# Snail: how to copy from the vterm buffer

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/snail-how-to-copy-from-the-vterm-buffer/91573>\
**Category:** Tooling\
**Tags:** ide, emacs\
**Created:** [December 12, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/snail-how-to-copy-from-the-vterm-buffer/91573 "2022-12-12T21:33:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PeterSimon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/petersimon/32/25193_2.png) [@PeterSimon](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/PeterSimon)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/snail-how-to-copy-from-the-vterm-buffer/91573/1 "2022-12-12T21:33:49Z")

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When using [Snail](https://github.com/gcv/julia-snail) in emacs, how does one copy a portion of the vterm (Julia session) buffer? All the normal emacs keys are disabled in the buffer running the Julia REPL, so I can’t figure out how to invoke, say, [vterm-copy-mode](https://github.com/akermu/emacs-libvterm#vterm-copy-mode) there.

Note: I asked the same question in [this](https://github.com/gcv/julia-snail/issues/116) post.

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**Author:** ![Mason](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/mason/32/2423_2.png) [@Mason](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Mason)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/snail-how-to-copy-from-the-vterm-buffer/91573/2 "2022-12-13T02:51:01Z")

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It’s the same as in vterm buffers. The default binding is `C-c C-t`, select the text to copy then hit the `enter` kery.

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**Author:** ![PeterSimon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/petersimon/32/25193_2.png) [@PeterSimon](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/PeterSimon)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/snail-how-to-copy-from-the-vterm-buffer/91573/3 "2022-12-13T03:27:37Z")

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Thanks but for me C-c C-t results in a message in the minibuffer: “C-c C-t is undefined”. I started using emacs long ago on a remote machine where there was no Meta key, so to enter M-x I’ve always typed ESC-x (the Escape key followed by x). This doesn’t work in the Snail vterm buffer, which is why I’ve been having problems. I finally realized after reading your response and playing around a bit more that I have to type ALT-x and then I can enter a command in the minibuffer, in this case vterm-copy-mode. So that’s my solution for now. As to why C-c C-t isn’t working, I have no idea.