Close only one window in Emacs

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In vim, buffer can be split horizontally or vertically by :sp or :vsp. And a buffer can be closed by :q.

Likewise in emacs, window can be split horizontally by C-x 2, and vertically by C-x 3.
And close all other window by C-x 1.

But, how can I close only one window, like :q in vim?

Best Answer

Try C-x 0, delete-window. This is what C-h k describes:

(delete-window &optional WINDOW)

Remove WINDOW from its frame.
WINDOW defaults to the selected window.  Return nil.
Signal an error when WINDOW is the only window on its frame.

Related Solutions

How to control how Emacs makes backup files

If you've ever been saved by an Emacs backup file, you probably want more of them, not less of them. It is annoying that they go in the same directory as the file you're editing, but that is easy to change. You can make all backup files go into a directory by putting something like the following in your .emacs.

(setq backup-directory-alist `(("." . "~/.saves")))

There are a number of arcane details associated with how Emacs might create your backup files. Should it rename the original and write out the edited buffer? What if the original is linked? In general, the safest but slowest bet is to always make backups by copying.

(setq backup-by-copying t)

If that's too slow for some reason you might also have a look at backup-by-copying-when-linked.

Since your backups are all in their own place now, you might want more of them, rather than less of them. Have a look at the Emacs documentation for these variables (with C-h v).

(setq delete-old-versions t
  kept-new-versions 6
  kept-old-versions 2
  version-control t)

Finally, if you absolutely must have no backup files:

(setq make-backup-files nil)

It makes me sick to think of it though.

Emacs – Multiple columns one buffer

See follow-mode. Excerpt:

Follow mode is a minor mode that makes two windows, both showing the same buffer, scroll as a single tall “virtual window.” To use Follow mode, go to a frame with just one window, split it into two side-by-side windows using C-x 3, and then type M-x follow-mode. From then on, you can edit the buffer in either of the two windows, or scroll either one; the other window follows it. In Follow mode, if you move point outside the portion visible in one window and into the portion visible in the other window, that selects the other window—again, treating the two as if they were parts of one large window.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

How to control how Emacs makes backup files

Emacs – Multiple columns one buffer

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