Move Text

MoveText allows you to move the current line using M-up / M-down (or any other bindings you choose) if a region is marked, it will move the region instead.

Using the prefix arg (C-u number or META number) will predetermine how many lines to move.

Install from MELPA (or MELPA stable)

M-x package-install move-text <RETURN>

If you want to use the default bindings, add the following to .emacs anywhere after (package-initialize):

(move-text-default-bindings)

This sets the keyboard shortcuts:

• Meta-up move-text-up (line or active region)
• Meta-down move-text-down (line or active region)

Demonstration

Indent after moving...

@jbreeden gave us this useful function advice to have Emacs re-indent the text in-and-around a text move.

(defun indent-region-advice (&rest ignored)
  (let ((deactivate deactivate-mark))
    (if (region-active-p)
        (indent-region (region-beginning) (region-end))
      (indent-region (line-beginning-position) (line-end-position)))
    (setq deactivate-mark deactivate)))

(advice-add 'move-text-up :after 'indent-region-advice)
(advice-add 'move-text-down :after 'indent-region-advice)