last inserted or, as the first choice the value of the variable `TeX-default-macro'. - User Option: TeX-default-macro Default macro to insert when invoking `TeX-insert-macro' first time. A faster alternative is to bind the function `TeX-electric-macro' to `\'. This can be done by setting the variable `TeX-electric-escape' - User Option: TeX-electric-escape If this is non-nil when AUC TeX is loaded, the TeX escape character `\' will be bound to `TeX-electric-macro' The difference between `TeX-insert-macro' and `TeX-electric-macro' is that space will complete and exit from the minibuffer in `TeX-electric-macro'. Use if you merely want to complete. - Command: TeX-electric-macro Prompt (with completion) for the name of a TeX macro, and if AUC TeX knows the macro, prompt for each argument. Space will complete and exit. By default AUC TeX will put an empty set braces `{}' after a macro with no arguments to stop it from eating the next whitespace. This can be stopped by entering `LaTeX-math-mode', *note Mathematics::, or by setting `TeX-insert-braces' to nil - User Option: TeX-insert-braces If non-nil, append a empty pair of braces after inserting a macro. Completions work because AUC TeX can analyze TeX files, and store symbols in emacs lisp files for later retrieval. *Note Automatic::, for more information. AUC TeX will also make completion for many macro arguments, for example existing labels when you enter a `\ref' macro with `TeX-insert-macro' or `TeX-electric-macro', and BibTeX entries when you enter a `\cite' macro. For this kind of completion to work, parsing must be enabled as described in *note Parsing Files::. For `\cite' you must also make sure that the BibTeX files have been saved at least once after you enabled automatic parsing on save, and that the basename of the BibTeX file does not conflict with the basename of one of TeX files.  File: auctex, Node: Commenting, Next: Marking and formatting, Prev: Completion, Up: Advanced Features Commenting ========== It is often necessary to comment out temporarily a region of TeX or LaTeX code. This can be done with the commands `C-c ;' and `C-c %'. `C-c ;' will comment out all lines in the current region, while `C-c %' will comment out the current paragraph. To uncomment, simply type `C-u - C-c ;' to uncomment all lines in the region, or `C-u - C-c %' uncomment all comment lines around point. By default, these commands will insert or remove a single `%'. To insert more than one, give an argument. `C-u 5 C-c %' will add five `%' to each line, while `C-u - 5 C-c %' will remove up to 5 `%' from each line. - Command: TeX-comment-region COUNT (`C-c ;') Add or remove `%' from the beginning of each line in the current region, as specified by COUNT. - Command: TeX-comment-paragraph COUNT (`C-c %') Add or remove `%' from the beginning of each line in the current paragraph, as specified by COUNT. When removing `%''s the paragraph is considered to consist of all preceding and succeeding lines starting with a `%', until the first non-comment line.  File: auctex, Node: Marking and formatting, Next: Outline, Prev: Commenting, Up: Advanced Features Marking, Formatting and Indenting ================================= AUC TeX contains very advanced handling of indentation and reformatting of the LaTeX source. If you have already tried AUC TeX with `auto-fill-mode' enabled, you may have noted that the source is automatically indented and formatted as you write it. More over, AUC TeX is able to format sections of text on demand. It is important to realize, that AUC TeX comes with `formatting' in two fashions. Either letting TeX format the file, or letting AUC TeX make the ASCII document look better. Indentation is done by LaTeX environments and by TeX groups, that is the body of an environment is indented by the value of `LaTeX-indent-level' (default 2). Also, items of an `itemize-like' environment are indented by the value of `LaTeX-item-indent', default -2. This indentation makes it easier to see the structure of the document, and to catch errors such as a missing close brace. Thus, the indentation is done for precisely the same reasons that you would indent ordinary computer programs. The following is a short sample of an itemize environment indented by AUC TeX. If more environments are nested, they are indented `accumulated' just like most programming languages usually are seen indented in nested constructs. \begin{itemize} \item Insertion of templates for logical-structural compositions such as environments and sections. \item Hot-keys for easy access to certain often used constructs, e.g., font changes, accented letters, and mathematical symbols. \item Running application programs (such as \TeX), and then parsing the output so that errors in the document may be located easily. \item Support for multi-file documents. \item Online help for \AllTeX\ error messages. \item