120006a0bStron 220006a0bStron SSUUMMMMAARRYY OOFF LLEESSSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS 320006a0bStron 420006a0bStron Commands marked with * may be preceded by a number, _N. 520006a0bStron Notes in parentheses indicate the behavior if _N is given. 6749ad2faStron A key preceded by a caret indicates the Ctrl key; thus ^K is ctrl-K. 720006a0bStron 820006a0bStron h H Display this help. 920006a0bStron q :q Q :Q ZZ Exit. 1020006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1120006a0bStron 1220006a0bStron MMOOVVIINNGG 1320006a0bStron 1420006a0bStron e ^E j ^N CR * Forward one line (or _N lines). 1520006a0bStron y ^Y k ^K ^P * Backward one line (or _N lines). 1620006a0bStron f ^F ^V SPACE * Forward one window (or _N lines). 1720006a0bStron b ^B ESC-v * Backward one window (or _N lines). 1820006a0bStron z * Forward one window (and set window to _N). 1920006a0bStron w * Backward one window (and set window to _N). 2020006a0bStron ESC-SPACE * Forward one window, but don't stop at end-of-file. 2120006a0bStron d ^D * Forward one half-window (and set half-window to _N). 2220006a0bStron u ^U * Backward one half-window (and set half-window to _N). 23*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-) RightArrow * Right one half screen width (or _N positions). 24*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-( LeftArrow * Left one half screen width (or _N positions). 25*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-} ^RightArrow Right to last column displayed. 26*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-{ ^LeftArrow Left to first column. 2720006a0bStron F Forward forever; like "tail -f". 28*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-F Like F but stop when search pattern is found. 2920006a0bStron r ^R ^L Repaint screen. 3020006a0bStron R Repaint screen, discarding buffered input. 3120006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------- 3220006a0bStron Default "window" is the screen height. 3320006a0bStron Default "half-window" is half of the screen height. 3420006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3520006a0bStron 3620006a0bStron SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGG 3720006a0bStron 3820006a0bStron /_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search forward for (_N-th) matching line. 3920006a0bStron ?_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search backward for (_N-th) matching line. 4020006a0bStron n * Repeat previous search (for _N-th occurrence). 4120006a0bStron N * Repeat previous search in reverse direction. 4220006a0bStron ESC-n * Repeat previous search, spanning files. 4320006a0bStron ESC-N * Repeat previous search, reverse dir. & spanning files. 4420006a0bStron ESC-u Undo (toggle) search highlighting. 45*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-U Clear search highlighting. 46*e4a6e799Ssimonb &_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Display only matching lines. 4720006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------- 48*e4a6e799Ssimonb A search pattern may begin with one or more of: 4920006a0bStron ^N or ! Search for NON-matching lines. 5020006a0bStron ^E or * Search multiple files (pass thru END OF FILE). 5120006a0bStron ^F or @ Start search at FIRST file (for /) or last file (for ?). 5220006a0bStron ^K Highlight matches, but don't move (KEEP position). 5320006a0bStron ^R Don't use REGULAR EXPRESSIONS. 54*e4a6e799Ssimonb ^S _n Search for match in _n-th parenthesized subpattern. 55*e4a6e799Ssimonb ^W WRAP search if no match found. 5620006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5720006a0bStron 5820006a0bStron JJUUMMPPIINNGG 5920006a0bStron 6020006a0bStron g < ESC-< * Go to first line in file (or line _N). 6120006a0bStron G > ESC-> * Go to last line in file (or line _N). 6220006a0bStron p % * Go to beginning of file (or _N percent into file). 6320006a0bStron t * Go to the (_N-th) next tag. 6420006a0bStron T * Go to the (_N-th) previous tag. 6520006a0bStron { ( [ * Find close bracket } ) ]. 6620006a0bStron } ) ] * Find open bracket { ( [. 6720006a0bStron ESC-^F _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find close bracket _<_c_2_>. 68*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-^B _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find open bracket _<_c_1_>. 6920006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------- 7020006a0bStron Each "find close bracket" command goes forward to the close bracket 7120006a0bStron matching the (_N-th) open bracket in the top line. 7220006a0bStron Each "find open bracket" command goes backward to the open bracket 7320006a0bStron matching the (_N-th) close bracket in the bottom line. 7420006a0bStron 75*e4a6e799Ssimonb m_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Mark the current top line with <letter>. 