Meta-x doesn't work in Emacs

Question

Problem: How to make Meta-x work in emacs?

Hi I am a newcomer to linux using Ubuntu 10.04LTS and emacs23.1.1. I used the Alt key as Meta, but it stopped working when I upgraded ubuntu. I changed meta to right ctrl (using ubuntu keyboybard preference). Right controll works fine in accesing third level characters in emacs when using Norwegian layout. However typing Meta-x only result in the message "Mismatched parantheses" in emacs and the character '»' in the buffer. Switching to US layout nothing happens when typing meta-x.

I want meta-x to work so I can insert commands again in emacs.

Remedies I have tried:

Changing meta key with ubuntu keyboard preference -> Doesn't work

I looked for the file file .Xdefaults with locate. Since it didn't exist I created it in home\"username". And wrote the line "Xterm*metaSendEscape: true" in the file. (I am not sure what it does. Maybe this is a fix is ment for another problem, I found it at http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/EmacsChannelFaq#toc17) -> Doesn't work

Transverse

I don't know if this will help, but the program xev will tell you exactly what keysyms the X server is receiving when you press keys on your keyboard. – Cromer

It seems like your alt key was remapped by the OS upgrade. Do any OS shortcuts with ALT work? For example: Alt+F2 or Alt+Tab? – Zygospore

Answer 1

Normally you could also use the ESC-Key for M-. So M-x would be ESC-x

Johannisberger

To be clear, ESC acts as a prefix, not a shift key. In other words, you type ESC then x; you don't type x whie holding down ESC. – Mintun

I would keep looking for the source of the problem, however. ESC is a great safety-net, but a lousy replacement meta key. – Contrapuntal

@Contrapuntal To be honest: I nearly always use ESC as META. I work with a german keyboard layout and some combinations (e.g. M-{) are quite messy to type with such a layout. But you are correct: It's better to search the source of the problem. – Johannisberger