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1.3.1 Key Bindings

A key is a sequence of key-events (see section key-events) typed on the keyboard, usually only one or two in length. Sections using-x and using-terminals contain information on particular input devices.

When a command is bound to a key, typing the key causes Hemlock to invoke the command. When the command completes its job, Hemlock returns to reading another key, and this continually repeats.

Some commands read key-events interpreting them however each command desires. When commands do this, key bindings have no effect, but you can usually abort Hemlock whenever it is waiting for input by typing C-g (see section aborting). You can usually find out what options are available by typing C-_ or Home (see section help).

The user can easily rebind keys to different commands, bind new keys to commands, or establish bindings for commands never bound before (see section binding-keys).

In addition to the key bindings explicitly listed with each command, there are some implicit bindings created by using key translations². These bindings are not displayed by documentation commands such as Where Is. By default, there are only a few key translations. The modifier-prefix characters C-^, Escape, C-z, or C-c may be used when typing keys to convert the following key-event to a control, meta, control-meta, or hyper key-event. For example, C-x Escape b invokes the same commands as C-x M-b, and C-z u is the same as C-M-u. This allows user to type more interesting keys on limited keyboards that lack control, meta, and hyper keys.

Hemlock Variable: Key Echo Delay (initial value 1.0) ¶

A key binding may be composed of several key-events, especially when you enter it using modifier-prefix key-events. Hemlock provides feedback for partially entered keys by displaying the typed key-events in the echo area. In order to avoid excessive output and clearing of the echo area, this display is delayed by Key Echo Delay seconds. If this variable is set to nil, then Hemlock foregoes displaying initial subsequences of keys.