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Optimal using of eshell in ECB

ECB offers a very smart integration of the "eshell" if you are using a compile window (see Temp- and compile-buffers)¹

Here is a short summary of provided features:

• Ability to jump to the eshell buffer within the compilation window by simply call eshell (bound to C-c . e). If the eshell isn't running it will be started.
• Expands the compilation window when you run commands. So for example it allows you to view the eshell in minimized mode and then when you run "ls" the window automatically expands (but always depending of the output of the command you run).
• Synchronizes the current directory of the eshell with the current buffer in the edit-window of ECB.
• Provides smart window layout of the eshell buffer. This makes sure that the eshell is taking up the exact amount of space and that nothing is hidden.

Here comes a detailed explanation of these features and how to use it (all these features are only available if you use a durable compile-window, i.e. if ecb-compile-window-height is not nil):

You have not to learn a new command for the eshell-start - just call eshell (for convenience also bound to C-c . e) and the eshell will displayed in the compile-window of ECB (if eshell is not already alive then it will be started automatically).

ECB tries to display the contents of the eshell-buffer as best as possible, means ECB can autom. enlarge and shrink the compile-window so the contents of the eshell are fitting the window. See option ecb-eshell-enlarge-when-eshell and ecb-eshell-fit-window-to-command-output. Normally this is done autom. but you can also you the standard compile-window enlarging-command of ECB: ecb-toggle-compile-window-height.

ECB tries also to recenter the eshell-buffer as best as possible. Normally this is done autom but you can do it on demand with the command ecb-eshell-recenter.

If option ecb-eshell-synchronize is true then ECB always synchronizes the command prompt of eshell with the directory of current source-buffer of the edit-window.

With the option ecb-eshell-auto-activate you can start eshell autom. in the compile-window when ECB is started but of course if a compile-window exists.

Footnotes

1. Of course you can use eshell also if there is no compile-window. Then it is just displayed in the edit-window and there is no special integration.