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Diffstat (limited to 'readline/doc/rluser.texinfo')
| -rw-r--r-- | readline/doc/rluser.texinfo | 509 |
1 files changed, 338 insertions, 171 deletions
diff --git a/readline/doc/rluser.texinfo b/readline/doc/rluser.texinfo index 9f088ff..94f851e 100644 --- a/readline/doc/rluser.texinfo +++ b/readline/doc/rluser.texinfo @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use these features. There is a document entitled "readline.texinfo" which contains both end-user and programmer documentation for the GNU Readline Library. -Copyright (C) 1988-1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +Copyright (C) 1988-2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc. Authored by Brian Fox and Chet Ramey. @@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ used by several different programs, including Bash. The following paragraphs describe the notation used to represent keystrokes. -The text @key{C-k} is read as `Control-K' and describes the character +The text @kbd{C-k} is read as `Control-K' and describes the character produced when the @key{k} key is pressed while the Control key is depressed. -The text @key{M-k} is read as `Meta-K' and describes the character +The text @kbd{M-k} is read as `Meta-K' and describes the character produced when the Meta key (if you have one) is depressed, and the @key{k} key is pressed. The Meta key is labeled @key{ALT} on many keyboards. @@ -89,11 +89,11 @@ Compose key for typing accented characters. If you do not have a Meta or @key{ALT} key, or another key working as a Meta key, the identical keystroke can be generated by typing @key{ESC} -@i{first}, and then typing @key{k}. +@emph{first}, and then typing @key{k}. Either process is known as @dfn{metafying} the @key{k} key. -The text @key{M-C-k} is read as `Meta-Control-k' and describes the -character produced by @dfn{metafying} @key{C-k}. +The text @kbd{M-C-k} is read as `Meta-Control-k' and describes the +character produced by @dfn{metafying} @kbd{C-k}. In addition, several keys have their own names. Specifically, @key{DEL}, @key{ESC}, @key{LFD}, @key{SPC}, @key{RET}, and @key{TAB} all @@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ as you type it in, allowing you to just fix your typo, and not forcing you to retype the majority of the line. Using these editing commands, you move the cursor to the place that needs correction, and delete or insert the text of the corrections. Then, when you are satisfied with -the line, you simply press @key{RETURN}. You do not have to be at the -end of the line to press @key{RETURN}; the entire line is accepted +the line, you simply press @key{RET}. You do not have to be at the +end of the line to press @key{RET}; the entire line is accepted regardless of the location of the cursor within the line. @menu @@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ erase character to back up and delete the mistyped character. Sometimes you may mistype a character, and not notice the error until you have typed several other characters. In -that case, you can type @key{C-b} to move the cursor to the left, and then +that case, you can type @kbd{C-b} to move the cursor to the left, and then correct your mistake. Afterwards, you can move the cursor to the right -with @key{C-f}. +with @kbd{C-f}. When you add text in the middle of a line, you will notice that characters to the right of the cursor are `pushed over' to make room for the text @@ -152,17 +152,17 @@ blank space created by the removal of the text. A list of the bare essentials for editing the text of an input line follows. @table @asis -@item @key{C-b} +@item @kbd{C-b} Move back one character. -@item @key{C-f} +@item @kbd{C-f} Move forward one character. @item @key{DEL} or @key{Backspace} Delete the character to the left of the cursor. -@item @key{C-d} +@item @kbd{C-d} Delete the character underneath the cursor. @item @w{Printing characters} Insert the character into the line at the cursor. -@item @key{C-_} or @key{C-x C-u} +@item @kbd{C-_} or @kbd{C-x C-u} Undo the last editing command. You can undo all the way back to an empty line. @end table @@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ empty line. @noindent (Depending on your configuration, the @key{Backspace} key be set to delete the character to the left of the cursor and the @key{DEL} key set -to delete the character underneath the cursor, like @key{C-d}, rather +to delete the character underneath the cursor, like @kbd{C-d}, rather than the character to the left of the cursor.) @node Readline Movement Commands @@ -179,11 +179,11 @@ than the character to the left of the cursor.) The above table describes the most basic keystrokes that you need in order to do editing of the input line. For your convenience, many -other commands have been added in addition to @key{C-b}, @key{C-f}, -@key{C-d}, and @key{DEL}. Here are some commands for moving more rapidly +other commands have been added in addition to @kbd{C-b}, @kbd{C-f}, +@kbd{C-d}, and @key{DEL}. Here are some commands for moving more rapidly about the line. -@table @key +@table @kbd @item C-a Move to the start of the line. @item C-e @@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ Move backward a word. Clear the screen, reprinting the current line at the top. @end table -Notice how @key{C-f} moves forward a character, while @key{M-f} moves +Notice how @kbd{C-f} moves forward a character, while @kbd{M-f} moves forward a word. It is a loose convention that control keystrokes operate on characters while meta keystrokes operate on words. @@ -225,36 +225,36 @@ another line. Here is the list of commands for killing text. -@table @key +@table @kbd @item C-k Kill the text from the current cursor position to the end of the line. @item M-d 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 @key{M-f}. +Word boundaries are the same as those used by @kbd{M-f}. -@item M-DEL -Kill from the cursor the start of the previous word, or, if between +@item M-@key{DEL} +Kill from the cursor the start of the