Emacs mini-buffer command with parameter

Question

I'd like to use the command to resize split windows via the mini-buffer. In the GNU documentation I found the description (Resizing-Windows):

Example: enlarge-window-horizontally size &optional horizontal. 

If I type M-x enlarge-window-horizontally the window will get resized by one column. But it is not possible to add a number for the size in the mini-buffer, as on pressing spacebar emacs tries to complete the command.

Does someone know how to use the optional parameters in mini-buffer? Respectively how to resize a window by more than one column at once.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Passing parameters to interactive command like this uses the universal argument.

You can enlarge the window by 10 columns by typing C-u 10 M-x enlarge-window-horizontally. You can change 10 to any integer. By the way, typing C-u num to supply a numeric argument works with all interactive emacs commands that expect an argument.

Note there is also a keyboard short cut: C-u 10 C-x }. And to shrink the window: C-u 10 C-x {.

You can also specify numbers by typing holding down the meta key M-10 C-x {