aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/readline/doc/readline.0
blob: c925d529cb5c2276d1bd3c6a0e9fa4dda99cde9e (plain)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122



READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


NNAAMMEE
       readline - get a line from a user with editing

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       ##iinncclluuddee <<rreeaaddlliinnee..hh>>
       ##iinncclluuddee <<hhiissttoorryy..hh>>

       cchhaarr **rreeaaddlliinnee ((pprroommpptt))
       cchhaarr **pprroommpptt;;

CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
       Readline  is Copyright (C) 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 by
       the Free Software Foundation, Inc.

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       rreeaaddlliinnee will read a line from the terminal and return it,
       using pprroommpptt as a prompt.  If pprroommpptt is null, no prompt is
       issued.  The line returned is allocated with _m_a_l_l_o_c(3), so
       the  caller must free it when finished.  The line returned
       has the final newline removed, so only  the  text  of  the
       line remains.

       rreeaaddlliinnee  offers  editing  capabilities  while the user is
       entering the line.  By default, the line editing  commands
       are  similar  to  those of emacs.  A vi-style line editing
       interface is also available.

RREETTUURRNN VVAALLUUEE
       rreeaaddlliinnee returns the text of the line read.  A blank  line
       returns  the  empty  string.   If EEOOFF is encountered while
       reading a line, and the line is empty, NNUULLLL  is  returned.
       If  an EEOOFF is read with a non-empty line, it is treated as
       a newline.

NNOOTTAATTIIOONN
       An emacs-style notation  is  used  to  denote  keystrokes.
       Control  keys  are  denoted by C-_k_e_y, e.g., C-n means Con-
       trol-N.  Similarly, _m_e_t_a keys are denoted by M-_k_e_y, so M-x
       means Meta-X.  (On keyboards without a _m_e_t_a key, M-_x means
       ESC _x, i.e., press the Escape key then the  _x  key.   This
       makes  ESC  the  _m_e_t_a _p_r_e_f_i_x.  The combination M-C-_x means
       ESC-Control-_x, or press the Escape key then hold the  Con-
       trol key while pressing the _x key.)

       Readline  commands  may  be given numeric _a_r_g_u_m_e_n_t_s, which
       normally act as a repeat count.  Sometimes, however, it is
       the  sign  of the argument that is significant.  Passing a
       negative argument to a command that acts  in  the  forward
       direction  (e.g., kkiillll--lliinnee) causes that command to act in
       a backward direction.  Commands whose behavior with  argu-
       ments deviates from this are noted.

       When  a  command  is  described  as _k_i_l_l_i_n_g text, the text
       deleted is saved for possible future retrieval  (_y_a_n_k_i_n_g).



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          1





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       The  killed  text  is  saved  in a _k_i_l_l _r_i_n_g.  Consecutive
       kills cause the text to  be  accumulated  into  one  unit,
       which  can  be  yanked all at once.  Commands which do not
       kill text separate the chunks of text on the kill ring.

IINNIITTIIAALLIIZZAATTIIOONN FFIILLEE
       Readline is customized by putting commands in an  initial-
       ization file (the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file).  The name of this file is
       taken from the value of the IINNPPUUTTRRCC environment  variable.
       If  that  variable  is  unset,  the default is _~_/_._i_n_p_u_t_r_c.
       When a program which uses the readline library starts  up,
       the  init file is read, and the key bindings and variables
       are set.  There are only a few basic constructs allowed in
       the  readline  init file.  Blank lines are ignored.  Lines
       beginning with a ## are comments.  Lines beginning with a $$
       indicate  conditional  constructs.  Other lines denote key
       bindings and variable settings.  Each program  using  this
       library may add its own commands and bindings.

       For example, placing

              M-Control-u: universal-argument
       or
              C-Meta-u: universal-argument
       into  the  _i_n_p_u_t_r_c  would  make M-C-u execute the readline
       command _u_n_i_v_e_r_s_a_l_-_a_r_g_u_m_e_n_t.

       The following  symbolic  character  names  are  recognized
       while processing key bindings: _R_U_B_O_U_T, _D_E_L, _E_S_C, _L_F_D, _N_E_W_-
       _L_I_N_E, _R_E_T, _R_E_T_U_R_N, _S_P_C, _S_P_A_C_E, and _T_A_B.   In  addition  to
       command  names,  readline  allows  keys  to  be bound to a
       string that is inserted when the key is pressed (a _m_a_c_r_o).


