less.hlp revision 238730
178527Sassar 255682Smarkm SSUUMMMMAARRYY OOFF LLEESSSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS 378527Sassar 478527Sassar Commands marked with * may be preceded by a number, _N. 555682Smarkm Notes in parentheses indicate the behavior if _N is given. 655682Smarkm A key preceded by a caret indicates the Ctrl key; thus ^K is ctrl-K. 755682Smarkm 855682Smarkm h H Display this help. 955682Smarkm q :q Q :Q ZZ Exit. 1055682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1155682Smarkm 1255682Smarkm MMOOVVIINNGG 1355682Smarkm 1455682Smarkm e ^E j ^N CR * Forward one line (or _N lines). 1555682Smarkm y ^Y k ^K ^P * Backward one line (or _N lines). 1655682Smarkm f ^F ^V SPACE * Forward one window (or _N lines). 1755682Smarkm b ^B ESC-v * Backward one window (or _N lines). 1855682Smarkm z * Forward one window (and set window to _N). 1955682Smarkm w * Backward one window (and set window to _N). 2055682Smarkm ESC-SPACE * Forward one window, but don't stop at end-of-file. 2155682Smarkm d ^D * Forward one half-window (and set half-window to _N). 2255682Smarkm u ^U * Backward one half-window (and set half-window to _N). 2355682Smarkm ESC-) RightArrow * Left one half screen width (or _N positions). 2455682Smarkm ESC-( LeftArrow * Right one half screen width (or _N positions). 2555682Smarkm F Forward forever; like "tail -f". 2655682Smarkm r ^R ^L Repaint screen. 2755682Smarkm R Repaint screen, discarding buffered input. 2855682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------- 2955682Smarkm Default "window" is the screen height. 3055682Smarkm Default "half-window" is half of the screen height. 3155682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3255682Smarkm 3355682Smarkm SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGG 3455682Smarkm 3555682Smarkm /_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search forward for (_N-th) matching line. 3655682Smarkm ?_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search backward for (_N-th) matching line. 3755682Smarkm n * Repeat previous search (for _N-th occurrence). 3855682Smarkm N * Repeat previous search in reverse direction. 3955682Smarkm ESC-n * Repeat previous search, spanning files. 4072445Sassar ESC-N * Repeat previous search, reverse dir. & spanning files. 4172445Sassar ESC-u Undo (toggle) search highlighting. 4255682Smarkm &_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Display only matching lines 4355682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------- 4455682Smarkm A search pattern may be preceded by one or more of: 4555682Smarkm ^N or ! Search for NON-matching lines. 4655682Smarkm ^E or * Search multiple files (pass thru END OF FILE). 4772445Sassar ^F or @ Start search at FIRST file (for /) or last file (for ?). 4855682Smarkm ^K Highlight matches, but don't move (KEEP position). 4955682Smarkm ^R Don't use REGULAR EXPRESSIONS. 5072445Sassar --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5155682Smarkm 5255682Smarkm JJUUMMPPIINNGG 5355682Smarkm 5455682Smarkm g < ESC-< * Go to first line in file (or line _N). 5555682Smarkm G > ESC-> * Go to last line in file (or line _N). 5655682Smarkm p % * Go to beginning of file (or _N percent into file). 5755682Smarkm t * Go to the (_N-th) next tag. 5855682Smarkm T * Go to the (_N-th) previous tag. 5972445Sassar { ( [ * Find close bracket } ) ]. 6072445Sassar } ) ] * Find open bracket { ( [. 6155682Smarkm ESC-^F _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find close bracket _<_c_2_>. 6255682Smarkm ESC-^B _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find open bracket _<_c_1_> 6355682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------- 6472445Sassar Each "find close bracket" command goes forward to the close bracket 6572445Sassar matching the (_N-th) open bracket in the top line. 6672445Sassar Each "find open bracket" command goes backward to the open bracket 6755682Smarkm matching the (_N-th) close bracket in the bottom line. 6855682Smarkm 6955682Smarkm m_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Mark the current position with <letter>. 