Navigating inside Helm windows

[lcacciari]

This discussion concerns how to navigate between the section of the Helm buffer containing the sources and other parts of it.

First thing first, how do I create a new file when the directory already contains a file with a similar name?

Suppose that, in helm-find-files I need to create a new file foo while the directory already contains a file foobar. If I type f o o helm select foobar and shows me a marker [*] for the new file. This all good and fine and in agreement with the documentation. However, the documentation simply states to select the marker to create the new file.

How do I do it? I found that I can do it using the mouse, but I really do not like using it (I even had helm-allow-mouse set to nil until I had to change it because of this problem.)

Exactly the same problem arises with helm-M-x: if I need a command whose name matches one I already have in the history I'm stuck: I found no way to select the second command besides clicking on it with the mouse.

What I described above is, I think, a particular case of a more general problem I have with helm windows that are divided in sections. Let's take helm-browse-project as an example. When I hit C-x C-d helm opens a buffer containing three lists:

• git status
• git branches
• project buffers

The first one is active, selecting the first modified file. How do I change the active section? Again, clicking with the mouse does the job, but I'm looking for a keyboard-only solution. Also again: if I enter enough test to identify either a branch or a buffer then the relevant section is selected (unless, of course, the text I entered also matches a file in the first section.)

Here is my helm configuration (just in case I did something stupid). Also:

• I'm using Emacs 29.4 on Ubuntu 24.10
• I'm using the latest helm version available on melpa, namely: 20250515.548

(use-package helm
  :init
  (setq-default helm-command-prefix-key "s-h")
  (setq-default helm-icons-provider 'nerd-icons)     
  (setq-default helm-split-window-inside-p     t)       
  (setq-default helm-split-window-default-side 'below)
  (setq-default helm-always-two-windows t)              
  (setq-default helm-autoresize-max-height     80)    
  (setq-default helm-autoresize-min-height     20)     
  (setq-default helm-scroll-amount             8)       
  (setq-default helm-echo-input-in-header-line nil) 
  (setq-default helm-reuse-last-window-split-state t)
  (setq-default helm-buffers-fuzzy-matching    t)     
  (setq-default helm-recentf-fuzzy-match       t)       
  (setq-default helm-apropos-fuzzy-match       t)     
  (setq-default helm-semantic-fuzzy-match      t)       
  (setq-default helm-imenu-fuzzy-match         t)
  (setq-default helm-window-prefer-horizontal-split t)
  (helm-mode 1)
  :config
  (helm-autoresize-mode 1)                            
  (setf (alist-get 'auto-insert helm-completing-read-handlers-alist) nil)
  :bind
  ([remap find-file]                . helm-find-files)   
  ([remap occur]                    . helm-occur)         
  ([remap list-buffers]             . helm-buffers-list)
  ([remap dabbrev-expand]           . helm-dabbrev)
  ([remap execute-extended-command] . helm-M-x)
  ([remap apropos-command]          . helm-apropos)    
  ([remap yank-pop]                 . helm-show-kill-ring)     
   ("C-x C-d" . helm-browse-project)
   ("C-x /"   . helm-find)
   ("C-h d"   . helm-info-at-point)
   ("C-h t"   . helm-world-time)
   (:map helm-command-map
		 ("M-g g" . helm-grep-do-git-grep))
   :diminish (helm-mode . "⎈"))

Thank you for just reading all this : I'll admit that this is driving me nuts, and I hope someone will be able to help.

[lcacciari]

Ok, I'm stupid. I just find out that it is enough to set helm-move-to-line-cycle-in-source to nil and then c-n and c-p do the job. I apologize for having wasted anyone time.

[thierryvolpiatto]

Leo Cacciari ***@***.***> writes:

Ok, I'm stupid.

No, you are not the first (and not the last I guess :-)) to ask for this.

I just find out that it is enough to set helm-move-to-line-cycle-in-source to nil and then c-n and c-p do the job.

Not only, you can also keep helm-move-to-line-cycle-in-source to default value and use helm-next-source (C-o or <right>) to switch to the next source. For info helm-previous-source is bound to (M-o or <left>), hit C-h m while in helm-find-files for more particularly the section "Helm's basic operations and default key bindings".

