automatic nesting and indentation in emacs

[Chris Smith]

>>>>> Thomas Heller <theller at python.net> writes:

    > porterboy76 at yahoo.com (porterboy) writes:
    >> CONTEXT: I am using Emacs to edit Python code and sometimes
    >> also Matlab code.  When I hit <return> in a loop of some sort,
    >> Emacs usually gets the nesting indentation right, which is
    >> particularly important in Python.  To ensure this I have used
    >> python-mode.el and matlab.el modes in emacs.
    >> 
    >> QUESTION: If I suddenly decide I want an outer loop, do I have
    >> to manually readjust the indentation of all the inner loops? Or
    >> can emacs do it automatically? I know the Matlab in-built
    >> editor has a tool called "smart-indent" which will
    >> automatically align highlighted text to have the correct
    >> indentation. Does Emacs have something similar?

    > Mark the lines to be readjusted, then hit 'C-c >' or 'C-c <'.
    > Or hit 'C-h m' to get an overview for Python mode.

    > Thomas
I've liked the XEmacs python mode, as it is doesn't trigger the nasty
readline dependency.  Possibly fixed.
At any rate, with a region selected, "C-c >" and "C-c <" do the
obvious.
Two other killer features of the One True Editor are rectangles,
e.g. "C-x r o" with a highlighted region, align-regexp, and registers.
Three!  Three killer features of TOTE are rectangles, align-regexp,
registers, and PyMacs.
Oh! I'll just give up on the feeble Spanish Inquisition reference and
send you to http://www.emacswiki.org , where these and other righteous
goodies will, indeed, sanctify you within the bosom of the only editor
that has its own house of worship.
Best,
Chris