current word, or, if between words, to the start of the previous word. -Word boundaries are the same as those used by @key{M-b}. +Word boundaries are the same as those used by @kbd{M-b}. @item C-w Kill from the cursor to the previous whitespace. This is different than -@key{M-DEL} because the word boundaries differ. +@kbd{M-@key{DEL}} because the word boundaries differ. @end table Here is how to @dfn{yank} the text back into the line. Yanking means to copy the most-recently-killed text from the kill buffer. -@table @key +@table @kbd @item C-y Yank the most recently killed text back into the buffer at the cursor. @item M-y Rotate the kill-ring, and yank the new top. You can only do this if -the prior command is @key{C-y} or @key{M-y}. +the prior command is @kbd{C-y} or @kbd{M-y}. @end table @node Readline Arguments @@ -272,7 +272,8 @@ digits before the command. If the first `digit' typed is a minus sign (@samp{-}), then the sign of the argument will be negative. Once you have typed one meta digit to get the argument started, you can type the remainder of the digits, and then the command. For example, to give -the @key{C-d} command an argument of 10, you could type @samp{M-1 0 C-d}. +the @kbd{C-d} command an argument of 10, you could type @samp{M-1 0 C-d}, +which will delete the next ten characters on the input line. @node Searching @subsection Searching for Commands in the History @@ -282,7 +283,7 @@ Readline provides commands for searching through the command history (@pxref{Bash History Facilities}) @end ifset for lines containing a specified string. -There are two search modes: @var{incremental} and @var{non-incremental}. +There are two search modes: @dfn{incremental} and @dfn{non-incremental}. Incremental searches begin before the user has finished typing the search string. @@ -291,23 +292,29 @@ 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. To search backward in the history for a particular string, type -@key{C-r}. Typing @key{C-s} searches forward through the history. +@kbd{C-r}. Typing @kbd{C-s} searches forward through the history. The characters present in the value of the @code{isearch-terminators} variable are used to terminate an incremental search. If that variable has not been assigned a value, the @key{ESC} and -@key{C-J} characters will terminate an incremental search. -@key{C-g} will abort an incremental search and restore the original line. +@kbd{C-J} characters will terminate an incremental search. +@kbd{C-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 @key{C-r} or -@key{C-s} as appropriate. +To find other matching entries in the history list, type @kbd{C-r} or +@kbd{C-s} as appropriate. This will search backward or forward in the history for the next entry 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 @key{RET} will terminate the search and accept the line, thereby executing the command from the history list. +A movement command will terminate the search, make the last line found +the current line, and begin editing. + +Readline remembers the last incremental search string. If two +@kbd{C-r}s are typed without any intervening characters defining a new +search string, any remembered search string is used. Non-incremental searches read the entire search string before starting to search for matching history lines. The search string may be @@ -324,10 +331,10 @@ Any user can customize programs that use Readline by putting commands in an @dfn{inputrc} file, conventionally in his home directory. The name of this @ifset BashFeatures -file is taken from the value of the shell variable @code{INPUTRC}. If +file is taken from the value of the shell variable @env{INPUTRC}. If @end ifset @ifclear BashFeatures -file is taken from the value of the environment variable @code{INPUTRC}. If +file is taken from the value of the environment variable @env{INPUTRC}. If @end ifclear that variable is unset, the default is @file{~/.inputrc}. @@ -359,7 +366,15 @@ denote variable settings and key bindings. @item Variable Settings You can modify the run-time behavior of Readline by altering the values of variables in Readline -using the @code{set} command within the init file. Here is how to +using the @code{set} command within the init file. +The syntax is simple: + +@example +set @var{variable} @var{value} +@end example + +@noindent +Here, for example, is how to change from the default Emacs-like key binding to use @code{vi} line editing commands: @@ -367,6 +382,9 @@ change from the default Emacs-like key binding to use set editing-mode vi @end example +Variable names and values, where appropriate, are recognized without regard +to case. + @ifset BashFeatures The @w{@code{bind -V}} command lists the current Readline variable names and values. @xref{Bash Builtins}. @@ -375,6 +393,7 @@ and values. @xref{Bash Builtins}. A great deal of run-time behavior is changeable with the following variables. +@cindex variables, readline @table @code @item bell-style @@ -402,13 +421,14 @@ The number of possible completions that determines when the user is asked whether he wants to see the list of possibilities. If the number of possible completions is greater than this value, Readline will ask the user whether or not he wishes to view -them; otherwise, they are simply listed. The default limit is -@code{100}. +them; otherwise, they are simply listed. +This variable must be set to an integer value greater than or equal to 0. +The default limit is @code{100}. @item convert-meta @vindex convert-meta If set to @samp{on}, Readline will convert characters with the -eighth bit set to an ASCII key sequence by stripping the eighth +eighth bit set to an @sc{ascii} key sequence by stripping the eighth bit and prefixing an @key{ESC} character, converting them to a meta-prefixed key sequence. The default value is @samp{on}. @@ -436,6 +456,11 @@ arrow keys. The default is @samp{off}. If set to @samp{on}, tilde expansion is performed when Readline attempts word completion. The default is @samp{off}. +@vindex history-preserve-point +If set to @samp{on}, the history code