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I have Vertico configured in my Emacs 28.2 running on Linux, along with Orderless as follows:

;; Enable vertico: (use-package vertico :ensure t :init (vertico-mode)) ;; Enable orderless: (use-package orderless :ensure t :custom (completion-styles '(orderless basic)) (completion-category-overrides '((file (styles orderless basic partial-completion)))))

That configuration works great for find-files. But when I use M-x shell and then try to use TAB to complete files, I get the standard *Completions* window and not the Vertico window in the minibuffer as I do when using find-files. This is not desired because in order to have Emacs complete to one of them, I would then have to use the mouse (causing RSI overtime). So, what do I need to change so that the list pops up and I can type in random other strings, in an orderless manner, to narrow down the candidates, also being able to use up and down arrow keys to select the candidates manually when need be?

Example:

I created a demo directory inside /tmp/foo/ and populated it with a bunch of nonsense files that all have "xyz" in the filename. I then open up a shell via M-x shell and type:

ls /tmp/foo/xyz

and then after the "z", I type TAB. I then see the completions buffer:

Click on a completion to select it. In this buffer, type RET to select the completion near point. Possible completions are: the_xyz xyz_1 xyz_10 xyz_100 xyz_11 xyz_12 xyz_13 xyz_14 xyz_15 xyz_16 xyz_17 xyz_18 xyz_19 xyz_2 xyz_20 xyz_21 xyz_22 xyz_23 xyz_24 xyz_25 xyz_26 xyz_27 xyz_28 xyz_29 xyz_3 xyz_30 xyz_31 xyz_32 xyz_33 xyz_34 xyz_35 xyz_36 xyz_37 xyz_38 xyz_39 xyz_4 xyz_40 xyz_41 xyz_42 xyz_43 xyz_44 xyz_45 xyz_46 xyz_47 xyz_48 xyz_49 xyz_5 xyz_50 xyz_51 xyz_52 xyz_53 xyz_54 xyz_55 xyz_56 xyz_57 xyz_58 xyz_59 xyz_6 xyz_60 xyz_61 xyz_62 xyz_63 xyz_64 xyz_65 xyz_66 xyz_67 xyz_68 xyz_69 xyz_7 xyz_70 xyz_71 xyz_72 xyz_73 xyz_74 xyz_75 xyz_76 xyz_77 xyz_78 xyz_79 xyz_8 xyz_80 xyz_81 xyz_82 xyz_83 xyz_84 xyz_85 xyz_86 xyz_87 xyz_88 xyz_89 xyz_9 xyz_90 xyz_91 xyz_92 xyz_93 xyz_94 xyz_95 xyz_96 xyz_97 xyz_98 xyz_99 xyz_then_something

The "xyz" is highlighted in blue as expected, but it is not "vertical" like the Vertico package offers.

I read through all of the Vertico docs and the wiki and could not discover how to get Vertico to play fair in the shell buffer mode.

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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C-h k <tab> gives

TAB (translated from <tab>) runs the command completion-at-point (found in shell-mode-map), which is an interactive compiled-function in minibuffer.el.

It is bound to TAB.

 (completion-at-point)

Perform completion on the text around point. The completion method is determined by completion-at-point-functions.

Probably introduced at or before Emacs version 23.2.

which suggests what you see below.

Vertico`: 3.2 Completion-at-point and completion-in-region

The tab completion command completion-at-point command is usually bound to M-TAB or TAB. Tab completion is also used in the minibuffer by M-: (eval-expression). In case you want to use Vertico to show the completion candidates of completion-at-point and completion-in-region, you can use the function consult-completion-in-region provided by the Consult package.

;; Use `consult-completion-in-region' if Vertico is enabled. ;; Otherwise use the default `completion--in-region' function. (setq completion-in-region-function (lambda (&rest args) (apply (if vertico-mode #'consult-completion-in-region #'completion--in-region) args)))

You may also want to look into Corfu: COmpletion in Region FUnction package, which provides a minimal completion system for completion-in-region in a child frame popup. Corfu is a narrowly focused package and developed in the same spirit as Vertico. You can even use Corfu in the minibuffer.

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  • Thank you! I verified that as working right out of the box. I missed that completely as I was looking for something involving shell mode, and github.com/minad/… does not mention specifically shell mode. Commented Mar 30, 2024 at 1:14

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