Outlining\Dash i.e., manipulating the document as a composition of nested/sequential logical constructs. \item Instant formatting and indentation of the \ascii-document in order to make it easier to read. \item `Completion' (and thereby spell-checking) of partially written control sequences. \end{itemize} You can format and indent single lines, paragraphs, environments, or sections. `' `LaTeX-indent-line' will indent the current line. `' `reindent-then-newline-and-indent' indents the current line, and then inserts a new line (much like ) and move the cursor to an appropriate position by the left margin. `M-q' Alias for `C-c C-q C-p' `C-c C-q C-p' `LaTeX-fill-paragraph' will reformat or `fill' the current paragraph. `C-c C-q C-e' `LaTeX-fill-environment' will reformat or `fill' the current environment. This may e.g. be the `document' environment, in which case the entire document will be formatted. `C-c C-q C-s' `LaTeX-fill-section' will reformat or `fill' the current logical sectional unit. `M-g' Alias for `C-c C-q C-r' `C-c C-q C-r' `LaTeX-fill-region' will format or `fill' the current region. *Warning:* The formatting cannot handle tabular-like environments. Those will be completely messed-up if you try to format them. - User Option: LaTeX-indent-level Number of spaces to add to the indentation for each `\begin' not matched by a `\end'. - User Option: LaTeX-item-indent Number of spaces to add to the indentation for `\item''s in list environments. - User Option: TeX-brace-indent-level Number of spaces to add to the indentation for each `{' not matched by a `}'.  File: auctex, Node: Outline, Prev: Marking and formatting, Up: Advanced Features Outlining the Document ====================== AUC TeX supports the standard outline minor mode using LaTeX sectioning commands as header lines. *Note Outline Mode: (emacs)Outline Mode. By default `outline-minor-mode' will use the prefix key `C-c' which is also used by AUC TeX, so it is suggested that you choose another prefix key by inserting (setq outline-minor-mode-prefix "\C-c\C-o") ; Or whatever... in your `.emacs' file. You can add your own headings by setting the variable `TeX-outline-extra'. - Variable: TeX-outline-extra List of extra TeX outline levels. Each element is a list with two entries. The first entry is the regular expression matching a header, and the second is the level of the header. A `^' is automatically prepended to the regular expressions in the list, so they must match text at the beginning of the line. See `LaTeX-section-list' for existing header levels. The following example add `\item' and `\bibliography' headers, with `\bibliography' at the same outline level as `\section', and `\item' being below `\subparagraph'. (setq TeX-outline-extra '(("[ \t]*\\\\\\(bib\\)?item\\b" 7) ("\\\\bibliography\\b" 2))) You may want to check out the unbundled `out-xtra' package for even better outline support. It is available from your favorite emacs lisp archive.  File: auctex, Node: Formatting, Next: Multifile, Prev: Advanced Features, Up: Top Formatting and Printing *********************** The most powerful features of AUC TeX may be those allowing you to run (La)TeX and other external commands like BibTeX and `makeindex' from within Emacs, viewing and printing the results, and moreover allowing you to _debug_ your documents. * Menu: * Commands:: Invoking external commands. * Debugging:: Debugging TeX and LaTeX output. * Checking:: Checking the document. * Control:: Controlling the processes.  File: auctex, Node: Commands, Next: Debugging, Prev: Formatting, Up: Formatting Executing Commands ================== Formatting the document with TeX or LaTeX, viewing with a previewer, printing the document, running BibTeX, making an index, or checking the document with `lacheck' or `chktex' all require running an external command. There are two ways to run an external command, you can either run it on all of the current documents with `TeX-command-master', or on the current region with `TeX-command-region'. - Command: TeX-command-master (`C-c C-c') Query the user for a command, and run it on the master file associated with the current buffer. The name of the master file is controlled by the variable `TeX-master'. The available commands are controlled by the variable `TeX-command-list'. *Note Installation::, for a discussion about `TeX-command-list' and *Note Multifile:: for a discussion about `TeX-master'. - Command: TeX-command-region (`C-c C-r') Query the user for a command, and run it on the "region file". Some commands (typically those invoking TeX or LaTeX) will write the current region into the region file, after extracting the header and tailer from the master file. If mark is not active, use the old region. The name of the region file is controlled by the variable `TeX-region'. The name of the master file is controlled by the variable `TeX-master'. The header is