Search code examples
scrollemacsscrollbarhorizontal-scrollingemacs-prelude

How to scroll horizontally in emacs?

I can't get emacs to scroll horizontally!

To replicate the problem:

  1. Open the *scratch* buffer.
  2. Write a long line.
  3. Make the long line exceed the window width with M-xtoggle-truncate-lines. The left hand text (column 0) will now be off the left of the window.
  4. Try M-xscroll-left or its shortcut C-x < to scroll left.
  5. Type y to enable the disabled commands.
  6. NOTHING HAPPENS!

I also tried C-a to go to the beginning of the line.

I also tried M-xtoggle-horizontal-scroll-bar but got the error message "Horizontal scroll bars aren't implemented yet".

There seems to be no way to scroll horizontally!

I need this because I have many wide CSV files to read.

I'm using the latest prelude on emacs 24.5 on Windows 10.

I filed an issue on the prelude project in case it is a genuine bug and could be fixed there.

Solution

  • You seem not to understand how horizontal scrolling works. It's not intuitive, that's why the command is disabled by default.

    When I press C-x< at the end of the long line, the line disappears to the left. When I press C-x> there, nothing happens.

    Pressing C-x< at the beginning of the long line, though, shows the second part of the long line.

    Consider using visual-line-mode or even the csv-mode instead.