.\" Chet Ramey
.\" Information Network Services
.\" Case Western Reserve University
-.\" chet@ins.CWRU.Edu
+.\" chet.ramey@case.edu
.\"
-.\" Last Change: Thu Feb 19 10:26:47 EST 1998
+.\" Last Change: Wed Nov 19 18:32:58 EST 2014
.\"
-.TH READLINE 3 "1998 Feb 19" GNU
+.TH READLINE 3 "2014 November 19" "GNU Readline 6.3"
.\"
.\" File Name macro. This used to be `.PN', for Path Name,
.\" but Sun doesn't seem to like that very much.
.LP
.nf
.ft B
-#include <readline.h>
-#include <history.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <readline/readline.h>
+#include <readline/history.h>
.ft
.fi
.LP
.nf
-.ft B
-char *readline (prompt)
-char *prompt;
-.ft
+\fIchar *\fP
+.br
+\fBreadline\fP (\fIconst char *prompt\fP);
.fi
.SH COPYRIGHT
-.if n Readline is Copyright (C) 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 by the Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-.if t Readline is Copyright \(co 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996 by the Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+.if n Readline is Copyright (C) 1989\-2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+.if t Readline is Copyright \(co 1989\-2014 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
.SH DESCRIPTION
.LP
.B readline
.B prompt
as a prompt. If
.B prompt
-is null, no prompt is issued. The line returned is allocated with
-.IR malloc (3),
-so the caller must free it when finished. The line returned
+is \fBNULL\fP or the empty string, no prompt is issued.
+The line returned is allocated with
+.IR malloc (3);
+the caller must free it when finished. The line returned
has the final newline removed, so only the text of the line
remains.
.LP
By default, the line editing commands
are similar to those of emacs.
A vi\-style line editing interface is also available.
+.LP
+This manual page describes only the most basic use of \fBreadline\fP.
+Much more functionality is available; see
+\fIThe GNU Readline Library\fP and \fIThe GNU History Library\fP
+for additional information.
.SH RETURN VALUE
.LP
.B readline
treated as a newline.
.SH NOTATION
.LP
-An emacs-style notation is used to denote
+An Emacs-style notation is used to denote
keystrokes. Control keys are denoted by C\-\fIkey\fR, e.g., C\-n
-means Control\-N. Similarly,
+means Control\-N. Similarly,
.I meta
keys are denoted by M\-\fIkey\fR, so M\-x means Meta\-X. (On keyboards
-without a
+without a
.I meta
key, M\-\fIx\fP means ESC \fIx\fP, i.e., press the Escape key
then the
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., \fBkill\-line\fP)
-causes that command to act in a backward direction. Commands whose
-behavior with arguments deviates from this are noted.
+causes that command to act in a backward direction.
+Commands whose behavior with arguments deviates from this are noted
+below.
.PP
When a command is described as \fIkilling\fP text, the text
deleted is saved for possible future retrieval
(\fIyanking\fP). The killed text is saved in a
\fIkill ring\fP. Consecutive kills cause the text to be
-accumulated into one unit, which can be yanked all at once.
+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.
.SH INITIALIZATION FILE
.B INPUTRC
environment variable. If that variable is unset, the default is
.IR ~/.inputrc .
+If that file does not exist or cannot be read, the ultimate default is
+.IR /etc/inputrc .
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
.RS
C\-Meta\-u: universal\-argument
.RE
-into the
+.sp
+into the
.I inputrc
would make M\-C\-u execute the readline command
.IR universal\-argument .
.PP
The following symbolic character names are recognized while
processing key bindings:
-.IR RUBOUT ,
.IR DEL ,
.IR ESC ,
+.IR ESCAPE ,
.IR LFD ,
.IR NEWLINE ,
.IR RET ,
.IR RETURN ,
-.IR SPC ,
+.IR RUBOUT ,
.IR SPACE ,
+.IR SPC ,
and
.IR TAB .
