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Once upon a time, Choose Window (invoked by C-x C-b) used to always split the window vertically.

Starting from a certain Emacs version (I can't recall which one), that split is now either vertical or horizontal, depending on the containing windows aspect ratio.

Is there a way to force C-x C-b to always split vertically?

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  • 1
    See emacs.stackexchange.com/q/17872/4068 for previous answers from bmag and Stefan for variables that modify emacs behaviour. Also stackoverflow.com/q/23659909/2911961 gives us "I can set split-height-threshold to nil to inhibit vertical split altogether" from Romain – p_wiersig Nov 8 '17 at 14:40
  • The attached link is invalid. – Manoel Vilela Nov 9 '17 at 8:45
  • That "Choose Window" label is odd. By default, as C-h k C-x C-b will tell you, "C-x C-b runs the command list-buffers". Even taking into account that it's paraphrasing the commands, "Choose Window" doesn't make sense as a description for list-buffers – phils Dec 9 '17 at 11:26
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You can overwrite that keybinding with a hack like that:

(global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-b")
                (lambda ()
                  (interactive)
                  (let ((display-buffer-overriding-action ;; force window
                         '((display-buffer-reuse-window 
                            display-buffer-same-window)
                           (inhibit-same-window . nil))))
                    (split-window-horizontally) ;; split window
                    (other-window 1) ;; change it
                    (list-buffers))))

In general I prefer use ibuffer instead of list-buffers, but now is your call. Use whatever you think that is better :)

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  • I put your solution in my .emacs but it now complains "Symbol's function definition is void: split-window-right". Is your solution version-specific? – datv Nov 12 '17 at 7:10
  • Maybe is if your emacs version is too old. Emacs currently is on version 27, I use 25.3. You can find the source of this function here: github.com/emacs-mirror/emacs/blob/… – Manoel Vilela Nov 13 '17 at 2:20
  • You're right. I am still using version 23.2. I managed to copy the function to my .emacs and the horizontal splitting works perfectly. Vertical splitting works almost perfectly (when the vertical split occurs, the bottom window also splits horizontally). – datv Nov 14 '17 at 7:15
  • P.S. I can neither upvote nor accept answers since I don't have enough reputation. – datv Nov 14 '17 at 7:17
  • No problem at all, but I think you can accept answer yes. On my machine works perfectly the solution I attached here, probably the "almost" is something because the emacs version. Upgrade emacs is not a option for you use-case? – Manoel Vilela Nov 14 '17 at 8:29
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Credit - How to change the default split-screen direction?

The code below worked for me.

$ cat ~/.emacs
;;
;; https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7997590/how-to-change-the-default-split-screen-direction
;; C-x C-b
;; splits the window vertically
;;

;; Use (setq split-width-threshold nil) for vertical split.
;; Use (setq split-width-threshold 1 ) for horizontal split.
;; (setq split-width-threshold 1 )
(setq split-width-threshold nil)
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