GNU Emacs Manual - Basic Picture

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## Basic Editing in Picture Mode

Most keys do the same thing in Picture mode that they usually do, but do it in a quarter-plane style. For example, `C-f` is rebound to run `picture-forward-column`, a command which moves point one column to the right, inserting a space if necessary so that the actual end of the line makes no difference. `C-b` is rebound to run `picture-backward-column`, which always moves point left one column, converting a tab to multiple spaces if necessary. `C-n` and `C-p` are rebound to run `picture-move-down` and `picture-move-up`, which can either insert spaces or convert tabs as necessary to make sure that point stays in exactly the same column. `C-e` runs `picture-end-of-line`, which moves to after the last nonblank character on the line. There is no need to change `C-a`, as the choice of screen model does not affect beginnings of lines.

Insertion of text is adapted to the quarter-plane screen model through the use of Overwrite mode (see section Minor Modes). Self-inserting characters replace existing text, column by column, rather than pushing existing text to the right. `RET` runs `picture-newline`, which just moves to the beginning of the following line so that new text will replace that line.

Picture mode provides erasure instead of deletion and killing of text. `DEL` (`picture-backward-clear-column`) replaces the preceding character with a space rather than removing it; this moves point backwards. `C-d` (`picture-clear-column`) replaces the next character or characters with spaces, but does not move point. (If you want to clear characters to spaces and move forward over them, use `SPC`.) `C-k` (`picture-clear-line`) really kills the contents of lines, but does not delete the newlines from the buffer.

To do actual insertion, you must use special commands. `C-o` (`picture-open-line`) creates a blank line after the current line; it never splits a line. `C-M-o` (`split-line`) makes sense in Picture mode, so it is not changed. `C-j` (`picture-duplicate-line`) inserts below the current line another line with the same contents.

To do actual deletion in Picture mode, use `C-w`, `C-c C-d` (which is defined as `delete-char`, as `C-d` is in other modes), or one of the picture rectangle commands (see section Picture Mode Rectangle Commands).

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