[comp.emacs] Buffer handling in emacs

nat%DRAO.NRC.CA@VM.TCS.TULANE.EDU (Natalie Prowse) (12/13/90)

Ian, first and formost: PUT YOUR ADDRESS IN THE BODY OF YOUR MESSAGE.  Perhaps
you are new to this distribution list business, but many mailers, (including
mine) either mangle incoming addresses, or cannot handle exclamation marks (!)
in an address...

As for buffering, I have a little bit of lisp code that maps the top-row
numeric keys (via a meta-function key: PF1),to be equated to active
file-buffers. Find-file-hooks is set to this function, so that every new file
you bring in is mapped to the next available key.  You can bring in new files
either by using C-x C-f, or by PF1-number. If the 'number' key has not yet been
mapped, you are prompted for the name of a file to read into the buffer.  You
see, the keys 'toggle'.  If the key is mapped, it switches to the associated
buffer.  If the key is not mapped, it pulls in a specified file.

Flipping between buffers is lightening-fast. And if you remember which buffer
is mapped to which key, it is even faster ;-) The limitation, is that a maximum
of 9 buffers can be mapped to keys. PF1-0 invokes my own buffer list... You can
 have
more than 9 buffers active, but only 9 will be mapped to numeric keys... For
those of you who have used EVE-PLUS, and EAG windows, you will understand the
concept.

This is done using the VT200/VT100 terminal type.  I am not sure how you
would implement it on other terminals, but I am sure that it is relatively
simple.

If you are interested, Ian, mail to me directly, tell me what type of terminal
you are using, and I will send you the elisp code.  You can put it in a
separate .el file, and 'load' it from your .emacs file.

-Natalie

==================

Natalie Prowse
Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory,        nat@drao.nrc.ca
National Research Council,                       (604) 497-5321
Box 248,
Penticton, BC, Canada
V2A 6K3