(xemacs.info)Quitting

---

Next: Lossage Prev: Customization Up: Top

---

Enter node , (file) or (file)node

27.11 Quitting and Aborting
===========================

`C-g'
     Quit.  Cancel running or partially typed command.

`C-]'
     Abort innermost recursive editing level and cancel the command
     which invoked it (`abort-recursive-edit').

`M-x top-level'
     Abort all recursive editing levels that are currently executing.

`C-x u'
     Cancel an already-executed command, usually (`undo').

   There are two ways of cancelling commands which are not finished
executing: "quitting" with `C-g', and "aborting" with `C-]' or `M-x
top-level'.  Quitting is cancelling a partially typed command or one
which is already running.  Aborting is getting out of a recursive
editing level and cancelling the command that invoked the recursive
edit.

   Quitting with `C-g' is used for getting rid of a partially typed
command or a numeric argument that you don't want.  It also stops a
running command in the middle in a relatively safe way, so you can use
it if you accidentally start executing a command that takes a long
time.  In particular, it is safe to quit out of killing; either your
text will ALL still be there, or it will ALL be in the kill ring (or
maybe both).  Quitting an incremental search does special things
documented under searching; in general, it may take two successive
`C-g' characters to get out of a search.  `C-g' works by setting the
variable `quit-flag' to `t' the instant `C-g' is typed; Emacs Lisp
checks this variable frequently and quits if it is non-`nil'.  `C-g' is
only actually executed as a command if it is typed while Emacs is
waiting for input.

   If you quit twice in a row before the first `C-g' is recognized, you
activate the "emergency escape" feature and return to the shell.  Note:
Emergency Escape.

   You can use `C-]' (`abort-recursive-edit') to get out of a recursive
editing level and cancel the command which invoked it.  Quitting with
`C-g' does not do this, and could not do this because it is used to
cancel a partially typed command within the recursive editing level.
Both operations are useful.  For example, if you are in the Emacs
debugger (Note: Lisp Debug) and have typed `C-u 8' to enter a numeric
argument, you can cancel that argument with `C-g' and remain in the
debugger.

   The command `M-x top-level' is equivalent to "enough" `C-]' commands
to get you out of all the levels of recursive edits that you are in.
`C-]' only gets you out one level at a time, but `M-x top-level' goes
out all levels at once.  Both `C-]' and `M-x top-level' are like all
other commands and unlike `C-g' in that they are effective only when
Emacs is ready for a command.  `C-]' is an ordinary key and has its
meaning only because of its binding in the keymap.  Note: Recursive
Edit.

   `C-x u' (`undo') is not strictly speaking a way of cancelling a
command, but you can think of it as cancelling a command already
finished executing.  Note: Undo.