   KKeeyy BBiinnddiinnggss
       The  syntax  for  controlling  key bindings in the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c
       file is simple.  All that is required is the name  of  the
       command or the text of a macro and a key sequence to which
       it should be bound. The name may be specified  in  one  of
       two  ways:  as a symbolic key name, possibly with _M_e_t_a_- or
       _C_o_n_t_r_o_l_- prefixes, or as a key sequence.  When  using  the
       form  kkeeyynnaammee:_f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_-_n_a_m_e  or _m_a_c_r_o, _k_e_y_n_a_m_e is the name
       of a key spelled out in English.  For example:

              Control-u: universal-argument
              Meta-Rubout: backward-kill-word
              Control-o: ">&output"

       In the above example, _C_-_u is bound to the function uunniivveerr--
       ssaall--aarrgguummeenntt,   _M_-_D_E_L  is  bound  to  the  function  bbaacckk--
       wwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd,  and  _C_-_o  is  bound  to  run  the   macro
       expressed  on  the right hand side (that is, to insert the
       text _>_&_o_u_t_p_u_t into the line).




GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          2





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       In the second form, ""kkeeyysseeqq"":_f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_-_n_a_m_e or _m_a_c_r_o,  kkeeyy--
       sseeqq differs from kkeeyynnaammee above in that strings denoting an
       entire key  sequence  may  be  specified  by  placing  the
       sequence  within  double quotes.  Some GNU Emacs style key
       escapes can be used, as in the following example.

              "\C-u": universal-argument
              "\C-x\C-r": re-read-init-file
              "\e[11~": "Function Key 1"

       In this example, _C_-_u is again bound to the  function  uunnii--
       vveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt.    _C_-_x  _C_-_r  is  bound  to  the  function
       rree--rreeaadd--iinniitt--ffiillee, and _E_S_C _[ _1 _1 _~ is bound to insert  the
       text  FFuunnccttiioonn  KKeeyy  11.   The  full set of GNU Emacs style
       escape sequences is
              \\CC--    control prefix
              \\MM--    meta prefix
              \\ee     an escape character
              \\\\     backslash
              \\""     literal "
              \\''     literal '

       In addition to the GNU Emacs  style  escape  sequences,  a
       second set of backslash escapes is available:
              \\aa     alert (bell)
              \\bb     backspace
              \\dd     delete
              \\ff     form feed
              \\nn     newline
              \\rr     carriage return
              \\tt     horizontal tab
              \\vv     vertical tab
              \\_n_n_n   the  character whose ASCII code is the octal
                     value _n_n_n (one to three digits)
              \\xx_n_n_n  the character whose ASCII code is  the  hex-
                     adecimal value _n_n_n (one to three digits)

       When entering the text of a macro, single or double quotes
       should be used to indicate a macro  definition.   Unquoted
       text is assumed to be a function name.  In the macro body,
       the backslash escapes described above are expanded.  Back-
       slash  will  quote  any other character in the macro text,
       including " and '.

       BBaasshh allows the current readline key bindings to  be  dis-
       played  or  modified  with  the bbiinndd builtin command.  The
       editing mode may be switched  during  interactive  use  by
       using  the  --oo  option  to the sseett builtin command.  Other
       programs using this library  provide  similar  mechanisms.
       The  _i_n_p_u_t_r_c  file  may be edited and re-read if a program
       does not provide any other means to incorporate new  bind-
       ings.





GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          3





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


   VVaarriiaabblleess
       Readline  has  variables  that can be used to further cus-
       tomize its behavior.  A variable may be set in the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c
       file with a statement of the form

              sseett _v_a_r_i_a_b_l_e_-_n_a_m_e _v_a_l_u_e

       Except where noted, readline variables can take the values
       OOnn or OOffff.  The variables and their default values are:

       bbeellll--ssttyyllee ((aauuddiibbllee))
              Controls what happens when readline wants  to  ring
              the  terminal bell.  If set to nnoonnee, readline never
              rings the bell.  If set to vviissiibbllee, readline uses a
              visible  bell if one is available.  If set to aauuddii--
              bbllee, readline attempts to ring the terminal's bell.
       ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn ((````##''''))
              The  string  that  is  inserted in vvii mode when the
              iinnsseerrtt--ccoommmmeenntt command is executed.   This  command
              is  bound  to MM--## in emacs mode and to ## in vi com-
              mand mode.
       ccoommpplleettiioonn--iiggnnoorree--ccaassee ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, readline performs  filename  matching
              and completion in a case-insensitive fashion.
       ccoommpplleettiioonn--qquueerryy--iitteemmss ((110000))
              This  determines  when  the  user  is queried about
              viewing the number of possible  completions  gener-
              ated  by  the ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss command.  It may
              be set to any integer value greater than  or  equal
              to  zero.  If the number of possible completions is
              greater than or equal to the value  of  this  vari-
              able, the user is asked whether or not he wishes to
              view them; otherwise they are simply listed on  the
              terminal.
       ccoonnvveerrtt--mmeettaa ((OOnn))
              If set to OOnn, readline will convert characters with
              the eighth bit set to  an  ASCII  key  sequence  by
              stripping  the  eighth bit and prepending an escape
              character (in effect, using escape as the _m_e_t_a _p_r_e_-
              _f_i_x).
       ddiissaabbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonn ((OOffff))
              If  set  to  OOnn, readline will inhibit word comple-
              tion.  Completion characters will be inserted  into
              the line as if they had been mapped to sseellff--iinnsseerrtt.
       eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((eemmaaccss))
              Controls whether readline begins with a set of  key
              bindings  similar to _e_m_a_c_s or _v_i.  eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee can
              be set to either eemmaaccss or vvii.
       eennaabbllee--kkeeyyppaadd ((OOffff))
              When set to OOnn, readline will  try  to  enable  the
              application keypad when it is called.  Some systems
              need this to enable the arrow keys.
       eexxppaanndd--ttiillddee ((OOffff))
              If set to oonn, tilde  expansion  is  performed  when



