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6.7 Overwrite Mode

Overwrite mode is a minor mode which is useful for creating figures and tables out of text. In this mode, typing a key-event with a corresponding graphic character replaces the character at the point instead of inserting the character. Quoted Insert can be used to insert characters normally.

Command: Overwrite Mode ¶

This command turns on Overwrite mode in the current buffer. If it is already on, then it is turned off. A positive argument turns Overwrite mode on, while zero or a negative argument turns it off.

Command: Self Overwrite ¶

This command replaces the next character with the character corresponding to the key-event used to invoke the command. After replacing the character, this moves past it. If the next character is a tab, this first expands the tab into the appropriate number of spaces, replacing just the next space character. At the end of the line, it inserts the character instead of clobbering the newline.

This is bound to key-events with corresponding graphic characters in Overwrite mode.

Command: Overwrite Delete Previous Character stuff (bound to Delete and Backspace in Overwrite mode) ¶

This command replaces the previous character with a space and moves backwards. This deletes tabs and newlines.