+.PP
In addition to command names, readline allows keys to be bound
to a string that is inserted when the key is pressed (a \fImacro\fP).
.PP
.I inputrc
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:
+it should be bound. The name may be specified in one of two ways:
as a symbolic key name, possibly with \fIMeta\-\fP or \fIControl\-\fP
prefixes, or as a key sequence.
+The name and key sequence are separated by a colon. There can be no
+whitespace between the name and the colon.
+.PP
When using the form \fBkeyname\fP:\^\fIfunction-name\fP or \fImacro\fP,
.I keyname
is the name of a key spelled out in English. For example:
.br
Meta\-Rubout: backward\-kill\-word
.br
-Control\-o: ">&output"
+Control\-o: "> output"
.RE
.LP
In the above example,
.I C\-o
is bound to run the macro
expressed on the right hand side (that is, to insert the text
-.I >&output
+.if t \f(CW> output\fP
+.if n ``> output''
into the line).
.PP
In the second form, \fB"keyseq"\fP:\^\fIfunction\-name\fP or \fImacro\fP,
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.
+used, as in the following example, but the symbolic character names
+are not recognized.
.sp
.RS
"\eC\-u": universal\-argument
.I "C-x C-r"
is bound to the function
.BR re\-read\-init\-file ,
-and
+and
.I "ESC [ 1 1 ~"
is bound to insert the text
-.BR "Function Key 1" .
-The full set of GNU Emacs style escape sequences is
+.if t \f(CWFunction Key 1\fP.
+.if n ``Function Key 1''.
+.PP
+The full set of GNU Emacs style escape sequences available when specifying
+key sequences is
.RS
.PD 0
.TP
backslash
.TP
.B \e"
-literal "
+literal ", a double quote
.TP
.B \e'
-literal '
+literal ', a single quote
.RE
.PD
.PP
vertical tab
.TP
.B \e\fInnn\fP
-the character whose ASCII code is the octal value \fInnn\fP
+the eight-bit character whose value is the octal value \fInnn\fP
(one to three digits)
.TP
-.B \ex\fInnn\fP
-the character whose ASCII code is the hexadecimal value \fInnn\fP
-(one to three digits)
+.B \ex\fIHH\fP
+the eight-bit character whose value is the hexadecimal value \fIHH\fP
+(one or two hex digits)
.RE
.PD
.PP
Except where noted, readline variables can take the values
.B On
or
-.BR Off .
+.B Off
+(without regard to case).
+Unrecognized variable names are ignored.
+When a variable value is read, empty or null values, "on" (case-insensitive),
+and "1" are equivalent to \fBOn\fP. All other values are equivalent to
+\fBOff\fP.
The variables and their default values are:
.PP
.PD 0
\fBvisible\fP, readline uses a visible bell if one is available.
If set to \fBaudible\fP, readline attempts to ring the terminal's bell.
.TP
+.B bind\-tty\-special\-chars (On)
+If set to \fBOn\fP (the default), readline attempts to bind the control
+characters treated specially by the kernel's terminal driver to their
+readline equivalents.
+.TP
+.B blink\-matching\-paren (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, readline attempts to briefly move the cursor to an
+opening parenthesis when a closing parenthesis is inserted.
+.TP
+.B colored\-completion\-prefix (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, when listing completions, readline displays the
+common prefix of the set of possible completions using a different color.
+The color definitions are taken from the value of the \fBLS_COLORS\fP
+environment variable.
+.TP
+.B colored\-stats (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, readline displays possible completions using different
+colors to indicate their file type.
+The color definitions are taken from the value of the \fBLS_COLORS\fP
+environment variable.
+.TP
.B comment\-begin (``#'')
The string that is inserted in \fBvi\fP mode when the
.B insert\-comment
in emacs mode and to
.B #
in vi command mode.
+.TP
+.B completion\-display\-width (-1)
+The number of screen columns used to display possible matches
+when performing completion.
+The value is ignored if it is less than 0 or greater than the terminal
+screen width.