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          4





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              readline attempts word completion.
       hhoorriizzoonnttaall--ssccrroollll--mmooddee ((OOffff))
              When  set  to  OOnn, makes readline use a single line
              for display, scrolling the input horizontally on  a
              single  screen line when it becomes longer than the
              screen width rather than wrapping to a new line.
       kkeeyymmaapp ((eemmaaccss))
              Set the current readline keymap.  The set of  legal
              keymap  names is _e_m_a_c_s_, _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d_, _e_m_a_c_s_-_m_e_t_a_,
              _e_m_a_c_s_-_c_t_l_x_, _v_i_, _v_i_-_m_o_v_e_, _v_i_-_c_o_m_m_a_n_d, and _v_i_-_i_n_s_e_r_t.
              _v_i is equivalent to _v_i_-_c_o_m_m_a_n_d; _e_m_a_c_s is equivalent
              to _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d.  The default value is _e_m_a_c_s; the
              value  of  eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee  also  affects  the default
              keymap.
       mmaarrkk--ddiirreeccttoorriieess ((OOnn))
              If set to OOnn, complete<d  directory  names  have  a
              slash appended.
       mmaarrkk--mmooddiiffiieedd--lliinneess ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, history lines that have been modified
              are displayed with a preceding asterisk (**).
       mmeettaa--ffllaagg ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, readline will enable eight-bit  input
              (that  is,  it will not strip the high bit from the
              characters it reads), regardless of what the termi-
              nal claims it can support.
       oouuttppuutt--mmeettaa ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, readline will display characters with
              the eighth bit set directly rather than as a  meta-
              prefixed escape sequence.
       pprriinntt--ccoommpplleettiioonnss--hhoorriizzoonnttaallllyy ((OOffff))
              If  set  to  OOnn,  readline will display completions
              with matches sorted  horizontally  in  alphabetical
              order, rather than down the screen.
       sshhooww--aallll--iiff--aammbbiigguuoouuss ((OOffff))
              This  alters the default behavior of the completion
              functions.  If set to oonn,  words  which  have  more
              than  one  possible completion cause the matches to
              be listed immediately instead of ringing the  bell.
       vviissiibbllee--ssttaattss ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, a character denoting a file's type as
              reported by ssttaatt(2) is  appended  to  the  filename
              when listing possible completions.

   CCoonnddiittiioonnaall CCoonnssttrruuccttss
       Readline  implements  a  facility similar in spirit to the
       conditional compilation features  of  the  C  preprocessor
       which allows key bindings and variable settings to be per-
       formed as the result of  tests.   There  are  four  parser
       directives used.

       $$iiff    The  $$iiff construct allows bindings to be made based
              on the editing mode, the terminal  being  used,  or
              the  application  using  readline.  The text of the
              test extends to the end of the line; no  characters



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          5





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              are required to isolate it.

              mmooddee   The  mmooddee== form of the $$iiff directive is used
                     to test whether readline is in emacs  or  vi
                     mode.   This may be used in conjunction with
                     the sseett kkeeyymmaapp command, for instance, to set
                     bindings  in  the  _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d and _e_m_a_c_s_-
                     _c_t_l_x keymaps only if  readline  is  starting
                     out in emacs mode.

              tteerrmm   The tteerrmm== form may be used to include termi-
                     nal-specific key bindings, perhaps  to  bind
                     the  key  sequences output by the terminal's
                     function keys.  The word on the  right  side
                     of  the == is tested against the full name of
                     the terminal and the portion of the terminal
                     name before the first --.  This allows _s_u_n to
                     match both _s_u_n and _s_u_n_-_c_m_d, for instance.

              aapppplliiccaattiioonn
                     The aapppplliiccaattiioonn construct is used to include
                     application-specific settings.  Each program
                     using the readline library sets the _a_p_p_l_i_c_a_-
                     _t_i_o_n  _n_a_m_e,  and  an initialization file can
                     test for a particular value.  This could  be
                     used to bind key sequences to functions use-
                     ful for a specific program.   For  instance,
                     the  following  command  adds a key sequence
                     that quotes the current or previous word  in
                     Bash:

                     $$iiff bash
                     # Quote the current or previous word
                     "\C-xq": "\eb\"\ef\""
                     $$eennddiiff

       $$eennddiiff This command, as seen in the previous example, ter-
              minates an $$iiff command.

       $$eellssee  Commands in this branch of the  $$iiff  directive  are
              executed if the test fails.

       $$iinncclluuddee
              This  directive takes a single filename as an argu-
              ment and reads  commands  and  bindings  from  that
              file.   For  example, the following directive would
              read _/_e_t_c_/_i_n_p_u_t_r_c:

              $$iinncclluuddee  _/_e_t_c_/_i_n_p_u_t_r_c

SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGG
       Readline provides commands for searching through the  com-
       mand  history  for  lines  containing  a specified string.
       There  are  two  search  modes:   _i_n_c_r_e_m_e_n_t_a_l   and   _n_o_n_-



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          6





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       _i_n_c_r_e_m_e_n_t_a_l.