all text up to the line matching the regular expression `TeX-header-end'. The trailer is all text from the line matching the regular expression `TeX-trailer-start'. The available commands are controlled by the variable `TeX-command-list'. AUC TeX will allow one process for each document, plus one process for the region file to be active at the same time. Thus, if you are editing N different documents, you can have N plus one processes running at the same time. If the last process you started was on the region, the commands described in *Note Debugging:: and *Note Control:: will work on that process, otherwise they will work on the process associated with the current document. - User Option: TeX-region The name of the file for temporarily storing the text when formatting the current region. - User Option: TeX-header-end A regular expression matching the end of the header. By default, this is `\begin{document}' in LaTeX mode and `%**end of header' in TeX mode. - User Option: TeX-trailer-start A regular expression matching the start of the trailer. By default, this is `\end{document}' in LaTeX mode and `\bye' in TeX mode. AUC TeX will try to guess what command you want to invoke, but by default it will assume that you want to run TeX in TeX mode and LaTeX in LaTeX mode. You can overwrite this by setting the variable `TeX-command-default'. - User Option: TeX-command-default The default command to run in this buffer. Must be an entry in `TeX-command-list'. If you want to overwrite the values of `TeX-header-end', `TeX-trailer-start', or `TeX-command-default', you can do that for all files by setting them in either `TeX-mode-hook', `plain-TeX-mode-hook', or `LaTeX-mode-hook'. To overwrite them for a single file, define them as file variables (*note File Variables: (emacs)File Variables.). You do this by putting special formatted text near the end of the file. % Local Variables: % TeX-header-end: "% End-Of-Header" % TeX-trailer-start: "% Start-Of-Trailer" % TeX-command-default: "SliTeX" % End: AUC TeX will try to save any buffers related to the document, and check if the document needs to be reformatted. If the variable `TeX-save-query' is non-nil, AUC TeX will query before saving each file. By default AUC TeX will check emacs buffers associated with files in the current directory, in one of the `TeX-macro-private' directories, and in the `TeX-macro-global' directories. You can change this by setting the variable `TeX-check-path'. - User Option: TeX-check-path Directory path to search for dependencies. If nil, just check the current file. Used when checking if any files have changed.  File: auctex, Node: Debugging, Next: Checking, Prev: Commands, Up: Formatting Catching the errors =================== Once you've formatted your document you may `debug' it, i.e. browse through the errors (La)TeX reported. - Command: TeX-next-error (`C-c `') Go to the next error reported by TeX. The view will be split in two, with the cursor placed as close as possible to the error in the top view. In the bottom view, the error message will be displayed along with some explanatory text. Normally AUC TeX will only report real errors, but you may as well ask it to report `bad boxes' as well. - Command: TeX-toggle-debug-bad-boxes (`C-c C-w') Toggle whether AUC TeX should stop at bad boxes (i.e. over/under full boxes) as well as at normal errors. As default, AUC TeX will display that special `*help*' buffer containing the error reported by TeX along with the documentation. There is however an `expert' option, which allows you to display the real TeX output. - User Option: TeX-display-help When non-nil AUC TeX will automatically display a help text whenever an error is encountered using `TeX-next-error' (`C-c `').  File: auctex, Node: Checking, Next: Control, Prev: Debugging, Up: Formatting Checking for problems ===================== Running TeX or LaTeX will only find regular errors in the document, not examples of bad style. Furthermore, description of the errors may often be confusing. The utility `lacheck' can be used to find style errors, such as forgetting to escape the space after an abbreviation or using `...' instead of `\ldots' and many other problems like that. You start `lacheck' with `C-c C-c C h e c k '. The result will be a list of errors in the `*compilation*' buffer. You can go through the errors with `C-x `' (`next-error', *note Compilation: (emacs)Compilation.), which will move point to the location of the next error. Another newer program which can be used to find errors is `chktex'. It is much more configurable than `lacheck', but doesn't find all the problems `lacheck' does, at least in its default configuration. You must install the programs before using them, and for `chktex' you must also modify `TeX-command-list'. You can get `lacheck' from `' or alternatively `chktex' from `'. Search for `chktex' in `tex.el' to see how to switch between them.  