+A value of 0 will cause matches to be displayed one per line.
+The default value is -1.
.TP
.B completion\-ignore\-case (Off)
If set to \fBOn\fP, readline performs filename matching and completion
in a case\-insensitive fashion.
.TP
+.B completion\-map\-case (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, and \fBcompletion\-ignore\-case\fP is enabled, readline
+treats hyphens (\fI\-\fP) and underscores (\fI_\fP) as equivalent when
+performing case\-insensitive filename matching and completion.
+.TP
+.B completion\-prefix\-display\-length (0)
+The length in characters of the common prefix of a list of possible
+completions that is displayed without modification. When set to a
+value greater than zero, common prefixes longer than this value are
+replaced with an ellipsis when displaying possible completions.
+.TP
.B completion\-query\-items (100)
This determines when the user is queried about viewing
the number of possible completions
zero. If the number of possible completions is greater than
or equal to the value of this variable, the user is asked whether
or not he wishes to view them; otherwise they are simply listed
-on the terminal.
+on the terminal. A negative value causes readline to never ask.
.TP
.B convert\-meta (On)
If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will convert characters with the
eighth bit set to an ASCII key sequence
-by stripping the eighth bit and prepending an
+by stripping the eighth bit and prefixing it with an
escape character (in effect, using escape as the \fImeta prefix\fP).
.TP
.B disable\-completion (Off)
.TP
.B editing\-mode (emacs)
Controls whether readline begins with a set of key bindings similar
-to \fIemacs\fP or \fIvi\fP.
+to \fIEmacs\fP or \fIvi\fP.
.B editing\-mode
can be set to either
.B emacs
or
.BR vi .
.TP
+.B echo\-control\-characters (On)
+When set to \fBOn\fP, on operating systems that indicate they support it,
+readline echoes a character corresponding to a signal generated from the
+keyboard.
+.TP
+.B enable\-bracketed\-paste (Off)
+When set to \fBOn\fP, readline will configure the terminal in a way
+that will enable it to insert each paste into the editing buffer as a
+single string of characters, instead of treating each character as if
+it had been read from the keyboard. This can prevent pasted characters
+from being interpreted as editing commands.
+.TP
.B enable\-keypad (Off)
When set to \fBOn\fP, readline will try to enable the application
keypad when it is called. Some systems need this to enable the
arrow keys.
.TP
+.B enable\-meta\-key (On)
+When set to \fBOn\fP, readline will try to enable any meta modifier
+key the terminal claims to support when it is called. On many terminals,
+the meta key is used to send eight-bit characters.
+.TP
.B expand\-tilde (Off)
-If set to \fBon\fP, tilde expansion is performed when readline
+If set to \fBOn\fP, tilde expansion is performed when readline
attempts word completion.
.TP
+.B history\-preserve\-point (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, the history code attempts to place point at the
+same location on each history line retrieved with \fBprevious-history\fP
+or \fBnext-history\fP.
+.TP
+.B history\-size (unset)
+Set the maximum number of history entries saved in the history list.
+If set to zero, any existing history entries are deleted and no new entries
+are saved.
+If set to a value less than zero, the number of history entries is not
+limited.
+By default, the number of history entries is not limited.
+.TP
.B horizontal\-scroll\-mode (Off)
When set to \fBOn\fP, 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.
.TP
+.B input\-meta (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will enable eight-bit input (that is,
+it will not clear the eighth bit in the characters it reads),
+regardless of what the terminal claims it can support. The name
+.B meta\-flag
+is a synonym for this variable.
+.TP
+.B isearch\-terminators (``C\-[ C\-J'')
+The string of characters that should terminate an incremental
+search without subsequently executing the character as a command.
+If this variable has not been given a value, the characters
+\fIESC\fP and \fIC\-J\fP will terminate an incremental search.
+.TP
.B keymap (emacs)
Set the current readline keymap. The set of legal keymap names is
\fIemacs, emacs-standard, emacs-meta, emacs-ctlx, vi, vi-move,
.IR vi-insert .
