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spacemacs/layers/+completion/helm
2017-05-23 16:04:40 +02:00
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Helm layer

/TakeV/spacemacs/media/commit/ed64e5fa29d1f3d7c0c42b8abe721a09314d28de/layers/+completion/helm/img/helm.png

Description

This layer enables Helm everywhere in Spacemacs. The alternative to this layer is the Ivy layer which brings the same level of integration as Helm.

These completion systems are the central control towers of Spacemacs, they are used to manage buffers, projects, search results, configuration layers, toggles and more…

Mastering your choice of completion system will make you a Spacemacs power user.

Install

Helm is the default completion framework if Ivy is not enabled, Helm will be enabled automatically.

To switch from Ivy to Helm, modify your ~/.spacemacs. You will need to add helm to the existing dotspacemacs-configuration-layers list in this file, and remove ivy.

Key bindings

hjkl navigation

When using the Vim style or Hybrid style with the variable hybrid-mode-enable-hjkl-bindings set to t, Spacemacs adds navigation in the Helm buffers with hjkl.

Key Binding Description
C-h go to next source
C-H describe key (replace C-h)
C-j go to previous candidate
C-k go to next candidate
C-l same as return

Transient state

Spacemacs defines a transient state for Helm to make it work like Vim's Unite plugin.

Initiate the transient state with M-SPC or s-M-SPC while in a Helm buffer.

Key Binding Description
M-SPC or s-M-SPC initiate the transient state
q quit transient state
TAB switch to actions page and leave the transient state
1 execute action 0
2 execute action 1
3 execute action 2
4 execute action 3
5 execute action 4
6 execute action 5
7 execute action 6
8 execute action 7
9 execute action 8
0 execute action 9
a switch to actions page
g go to first candidate
G go to last candidate
h go to previous source
j select next candidate
k select previous candidate
l go to next source
t mark current candidate
T mark all candidates
v execute persistent action

Bookmarks

In the helm-bookmarks buffer:

Key Binding Description
C-d delete the selected bookmark
C-e edit the selected bookmark
C-f toggle filename location
C-o open the selected bookmark in another window

C-z and Tab switch

The command bound to C-z is much more useful than the one bound to Tab, so it makes sense to swap them. It's also recommended here.

Helm focus

If you find yourself unable to return focus to Helm (after a careless mouse-click for example), use SPC w b to return focus to the minibuffer.

Helm-swoop

Helm-swoop is very similar to moccur, it displays a helm buffer with all the occurrences of the word under point. You can then change the search query in real-time and navigate between them easily.

You can even edit the occurrences directly in the helm buffer and apply the modifications to the buffer.

Key Binding Description
SPC s s execute helm-swoop
SPC s S execute helm-multi-swoop
SPC s C-s execute helm-multi-swoop-all

Universal argument

SPC u is not working before helm-M-x (SPC SPC). Instead, call helm-M-x first, select the command you want to run, and press C-u before pressing RETURN. For instance: SPC SPC org-reload C-u RET

Replacing text in several files

If you have rg, ag, pt or ack installed, replacing an occurrence of text in several files can be performed via helm-ag.

Say you want to replace all foo occurrences by bar in your current project:

  • initiate a search with SPC /
  • enter in edit mode with C-c C-e
  • go to the occurrence and enter in iedit state with SPC s e
  • edit the occurrences then leave the iedit state
  • press C-c C-c

Note: In Spacemacs, helm-ag despite its name works with rg, pt and ack as well (but not with grep).

Resume last session

Use SPC r l to resume the last helm session. For instance it is handy to quickly toggle on and off a toggle using SPC h t.

External resources