Find File using partial filenames

[Chris Lott]

Is there a script (or a quicker way built-in) that allows one to use
partial file names in find-file ? For instance, if I C-x C-f and start
typing the beginning of a filename, then I can TAB to see possible
completions. But I'd like something similar when using a partial
filename that isn't the beginning... for instance, if I remember that
the filename includes blog but the file might be named edblog or
comblog, then these would show as completions?

Right now, the quickest method I have is to C-x C-f, nav to directory,
RET to go into DIRED and then CTRL-S to search for the partial... not
exactly speedy :)

[qyp]

try ido-mode :)

[Stefan Monnier]

> Is there a script (or a quicker way built-in) that allows one to use
> partial file names in find-file ? For instance, if I C-x C-f and start
> typing the beginning of a filename, then I can TAB to see possible
> completions. But I'd like something similar when using a partial
> filename that isn't the beginning... for instance, if I remember that
> the filename includes blog but the file might be named edblog or
> comblog, then these would show as completions?

Since Emacs-23, the default completion includes so-called
"partial-completion", which lets you do C-x C-f ~/e/e/e TAB and have it
expand to ~/etc/emacs/emacs.el (for example).

It also lets you add "globbing stars", e.g. C-x C-f ~/src/*glob TAB will
complete to any file in ~/src whose name includes "glob".


Stefan

[unfrostedpoptart]

Yeah - I recently found out about this by accident. It's extremely useful!

David

ps - I've been seeing stuff about emacs 24. Is there a good summary of major changes and new features? And any estimate of when it will be released?

[Colin S. Miller]

On 27/09/11 17:01, Chris Lott wrote:
> Is there a script (or a quicker way built-in) that allows one to use
> partial file names in find-file ?

Chris,
Probably not exactly what you want, but the package "find-recursive",
will let you search a directory and its sub-directories for a file matching
a regexp (not a glob). A list of matching files is show, with tab-completion,
to pick which file you were after.



HTH,
Colin S. Miller


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