I apologize for having wasted anyone time.

No problems, you are welcome.

…

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.*Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Thierry

[ermingol23]

I also stumbled upon this issue. Would you be open to adding some kind of hint for the user in the Helm buffer?

Not entirely sure myself of the best approach, but a naïve suggestion would be to add it after "New file or directory" similar to "Find Files (C-l: Go up one level)". Something like "New file or directory (C-o: To cycle sources)". Note that '<left>' and '<right>' does not work in find files as they are bound to directory up/down navigation.

[thierryvolpiatto]

ermingol23 ***@***.***> writes:

I also stumbled upon this issue. Would you be open to adding some kind of hint for the user in the Helm buffer?

An issue has been open (#2751), and I commited a change to fix this, let me know if it is enough, the information in in mode-line (only C-o, not M-o though) and in help (C-h m). Thanks.

…

Not entirely sure myself of the best approach, but a naïve suggestion would be to add it after "New file or directory" similar to "Find Files (C-l: Go up one level)". Something like "New file or directory (C-o: To cycle sources)". Note that '' and '' does not work in find files as they are bound to directory up/down navigation. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS or Android. You are receiving this because you commented.*Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Thierry

[ermingol23]

The hint in the mode line looks great!

In help (hitting 'C-h m' while in the 'helm-find-files' prompt) 'C-o'/'M-o' for jumping between sources is mentioned first time on line 1158. As creating a new file feels like a "basic" operation I suggest adding a sub-section under Navigation Summary, perhaps something like this?

*** Navigation summary

For a better experience you can enable auto completion by setting
‘helm-ff-auto-update-initial-value’ to non-nil in your init file.  It is not
enabled by default to not confuse new users.

**** Navigate with arrow keys

You can use <right> and <left> arrows to go down or up one level, to disable
this customize ‘helm-ff-lynx-style-map’.
Note that using ‘setq’ will NOT work.

**** Selecting source

You can jump between sources (each available source presented as a heading in the buffer) using 'C-o' and 'M-o'. Note that configuring 'helm-move-to-line-cycle-in-source' to nil enables direct navigation between sources uses <up> and <down> arrow keys.

- ‘C-o’ Jump to next source.

- ‘M-o’ Jump to previous source.

**** Use ‘C-j’ (persistent action) on a directory to go down one level

On a symlinked directory a prefix argument expands to its true name.

**** Use ‘C-l’ or ‘DEL’ on a directory to go up one level
...

[thierryvolpiatto]

ermingol23 ***@***.***> writes:

The hint in the mode line looks great! In help (hitting 'C-h m' while in the 'helm-find-files' prompt) 'C-o'/'M-o' for jumping between sources is mentioned first time on line 1158.

It is now mentioned in "helm generic help", this info is useful in all sources not only HFF.

…

As creating a new file feels like a "basic" operation I suggest adding a sub-section under Navigation Summary, perhaps something like this? *** Navigation summary For a better experience you can enable auto completion by setting ‘helm-ff-auto-update-initial-value’ to non-nil in your init file. It is not enabled by default to not confuse new users. **** Navigate with arrow keys You can use <right> and <left> arrows to go down or up one level, to disable this customize ‘helm-ff-lynx-style-map’. Note that using ‘setq’ will NOT work. **** Selecting source You can jump between sources (each available source presented as a heading in the buffer) using 'C-o' and 'M-o'. Note that configuring 'helm-move-to-line-cycle-in-source' to nil enables direct navigation between sources uses <up> and <down> arrow keys. - ‘C-o’ Jump to next source. - ‘M-o’ Jump to previous source. **** Use ‘C-j’ (persistent action) on a directory to go down one level On a symlinked directory a prefix argument expands to its true name. **** Use ‘C-l’ or ‘DEL’ on a directory to go up one level ... — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. Triage notifications, keep track of coding agent tasks and review pull requests on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS and Android. Download it today! You are receiving this because you commented.*Message ID: ***@***.***>

-- Thierry

[ermingol23]

Great!

[cweiske]

I'm on emacs 28.2 and helm 20260528.352, and I use C-v and M-v to switch to the "New file or directory" section.