File: auctex, Node: Control, Prev: Checking, Up: Formatting Controlling the output ====================== A number of commands are available for controlling the output of an application running under AUC TeX - Command: TeX-kill-job (`C-c C-k') Kill currently running external application. This may be either of TeX, LaTeX, previewer, BibTeX, etc. - Command: TeX-recenter-output-buffer (`C-c C-l') Recenter the output buffer so that the bottom line is visible. - Command: TeX-home-buffer (`C-c ^') Go to the `master' file in the document associated with the current buffer, or if already there, to the file where the current process was started.  File: auctex, Node: Multifile, Next: Parsing Files, Prev: Formatting, Up: Top Multifile Documents ******************* You may wish to spread a document over many files (as you are likely to do if there are multiple authors, or if you have not yet discovered the power of the outline commands (*note Outline::)). This can be done by having a "master" file in which you include the various files with the TeX macro `\input' or the LaTeX macro `\include'. These files may also include other files themselves. However, to format the document you must run the commands on the top level master file. When you, for example, ask AUC TeX to run a command on the master file, it has no way of knowing the name of the master file. By default, it will assume that the current file is the master file. If you insert the following in your `.emacs' file AUC TeX will use a more advanced algorithm. (setq-default TeX-master nil) ; Query for master file. If AUC TeX finds the line indicating the end of the header in a master file (`TeX-header-end'), it can figure out for itself that this is a master file. Otherwise, it will ask for the name of the master file associated with the buffer. To avoid asking you again, AUC TeX will automatically insert the name of the master file as a file variable (*note File Variables: (emacs)File Variables.). You can also insert the file variable yourself, by putting the following text at the end of your files. % Local Variables: % TeX-master: "master" % End: You should always set this variable to the name of the top level document. If you always use the same name for your top level documents, you can set `TeX-master' in your `.emacs' file. (setq-default TeX-master "master") ; All master files called "master". - User Option: TeX-master The master file associated with the current buffer. If the file being edited is actually included from another file, then you can tell AUC TeX the name of the master file by setting this variable. If there are multiple levels of nesting, specify the top level file. If this variable is `nil', AUC TeX will query you for the name. If the variable is `t', then AUC TeX will assume the file is a master file itself. If the variable is `shared', then AUC TeX will query for the name, but will not change the file. It is suggested that you use the File Variables (*note File Variables: (emacs)File Variables.) to set this variable permanently for each file. - User Option: TeX-one-master Regular expression matching ordinary TeX files. You should set this variable to match the name of all files, for which it is a good idea to append a `TeX-master' file variable entry automatically. When AUC TeX adds the name of the master file as a file variable, it does not need to ask next time you edit the file. If you dislike AUC TeX automatically modifying your files, you can set this variable to `""'. By default, AUC TeX will modify any file with an extension of `.tex'. AUC TeX keeps track of macros, environments, labels, and style files that are used in a given document. For this to work with multifile documents, AUC TeX has to have a place to put the information about the files in the document. This is done by having an `auto' subdirectory placed in the directory where your document is located. Each time you save a file, AUC TeX will write information about the file into the `auto' directory. When you load a file, AUC TeX will read the information in the `auto' directory about the file you loaded _and the master file specified by `TeX-master'_. Since the master file (perhaps indirectly) includes all other files in the document, AUC TeX will get information from all files in the document. This means that you will get from each file, for example, completion for all labels defined anywhere in the document. AUC TeX will create the `auto' directory automatically if `TeX-auto-save' is non-nil. Without it, the files in the document will not know anything about each other, except for the name of the master file. *Note Automatic Local::. - Command: TeX-save-document (`C-c C-d') Save all buffers known to belong to the current document. - User Option: TeX-save-query If non-nil, then query the user before saving each file with `TeX-save-document'.