doc/emacs/cmdargs.texi

15   Emacs supports command line arguments to request various actions
18 ordinary editing (@xref{Emacs Server}, for a way to access an existing
22 @samp{+@var{linenum}}.  All other arguments specify files to visit.
33 options, arranged according to their purpose.
40   The long forms with @samp{--} are easier to remember, but longer to
41 type.  However, you don't have to spell out the whole option name; any
43 argument, you can use either a space or an equal sign to separate the
53   Most options specify how to initialize Emacs, or set parameters for
55 specify things to do, such as loading libraries or calling Lisp
66 * Action Arguments::    Arguments to visit files, load libraries,
77 * Icons X::             Choosing what sort of icon to use, under X.
111 change the variable @code{inhibit-startup-buffer-menu} to @code{t}.
115 Visit the specified @var{file}, then go to line number @var{linenum}
119 Visit the specified @var{file}, then go to line number @var{linenum}
140 Prepend directory @var{dir} to the variable @code{load-path}.
145 appends (rather than prepends) the remainder to @code{load-path}.
172 earlier on the command line visit files or switch buffers, that might
195 specifically related to the X Window System appear in the following
211 Change to @var{directory} before doing anything else.  This is mainly used
228 Use the X Window System and use the display named @var{display} to open
254 message in the echo area will print to either the standard output
257 and @code{print} print to @code{stdout}, while @code{message} and
258 @code{error} print to @code{stderr}.)  Functions that normally read
259 keyboard input from the minibuffer take their input from the
264 to exit after processing all the command options.  In addition, it
292 executable, so that builds are more deterministic.  This switch is not
305 options to be saved (@pxref{Easy Customization}).  This option does
327 setting the variable @code{inhibit-startup-screen} to non-@code{nil}
334 the variable @code{inhibit-x-resources} to @code{t} in your
341 Start Emacs with minimum customizations.  This is similar to using
353 @command{emacsclient} command to connect to Emacs for editing.
355 you do, you will need to specify the same @var{name} when you invoke
385 loadable modules.  This is intended for module authors that wish to
386 verify that their module conforms to the module API requirements.  The
402 directory of the executable.)  If you rename or move the dump file to
403 a different place, you can use this option to tell Emacs where to find
413 to be a C program.
420 This says to visit @file{foo.c}, load @file{hack-c.el} (which makes
422 @code{save-buffer} is the function that @kbd{C-x C-s} is bound to), and
423 then exit back to the shell (because of @samp{--batch}).  @samp{--batch}
424 also guarantees there will be no problem redirecting output to
426 to work with.
435 names are case-sensitive, and it is conventional to use upper case
456   The way to set environment variables outside of Emacs depends on the
458 example, here's how to set the environment variable @env{ORGANIZATION}
459 to @samp{not very much} using Bash:
466 and here's how to do it in csh or tcsh:
479 * MS-Windows Registry:: An alternative to the environment on MS-Windows.
488 variables to be set, but it uses their values if they are set.
490 @c This used to be @vtable, but that enters the variables alone into
497 Used by the @code{cd} command to search for the directory you specify,
502 need to change it.  Setting it to a dummy address, like
503 @samp{unix:path=/dev/null}, suppresses connections to the D-Bus session
508 This is used to initialize the variable @code{data-directory}.
511 Directory for the documentation string file, which is used to
517 to Unix and GNU/Linux systems.  On MS-DOS and MS-Windows, the
519 file names might include a colon after a drive letter.} to search for
523 @samp{EMACSLOADPATH="/tmp:"} adds @file{/tmp} to the front of
529 A colon-separated list of directories to search for executable files.
530 If set, Emacs uses this in addition to @env{PATH} (see below) when
535 Your email address; used to initialize the Lisp variable
540 Used for shell-mode to override the @env{SHELL} environment variable
545 This variable defaults to @file{~/.bash_history} if you use Bash, to
546 @file{~/.sh_history} if you use ksh, and to @file{~/.history}
552 set to an absolute file name.  (If set to a relative file name, Emacs
553 interprets it relative to the directory where Emacs was started, but
554 we don't recommend to use this feature.)  If unset, @env{HOME}
555 normally defaults to the home directory of the user given by
556 @env{LOGNAME}, @env{USER} or your user ID, or to @file{/} if all else
557 fails.  On MS-DOS, it defaults to the directory from which Emacs was
572 to search for files.
