Linux – Problem with GNU Screen when using Emacs C-x C-s (save-buffer)

emacsgnu-screenlinux

When I am using emacs under GNU Screen, if I call C-x C-s screen hangs and does not respond to any keyboard input.

I can't reproduce this, but at least one time per day I have to kill my screen session and restart it.

How can I solve this?

Thanks

Best Answer

CtrlS is the "Pause transmission" (XOFF) flow control character. Usually it's handled by the tty driver, or in this case Screen. Its opposite is XON, or CtrlQ.

When you launch Emacs, it normally takes over most of the special characters (not just flow control, but also the usual CtrlC "Interrupt", for example).

Use C-a :flow off to disable flow-control for this Screen window.

Confirm with C-a :info (look for -flow in the pop-up).
If it doesn't help, try stty -ixon or stty stop undef.

(You can do it from a separate window using stty -f /dev/tty1 or stty </dev/tty1.)

On my system (Linux), Screen does notice when flow control is disabled for the tty. Your OS might have some limitations, though.

Related Solutions

Is there a way to save what’s printed on the display with gnu screen

There's a logging feature in screen. Start it when you start screen by doing screen -L (or from within screen). Or, also from within screen, you could press Ctrl-a : H.

If you want to have logging on as the default, add the following line to your ~/.screenrc file:

deflog on

You may want to set the filename using something like:

logfile /tmp/screenlog.%n

Mac – Running emacs inside screen

I only have input on your question #3.

As of emacs 23, emacs has a daemon mode which for me has obviated the need to run emacs inside screen. On my first login after a boot, I start emacs --daemon in a terminal. This starts emacs in the background. Then, whenever I need to use emacs, I either run emacsclient -nc to get an X window to my emacs session, or emacsclient -t to get a terminal session.

Multiple clients can coexist happily. I routinely run an X client on my workstation screen at work, an X client through ssh login from home, and a terminal client on my phone. All talking to the same emacs process, with all my buffers and other state intact. And should my ssh connection on my phone die, I can just continue where I left off after logging in again.

I don't know enough about keybindings in screen to help you with your first two questions.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Is there a way to save what’s printed on the display with gnu screen

Mac – Running emacs inside screen

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