       Incremental  searches  begin  before the user has finished
       typing the search string.  As each character of the search
       string is typed, readline displays the next entry from the
       history matching the string typed so far.  An  incremental
       search  requires only as many characters as needed to find
       the desired history entry.  The Escape character  is  used
       to  terminate  an incremental search.  Control-J will also
       terminate the search.  Control-G will abort an incremental
       search  and restore the original line.  When the search is
       terminated, the history entry containing the search string
       becomes  the current line.  To find other matching entries
       in the history list, type Control-S or Control-R as appro-
       priate.   This will search backward or forward in the his-
       tory for the next line matching the search string typed so
       far.   Any  other key sequence bound to a readline command
       will terminate the search and execute that  command.   For
       instance,  a  _n_e_w_l_i_n_e will terminate the search and accept
       the line, thereby executing the command from  the  history
       list.

       Non-incremental  searches  read  the  entire search string
       before starting to search for matching history lines.  The
       search  string  may be typed by the user or be part of the
       contents of the current line.

EEDDIITTIINNGG CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS
       The following is a list of the names of the  commands  and
       the  default  key sequences to which they are bound.  Com-
       mand  names  without  an  accompanying  key  sequence  are
       unbound by default.

   CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr MMoovviinngg
       bbeeggiinnnniinngg--ooff--lliinnee ((CC--aa))
              Move to the start of the current line.
       eenndd--ooff--lliinnee ((CC--ee))
              Move to the end of the line.
       ffoorrwwaarrdd--cchhaarr ((CC--ff))
              Move forward a character.
       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--cchhaarr ((CC--bb))
              Move back a character.
       ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd ((MM--ff))
              Move  forward  to  the end of the next word.  Words
              are composed of  alphanumeric  characters  (letters
              and digits).
       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd ((MM--bb))
              Move  back  to  the start of this, or the previous,
              word.  Words are composed of  alphanumeric  charac-
              ters (letters and digits).
       cclleeaarr--ssccrreeeenn ((CC--ll))
              Clear  the  screen  leaving the current line at the
              top of the screen.  With an argument,  refresh  the
              current line without clearing the screen.



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          7





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       rreeddrraaww--ccuurrrreenntt--lliinnee
              Refresh the current line.

   CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr MMaanniippuullaattiinngg tthhee HHiissttoorryy
       aacccceepptt--lliinnee ((NNeewwlliinnee,, RReettuurrnn))
              Accept  the line regardless of where the cursor is.
              If this line is non-empty, add it  to  the  history
              list.  If the line is a modified history line, then
              restore the history line to its original state.
       pprreevviioouuss--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--pp))
              Fetch the previous command from the  history  list,
              moving back in the list.
       nneexxtt--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--nn))
              Fetch  the next command from the history list, mov-
              ing forward in the list.
       bbeeggiinnnniinngg--ooff--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--<<))
              Move to the first line in the history.
       eenndd--ooff--hhiissttoorryy ((MM-->>))
              Move to the end of the  input  history,  i.e.,  the
              line currently being entered.
       rreevveerrssee--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--rr))
              Search  backward  starting  at the current line and
              moving `up' through the history as necessary.  This
              is an incremental search.
       ffoorrwwaarrdd--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--ss))
              Search  forward  starting  at  the current line and
              moving `down' through  the  history  as  necessary.
              This is an incremental search.
       nnoonn--iinnccrreemmeennttaall--rreevveerrssee--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--pp))
              Search backward through the history starting at the
              current line using a non-incremental search  for  a
              string supplied by the user.
       nnoonn--iinnccrreemmeennttaall--ffoorrwwaarrdd--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--nn))
              Search  forward  through  the  history using a non-
              incremental search for a  string  supplied  by  the
              user.
       hhiissttoorryy--sseeaarrcchh--ffoorrwwaarrdd
              Search  forward  through the history for the string
              of characters between the start of the current line
              and  the current cursor position (the _p_o_i_n_t).  This
              is a non-incremental search.
       hhiissttoorryy--sseeaarrcchh--bbaacckkwwaarrdd
              Search backward through the history for the  string
              of characters between the start of the current line
              and the point.  This is a non-incremental search.
       yyaannkk--nntthh--aarrgg ((MM--CC--yy))
              Insert the first argument to the  previous  command
              (usually  the  second word on the previous line) at
              point (the current cursor position).  With an argu-
              ment  _n, insert the _nth word from the previous com-
              mand (the words in the previous command begin  with
              word  0).  A negative argument inserts the _nth word
              from the end of the previous command.




GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          8





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       yyaannkk--llaasstt--aarrgg ((MM--..,, MM--__))
              Insert the last argument to  the  previous  command
              (the  last  word  of  the  previous history entry).
              With an argument, behave exactly like yyaannkk--nntthh--aarrgg.
              Successive calls to yyaannkk--llaasstt--aarrgg move back through
              the history list, inserting the  last  argument  of
              each line in turn.

   CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr CChhaannggiinngg TTeexxtt
       ddeelleettee--cchhaarr ((CC--dd))
              Delete the character under the cursor.  If point is
              at the beginning of the line, there are no  charac-
              ters  in the line, and the last character typed was
              not bound to BBddeelleettee--cchhaarr, then return EEOOFF.
       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--ddeelleettee--cchhaarr ((RRuubboouutt))
              Delete the character behind the cursor.  When given
              a  numeric  argument,  save the deleted text on the
              kill ring.
       qquuootteedd--iinnsseerrtt ((CC--qq,, CC--vv))
              Add the next character that you type  to  the  line
              verbatim.   This  is  how to insert characters like
              CC--qq, for example.
       ttaabb--iinnsseerrtt ((MM--TTAABB))
              Insert a tab character.
       sseellff--iinnsseerrtt ((aa,, bb,, AA,, 11,, !!,, ......))
              Insert the character typed.
       ttrraannssppoossee--cchhaarrss ((CC--tt))
              Drag the character before point  forward  over  the
              character  at  point.  Point moves forward as well.
              If point is at the end of the line, then  transpose
              the  two  characters  before point.  Negative argu-
              ments don't work.
       ttrraannssppoossee--wwoorrddss ((MM--tt))
              Drag the word behind the cursor past  the  word  in
              front  of  the  cursor  moving the cursor over that
              word as well.
       uuppccaassee--wwoorrdd ((MM--uu))
              Uppercase the current (or following) word.  With  a
              negative argument, uppercase the previous word, but
              do not move point.
       ddoowwnnccaassee--wwoorrdd ((MM--ll))
              Lowercase the current (or following) word.  With  a
              negative argument, lowercase the previous word, but
              do not move point.
       ccaappiittaalliizzee--wwoorrdd ((MM--cc))
              Capitalize the current (or following) word.  With a
              negative  argument,  capitalize  the previous word,
              but do not move point.

   KKiilllliinngg aanndd YYaannkkiinngg
       kkiillll--lliinnee ((CC--kk))
              Kill the text from the current cursor  position  to
              the end of the line.




GNU                        1998 Feb 19                          9





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--lliinnee ((CC--xx RRuubboouutt))
              Kill backward to the beginning of the line.
       uunniixx--lliinnee--ddiissccaarrdd ((CC--uu))
              Kill  backward  from  point to the beginning of the
              line.  The killed text is saved on the kill-ring.
       kkiillll--wwhhoollee--lliinnee
              Kill all characters on the current line, no  matter
              where the cursor is.
       kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--dd))
              Kill  from  the  cursor  to  the end of the current
              word, or if between words, to the end of  the  next
              word.   Word  boundaries are the same as those used
              by ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--RRuubboouutt))
              Kill the word behind the cursor.   Word  boundaries
              are the same as those used by bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       uunniixx--wwoorrdd--rruubboouutt ((CC--ww))
              Kill  the word behind the cursor, using white space
              as a word boundary.  The word boundaries  are  dif-
              ferent from bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd.
       ddeelleettee--hhoorriizzoonnttaall--ssppaaccee ((MM--\\))
              Delete all spaces and tabs around point.
       kkiillll--rreeggiioonn
              Kill  the  text  between  the point and _m_a_r_k (saved
              cursor position).  This text is referred to as  the
              _r_e_g_i_o_n.
       ccooppyy--rreeggiioonn--aass--kkiillll
              Copy the text in the region to the kill buffer.
       ccooppyy--bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd
              Copy the word before point to the kill buffer.  The
              word boundaries are the same as bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       ccooppyy--ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd
              Copy the word following point to the  kill  buffer.
              The word boundaries are the same as ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       yyaannkk ((CC--yy))
              Yank  the  top  of the kill ring into the buffer at
              the cursor.
       yyaannkk--ppoopp ((MM--yy))
              Rotate the kill ring, and yank the new  top.   Only
              works following yyaannkk or yyaannkk--ppoopp.