\fIvi\fP is equivalent to \fIvi-command\fP; \fIemacs\fP is
equivalent to \fIemacs-standard\fP. The default value is
-.IR emacs ;
-the value of
+.IR emacs .
+The value of
.B editing\-mode
also affects the default keymap.
.TP
+.B emacs\-mode\-string (@)
+This string is displayed immediately before the last line of the primary
+prompt when emacs editing mode is active. The value is expanded like a
+key binding, so the standard set of meta- and control prefixes and
+backslash escape sequences is available.
+Use the \e1 and \e2 escapes to begin and end sequences of
+non-printing characters, which can be used to embed a terminal control
+sequence into the mode string.
+.TP
+.B keyseq\-timeout (500)
+Specifies the duration \fIreadline\fP will wait for a character when reading an
+ambiguous key sequence (one that can form a complete key sequence using
+the input read so far, or can take additional input to complete a longer
+key sequence).
+If no input is received within the timeout, \fIreadline\fP will use the shorter
+but complete key sequence.
+The value is specified in milliseconds, so a value of 1000 means that
+\fIreadline\fP will wait one second for additional input.
+If this variable is set to a value less than or equal to zero, or to a
+non-numeric value, \fIreadline\fP will wait until another key is pressed to
+decide which key sequence to complete.
+.TP
.B mark\-directories (On)
-If set to \fBOn\fP, complete<d directory names have a slash
+If set to \fBOn\fP, completed directory names have a slash
appended.
.TP
.B mark\-modified\-lines (Off)
If set to \fBOn\fP, history lines that have been modified are displayed
with a preceding asterisk (\fB*\fP).
.TP
-.B meta\-flag (Off)
-If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will enable eight-bit input (that is,
-it will not strip the high bit from the characters it reads),
-regardless of what the terminal claims it can support.
+.B mark\-symlinked\-directories (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, completed names which are symbolic links to directories
+have a slash appended (subject to the value of
+\fBmark\-directories\fP).
+.TP
+.B match\-hidden\-files (On)
+This variable, when set to \fBOn\fP, causes readline to match files whose
+names begin with a `.' (hidden files) when performing filename
+completion.
+If set to \fBOff\fP, the leading `.' must be
+supplied by the user in the filename to be completed.
+.TP
+.B menu\-complete\-display\-prefix (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, menu completion displays the common prefix of the
+list of possible completions (which may be empty) before cycling through
+the list.
.TP
.B output\-meta (Off)
If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will display characters with the
eighth bit set directly rather than as a meta-prefixed escape
sequence.
.TP
+.B page\-completions (On)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, readline uses an internal \fImore\fP-like pager
+to display a screenful of possible completions at a time.
+.TP
.B print\-completions\-horizontally (Off)
If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will display completions with matches
sorted horizontally in alphabetical order, rather than down the screen.
.TP
+.B revert\-all\-at\-newline (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, readline will undo all changes to history lines
+before returning when \fBaccept\-line\fP is executed. By default,
+history lines may be modified and retain individual undo lists across
+calls to \fBreadline\fP.
+.TP
.B show\-all\-if\-ambiguous (Off)
This alters the default behavior of the completion functions. If
set to
-.BR on ,
+.BR On ,
words which have more than one possible completion cause the
matches to be listed immediately instead of ringing the bell.
.TP
+.B show\-all\-if\-unmodified (Off)
+This alters the default behavior of the completion functions in
+a fashion similar to \fBshow\-all\-if\-ambiguous\fP.
+If set to
+.BR On ,
+words which have more than one possible completion without any
+possible partial completion (the possible completions don't share
+a common prefix) cause the matches to be listed immediately instead
+of ringing the bell.
+.TP
+.B show\-mode\-in\-prompt (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, add a character to the beginning of the prompt
+indicating the editing mode: emacs, vi command, or vi insertion.