7055682Smarkm '_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Go to a previously marked position. 7155682Smarkm '' Go to the previous position. 7272445Sassar ^X^X Same as '. 7372445Sassar --------------------------------------------------- 7472445Sassar A mark is any upper-case or lower-case letter. 7555682Smarkm Certain marks are predefined: 7672445Sassar ^ means beginning of the file 7772445Sassar $ means end of the file 7872445Sassar --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7972445Sassar 8055682Smarkm CCHHAANNGGIINNGG FFIILLEESS 8155682Smarkm 8255682Smarkm :e [_f_i_l_e] Examine a new file. 8372445Sassar ^X^V Same as :e. 8455682Smarkm :n * Examine the (_N-th) next file from the command line. 8555682Smarkm :p * Examine the (_N-th) previous file from the command line. 8655682Smarkm :x * Examine the first (or _N-th) file from the command line. 8755682Smarkm :d Delete the current file from the command line list. 8855682Smarkm = ^G :f Print current file name. 8955682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9072445Sassar 9172445Sassar MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS 9255682Smarkm 9355682Smarkm -_<_f_l_a_g_> Toggle a command line option [see OPTIONS below]. 9455682Smarkm --_<_n_a_m_e_> Toggle a command line option, by name. 9555682Smarkm __<_f_l_a_g_> Display the setting of a command line option. 9655682Smarkm ___<_n_a_m_e_> Display the setting of an option, by name. 9755682Smarkm +_c_m_d Execute the less cmd each time a new file is examined. 9855682Smarkm 9955682Smarkm !_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Execute the shell command with $SHELL. 10055682Smarkm |XX_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Pipe file between current pos & mark XX to shell command. 10155682Smarkm v Edit the current file with $VISUAL or $EDITOR. 10272445Sassar V Print version number of "less". 10355682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10455682Smarkm 10555682Smarkm OOPPTTIIOONNSS 10672445Sassar 10755682Smarkm Most options may be changed either on the command line, 10855682Smarkm or from within less by using the - or -- command. 10955682Smarkm Options may be given in one of two forms: either a single 11055682Smarkm character preceded by a -, or a name preceeded by --. 11155682Smarkm 11255682Smarkm -? ........ --help 11372445Sassar Display help (from command line). 11472445Sassar -a ........ --search-skip-screen 11572445Sassar Search skips current screen. 11655682Smarkm -A ........ --SEARCH-SKIP-SCREEN 11772445Sassar Search starts just after target line. 11872445Sassar -b [_N] .... --buffers=[_N] 11972445Sassar Number of buffers. 12072445Sassar -B ........ --auto-buffers 12172445Sassar Don't automatically allocate buffers for pipes. 12272445Sassar -c ........ --clear-screen 12378527Sassar Repaint by clearing rather than scrolling. 12472445Sassar -d ........ --dumb 12572445Sassar Dumb terminal. 12655682Smarkm -D [_x_n_._n] . --color=_x_n_._n 12755682Smarkm Set screen colors. (MS-DOS only) 12855682Smarkm -e -E .... --quit-at-eof --QUIT-AT-EOF 12955682Smarkm Quit at end of file. 13072445Sassar -f ........ --force 13155682Smarkm Force open non-regular files. 13255682Smarkm -F ........ --quit-if-one-screen 13355682Smarkm Quit if entire file fits on first screen. 13472445Sassar -g ........ --hilite-search 13572445Sassar Highlight only last match for searches. 13655682Smarkm -G ........ --HILITE-SEARCH 13755682Smarkm Don't highlight any matches for searches. 13855682Smarkm -h [_N] .... --max-back-scroll=[_N] 13955682Smarkm Backward scroll limit. 14055682Smarkm -i ........ --ignore-case 14155682Smarkm Ignore case in searches that do not contain uppercase. 14255682Smarkm -I ........ --IGNORE-CASE 14355682Smarkm Ignore case in all searches. 14455682Smarkm -j [_N] .... --jump-target=[_N] 14555682Smarkm Screen position of target lines. 14655682Smarkm -J ........ --status-column 14755682Smarkm Display a status column at left edge of screen. 