   NNuummeerriicc AArrgguummeennttss
       ddiiggiitt--aarrgguummeenntt ((MM--00,, MM--11,, ......,, MM----))
              Add  this  digit to the argument already accumulat-
              ing, or start a new argument.  M-- starts  a  nega-
              tive argument.
       uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt
              This  is  another  way  to specify an argument.  If
              this command is followed by  one  or  more  digits,
              optionally  with a leading minus sign, those digits
              define the argument.  If the command is followed by
              digits, executing uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt again ends the
              numeric argument, but is otherwise ignored.   As  a
              special   case,  if  this  command  is  immediately



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         10





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              followed by a character that is neither a digit  or
              minus sign, the argument count for the next command
              is multiplied by four.  The argument count is  ini-
              tially  one,  so  executing this function the first
              time makes the argument count four, a  second  time
              makes the argument count sixteen, and so on.

   CCoommpplleettiinngg
       ccoommpplleettee ((TTAABB))
              Attempt  to  perform  completion on the text before
              point.  The actual completion performed is applica-
              tion-specific.   BBaasshh,  for instance, attempts com-
              pletion treating the text as  a  variable  (if  the
              text  begins  with $$), username (if the text begins
              with ~~), hostname (if the text begins with  @@),  or
              command  (including aliases and functions) in turn.
              If none of these produces a match, filename comple-
              tion  is attempted.  GGddbb, on the other hand, allows
              completion of program functions and variables,  and
              only  attempts  filename  completion  under certain
              circumstances.
       ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss ((MM--??))
              List the possible completions of  the  text  before
              point.
       iinnsseerrtt--ccoommpplleettiioonnss ((MM--**))
              Insert  all  completions  of  the text before point
              that would have been generated by  ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommppllee--
              ttiioonnss.
       mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee
              Similar  to  ccoommpplleettee,  but replaces the word to be
              completed with a single match from the list of pos-
              sible completions.  Repeated execution of mmeennuu--ccoomm--
              pplleettee steps through the list  of  possible  comple-
              tions, inserting each match in turn.  At the end of
              the list of completions, the bell is rung  and  the
              original  text is restored.  An argument of _n moves
              _n positions forward in the list of matches; a nega-
              tive  argument may be used to move backward through
              the list.  This command is intended to be bound  to
              TTAABB, but is unbound by default.

   KKeeyybbooaarrdd MMaaccrrooss
       ssttaarrtt--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx (())
              Begin  saving the characters typed into the current
              keyboard macro.
       eenndd--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx ))))
              Stop saving the characters typed into  the  current
              keyboard macro and store the definition.
       ccaallll--llaasstt--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx ee))
              Re-execute the last keyboard macro defined, by mak-
              ing the characters in the macro appear as if  typed
              at the keyboard.





GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         11





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


   MMiisscceellllaanneeoouuss
       rree--rreeaadd--iinniitt--ffiillee ((CC--xx CC--rr))
              Read  in  the  contents  of  the  _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file, and
              incorporate any bindings  or  variable  assignments
              found there.
       aabboorrtt ((CC--gg))
              Abort the current editing command and ring the ter-
              minal's   bell   (subject   to   the   setting   of
              bbeellll--ssttyyllee).
       ddoo--uuppppeerrccaassee--vveerrssiioonn ((MM--aa,, MM--bb,, MM--_x,, ......))
              If  the  metafied character _x is lowercase, run the
              command that is bound to the  corresponding  upper-
              case character.
       pprreeffiixx--mmeettaa ((EESSCC))
              Metafy  the next character typed.  EESSCC ff is equiva-
              lent to MMeettaa--ff.
       uunnddoo ((CC--__,, CC--xx CC--uu))
              Incremental undo, separately  remembered  for  each
              line.
       rreevveerrtt--lliinnee ((MM--rr))
              Undo  all  changes made to this line.  This is like
              executing the uunnddoo command enough times  to  return
              the line to its initial state.
       ttiillddee--eexxppaanndd ((MM--~~))
              Perform tilde expansion on the current word.
       sseett--mmaarrkk ((CC--@@,, MM--<<ssppaaccee>>))
              Set  the  mark  to the current point.  If a numeric
              argument is supplied, the mark is set to that posi-
              tion.
       eexxcchhaannggee--ppooiinntt--aanndd--mmaarrkk ((CC--xx CC--xx))
              Swap  the  point with the mark.  The current cursor
              position is set to the saved position, and the  old
              cursor position is saved as the mark.
       cchhaarraacctteerr--sseeaarrcchh ((CC--]]))
              A  character is read and point is moved to the next
              occurrence of that  character.   A  negative  count
              searches for previous occurrences.
       cchhaarraacctteerr--sseeaarrcchh--bbaacckkwwaarrdd ((MM--CC--]]))
              A  character is read and point is moved to the pre-
              vious occurrence of  that  character.   A  negative
              count searches for subsequent occurrences.
       iinnsseerrtt--ccoommmmeenntt ((MM--##))
              The value of the readline ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn variable is
              inserted at the beginning of the current line,  and
              the  line  is  accepted  as  if  a newline had been
              typed.  This makes the current line  a  shell  com-
              ment.
       dduummpp--ffuunnccttiioonnss
              Print  all  of the functions and their key bindings
              to the readline output stream.  If a numeric  argu-
              ment is supplied, the output is formatted in such a
              way that it can be made part of an _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file.
       dduummpp--vvaarriiaabblleess
              Print all  of  the  settable  variables  and  their



