


READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


NNAAMMEE
       readline - get a line from a user with editing

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

       _c_h_a_r _*
       rreeaaddlliinnee (_c_o_n_s_t _c_h_a_r _*_p_r_o_m_p_t);

CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
       Readline  is  Copyright (C) 1989-2001 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 NNUULLLL or the empty
       string, no prompt is issued.  The line returned  is  allo-
       cated  with  _m_a_l_l_o_c(3);  the caller must free it when fin-
       ished.  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.

       This manual page describes only  the  most  basic  use  of
       rreeaaddlliinnee.   Much  more functionality is available; see _T_h_e
       _G_N_U _R_e_a_d_l_i_n_e _L_i_b_r_a_r_y and _T_h_e _G_N_U _H_i_s_t_o_r_y _L_i_b_r_a_r_y for addi-
       tional information.

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



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       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).
       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: _D_E_L, _E_S_C, _E_S_C_A_P_E, _L_F_D, _N_E_W_-
       _L_I_N_E, _R_E_T, _R_E_T_U_R_N, _R_U_B_O_U_T, _S_P_A_C_E, _S_P_C, 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:



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              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 ``> output'' into the line).

       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, but  the
       symbolic character names are not recognized.

              "\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 ``Function Key 1''.

       The full set of GNU Emacs style escape sequences available
       when specifying key sequences is
              \\CC--    control prefix
              \\MM--    meta prefix
              \\ee     an escape character
              \\\\     backslash
              \\""     literal ", a double quote
              \\''     literal ', a single quote

       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.



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       Backslash 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.

   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  (without  regard to case).  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 prefixing it with an
              escape character (in effect, using  escape  as  the
              _m_e_t_a _p_r_e_f_i_x).




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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       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 emacs or vi.  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
              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.
       iinnppuutt--mmeettaa ((OOffff))
              If set to OOnn, readline will enable eight-bit  input
              (that  is,  it will not clear the eighth bit in the
              characters it reads), regardless of what the termi-
              nal claims it can support.  The name mmeettaa--ffllaagg is a
              synonym for this variable.
       iisseeaarrcchh--tteerrmmiinnaattoorrss ((````CC--[[ CC--JJ''''))
              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 _E_S_C and _C_-_J
              will terminate an incremental search.
       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,  completed  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 (**).
       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.



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       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  _s_t_a_t(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
              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



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


                     "\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_-_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.  To search backward in the his-
       tory for  a  particular  string,  type  CC--rr.   Typing  CC--ss
       searches forward through the history.  The characters pre-
       sent in the value of the iisseeaarrcchh--tteerrmmiinnaattoorrss variable  are
       used to terminate an incremental search.  If that variable
       has not been assigned a value the _E_s_c_a_p_e and  CC--JJ  charac-
       ters will terminate an incremental search.  CC--GG 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
       CC--ss  or  CC--rr 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  exe-
       cute that command.  For instance, a newline will terminate
       the search and accept the line, thereby executing the com-
       mand  from the history list.  A movement command will ter-
       minate the search, make the last line  found  the  current
       line, and begin editing.

       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.



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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


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.

       In the following descriptions, _p_o_i_n_t refers to the current
       cursor position, and _m_a_r_k  refers  to  a  cursor  position
       saved by the sseett--mmaarrkk command.  The text between the point
       and mark is referred to as the _r_e_g_i_o_n.

   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 the current  or  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.
       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, it may be added to the
              history list for future recall with  aadddd__hhiissttoorryy(()).
              If the line is a modified history line, the history
              line is restored 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.




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READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       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.  With an argument _n,  insert  the  _nth  word
              from  the previous command (the words in the previ-
              ous command begin with word 0).  A  negative  argu-
              ment  inserts the _nth word from the end of the pre-
              vious command.
       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 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 ddeelleettee--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.
       ffoorrwwaarrdd--bbaacckkwwaarrdd--ddeelleettee--cchhaarr
              Delete the character under the cursor,  unless  the
              cursor is at the end of the line, in which case the



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                          9





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              character behind the cursor is deleted.
       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, moving point forward as well.
              If point is at the  end  of  the  line,  then  this
              transposes  the two characters before point.  Nega-
              tive arguments have no effect.
       ttrraannssppoossee--wwoorrddss ((MM--tt))
              Drag the word before  point  past  the  word  after
              point, moving point 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 point to the end of the line.
       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 point is.
       kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--dd))
              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 ffoorr--
              wwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--RRuubboouutt))
              Kill the word behind point.   Word  boundaries  are
              the same as those used by bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
       uunniixx--wwoorrdd--rruubboouutt ((CC--ww))
              Kill  the word behind point, using white space as a
              word boundary.  The killed text  is  saved  on  the
              kill-ring.



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         10





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


       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
              point.
       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 fol-
              lowed 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



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         11





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              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  (subject
              to  the  setting  of  Bbell-style)) aanndd tthhee oorriiggiinnaall
              tteexxtt iiss rreessttoorreedd..  AAnn aarrgguummeenntt ooff _n mmoovveess  _n  ppoossii--
              ttiioonnss  ffoorrwwaarrdd  iinn  tthhee lliisstt ooff mmaattcchheess;; aa nneeggaattiivvee
              aarrgguummeenntt mmaayy bbee uusseedd ttoo mmoovvee bbaacckkwwaarrdd  tthhrroouugghh  tthhee
              lliisstt..  TThhiiss ccoommmmaanndd iiss iinntteennddeedd ttoo bbee bboouunndd ttoo TTAABB,,
              bbuutt iiss uunnbboouunndd bbyy ddeeffaauulltt..
       ddeelleettee--cchhaarr--oorr--lliisstt
              Deletes the character under the cursor  if  not  at
              the  beginning  or  end  of  the line (like ddeelleettee--
              cchhaarr).  If at the end of the line, behaves  identi-
              cally to ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss.

   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.

   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



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         12





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


              equivalent 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 point.  If a numeric argument
              is supplied, the mark is set to that position.
       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.   The  default  value of ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn makes
              the current line a shell comment.
       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 val-
              ues 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.



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         13





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


DDEEFFAAUULLTT KKEEYY BBIINNDDIINNGGSS
       The  following is a list of the default emacs and vi bind-
       ings.  Characters with the eighth 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 sseellff--iinnsseerrtt
       function, which just inserts the given character into  the
       input  line.   In  vi  insertion  mode, all characters not
       specifically mentioned are bound to sseellff--iinnsseerrtt.   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 metafied 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
             "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



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         14





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             "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
             "M-Y"  yank-pop
             "M-\"  delete-horizontal-space
             "M-~"  tilde-expand
             "M-C-?"  backward-kill-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




GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         15





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


   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
             "C-U"  unix-line-discard
             "C-V"  quoted-insert
             "C-W"  unix-word-rubout
             "C-Y"  yank
             "C-_"  vi-undo
             " "  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



GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         16





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


             ";"  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
             "p"  vi-put
             "r"  vi-change-char
             "s"  vi-subst
             "t"  vi-char-search
             "u"  vi-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)





GNU Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         17





READLINE(3)                                           READLINE(3)


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

AAUUTTHHOORRSS
       Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation
       bfox@gnu.org

       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 Readline 4.2            2001 Mar 5                         18