+The mode strings are user-settable.
+.TP
+.B skip\-completed\-text (Off)
+If set to \fBOn\fP, this alters the default completion behavior when
+inserting a single match into the line. It's only active when
+performing completion in the middle of a word. If enabled, readline
+does not insert characters from the completion that match characters
+after point in the word being completed, so portions of the word
+following the cursor are not duplicated.
+.TP
+.B vi\-cmd\-mode\-string ((cmd))
+This string is displayed immediately before the last line of the primary
+prompt when vi editing mode is active and in command mode.
+The value is expanded like a
+key binding, so the standard set of meta- and control prefixes and
+backslash escape sequences is available.
+Use the \e1 and \e2 escapes to begin and end sequences of
+non-printing characters, which can be used to embed a terminal control
+sequence into the mode string.
+.TP
+.B vi\-ins\-mode\-string ((ins))
+This string is displayed immediately before the last line of the primary
+prompt when vi editing mode is active and in insertion mode.
+The value is expanded like a
+key binding, so the standard set of meta- and control prefixes and
+backslash escape sequences is available.
+Use the \e1 and \e2 escapes to begin and end sequences of
+non-printing characters, which can be used to embed a terminal control
+sequence into the mode string.
+.TP
.B visible\-stats (Off)
If set to \fBOn\fP, a character denoting a file's type as reported
-by \fBstat\fP(2) is appended to the filename when listing possible
+by \fIstat\fP(2) is appended to the filename when listing possible
completions.
.PD
.SS Conditional Constructs
bindings and variable settings to be performed as the result
of tests. There are four parser directives used.
.IP \fB$if\fP
-The
+The
.B $if
construct allows bindings to be made based on the
editing mode, the terminal being used, or the application using
file can test for a particular value.
This could be used to bind key sequences to functions useful for
a specific program. For instance, the following command adds a
-key sequence that quotes the current or previous word in Bash:
+key sequence that quotes the current or previous word in \fBbash\fP:
.sp 1
.RS
.nf
-\fB$if\fP bash
+\fB$if\fP Bash
# Quote the current or previous word
"\eC-xq": "\eeb\e"\eef\e""
\fB$endif\fP
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
+To search backward in the history for a particular string, type
+\fBC\-r\fP. Typing \fBC\-s\fP searches forward through the history.
+The characters present in the value of the \fBisearch-terminators\fP
+variable are used to terminate an incremental search.
+If that variable has not been assigned a value the \fIEscape\fP and
+\fBC\-J\fP characters will terminate an incremental search.
+\fBC\-G\fP 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 appropriate.
+.PP
+To find other matching entries in the history list, type \fBC\-s\fP or
+\fBC\-r\fP as appropriate.
This will search backward or forward in the history 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 \fInewline\fP will terminate the search and accept
+For instance, a newline 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.
.PP
Non-incremental searches read the entire search string before starting
to search for matching history lines. The search string may be
The following is a list of the names of the commands and the default
key sequences to which they are bound.
Command names without an accompanying key sequence are unbound by default.
+.PP
+In the following descriptions, \fIpoint\fP refers to the current cursor
+position, and \fImark\fP refers to a cursor position saved by the
+\fBset\-mark\fP command.
+The text between the point and mark is referred to as the \fIregion\fP.
.SS Commands for Moving
.PP
.PD 0
alphanumeric characters (letters and digits).
.TP
.B backward\-word (M\-b)
-Move back to the start of this, or the previous, word. Words are
+Move back to the start of the current or previous word. Words are
composed of alphanumeric characters (letters and digits).
.TP
.B clear\-screen (C\-l)
.PD 0
.TP
.B accept\-line (Newline, Return)
-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.
+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
+\fBadd_history()\fP.
+If the line is a modified history line, the history line is restored to its original state.
.TP
.B previous\-history (C\-p)
Fetch the previous command from the history list, moving back in
Search forward through the history using a non-incremental search
for a string supplied by the user.