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         12





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              values to the readline output stream.  If a numeric
              argument is supplied, the output  is  formatted  in
              such  a  way that it can be made part of an _i_n_p_u_t_r_c
              file.
       dduummpp--mmaaccrrooss
              Print all of the readline key  sequences  bound  to
              macros  and  the  strings they ouput.  If a numeric
              argument is supplied, the output  is  formatted  in
              such  a  way that it can be made part of an _i_n_p_u_t_r_c
              file.
       eemmaaccss--eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((CC--ee))
              When in vvii editing mode, this causes  a  switch  to
              eemmaaccss editing mode.
       vvii--eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((MM--CC--jj))
              When in eemmaaccss editing mode, this causes a switch to
              vvii editing mode.

DDEEFFAAUULLTT KKEEYY BBIINNDDIINNGGSS
       The following is a list of the default emacs and vi  bind-
       ings.   Characters  with  the  8th  bit set are written as
       M-<character>, and are referred to as _m_e_t_a_f_i_e_d characters.
       The  printable  ASCII characters not mentioned in the list
       of emacs standard bindings are bound  to  the  _s_e_l_f_-_i_n_s_e_r_t
       function,  which just inserts the given character into the
       input line.  In vi  insertion  mode,  all  characters  not
       specifically  mentioned are bound to _s_e_l_f_-_i_n_s_e_r_t.  Charac-
       ters assigned to signal generation by _s_t_t_y(1) or the  ter-
       minal  driver,  such  as C-Z or C-C, retain that function.
       Upper and lower case _m_e_t_a_f_i_e_d characters are bound to  the
       same  function in the emacs mode meta keymap.  The remain-
       ing characters are unbound, which causes readline to  ring
       the  bell  (subject to the setting of the bbeellll--ssttyyllee vari-
       able).

   EEmmaaccss MMooddee
             Emacs Standard bindings

             "C-@"  set-mark
             "C-A"  beginning-of-line
             "C-B"  backward-char
             "C-D"  delete-char
             "C-E"  end-of-line
             "C-F"  forward-char
             "C-G"  abort
             "C-H"  backward-delete-char
             "C-I"  complete
             "C-J"  accept-line
             "C-K"  kill-line
             "C-L"  clear-screen
             "C-M"  accept-line
             "C-N"  next-history
             "C-P"  previous-history
             "C-Q"  quoted-insert
             "C-R"  reverse-search-history



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         13





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             "C-S"  forward-search-history
             "C-T"  transpose-chars
             "C-U"  unix-line-discard
             "C-V"  quoted-insert
             "C-W"  unix-word-rubout
             "C-Y"  yank
             "C-]"  character-search
             "C-_"  undo
             " " to "/"  self-insert
             "0"  to "9"  self-insert
             ":"  to "~"  self-insert
             "C-?"  backward-delete-char

             Emacs Meta bindings

             "M-C-G"  abort
             "M-C-H"  backward-kill-word
             "M-C-I"  tab-insert
             "M-C-J"  vi-editing-mode
             "M-C-M"  vi-editing-mode
             "M-C-R"  revert-line
             "M-C-Y"  yank-nth-arg
             "M-C-["  complete
             "M-C-]"  character-search-backward
             "M-space"  set-mark
             "M-#"  insert-comment
             "M-&"  tilde-expand
             "M-*"  insert-completions
             "M--"  digit-argument
             "M-."  yank-last-arg
             "M-0"  digit-argument
             "M-1"  digit-argument
             "M-2"  digit-argument
             "M-3"  digit-argument
             "M-4"  digit-argument
             "M-5"  digit-argument
             "M-6"  digit-argument
             "M-7"  digit-argument
             "M-8"  digit-argument
             "M-9"  digit-argument
             "M-<"  beginning-of-history
             "M-="  possible-completions
             "M->"  end-of-history
             "M-?"  possible-completions
             "M-B"  backward-word
             "M-C"  capitalize-word
             "M-D"  kill-word
             "M-F"  forward-word
             "M-L"  downcase-word
             "M-N"  non-incremental-forward-search-history
             "M-P"  non-incremental-reverse-search-history
             "M-R"  revert-line
             "M-T"  transpose-words
             "M-U"  upcase-word



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         14





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             "M-Y"  yank-pop
             "M-\"  delete-horizontal-space
             "M-~"  tilde-expand
             "M-C-?"  backward-delete-word
             "M-_"  yank-last-arg

