Emacs paste into search (C-s) field?

Question

Let's say you are writing code in one of Emacs window and then want to search for a string that you have copied manually (M-w) some time before.

The problem is, that by default, when you issue C-s, C-y key sequence, Emacs pastes the remaining line under a cursor as a search parameter -- but that's not what I want.

My current workaround is to grab a mouse, click on a Minibuf then yank, but it's too much time consuming.

Version: GNU Emacs 23.3.1 (i686-pc-linux-gnu, GTK+ Version 2.24.10)

Answer 1

Just press Return after C-s and then you can paste the search string:

Emacs also has conventional nonincremental search commands, which
require you to type the entire search string before searching begins.

`C-s <RET> STRING <RET>'
     Search for STRING.

`C-r <RET> STRING <RET>'
     Search backward for STRING.

   To start a nonincremental search, first type `C-s <RET>'.  This
enters the minibuffer to read the search string; terminate the string
with <RET>, and then the search takes place.  If the string is not
found, the search command signals an error.

Answer 2

The default key to paste into an interactive search is M-y.

Answer 3

If you never really use the 'rest of line' behavior, you can just bind C-y to yank and save yourself the 2 extra keystrokes.

(define-key isearch-mode-map "\C-y" 'isearch-yank-kill)
(define-key isearch-mode-map "\M-y" 'isearch-yank-pop)

I'm not sure if these isearch-yank commands are defined in your version of emacs. If not, just replace them with yank and yank-pop.