Re: beginner tries to convert to org-mode

[Eric J Haywiser <ejh1@MIT.EDU>]

> But all promoting or demoting commands do not work as advertised.
> I get i.e. ESC <S-right> undefined etc.

Alt-S-right seems to work for me while Esc-S-right just beeps.
Perhaps that and this excerpt from emacs info will help to clear things up?

    Another Emacs character-set extension is additional modifier bits.
Only one modifier bit is commonly used; it is called Meta.  Every
character has a Meta variant; examples include `Meta-a' (normally
written `M-a', for short), `M-A' (not the same character as `M-a', but
those two characters normally have the same meaning in Emacs),
`M-<RET>', and `M-C-a'.  For reasons of tradition, we usually write
`C-M-a' rather than `M-C-a'; logically speaking, the order in which the
modifier keys <CTRL> and <META> are mentioned does not matter.

    Some terminals have a <META> key, and allow you to type Meta
characters by holding this key down.  Thus, `Meta-a' is typed by
holding down <META> and pressing `a'.  The <META> key works much like
the <SHIFT> key.  Such a key is not always labeled <META>, however, as
this function is often a special option for a key with some other
primary purpose.  Sometimes it is labeled <ALT> or <EDIT>; on a Sun
keyboard, it may have a diamond on it.

    If there is no <META> key, you can still type Meta characters using
two-character sequences starting with <ESC>.  Thus, you can enter `M-a'
by typing `<ESC> a'.  You can enter `C-M-a' by typing `<ESC> C-a'.
<ESC> is allowed on terminals with <META> keys, too, in case you have
formed a habit of using it.