             Emacs Control-X bindings

             "C-XC-G"  abort
             "C-XC-R"  re-read-init-file
             "C-XC-U"  undo
             "C-XC-X"  exchange-point-and-mark
             "C-X("  start-kbd-macro
             "C-X)"  end-kbd-macro
             "C-XE"  call-last-kbd-macro
             "C-XC-?"  backward-kill-line


   VVII MMooddee bbiinnddiinnggss
             VI Insert Mode functions

             "C-D"  vi-eof-maybe
             "C-H"  backward-delete-char
             "C-I"  complete
             "C-J"  accept-line
             "C-M"  accept-line
             "C-R"  reverse-search-history
             "C-S"  forward-search-history
             "C-T"  transpose-chars
             "C-U"  unix-line-discard
             "C-V"  quoted-insert
             "C-W"  unix-word-rubout
             "C-Y"  yank
             "C-["  vi-movement-mode
             "C-_"  undo
             " " to "~"  self-insert
             "C-?"  backward-delete-char

             VI Command Mode functions

             "C-D"  vi-eof-maybe
             "C-E"  emacs-editing-mode
             "C-G"  abort
             "C-H"  backward-char
             "C-J"  accept-line
             "C-K"  kill-line
             "C-L"  clear-screen
             "C-M"  accept-line
             "C-N"  next-history
             "C-P"  previous-history
             "C-Q"  quoted-insert
             "C-R"  reverse-search-history
             "C-S"  forward-search-history
             "C-T"  transpose-chars



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         15





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             "C-U"  unix-line-discard
             "C-V"  quoted-insert
             "C-W"  unix-word-rubout
             "C-Y"  yank
             " "  forward-char
             "#"  insert-comment
             "$"  end-of-line
             "%"  vi-match
             "&"  vi-tilde-expand
             "*"  vi-complete
             "+"  next-history
             ","  vi-char-search
             "-"  previous-history
             "."  vi-redo
             "/"  vi-search
             "0"  beginning-of-line
             "1" to "9"  vi-arg-digit
             ";"  vi-char-search
             "="  vi-complete
             "?"  vi-search
             "A"  vi-append-eol
             "B"  vi-prev-word
             "C"  vi-change-to
             "D"  vi-delete-to
             "E"  vi-end-word
             "F"  vi-char-search
             "G"  vi-fetch-history
             "I"  vi-insert-beg
             "N"  vi-search-again
             "P"  vi-put
             "R"  vi-replace
             "S"  vi-subst
             "T"  vi-char-search
             "U"  revert-line
             "W"  vi-next-word
             "X"  backward-delete-char
             "Y"  vi-yank-to
             "\"  vi-complete
             "^"  vi-first-print
             "_"  vi-yank-arg
             "`"  vi-goto-mark
             "a"  vi-append-mode
             "b"  vi-prev-word
             "c"  vi-change-to
             "d"  vi-delete-to
             "e"  vi-end-word
             "f"  vi-char-search
             "h"  backward-char
             "i"  vi-insertion-mode
             "j"  next-history
             "k"  prev-history
             "l"  forward-char
             "m"  vi-set-mark
             "n"  vi-search-again



GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         16





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             "p"  vi-put
             "r"  vi-change-char
             "s"  vi-subst
             "t"  vi-char-search
             "u"  undo
             "w"  vi-next-word
             "x"  vi-delete
             "y"  vi-yank-to
             "|"  vi-column
             "~"  vi-change-case

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       _T_h_e _G_n_u _R_e_a_d_l_i_n_e _L_i_b_r_a_r_y, Brian Fox and Chet Ramey
       _T_h_e _G_n_u _H_i_s_t_o_r_y _L_i_b_r_a_r_y, Brian Fox and Chet Ramey
       _b_a_s_h(1)

FFIILLEESS
       _~_/_._i_n_p_u_t_r_c
              Individual rreeaaddlliinnee initialization file

AAUUTTHHOORRSS
       Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation (primary author)
       bfox@ai.MIT.Edu

       Chet Ramey, Case Western Reserve University
       chet@ins.CWRU.Edu

BBUUGG RREEPPOORRTTSS
       If you find a bug in rreeaaddlliinnee,, you should report it.   But
       first,  you  should make sure that it really is a bug, and
       that it appears in the  latest  version  of  the  rreeaaddlliinnee
       library that you have.

       Once  you have determined that a bug actually exists, mail
       a bug report to _b_u_g_-_r_e_a_d_l_i_n_e@_g_n_u_._o_r_g.  If you have a  fix,
       you  are  welcome  to  mail that as well!  Suggestions and
       `philosophical' bug reports may  be  mailed  to  _b_u_g_-_r_e_a_d_-
       _l_i_n_e@_g_n_u_._o_r_g   or   posted   to   the   Usenet   newsgroup
       ggnnuu..bbaasshh..bbuugg.

       Comments and  bug  reports  concerning  this  manual  page
       should be directed to _c_h_e_t_@_i_n_s_._C_W_R_U_._E_d_u.

BBUUGGSS
       It's too big and too slow.












GNU                        1998 Feb 19                         17