Tuesday, September 05, 2006

My Favorite Emacs Feature

Currently, my favorite Emacs feature has got to be its ability to edit remote files. This feature is so handy for editing web-sites, a daily event for me.

Most web hosting companies do not give their clients access to a command line interface, i.e. ssh access, without them buying one of the more expensive packages, something I cannot afford. The basic packages do, however, usually allow ftp access. And there it is. Emacs can use ftp! No more crappy control panels and crappier online text editors!

All one does is open a buffer in the usual way:
C-x C-f
The file path needs then to begin with the ftp account in the format:
/user_name@your_site.com: followed by:
path/to/your/file

The complete minibuffer looks something like:
/user_name@your_site.com:path/to/your/file

After pressing the enter key, you will be prompted for a password if needed, and you're off to the races. Editing files on the remote location is now seamlessly integrated into your current Emacs session.

FYI, Emacs is using 'ange-FTP,' which keeps most of the ftp stuff hidden in the background.

Way too easy!!

For some documentation, try in Emacs:

C-h i
m Emacs
m Files
m Remote Files

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