Emacs: ido mode 👎

What is Ido Mode

ido-mode enhances emacs switch buffer command and opening file command. It automatically show list of choices as you type (no need to press Tab first).

• This page describe ido in Emacs 27 (Released 2020-08)
• If you are using Emacs 28 (Released 2022-04), i recommend Emacs: Icomplete, Minibuffer Name Completion .

Alt+x ido-mode

Toggle it on/off. ido-mode enhances emacs switch buffer command and opening file command.

Alt+x ido-switch-buffer 【Ctrl+x b】

Switch buffer.

Alt+x ido-find-file 【Ctrl+x Ctrl+f】

Open file.

Ido Keys

When ido-switch-buffer is called, it prompt for a choice of buffer name.

Here's the most useful ido keys when in the prompt:

→ or Ctrl+s

next choice.

← or Ctrl+r

previous choice.

↑

Go to the buffer you switched to last time. ↓ for next.

Enter

Use the first choice.

Ctrl+f

Stop suggestion. Useful for creating new file. Ctrl+b to go back to buffer selection mode.

Ctrl+d

Switch to open directory mode.

Ctrl+g

Cancel.

History of Ido Mode

ido is written by Kim F Storm. Ido started in 1996. Kim is also author of cua-mode. (cua started in 1997) Kim's home page is http://www.cua.dk/index.html

Ido became part of emacs 22 (released in 2007).

ido is based on iswitchb-mode by Stephen Eglen. iswitchb started in 1996. Stephen's home page is http://sje30.github.io/ . Stephen's emacs page http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/sje30/emacs/