generate-tags-file(3)

NAME

generate-tags-file - Generate a tags file

SYNOPSIS

n generate-tags-file [ "tag-command" ]

DESCRIPTION

The generate-tags-file command provides an interface to tag file generation. Typically the "tag-command" argument will not be required as the current buffer will automatically configure generate-tags-file on how tags are generated for the current buffer's file type. See the notes below for more information on configuration.

generate-tags-file supports two different methods of tag generation, firstly via a MicroEmacs macro file and secondly by an external shell command (such as ctags(1)). It is generally configured in the current buffer's setup hook.

If a macro file is used a setup dialog is opened if an argument of 0 is given to generate-tags. This dialog can be used to configure which type of tags are required and the starting directory (useful when using recursive tags over a source tree). Note that not all tag types are available for all file types.

The generated tags file can then be used by the find-tag(2) command.

NOTES

generate-tags-file is a macro defined in file gentags.emf.

generate-tags-file can be configured in one of 2 ways:

When a MicroEmacs macro file (such as ctags.emf) is to be used, simply give the name of the macro file to be run as the "tag-command" argument. Alternatively set the variable .<$buffer-fhook>.tags to this name, e.g. for C files

    set-variable .fhook-c.tags "ctags" 

Note the ".emf" extension is assumed.

When an external shell command is to be used, set the tag-command to the shell command-line prefixed with a '!' character, for example to use ctags(1) try the following:

    set-variable .fhook-c.tags "!ctags *.c *h" 

Note that the generate-tags dialog is not available in this mode of execution.

SEE ALSO

find-tag(2).

Ref: generate-tags-file(3) File: m3mac056.3 Date: 2026/01/18

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