@section Basic Use
@table @kbd
-@item C-x (
-@itemx @key{F3}
+@item @key{F3}
+@itemx C-x (
Start defining a keyboard macro (@code{kmacro-start-macro}).
+@item @key{F4}
+If a keyboard macro is being defined, end the definition; otherwise,
+execute the most recent keyboard macro
+(@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro}).
@item C-x )
End the definition of a keyboard macro (@code{kmacro-end-macro}).
@item C-x e
Execute the most recent keyboard macro (@code{kmacro-end-and-call-macro}).
First end the definition of the keyboard macro, if currently defining it.
To immediately execute the keyboard macro again, just repeat the @kbd{e}.
-@item @key{F4}
-If a keyboard macro is being defined, end the definition; otherwise,
-execute the most recent keyboard macro
-(@code{kmacro-end-or-call-macro}).
@item C-u C-x (
Re-execute last keyboard macro, then add more keys to its definition.
@item C-u C-u C-x (
(@code{apply-macro-to-region-lines}).
@end table
+@kindex F3
+@kindex F4
@kindex C-x (
@kindex C-x )
@kindex C-x e
@findex kmacro-start-macro
@findex kmacro-end-macro
@findex kmacro-end-and-call-macro
- To start defining a keyboard macro, type the @kbd{C-x (} command
+ To start defining a keyboard macro, type the @kbd{F3} or @kbd{C-x (} command
(@code{kmacro-start-macro}). From then on, your keys continue to be
executed, but also become part of the definition of the macro. @samp{Def}
appears in the mode line to remind you of what is going on. When you are
-finished, the @kbd{C-x )} command (@code{kmacro-end-macro}) terminates the
+finished, the @kbd{F4} or @kbd{C-x )} command (@code{kmacro-end-macro}) terminates the
definition (without becoming part of it!). For example,
@example
The key @key{F4} is like a combination of @kbd{C-x )} and @kbd{C-x
e}. If you're defining a macro, @key{F4} ends the definition.
-Otherwise it executes the last macro.
+Otherwise it executes the last macro. For example,
+
+@example
+F3 xyz F4 F4 F4
+@end example
+
+@noindent
+inserts @samp{xyzxyzxyz} in the current buffer.
If you wish to repeat an operation at regularly spaced places in the
text, define a macro and include as part of the macro the commands to move
macro as part of the process.
After you have terminated the definition of a keyboard macro, you can add
-to the end of its definition by typing @kbd{C-u C-x (}. This is equivalent
+to the end of its definition by typing @kbd{C-u F3} or @kbd{C-u C-x (}.
+This is equivalent
to plain @kbd{C-x (} followed by retyping the whole definition so far. As
a consequence it re-executes the macro as previously defined.