.TP
+.B history\-search\-backward
+Search backward through the history for the string of characters
+between the start of the current line and the current cursor
+position (the \fIpoint\fP).
+The search string must match at the beginning of a history line.
+This is a non-incremental search.
+.TP
.B history\-search\-forward
Search forward through the history for the string of characters
+between the start of the current line and the point.
+The search string must match at the beginning of a history line.
+This is a non-incremental search.
+.TP
+.B history\-substring\-search\-backward
+Search backward through the history for the string of characters
between the start of the current line and the current cursor
position (the \fIpoint\fP).
+The search string may match anywhere in a history line.
This is a non-incremental search.
.TP
-.B history\-search\-backward
-Search backward through the history for the string of characters
+.B history\-substring\-search\-forward
+Search forward through the history for the string of characters
between the start of the current line and the point.
+The search string may match anywhere in a history line.
This is a non-incremental search.
.TP
.B yank\-nth\-arg (M\-C\-y)
Insert the first argument to the previous command (usually
-the second word on the previous line) at point (the current
-cursor position). With an argument
+the second word on the previous line) at point.
+With an argument
.IR n ,
insert the \fIn\fPth word from the previous command (the words
in the previous command begin with word 0). A negative argument
inserts the \fIn\fPth word from the end of the previous command.
+Once the argument \fIn\fP is computed, the argument is extracted
+as if the "!\fIn\fP" history expansion had been specified.
.TP
.B
yank\-last\-arg (M\-.\^, M\-_\^)
Insert the last argument to the previous command (the last word of
-the previous history entry). With an argument,
-behave exactly like \fByank\-nth\-arg\fP.
+the previous history entry).
+With a numeric argument, behave exactly like \fByank\-nth\-arg\fP.
Successive calls to \fByank\-last\-arg\fP move back through the history
-list, inserting the last argument of each line in turn.
+list, inserting the last word (or the word specified by the argument to
+the first call) of each line in turn.
+Any numeric argument supplied to these successive calls determines
+the direction to move through the history. A negative argument switches
+the direction through the history (back or forward).
+The history expansion facilities are used to extract the last argument,
+as if the "!$" history expansion had been specified.
.PD
.SS Commands for Changing Text
.PP
.PD 0
.TP
-.B delete\-char (C\-d)
-Delete the character under the cursor. 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 \fBBdelete\-char\fP, then return
+.B \fIend\-of\-file\fP (usually C\-d)
+The character indicating end-of-file as set, for example, by
+.if t \f(CWstty\fP.
+.if n ``stty''.
+If this character is read when there are no characters
+on the line, and point is at the beginning of the line, Readline
+interprets it as the end of input and returns
.SM
.BR EOF .
.TP
+.B delete\-char (C\-d)
+Delete the character at point.
+If this function is bound to the
+same character as the tty \fBEOF\fP character, as \fBC\-d\fP
+commonly is, see above for the effects.
+.TP
.B backward\-delete\-char (Rubout)
Delete the character behind the cursor. When given a numeric argument,
save the deleted text on the kill ring.
.TP
+.B forward\-backward\-delete\-char
+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.
+.TP
.B quoted\-insert (C\-q, C\-v)
Add the next character that you type to the line verbatim. This is
how to insert characters like \fBC\-q\fP, for example.
Insert the character typed.
.TP
.B transpose\-chars (C\-t)
-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 arguments don't work.
+Drag the character before point forward over the character at point,
+moving point forward as well.
+If point is at the end of the line, then this transposes
+the two characters before point.
+Negative arguments have no effect.
.TP
.B transpose\-words (M\-t)
-Drag the word behind the cursor past the word in front of the cursor
-moving the cursor over that word as well.
+Drag the word before point past the word after point,
+moving point over that word as well.
+If point is at the end of the line, this transposes
+the last two words on the line.
.TP
.B upcase\-word (M\-u)
Uppercase the current (or following) word. With a negative argument,
.B capitalize\-word (M\-c)
Capitalize the current (or following) word. With a negative argument,
capitalize the previous word, but do not move point.