576 A colon-separated list of directories in which to search for Info files.
598 variables is not set, the category defaults to the value of the
599 @env{LANG} environment variable, or to the default @samp{C} locale if
612 @code{locale-preferred-coding-systems}, to select a default language
624 Interface to MH}.
628 Your real-world name.  This is used to initialize the variable
635 The name of the organization to which you belong.  Used for setting the
640 This is used to initialize the variable @code{exec-path}
648 @code{mail-default-reply-to} (@pxref{Mail Headers}).
655 The name of an interpreter used to parse and execute programs run from
659 The name of the outgoing mail server.  This is used to initialize the
665 set unless Emacs is run in batch mode.  On MS-DOS, it defaults to
670 The name of the termcap library file describing how to program the
671 terminal specified by @env{TERM}.  This defaults to
679 These environment variables are used to initialize the variable
681 to put temporary files (@pxref{Backup}).  Emacs tries to use
696 defaults to @samp{root}.
699 Used to initialize the @code{version-control} variable (@pxref{Backup
710 On MS-DOS and MS-Windows, the name of the command interpreter to use
711 when invoking batch files and commands internal to the shell.  On MS-DOS
712 this is also used to make a default value for the @env{SHELL} environment
716 On MS-DOS, this variable defaults to the value of the @env{USER}
720 On MS-DOS, this specifies a file to use to log the operation of the
725 On MS-DOS, this specifies the screen colors.  It is useful to set them
733 display.  For example, to get blue text on a light gray background,
738 Emacs switches the DOS display to a mode where all 16 colors can be used
755 @env{EMACSLOADPATH}, you may find it useful to use @env{emacs_dir}
757 versions of Emacs to share the same environment variable settings, and
758 it allows you to move the Emacs installation directory, without
769 @env{EMACSPATH}, @env{EMACSDOC}, @env{SHELL} and @env{TERM} to the
772 place to set environment variables across different versions of
791 In addition to the environment variables above, you can also add
792 settings to the @file{/Software/GNU/Emacs} registry key to specify X
802 including Emacs, where to display their windows.  Its value is set by
804 jobs locally.  You can specify the display yourself; one reason to do
805 this is if you want to log into another system and run Emacs there,
813 a field that allows an X server to control multiple terminal screens.
834 from displaying on your local system.  In this case, trying to run Emacs
838 Xlib:  connection to "glasperle:0.0" refused by server
842 You might be able to overcome this problem by using the @command{xhost}
843 command on the local system to give permission for access from your
851 @samp{--font}, which is an alias for @samp{-fn}) to specify a default
863 When passing a font name to Emacs on the command line, you may need to
872 @xref{Fonts}, for details about font names and other ways to specify
880   You can use the following command-line options to specify the colors
881 to use for various parts of the Emacs display.  Colors may be
951 color support (equivalent to @samp{never}); if it is 0, use the
952 default color support for this terminal (equivalent to @samp{auto});
954 Depending on your terminal's capabilities, Emacs might be able to turn
960 If @var{mode} is omitted, it defaults to @var{ansi8}.
963   For example, to use a coral mouse cursor and a slate blue text cursor,
995 apply to all frames, whereas @var{xoffset} and @var{yoffset} only to
1042   Emacs uses the same units as @command{xterm} does to interpret the geometry.
1048   You do not have to specify all of the fields in the geometry
1050 window manager decides where to put the Emacs frame, possibly by
1087 size with no tool bar, use an X resource to specify ``no tool bar''
1093 you to set the variable @code{frame-resize-pixelwise} to a non-@code{nil}
1094 value to make a frame appear truly maximized or full-screen.
1098 Emacs fails to position the window correctly.
1133   Use the @samp{-ib @var{n}} option to specify an internal border
1134 @var{n} pixels wide.  The default is 1.  Use @samp{-bw @var{n}} to
1136 pay attention to what you specify).  The default width of the outer
1183   Most window managers allow you to iconify (or ``minimize'') an
1186 entirely from sight.  The @samp{-iconic} option tells Emacs to begin
1194 @samp{-nbi} or @samp{--no-bitmap-icon} option tells Emacs to let the
1195 window manager choose what sort of icon to use---usually just a small
1227 Specify @var{pixels} as additional space to put between lines, in pixels.