erlang(9)

SYNOPSIS

erl - Erlang programming language

FILES

hkerlang.emf - Erlang programming language hook definition
erlang.eaf - Erlang programming language abbreviation file
erlang.etf - Erlang programming language template file

EXTENSIONS

.hx - Erlang

DESCRIPTION

General Editing


On creating a new file, a new header is automatically included into the file. time(2m) is by default enabled, allowing the modification time-stamp to be maintained in the header.

Hilighting


The hilighting features allow commands, variables, logicals, comments, strings and characters of the language to be differentiated and rendered in different colors.

Auto Layout


The command indent(2) performs automatic layout of the text.

restyle-region(3) and restyle-buffer(3) are available to reformat (re-layout) selected sections of the buffer, or the whole buffer, respectively.

Comments may be formatted using esc o, which reformats the comments according to the current fill paragraph.

Folding and Information Hiding


Generic folding is enabled within the Erlang file. The folds occur about functions definitions as long as they start with a lowercase letter and and final minus-greater symbols on that line and a new line starting with lowercase letters. collapse-all(3) (un)folds all regions in the file, collapse-current(3) (un)folds the current region.

Navigation via Item List


The Erlang mode offers beside folding as well support for displaying an outline of the functions of the Erlang file for easy navigation using the item-list(3)

Abbreviations


The installation comes with a default abbreviation file for Erlang file editing which can be used by writing short abbreviations like "if", "ca" (case) or "fu" (function) - and then pressing the key-binding for the expand-abbrev-handle(3) command. The list of abbreviations can be used interactively in the GUI version of MicroEmacs using the abbrev-list(3) command.

Working Environment


compile(3) may be invoked to rebuild the source, the user is prompted to save any files.

Short Cuts


The short cut keys used within the buffer are:

C-c C-c - Comment out the current line.
C-c C-d - Uncomment the current line.
C-c C-e - Comment to the end of the line with stars (*).
A-C-i - Restyle the current region.
esc q - Format a comment.
esc o - Format a comment.
f2 - (Un)fold the current region.
C-f2 - (Un)fold all regions.
f6 - List items.
esc f6 - Close item list,

NOTES

The hilighting or the addition of new item list matches is typically extended using a file myerlang.emf

SEE ALSO

abbrev-list(3), collapse-all(3), collapse-current(3), compile(3), expand-abbrev-handle(3), item-list(3), restyle-buffer(3), restyle-region(3), time(2m).

Supported File Types

Ref: erlang(9) File: m9typ079.9 Date: 2026/03/06

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