Re: problem repeat entry for a number

[source liu]

On Mon, Mar 12, 2012 at 7:17 PM, Thien-Thi Nguyen <ttn@gnuvola.org> wrote:
> () Thien-Thi Nguyen <ttn@gnuvola.org>
> () Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:05:33 +0100
>
>      got it, thanks for your patience.
>
>      first i tried C - h k C-u,  and get help message.
>
>      of course it gave out some information, but i'm a little dazzled by
>      the description.
>
>      ***  part of  C -h k C-u  *****
>      Repeating C-u without digits or minus sign
>       multiplies the argument by 4 each time.
>      For some commands, just C-u by itself serves as a flag
>      ***  end of  C -h k C-u  *****
>
>      I may treat the flag "C-u" as a *terminating flag* now since i know
>      C-u can be used this way. but at that time i thought nothing of it
>      ( even not think of type C -u again) and of course, i've no idea about
>      C -q for quote
>      input numbers until i got answer from the mailist.
>
> Another way to say that C-u can act as "terminating flag" is this sentence:
>
>  C-u following the digits or minus sign ends the argument.
>
> which follows the previous one:
>
>  Digits or minus sign following C-u make up the numeric argument.
>
> which in turn follows:
>
>  Begin a numeric argument for the following command.
>
> Reading those in order, here is what i think and do:
>
>  Begin a numeric argument for     OK, having typed C-u once, i have
>  the following command.           now "begun a numeric argument";
>                                  i am now in a new state of input
>                                  where i can express that argument
>                                  directly to Emacs.
>
>  Digits or minus sign following   Wonderful!  In this new state, if
>  C-u make up the numeric          i type digits, they accumulate in
>  argument.                        the minibuffer.  I like number 9,
>                                  so i type 9 because this argument
>                                  is meant to tell the next command
>                                  to insert a character that many
>                                  times.  Yeah!

yes, that's the exact layout in emacs help buffer.


>  C-u following the digits or      OK, now i want to command Emacs
>  minus sign ends the argument.    to insert a char.  Normally i can
>                                  simply type the char, thus doing
>                                  two actions: flagging termination
>                                  (leaving the special input state)
>                                  and issuing another (self-insert)
>                                  command.  I wonder why this other
>                                  C-u invocation is mentioned here.
>                                  Hmm, i see that if i type another
>                                  digit now, Emacs does NOT do the
>                                  right thing (reading my mind).
>                                  Stupid Emacs!  I suppose i will
>                                  have to separate the actions, and
>                                  that's what C-u is for.  Perhaps
>                                  i can use it for non-digits, too.
>                                  Anyway, let's try: i type C-u and
>                                  see it in the minibuffer; i type
>                                  9 and see "999999999" inserted in
>                                  the buffer.  Good, Emacs may be
>                                  stupid but at the very least it
>                                  is obedient.


emmm....  that's the way i think so. as i don't exactly know the
"flag" means, i want to try it out manually,
unfortunately i choose "minus sign" (is that char '-' on keyboard? ),
for i think it's equivalent to "C - u" according to the description
above.

so i type C - u 9 '-' to terminate num args input, but it direct
layout  --------- (nine '-'s) in buffer.

yet i have never tried "C - u" instead of the minus sign '-',  what a
pity that the fact is only several feet away from me.

Thanks so much for the detailed explanation, so grateful and helpful.




> So, one suggestion to avoid being dazzled is to take it easy
> and read the help text slowly, exercizing immediately what you
> understand (or misunderstand) to keep your feet on the ground.
> This is easy because Emacs is interactive, can undo mistakes,
> and is obedient (usually :-D).
>
>      i also tried to use C-h k M - <num> and C-h k C-<num>,
>      but failed to get answer.
>
> This is because you were moving too quickly, as i did when i
> presumed you had read the manual.  See, we all rush needlessly
> sometimes.
>
>      then, i tried to find answers through internet, and find
>      little related information.
>
> If we converse well, perhaps our exchange here will help someone
> else in the future.  But, there is no guarantee.
>
>      finally, I join the list and made a post, and got the
>      satisfied answers
>
> Thanks for explaining.

That's the point, i always want to run before i can walk.  :-D,  at
least i found i wasn't in the mailist, i though i should have be
there.

>      if there is better way (or how should i do the search), plz
>      tell me, it would help a lot.
>
 Well, life is a search, so if you want a better search, live a
 better life!

excellent argument, applause.

Regards







-- 
Liu An
Institution of modern physics, Shanghai, China