Buffer Management

Previous sections have made references to the text in ``the buffer'', which implied that there is only one buffer. This is not true; MicroEMACS allows any number of buffers, memory space permitting.

Each buffer has its own buffer name (a 16 character string), and optional associated file name, and a block of text. A value of dot and mark is also associated with any buffer that is not currently being displayed. This remembered value of dot and mark makes a buffer come back in approximately the same state as it was when it was hidden.

Also associated with each buffer is a changed flag. This flag is set when the text in the buffer is modified, and reset when the text in the buffer is written out to its associated file. MicroEMACS will always ask for confirmation before executing a command that would cause changed text to be lost. [1]##1 [C-X C-B] Create a pop-up window on the screen, and display it in the name, size (in characters), associated file name, and changed flag of all buffers. This command works by creating a special buffer which contains the text of the display, and then selecting it in a window. You can switch into this window if you like. You can even edit the text. MicroEMACS makes no attempt to keep a buffer list which is on the screen updated as other buffers are edited; however, another C-X C-B command will cause the display to be updated in place. [C-X B] This command prompts for a buffer name, and then switches the buffer being displayed in the current window to that buffer. The buffer will be created if it does not exist. [C-X K] This command prompts for a buffer name, and then destroys the buffer with that name. It will ask for permission to destroy the buffer if the text has been changed since it was written to the associated file. You cannot delete a buffer that is being displayed.