+.TP
+.B 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
+\fBemacs\fP mode; \fBvi\fP mode does overwrite differently.
+Each call to \fIreadline()\fP starts in insert mode.
+In overwrite mode, characters bound to \fBself\-insert\fP replace
+the text at point rather than pushing the text to the right.
+Characters bound to \fBbackward\-delete\-char\fP replace the character
+before point with a space. By default, this command is unbound.
.PD
.SS Killing and Yanking
.PP
.PD 0
.TP
.B kill\-line (C\-k)
-Kill the text from the current cursor position to the end of the line.
+Kill the text from point to the end of the line.
.TP
.B backward\-kill\-line (C\-x Rubout)
Kill backward to the beginning of the line.
.\" There is no real difference between this and backward-kill-line
.TP
.B kill\-whole\-line
-Kill all characters on the current line, no matter where the
-cursor is.
+Kill all characters on the current line, no matter where point is.
.TP
-.B kill\-word (M\-d)
-Kill from the cursor to the end of the current word, or if between
+.B kill\-word (M\-d)
+Kill from point 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 \fBforward\-word\fP.
.TP
.B backward\-kill\-word (M\-Rubout)
-Kill the word behind the cursor. Word boundaries are the same as
-those used by \fBbackward\-word\fP.
+Kill the word behind point.
+Word boundaries are the same as those used by \fBbackward\-word\fP.
.TP
.B unix\-word\-rubout (C\-w)
-Kill the word behind the cursor, using white space as a word boundary.
-The word boundaries are different from
-.BR backward\-kill\-word .
+Kill the word behind point, using white space as a word boundary.
+The killed text is saved on the kill-ring.
+.TP
+.B unix\-filename\-rubout
+Kill the word behind point, using white space and the slash character
+as the word boundaries.
+The killed text is saved on the kill-ring.
.TP
.B delete\-horizontal\-space (M\-\e)
Delete all spaces and tabs around point.
The word boundaries are the same as \fBforward\-word\fP.
.TP
.B yank (C\-y)
-Yank the top of the kill ring into the buffer at the cursor.
+Yank the top of the kill ring into the buffer at point.
.TP
.B yank\-pop (M\-y)
Rotate the kill ring, and yank the new top. Only works following
.TP
.B possible\-completions (M\-?)
List the possible completions of the text before point.
+When displaying completions, readline sets the number of columns used
+for display to the value of \fBcompletion-display-width\fP, the value of
+the environment variable
+.SM
+.BR COLUMNS ,
+or the screen width, in that order.
.TP
.B insert\-completions (M\-*)
Insert all completions of the text before point
with a single match from the list of possible completions.
Repeated execution of \fBmenu\-complete\fP 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 \fBbell\-style\fP)
+and the original text is restored.
An argument of \fIn\fP moves \fIn\fP 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 \fBTAB\fP, but is unbound
by default.
+.TP
+.B menu\-complete\-backward
+Identical to \fBmenu\-complete\fP, but moves backward through the list
+of possible completions, as if \fBmenu\-complete\fP had been given a
+negative argument. This command is unbound by default.
+.TP
+.B delete\-char\-or\-list
+Deletes the character under the cursor if not at the beginning or
+end of the line (like \fBdelete-char\fP).
+If at the end of the line, behaves identically to
+\fBpossible-completions\fP.
.PD
.SS Keyboard Macros
.PP
.B call\-last\-kbd\-macro (C\-x e)
Re-execute the last keyboard macro defined, by making the characters
in the macro appear as if typed at the keyboard.
+.B print\-last\-kbd\-macro ()
+Print the last keyboard macro defined in a format suitable for the
+\fIinputrc\fP file.
.PD
.SS Miscellaneous
.PP
.B undo
command enough times to return the line to its initial state.
