Using macros in Emacs

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Emacs macros allows us to record sequence of keyboard keystrokes, mouse actions, menu actions that is bound to an Emacs command. It allows us to record these actions and repeat them when needed.

Creating a new macro #

• C-x ( starts recording a macro
• C-x ) stops recording a macro
• C-x e executes the macro
• C-u 37 C-x e executes the macro 37 times
• C-u 0 C-x e executes the macro an infinite number of times until EOF.

Testing #

Create a macro to remove the - from the following fruit list and replace it with an + (org-mode has still already setup, but for learning purpose, let’s do it with a macro).

Place the cursor the banana section and start recording a macro. Remove the first - from Banana and replace it with +, move to the next line (apple) and stop recording the macro. Run C-u 0 C-x e to run the macro until EOF.

• Banana
• Apple
• Melon
• Grape
• Orange
• Watermelon
• Kiwi

It is important to stop defining a macro at a similar position to where you started it. Executing apply-macro-to-region-lines applies the last-defined keyboard macro to each of the lines of a region

Resources #

• EmacsWiki - Keyboard macros
• elmacro - Shows keyboard macros or latest interactive commands as emacs lisp
• GNU Emacs - Keyboard Macros
• Emacs keyboard macros (info)