attempts to place point at the +same location on each history line retrived with @code{previous-history} +or @code{next-history}. + @item horizontal-scroll-mode @vindex horizontal-scroll-mode This variable can be set to either @samp{on} or @samp{off}. Setting it @@ -448,7 +473,7 @@ this variable is set to @samp{off}. @vindex input-meta @vindex meta-flag If set to @samp{on}, Readline will enable eight-bit input (it -will not strip the eighth bit from the characters it reads), +will not clear the eighth bit in the characters it reads), regardless of what the terminal claims it can support. The default value is @samp{off}. The name @code{meta-flag} is a synonym for this variable. @@ -458,7 +483,7 @@ synonym for this variable. The string of characters that should terminate an incremental search without subsequently executing the character as a command (@pxref{Searching}). If this variable has not been given a value, the characters @key{ESC} and -@key{C-J} will terminate an incremental search. +@kbd{C-J} will terminate an incremental search. @item keymap @vindex keymap @@ -469,6 +494,7 @@ Acceptable @code{keymap} names are @code{emacs-meta}, @code{emacs-ctlx}, @code{vi}, +@code{vi-move}, @code{vi-command}, and @code{vi-insert}. @code{vi} is equivalent to @code{vi-command}; @code{emacs} is @@ -486,12 +512,33 @@ This variable, when set to @samp{on}, causes Readline to display an asterisk (@samp{*}) at the start of history lines which have been modified. This variable is @samp{off} by default. +@item mark-symlinked-directories +@vindex mark-symlinked-directories +If set to @samp{on}, completed names which are symbolic links +to directories have a slash appended (subject to the value of +@code{mark-directories}). +The default is @samp{off}. + +@item match-hidden-files +@vindex match-hidden-files +This variable, when set to @samp{on}, causes Readline to match files whose +names begin with a @samp{.} (hidden files) when performing filename +completion, unless the leading @samp{.} is +supplied by the user in the filename to be completed. +This variable is @samp{on} by default. + @item output-meta @vindex output-meta If set to @samp{on}, Readline will display characters with the eighth bit set directly rather than as a meta-prefixed escape sequence. The default is @samp{off}. +@item page-completions +@vindex page-completions +If set to @samp{on}, Readline uses an internal @code{more}-like pager +to display a screenful of possible completions at a time. +This variable is @samp{on} by default. + @item print-completions-horizontally If set to @samp{on}, Readline will display completions with matches sorted horizontally in alphabetical order, rather than down the screen. @@ -520,11 +567,15 @@ want to change. The following sections contain tables of the command name, the default keybinding, if any, and a short description of what the command does. -Once you know the name of the command, simply place the name of the key +Once you know the name of the command, simply place on a line +in the init file the name of the key you wish to bind the command to, a colon, and then the name of the -command on a line in the init file. The name of the key -can be expressed in different ways, depending on which is most -comfortable for you. +command. The name of the key +can be expressed in different ways, depending on what you find most +comfortable. + +In addition to command names, readline allows keys to be bound +to a string that is inserted when the key is pressed (a @var{macro}). @ifset BashFeatures The @w{@code{bind -p}} command displays Readline function names and @@ -541,11 +592,28 @@ Meta-Rubout: backward-kill-word Control-o: "> output" @end example -In the above example, @key{C-u} is bound to the function -@code{universal-argument}, and @key{C-o} is bound to run the macro +In the above example, @kbd{C-u} is bound to the function +@code{universal-argument}, +@kbd{M-DEL} is bound to the function @code{backward-kill-word}, and +@kbd{C-o} is bound to run the macro expressed on the right hand side (that is, to insert the text @samp{> output} into the line). +A number of symbolic character names are recognized while +processing this key binding syntax: +@var{DEL}, +@var{ESC}, +@var{ESCAPE}, +@var{LFD}, +@var{NEWLINE}, +@var{RET}, +@var{RETURN}, +@var{RUBOUT}, +@var{SPACE}, +@var{SPC}, +and +@var{TAB}. + @item @w{"@var{keyseq}": @var{function-name} or @var{macro}} @var{keyseq} differs from @var{keyname} above in that strings denoting an entire key sequence can be specified, by placing @@ -559,9 +627,9 @@ special character names are not recognized. "\e[11~": "Function Key 1" @end example -In the above example, @key{C-u} is bound to the function +In the above example, @kbd{C-u} is again bound to the function @code{universal-argument} (just as it was in the first example), -@samp{@key{C-x} @key{C-r}} is bound to the function @code{re-read-init-file}, +@samp{@kbd{C-x} @kbd{C-r}} is bound to the function @code{re-read-init-file}, and @samp{@key{ESC} @key{[} @key{1} @key{1} @key{~}} is bound to insert the text @samp{Function Key 1}. @@ -606,11 +674,11 @@ horizontal tab @item \v vertical tab @item \@var{nnn} -the character whose @code{ASCII} code is the octal value @var{nnn} -(one to three digits) -@item \x@var{nnn} -the character whose @code{ASCII} code is the hexadecimal value @var{nnn} +the eight-bit character whose value is the octal value @var{nnn} (one to three digits) +@item \x@var{HH} +the eight-bit character whose value is the hexadecimal value @var{HH} +(one or two hex digits) @end table When entering the text of a macro, single or double quotes must @@ -619,7 +687,7 @@ Unquoted text is assumed to be a function name. In the macro body, the backslash escapes described above are expanded. Backslash will quote any other character in the macro text, including @samp{"} and @samp{'}. -For example, the following binding will make @samp{C-x \} +For example, the following binding will make @samp{@kbd{C-x} \} insert a single @samp{\} into the line: @example "\C-x\\": "\\" @@ -663,7 +731,8 @@ for instance. @item application The @var{application} construct is used to include application-specific settings. Each program using the Readline -library sets the @var{application name}, and you can test for it. +library sets the @var{application name}, and you can test for +a particular value. This could be used to bind key sequences to functions useful for a specific program. For instance, the following command adds a key sequence that quotes the current or previous word in Bash: @@ -686,6 +755,7 @@ the test fails. @item $include This directive takes a single filename as an argument and reads commands and bindings from that file. +For example, the following directive reads from @file{/etc/inputrc}: @example $include /etc/inputrc @end example @@ -694,20 +764,20 @@ $include /etc/inputrc @node Sample Init File @subsection Sample Init File -Here is an example of an inputrc file. This illustrates key +Here is an example of an @var{inputrc} file. This illustrates key binding, variable assignment, and conditional syntax. @example @page # This file controls the behaviour of line input editing for -# programs that use the Gnu Readline library. Existing programs -# include FTP, Bash, and Gdb. +# programs that use the GNU Readline library. Existing +# programs include FTP, Bash, and GDB. # # You can re-read the inputrc file with C-x C-r. # Lines beginning with '#' are comments. # -# First, include any systemwide bindings and variable assignments from -# /etc/Inputrc +# First, include any systemwide bindings and variable +# assignments from /etc/Inputrc $include /etc/Inputrc # @@ -759,10 +829,12 @@ TAB: complete $if Bash # edit the path "\C-xp": "PATH=$@{PATH@}\e\C-e\C-a\ef\C-f" -# prepare to type a quoted word -- insert open and close double quotes +# prepare to type a quoted word -- +# insert open and close double quotes # and move to just after the open quote "\C-x\"": "\"\"\C-b" -# insert a backslash (testing backslash escapes in sequences and macros) +# insert a backslash (testing backslash escapes +# in sequences and macros) "\C-x\\": "\\" # Quote the current or previous word "\C-xq": "\eb\"\ef\"" @@ -778,16 +850,16 @@ set bell-style visible # don't strip characters to 7 bits when reading set input-meta on -# allow iso-latin1 characters to be inserted rather than converted to -# prefix-meta sequences +# allow iso-latin1 characters to be inserted rather +# than converted to prefix-meta sequences set convert-meta off -# display characters with the eighth bit set directly rather than -# as meta-prefixed characters +# display characters with the eighth bit set directly +# rather than as meta-prefixed characters set output-meta on -# if there are more than 150 possible completions for a word, ask the -# user if he wants to see all of them +# if there are more than 150 possible completions for +# a word, ask the user if he wants to see all of them set completion-query-items 150 # For FTP @@ -819,12 +891,12 @@ You can list your key bindings by executing @w{@code{bind -P}} or, for a more terse format, suitable for an @var{inputrc} file, @w{@code{bind -p}}. (@xref{Bash Builtins}.) @end ifset - Command names without an accompanying key sequence are unbound by default. -In the following descriptions, @var{point} refers to the current cursor -position, and @var{mark} refers to a cursor position saved by the + +In the following descriptions, @dfn{point} refers to the current cursor +position, and @dfn{mark} refers to a cursor position saved by the @code{set-mark} command. -The text between the point and mark is referred to as the @var{region}. +The text between the point and mark is referred to as the @dfn{region}. @node Commands For Moving @subsection Commands For Moving @@ -862,25 +934,29 @@ Refresh the current line. By default, this is unbound. @subsection Commands For Manipulating The History @ftable @code -@item accept-line (Newline, Return) +@item accept-line (Newline or Return) @ifset BashFeatures -Accept the line regardless of where the cursor is. If this line is +Accept the line regardless of where the cursor is. +If this line is non-empty, add it to the history list according to the setting of -the @code{HISTCONTROL} and @code{HISTIGNORE} variables. -If this line was a history line, then restore the history line to its -original state. +the @env{HISTCONTROL} and @env{HISTIGNORE} variables. +If this line is a modified history line, then restore the history line +to its original state. @end ifset @ifclear BashFeatures -Accept the line regardless of where the cursor is. If this line is -non-empty, add it to the history list. If this line was a history -line, then restore the history line to its original state. +Accept the line regardless of where the cursor is. +If this line is +non-empty, it may be added to the history list for future recall with +@code{add_history()}. +If this line is a modified history line, the history line is restored +to its original state. @end ifclear @item previous-history (C-p) -Move `up' through the history list. +Move `back' through the history list, fetching the previous command. @item next-history (C-n) -Move `down' through the history list. +Move `forward' through the history list, fetching the next command. @item beginning-of-history (M-<) Move to the first line in the history. @@ -920,12 +996,13 @@ is a non-incremental search. By default, this command is unbound. @item yank-nth-arg (M-C-y) Insert the first argument to the previous command (usually -the second word on the previous line). With an argument @var{n}, +the second word on the previous line) at point. +With an argument @var{n}, insert the @var{n}th word from the previous command (the words in the previous command begin with word 0). A negative argument inserts the @var{n}th word from the end of the previous command. -@item yank-last-arg (M-., M-_) +@item yank-last-arg (M-. or M-_) Insert last argument to the previous command (the last word of the previous history entry). With an argument, behave exactly like @code{yank-nth-arg}. @@ -939,10 +1016,10 @@ list, inserting