.TP
-.B tilde\-expand (M\-~)
+.B tilde\-expand (M\-&)
Perform tilde expansion on the current word.
.TP
-.B set\-mark (C\-@, M-<space>)
-Set the mark to the current point. If a
+.B set\-mark (C\-@, M\-<space>)
+Set the mark to the point. If a
numeric argument is supplied, the mark is set to that position.
.TP
.B exchange\-point\-and\-mark (C\-x C\-x)
A character is read and point is moved to the previous occurrence of that
character. A negative count searches for subsequent occurrences.
.TP
+.B skip\-csi\-sequence
+Read enough characters to consume a multi-key sequence such as those
+defined for keys like Home and End. Such sequences begin with a
+Control Sequence Indicator (CSI), usually ESC\-[. If this sequence is
+bound to "\e[", keys producing such sequences will have no effect
+unless explicitly bound to a readline command, instead of inserting
+stray characters into the editing buffer. This is unbound by default,
+but usually bound to ESC\-[.
+.TP
.B insert\-comment (M\-#)
-The value of the readline
+Without a numeric argument, the value of the readline
+.B 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 \fBcomment\-begin\fP, the value is inserted, otherwise
+the characters in \fBcomment-begin\fP are deleted from the beginning of
+the line.
+In either case, the line is accepted as if a newline had been typed.
+The default value of
.B comment\-begin
-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 comment.
+makes 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.
.TP
.B dump\-functions
Print all of the functions and their key bindings to the
.TP
.B 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 \fIinputrc\fP file.
.TP
.B emacs\-editing\-mode (C\-e)
When in
.B vi
-editing mode, this causes a switch to
+command mode, this causes a switch to
.B emacs
editing mode.
.TP
.SH DEFAULT KEY BINDINGS
.LP
The following is a list of the default emacs and vi bindings.
-Characters with the 8th bit set are written as M\-<character>, and
+Characters with the eighth bit set are written as M\-<character>, and
are referred to as
.I metafied
characters.
The printable ASCII characters not mentioned in the list of emacs
standard bindings are bound to the
-.I self\-insert
+.B self\-insert
function, which just inserts the given character into the input line.
In vi insertion mode, all characters not specifically mentioned are
bound to
-.IR self\-insert .
+.BR self\-insert .
Characters assigned to signal generation by
.IR stty (1)
or the terminal driver, such as C-Z or C-C,
retain that function.
-Upper and lower case
-.I metafied
-characters are bound to the same function in the emacs mode
-meta keymap.
+Upper and lower case metafied characters are bound to the same function in
+the emacs mode meta keymap.
The remaining characters are unbound, which causes readline
to ring the bell (subject to the setting of the
.B bell\-style
"M-Y" yank-pop
"M-\e" delete-horizontal-space
"M-~" tilde-expand
-"M-C-?" backward-delete-word
+"M-C-?" backward-kill-word
"M-_" yank-last-arg
.PP
Emacs Control-X bindings
"C-V" quoted-insert
"C-W" unix-word-rubout
"C-Y" yank
+"C-_" vi-undo
"\^ " forward-char
"#" insert-comment
"$" end-of-line
"r" vi-change-char
"s" vi-subst
"t" vi-char-search
-"u" undo
+"u" vi-undo
"w" vi-next-word
"x" vi-delete
"y" vi-yank-to
Individual \fBreadline\fP initialization file
.PD
.SH AUTHORS
-Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation (primary author)
+Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation
.br
-bfox@ai.MIT.Edu
+bfox@gnu.org
.PP
Chet Ramey, Case Western Reserve University
.br
-chet@ins.CWRU.Edu
+chet.ramey@case.edu
.SH BUG REPORTS
If you find a bug in
.B readline,
.PP
Comments and bug reports concerning
this manual page should be directed to
-.IR chet@ins.CWRU.Edu .
+.IR chet.ramey@case.edu .
.SH BUGS
.PP
It's too big and too slow.
projects / deliverable / binutils-gdb.git / blobdiff