14855682Smarkm -k [_f_i_l_e] . --lesskey-file=[_f_i_l_e] 14955682Smarkm Use a lesskey file. 15055682Smarkm -K --quit-on-intr 15155682Smarkm Exit less in response to ctrl-C. 15255682Smarkm -L ........ --no-lessopen 15355682Smarkm Ignore the LESSOPEN environment variable. 15455682Smarkm -m -M .... --long-prompt --LONG-PROMPT 15572445Sassar Set prompt style. 15655682Smarkm -n -N .... --line-numbers --LINE-NUMBERS 15755682Smarkm Don't use line numbers. 15855682Smarkm -o [_f_i_l_e] . --log-file=[_f_i_l_e] 15955682Smarkm Copy to log file (standard input only). 16055682Smarkm -O [_f_i_l_e] . --LOG-FILE=[_f_i_l_e] 16155682Smarkm Copy to log file (unconditionally overwrite). 16255682Smarkm -p [_p_a_t_t_e_r_n] --pattern=[_p_a_t_t_e_r_n] 16355682Smarkm Start at pattern (from command line). 16472445Sassar -P [_p_r_o_m_p_t] --prompt=[_p_r_o_m_p_t] 16572445Sassar Define new prompt. 16655682Smarkm -q -Q .... --quiet --QUIET --silent --SILENT 16755682Smarkm Quiet the terminal bell. 16855682Smarkm -r -R .... --raw-control-chars --RAW-CONTROL-CHARS 16955682Smarkm Output "raw" control characters. 17055682Smarkm -s ........ --squeeze-blank-lines 17155682Smarkm Squeeze multiple blank lines. 17255682Smarkm -S ........ --chop-long-lines 17355682Smarkm Chop (truncate) long lines rather than wrapping. 17472445Sassar -t [_t_a_g] .. --tag=[_t_a_g] 17572445Sassar Find a tag. 17672445Sassar -T [_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e] --tag-file=[_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e] 17755682Smarkm Use an alternate tags file. 17855682Smarkm -u -U .... --underline-special --UNDERLINE-SPECIAL 17955682Smarkm Change handling of backspaces. 18055682Smarkm -V ........ --version 18155682Smarkm Display the version number of "less". 18255682Smarkm -w ........ --hilite-unread 18372445Sassar Highlight first new line after forward-screen. 18455682Smarkm -W ........ --HILITE-UNREAD 18572445Sassar Highlight first new line after any forward movement. 18672445Sassar -x [_N[,...]] --tabs=[_N[,...]] 18772445Sassar Set tab stops. 18855682Smarkm -X ........ --no-init 18978527Sassar Don't use termcap init/deinit strings. 19078527Sassar -y [_N] .... --max-forw-scroll=[_N] 19155682Smarkm Forward scroll limit. 19255682Smarkm -z [_N] .... --window=[_N] 19372445Sassar Set size of window. 19455682Smarkm -" [_c[_c]] . --quotes=[_c[_c]] 19572445Sassar Set shell quote characters. 19655682Smarkm -~ ........ --tilde 19755682Smarkm Don't display tildes after end of file. 19872445Sassar -# [_N] .... --shift=[_N] 19955682Smarkm Horizontal scroll amount (0 = one half screen width) 20055682Smarkm ........ --no-keypad 20155682Smarkm Don't send termcap keypad init/deinit strings. 20255682Smarkm ........ --follow-name 20355682Smarkm The F command changes files if the input file is renamed. 20455682Smarkm 20555682Smarkm 20655682Smarkm --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20772445Sassar 20872445Sassar LLIINNEE EEDDIITTIINNGG 20972445Sassar 21072445Sassar These keys can be used to edit text being entered 21172445Sassar on the "command line" at the bottom of the screen. 21272445Sassar 21355682Smarkm RightArrow ESC-l Move cursor right one character. 21455682Smarkm LeftArrow ESC-h Move cursor left one character. 21572445Sassar ctrl-RightArrow ESC-RightArrow ESC-w Move cursor right one word. 21655682Smarkm ctrl-LeftArrow ESC-LeftArrow ESC-b Move cursor left one word. 21755682Smarkm HOME ESC-0 Move cursor to start of line. 21878527Sassar END ESC-$ Move cursor to end of line. 21955682Smarkm BACKSPACE Delete char to left of cursor. 22055682Smarkm DELETE ESC-x Delete char under cursor. 22178527Sassar ctrl-BACKSPACE ESC-BACKSPACE Delete word to left of cursor. 22255682Smarkm ctrl-DELETE ESC-DELETE ESC-X Delete word under cursor. 22355682Smarkm ctrl-U ESC (MS-DOS only) Delete entire line. 22455682Smarkm UpArrow ESC-k Retrieve previous command line. 22555682Smarkm DownArrow ESC-j Retrieve next command line. 22655682Smarkm TAB Complete filename & cycle. 22755682Smarkm SHIFT-TAB ESC-TAB Complete filename & reverse cycle. 22855682Smarkm ctrl-L Complete filename, list all. 22972445Sassar 23072445Sassar 23172445Sassar