the last argument of each line in turn. @ftable @code @item delete-char (C-d) -Delete the character under the cursor. If the cursor is at the +Delete the character at point. If point is at the beginning of the line, there are no characters in the line, and the last character typed was not bound to @code{delete-char}, then -return @code{EOF}. +return @sc{eof}. @item backward-delete-char (Rubout) Delete the character behind the cursor. A numeric argument means @@ -953,16 +1030,16 @@ Delete the character under the cursor, unless the cursor is at the end of the line, in which case the character behind the cursor is deleted. By default, this is not bound to a key. -@item quoted-insert (C-q, C-v) +@item quoted-insert (C-q or C-v) Add the next character typed to the line verbatim. This is -how to insert key sequences like @key{C-q}, for example. +how to insert key sequences like @kbd{C-q}, for example. @ifclear BashFeatures -@item tab-insert (M-TAB) +@item tab-insert (M-@key{TAB}) Insert a tab character. @end ifclear -@item self-insert (a, b, A, 1, !, ...) +@item self-insert (a, b, A, 1, !, @dots{}) Insert yourself. @item transpose-chars (C-t) @@ -976,6 +1053,8 @@ Negative arguments have no effect. @item transpose-words (M-t) Drag the word before point past the word after point, moving point past that word as well. +If the insertion point is at the end of the line, this transposes +the last two words on the line. @item upcase-word (M-u) Uppercase the current (or following) word. With a negative argument, @@ -989,6 +1068,20 @@ lowercase the previous word, but do not move the cursor. Capitalize the current (or following) word. With a negative argument, capitalize the previous word, but do not move the cursor. +@item overwrite-mode () +Toggle overwrite mode. With an explicit positive numeric argument, +switches to overwrite mode. With an explicit non-positive numeric +argument, switches to insert mode. This command affects only +@code{emacs} mode; @code{vi} mode does overwrite differently. +Each call to @code{readline()} starts in insert mode. + +In overwrite mode, characters bound to @code{self-insert} replace +the text at point rather than pushing the text to the right. +Characters bound to @code{backward-delete-char} replace the character +before point with a space. + +By default, this command is unbound. + @end ftable @node Commands For Killing @@ -1006,7 +1099,7 @@ Kill backward to the beginning of the line. Kill backward from the cursor to the beginning of the current line. @item kill-whole-line () -Kill all characters on the current line, no matter point is. +Kill all characters on the current line, no matter where point is. By default, this is unbound. @item kill-word (M-d) @@ -1014,7 +1107,7 @@ Kill from point to the end of the current word, or if between words, to the end of the next word. Word boundaries are the same as @code{forward-word}. -@item backward-kill-word (M-DEL) +@item backward-kill-word (M-@key{DEL}) Kill the word behind point. Word boundaries are the same as @code{backward-word}. @@ -1044,21 +1137,20 @@ The word boundaries are the same as @code{forward-word}. By default, this command is unbound. @item yank (C-y) -Yank the top of the kill ring into the buffer at the current -cursor position. +Yank the top of the kill ring into the buffer at point. @item yank-pop (M-y) Rotate the kill-ring, and yank the new top. You can only do this if -the prior command is yank or yank-pop. +the prior command is @code{yank} or @code{yank-pop}. @end ftable @node Numeric Arguments @subsection Specifying Numeric Arguments @ftable @code -@item digit-argument (M-0, M-1, ... M--) +@item digit-argument (@kbd{M-0}, @kbd{M-1}, @dots{} @kbd{M--}) Add this digit to the argument already accumulating, or start a new -argument. @key{M--} starts a negative argument. +argument. @kbd{M--} starts a negative argument. @item universal-argument () This is another way to specify an argument. @@ -1079,13 +1171,9 @@ By default, this is not bound to a key. @subsection Letting Readline Type For You @ftable @code -@item complete (TAB) -Attempt to do completion on the text before the cursor. This is -application-specific. Generally, if you are typing a filename -argument, you can do filename completion; if you are typing a command, -you can do command completion; if you are typing in a symbol to GDB, you -can do symbol name completion; if you are typing in a variable to Bash, -you can do variable name completion, and so on. +@item complete (@key{TAB}) +Attempt to perform completion on the text before point. +The actual completion performed is application-specific. @ifset BashFeatures Bash attempts completion treating the text as a variable (if the text begins with @samp{$}), username (if the text begins with @@ -1093,9 +1181,12 @@ text begins with @samp{$}), username (if the text begins with command (including aliases and functions) in turn. If none of these produces a match, filename completion is attempted. @end ifset +@ifclear BashFeatures +The default is filename completion. +@end ifclear @item possible-completions (M-?) -List the possible completions of the text before the cursor. +List the possible completions of the text before point. @item insert-completions (M-*) Insert all completions of the text before point that would have @@ -1106,12 +1197,13 @@ Similar to @code{complete}, but replaces the word to be completed with a single match from the list of possible completions. Repeated execution of @code{menu-complete} steps through the list of possible completions, inserting each match in turn. -At the end of the list of completions, the bell is rung and the -original text is restored. +At the end of the list of completions, the bell is rung +(subject to the setting of @code{bell-style}) +and the original text is restored. An argument of @var{n} moves @var{n} positions forward in the list of matches; a negative argument may be used to move backward through the list. -This command is intended to be bound to @code{TAB}, but is unbound +This command is intended to be bound to @key{TAB}, but is unbound by default. @item delete-char-or-list () @@ -1164,7 +1256,7 @@ in that order. List the possible completions of the text before point, treating it as a command name. -@item dynamic-complete-history (M-TAB) +@item dynamic-complete-history (M-@key{TAB}) Attempt completion on the text before point, comparing the text against lines from the history list for possible completion matches. @@ -1211,12 +1303,12 @@ ring the terminal's bell (subject to the setting of If the metafied character @var{x} is lowercase, run the command that is bound to the corresponding uppercase character. -@item prefix-meta (ESC) -Make the next character typed be metafied. This is for keyboards -without a meta key. Typing @samp{ESC f} is equivalent to typing -@samp{M-f}. +@item prefix-meta (@key{ESC}) +Metafy the next character typed. This is for keyboards +without a meta key. Typing @samp{@key{ESC} f} is equivalent to typing +@kbd{M-f}. -@item undo (C-_, C-x C-u) +@item undo (C-_ or C-x C-u) Incremental undo, separately remembered for each line. @item revert-line (M-r) @@ -1232,7 +1324,7 @@ command enough times to get back to the beginning. Perform tilde expansion on the current word. @item set-mark (C-@@) -Set the mark to the current point. If a +Set the mark to the point. If a numeric argument is supplied, the mark is set to that position. @item exchange-point-and-mark (C-x C-x) @@ -1249,12 +1341,19 @@ of that character. A negative count searches for subsequent occurrences. @item insert-comment (M-#) -The value of the @code{comment-begin} -variable is inserted at the beginning of the current line, -and the line is accepted as if a newline had been typed. +Without a numeric argument, the value of the @code{comment-begin} +variable is inserted at the beginning of the current line. +If a numeric argument is supplied, this command acts as a toggle: if +the characters at the beginning of the line do not match the value +of @code{comment-begin}, the value is inserted, otherwise +the characters in @code{comment-begin} are deleted from the beginning of +the line. +In either case, the line is accepted as if a newline had been typed. @ifset BashFeatures The default value of @code{comment-begin} causes this command to make the current line a shell comment. +If a numeric argument causes the comment character to be removed, the line +will be executed by the shell. @end ifset @item dump-functions () @@ -1271,18 +1370,27 @@ of an @var{inputrc} file. This command is unbound by default. @item dump-macros () Print all of the Readline key sequences bound to macros and the -strings they ouput. If a numeric argument is supplied, +strings they output. If a numeric argument is supplied, the output is formatted in such a way that it can be made part of an @var{inputrc} file. This command is unbound by default. @ifset BashFeatures +@item glob-complete-word (M-g) +The word before point is treated as a pattern for pathname expansion, +with an asterisk implicitly appended. This pattern is used to +generate a list of matching file names for possible completions. + @item glob-expand-word (C-x *) The word before point is treated as a pattern for pathname expansion, and the list of matching file names is inserted, replacing the word. +If a numeric argument is supplied, a @samp{*} is appended before +pathname expansion. @item glob-list-expansions (C-x g) The list of expansions that would have been generated by @code{glob-expand-word} is displayed, and the line is redrawn. +If a numeric argument is supplied, a @samp{*} is appended before +pathname expansion. @item display-shell-version (C-x C-v) Display version information about the current instance of Bash. @@ -1305,7 +1413,7 @@ Perform alias expansion on the current line (@pxref{Aliases}). @item history-and-alias-expand-line () Perform history and alias expansion on the current line. -@item insert-last-argument (M-., M-_) +@item insert-last-argument (M-. or M-_) A synonym for @code{yank-last-arg}. @item operate-and-get-next (C-o) @@ -1313,13 +1421,26 @@ Accept the current line for execution and fetch the next line relative to the current line from the history for editing. Any argument is ignored. -@item emacs-editing-mode (C-e) -When in @code{vi} editing mode, this causes a switch back to -@code{emacs} editing mode, as if the command @samp{set -o emacs} had -been executed. +@item edit-and-execute-command (C-xC-e) +Invoke an editor on the current command line, and execute the result as shell +commands. +Bash attempts to invoke +@code{$FCEDIT}, @code{$EDITOR}, and @code{emacs} +as the editor, in that order. @end ifset +@ifclear BashFeatures +@item emacs-editing-mode (C-e) +When in @code{vi} command mode, this causes a switch to @code{emacs} +editing mode. + +@item vi-editing-mode (M-C-j) +When in @code{emacs} editing mode, this causes a switch to @code{vi} +editing mode. + +@end ifclear + @end ftable @node Readline vi Mode @@ -1328,7 +1449,7 @@ been executed. While the Readline library does not have a full set of @code{vi} editing functions, it does contain enough to allow simple editing of the line. The Readline @code{vi} mode behaves as specified in -the @sc{POSIX} 1003.2 standard. +the @sc{posix} 1003.2 standard. @ifset BashFeatures In order to switch interactively between @code{emacs} and @code{vi} @@ -1337,7 +1458,8 @@ commands (@pxref{The Set Builtin}). @end ifset @ifclear BashFeatures In order to switch interactively between @code{emacs} and @code{vi} -editing modes, use the command M-C-j (toggle-editing-mode). +editing modes, use the command @kbd{M-C-j} (bound to emacs-editing-mode +when in @code{vi} mode and to vi-editing-mode in @code{emacs} mode). @end ifclear The Readline default is @code{emacs} mode. @@ -1374,20 +1496,20 @@ described above (@pxref{Commands For Completion}) is performed. First, the actions specified by the compspec are used. Only matches which are prefixed by the word being completed are returned. -When the @samp{-f} or @samp{-d} option is used for filename or -directory name completion, the shell variable @code{FIGNORE} is +When the @option{-f} or @option{-d} option is used for filename or +directory name completion, the shell variable @env{FIGNORE} is used to filter the matches. -@xref{Bash Variables}, for a description of @code{FIGNORE}. +@xref{Bash Variables}, for a description of @env{FIGNORE}. Any completions specified by a filename expansion pattern to the -@samp{-G} option are generated next. +@option{-G} option are generated next. The words generated by the pattern need not match the word being completed. -The @code{GLOBIGNORE} shell variable is not used to filter the matches, -but the @code{FIGNORE} shell variable is used. +The @env{GLOBIGNORE} shell variable is not used to filter the matches, +but the @env{FIGNORE} shell variable is used. -Next, the string specified as the argument to the @samp{-W} option +Next, the string specified as the argument to the @option{-W} option is considered. -The string is first split using the characters in the @code{IFS} +The string is first split using the characters in the @env{IFS} special variable as delimiters. Shell quoting is honored. Each word is then expanded using @@ -1400,12 +1522,12 @@ The results of the expansion are prefix-matched against the word being completed, and the matching words become the possible completions. After these matches have been generated, any shell function or command -specified with the @samp{-F} and @samp{-C} options is invoked. -When the command or function is invoked, the @code{COMP_LINE} and -@code{COMP_POINT} variables are assigned values as described above +specified with the @option{-F} and @option{-C} options is invoked. +When the command or function is invoked, the @env{COMP_LINE} and +@env{COMP_POINT} variables are assigned values as described above (@pxref{Bash Variables}). -If a shell function is being invoked, the @code{COMP_WORDS} and -@code{COMP_CWORD} variables are also set. +If a shell function is being invoked, the @env{COMP_WORDS} and +@env{COMP_CWORD} variables are also set. When the function or command is invoked, the first argument is the name of the command whose arguments are being completed, the second argument is the word being completed, and the third argument @@ -1414,21 +1536,21 @@ No filtering of the generated completions against the word being completed is performed; the function or command has complete freedom in generating the matches. -Any function specified with @samp{-F} is invoked first. +Any function specified with @option{-F} is invoked first. The function may use any of the shell facilities, including the @code{compgen} builtin described below (@pxref{Programmable Completion Builtins}), to generate the matches. -It must put the possible completions in the @code{COMPREPLY} array +It must put the possible completions in the @env{COMPREPLY} array variable. -Next, any command specified with the @samp{-C} option is invoked +Next, any command specified with the @option{-C} option is invoked in an environment equivalent to command substitution. It should print a list of completions, one per line, to the standard output. Backslash may be used to escape a newline, if necessary. After all of the possible completions are generated, any filter -specified with the @samp{-X} option is applied to the list. +specified with the @option{-X} option is applied to the list. The filter is a pattern as used for pathname expansion; a @samp{&} in the pattern is replaced with the text of the word being completed. A literal @samp{&} may be escaped with a backslash; the backslash @@ -1437,15 +1559,28 @@ Any completion that matches the pattern will be removed from the list. A leading @samp{!} negates the pattern; in this case any completion not matching the pattern will be removed. -Finally, any prefix and suffix specified with the @samp{-P} and @samp{-S} +Finally, any prefix and suffix specified with the @option{-P} and @option{-S} options are added to each member of the completion list, and the result is returned to the Readline completion code as the list of possible completions. -If a compspec is found, whatever it generates is returned to the completion -code as the full set of possible completions. -The default Bash completions are not attempted, and the Readline -default of filename completion is disabled. +If the previously-applied actions do not generate any matches, and the +@option{-o dirnames} option was supplied to @code{complete} when the +compspec was defined, directory name completion is attempted. + +By default, if a compspec is found, whatever it generates is returned to +the completion code as the full set of possible completions. +The default Bash completions are not attempted, and the Readline default +of filename completion is disabled. +If the @option{-o default} option was supplied to @code{complete} when the +compspec was defined, Readline's default completion will be performed +if the compspec generates no matches. + +When a compspec indicates that directory name completion is desired, +the programmable completion functions force Readline to append a slash +to completed names which are symbolic links to directories, subject to +the value of the @var{mark-directories} Readline variable, regardless +of the setting of the @var{mark-symlinked-directories} Readline variable. @node Programmable Completion Builtins @section Programmable Completion Builtins @@ -1464,9 +1599,9 @@ facilities. Generate possible completion matches for @var{word} according to the @var{option}s, which may be any option accepted by the @code{complete} -builtin with the exception of @samp{-p} and @samp{-r}, and write +builtin with the exception of @option{-p} and @option{-r}, and write the matches to the standard output. -When using the @samp{-F} or @samp{-C} options, the various shell variables +When using the @option{-F} or @option{-C} options, the various shell variables set by the programmable completion facilities, while available, will not have useful values. @@ -1482,17 +1617,17 @@ matches were generated. @item complete @btindex complete @example -@code{complete [-abcdefjkvu] [-A @var{action}] [-G @var{globpat}] [-W @var{wordlist}] +@code{complete [-abcdefgjksuv] [-o @var{comp-option}] [-A @var{action}] [-G @var{globpat}] [-W @var{wordlist}] [-P @var{prefix}] [-S @var{suffix}] [-X @var{filterpat}] [-F @var{function}] [-C @var{command}] @var{name} [@var{name} @dots{}]} @code{complete -pr [@var{name} @dots{}]} @end example Specify how arguments to each @var{name} should be completed. -If the @samp{-p} option is supplied, or if no options are supplied, existing +If the @option{-p} option is supplied, or if no options are supplied, existing completion specifications are printed in a way that allows them to be reused as input. -The @samp{-r} option removes a completion specification for +The @option{-r} option removes a completion specification for each @var{name}, or, if no @var{name}s are supplied, all completion specifications. @@ -1500,19 +1635,45 @@ The process of applying these completion specifications when word completion is attempted is described above (@pxref{Programmable Completion}). Other options, if specified, have the following meanings. -The arguments to the @samp{-G}, @samp{-W}, and @samp{-X} options -(and, if necessary, the @samp{-P} and @samp{-S} options) +The arguments to the @option{-G}, @option{-W}, and @option{-X} options +(and, if necessary, the @option{-P} and @option{-S} options) should be quoted to protect them from expansion before the @code{complete} builtin is invoked. + +@table @code +@item -o @var{comp-option} +The @var{comp-option} controls several aspects of the compspec's behavior +beyond the simple generation of completions. +@var{comp-option} may be one of: + @table @code + +@item default +Use Readline's default filename completion if the compspec generates +no matches. + +@item dirnames +Perform directory name completion if the compspec generates no matches. + +@item filenames +Tell Readline that the compspec generates filenames, so it can perform any +filename\-specific processing (like adding a slash to directory names or +suppressing trailing spaces). This option is intended to be used with +shell functions specified with @option{-F}. + +@item nospace +Tell Readline not to append a space (the default) to words completed at +the end of the line. +@end table + @item -A @var{action} The @var{action} may be one of the following to generate a list of possible completions: @table @code @item alias -Alias names. May also be specified as @samp{-a}. +Alias names. May also be specified as @option{-a}. @item arrayvar Array variable names. @@ -1521,13 +1682,13 @@ Array variable names. Readline key binding names (@pxref{Bindable Readline Commands}). @item builtin -Names of shell builtin commands. May also be specified as @samp{-b}. +Names of shell builtin commands. May also be specified as @option{-b}. @item command -Command names. May also be specified as @samp{-c}. +Command names. May also be specified as @option{-c}. @item directory -Directory names. May also be specified as @samp{-d}. +Directory names. May also be specified as @option{-d}. @item disabled Names of disabled shell builtins. @@ -1536,32 +1697,38 @@ Names of disabled shell builtins. Names of enabled shell builtins. @item export -Names of exported shell variables. May also be specified as @samp{-e}. +Names of exported shell variables. May also be specified as @option{-e}. @item file -File names. May also be specified as @samp{-f}. +File names. May also be specified as @option{-f}. @item function Names of shell functions. +@item group +Group names. May also be specified as @option{-g}. + @item helptopic Help topics as accepted by the @code{help} builtin (@pxref{Bash Builtins}). @item hostname Hostnames, as taken from the file specified by the -@code{HOSTFILE} shell variable (@pxref{Bash Variables}). +@env{HOSTFILE} shell variable (@pxref{Bash Variables}). @item job -Job names, if job control is active. May also be specified as @samp{-j}. +Job names, if job control is active. May also be specified as @option{-j}. @item keyword -Shell reserved words. May also be specified as @samp{-k}. +Shell reserved words. May also be specified as @option{-k}. @item running Names of running jobs, if job control is active. +@item service +Service names. May also be specified as @option{-s}. + @item setopt -Valid arguments for the @samp{-o} option to the @code{set} builtin +Valid arguments for the @option{-o} option to the @code{set} builtin (@pxref{The Set Builtin}). @item shopt @@ -1575,10 +1742,10 @@ Signal names. Names of stopped jobs, if job control is active. @item user -User names. May also be specified as @samp{-u}. +User names. May also be specified as @option{-u}. @item variable -Names of all shell variables. May also be specified as @samp{-v}. +Names of all shell variables. May also be specified as @option{-v}. @end table @item -G @var{globpat} @@ -1587,7 +1754,7 @@ the possible completions. @item -W @var{wordlist} The @var{wordlist} is split using the characters in the -@code{IFS} special variable as delimiters, and each resultant word +@env{IFS} special variable as delimiters, and each resultant word is expanded. The possible completions are the members of the resultant list which match the word being completed. @@ -1600,7 +1767,7 @@ used as the possible completions. The shell function @var{function} is executed in the current shell environment. When it finishes, the possible completions are retrieved from the value -of the @code{COMPREPLY} array variable. +of the @env{COMPREPLY} array variable. @item -X @var{filterpat} @var{filterpat} is a pattern as used for filename expansion. @@ -1620,7 +1787,7 @@ after all other options have been applied. @end table The return value is true unless an invalid option is supplied, an option -other than @samp{-p} or @samp{-r} is supplied without a @var{name} +other than @option{-p} or @option{-r} is supplied without a @var{name} argument, an attempt is made to remove a completion specification for a @var{name} for which no specification exists, or an error occurs adding a completion specification. |