Function: overwrite-mode

overwrite-mode is an interactive and byte-compiled function defined in simple.el.gz.

Signature

(overwrite-mode &optional ARG)

Documentation

Toggle Overwrite mode.

When Overwrite mode is enabled, printing characters typed in replace existing text on a one-for-one basis, rather than pushing it to the right. At the end of a line, such characters extend the line. Before a tab, such characters insert until the tab is filled in. C-q (quoted-insert) still inserts characters in overwrite mode; this is supposed to make it easier to insert characters when necessary.

This is a minor mode. If called interactively, toggle the Overwrite mode mode. If the prefix argument is positive, enable the mode, and if it is zero or negative, disable the mode.

If called from Lisp, toggle the mode if ARG is toggle. Enable the mode if ARG is nil, omitted, or is a positive number. Disable the mode if ARG is a negative number.

To check whether the minor mode is enabled in the current buffer, evaluate overwrite-mode(var)/overwrite-mode(fun).

The mode's hook is called both when the mode is enabled and when it is disabled.

View in manual

Probably introduced at or before Emacs version 18.

Key Bindings

Source Code

;; Defined in /usr/src/emacs/lisp/simple.el.gz
(define-minor-mode overwrite-mode
  "Toggle Overwrite mode.

When Overwrite mode is enabled, printing characters typed in
replace existing text on a one-for-one basis, rather than pushing
it to the right.  At the end of a line, such characters extend
the line.  Before a tab, such characters insert until the tab is
filled in.  \\[quoted-insert] still inserts characters in
overwrite mode; this is supposed to make it easier to insert
characters when necessary."
  :variable (overwrite-mode
             . (lambda (v) (setq overwrite-mode (if v 'overwrite-mode-textual)))))