76*e4a6e799Ssimonb M_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Mark the current bottom line with <letter>. 7720006a0bStron '_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Go to a previously marked position. 7820006a0bStron '' Go to the previous position. 7920006a0bStron ^X^X Same as '. 80*e4a6e799Ssimonb ESC-m_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Clear a mark. 8120006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------- 8220006a0bStron A mark is any upper-case or lower-case letter. 8320006a0bStron Certain marks are predefined: 8420006a0bStron ^ means beginning of the file 8520006a0bStron $ means end of the file 8620006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8720006a0bStron 8820006a0bStron CCHHAANNGGIINNGG FFIILLEESS 8920006a0bStron 9020006a0bStron :e [_f_i_l_e] Examine a new file. 9120006a0bStron ^X^V Same as :e. 9220006a0bStron :n * Examine the (_N-th) next file from the command line. 9320006a0bStron :p * Examine the (_N-th) previous file from the command line. 9420006a0bStron :x * Examine the first (or _N-th) file from the command line. 9520006a0bStron :d Delete the current file from the command line list. 9620006a0bStron = ^G :f Print current file name. 9720006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9820006a0bStron 9920006a0bStron MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS 10020006a0bStron 10120006a0bStron -_<_f_l_a_g_> Toggle a command line option [see OPTIONS below]. 10220006a0bStron --_<_n_a_m_e_> Toggle a command line option, by name. 10320006a0bStron __<_f_l_a_g_> Display the setting of a command line option. 10420006a0bStron ___<_n_a_m_e_> Display the setting of an option, by name. 10520006a0bStron +_c_m_d Execute the less cmd each time a new file is examined. 10620006a0bStron 10720006a0bStron !_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Execute the shell command with $SHELL. 108*e4a6e799Ssimonb #_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Execute the shell command, expanded like a prompt. 10920006a0bStron |XX_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Pipe file between current pos & mark XX to shell command. 110*e4a6e799Ssimonb s _f_i_l_e Save input to a file. 11120006a0bStron v Edit the current file with $VISUAL or $EDITOR. 11220006a0bStron V Print version number of "less". 11320006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11420006a0bStron 11520006a0bStron OOPPTTIIOONNSS 11620006a0bStron 11720006a0bStron Most options may be changed either on the command line, 11820006a0bStron or from within less by using the - or -- command. 11920006a0bStron Options may be given in one of two forms: either a single 120749ad2faStron character preceded by a -, or a name preceded by --. 12120006a0bStron 12220006a0bStron -? ........ --help 12320006a0bStron Display help (from command line). 12420006a0bStron -a ........ --search-skip-screen 125749ad2faStron Search skips current screen. 12620006a0bStron -A ........ --SEARCH-SKIP-SCREEN 127749ad2faStron Search starts just after target line. 12820006a0bStron -b [_N] .... --buffers=[_N] 12920006a0bStron Number of buffers. 13020006a0bStron -B ........ --auto-buffers 13120006a0bStron Don't automatically allocate buffers for pipes. 13220006a0bStron -c ........ --clear-screen 13320006a0bStron Repaint by clearing rather than scrolling. 13420006a0bStron -d ........ --dumb 13520006a0bStron Dumb terminal. 136*e4a6e799Ssimonb -D xx_c_o_l_o_r . --color=xx_c_o_l_o_r 137*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set screen colors. 13820006a0bStron -e -E .... --quit-at-eof --QUIT-AT-EOF 13920006a0bStron Quit at end of file. 14020006a0bStron -f ........ --force 14120006a0bStron Force open non-regular files. 14220006a0bStron -F ........ --quit-if-one-screen 14320006a0bStron Quit if entire file fits on first screen. 14420006a0bStron -g ........ --hilite-search 14520006a0bStron Highlight only last match for searches. 14620006a0bStron -G ........ --HILITE-SEARCH 14720006a0bStron Don't highlight any matches for searches. 14820006a0bStron -h [_N] .... --max-back-scroll=[_N] 14920006a0bStron Backward scroll limit. 15020006a0bStron -i ........ --ignore-case 15120006a0bStron Ignore case in searches that do not contain uppercase. 15220006a0bStron -I ........ --IGNORE-CASE 15320006a0bStron Ignore case in all searches. 15420006a0bStron -j [_N] .... --jump-target=[_N] 15520006a0bStron Screen position of target lines. 15620006a0bStron -J ........ --status-column 15720006a0bStron Display a status column at left edge of screen. 15820006a0bStron -k [_f_i_l_e] . --lesskey-file=[_f_i_l_e] 15920006a0bStron Use a lesskey file. 160*e4a6e799Ssimonb -K ........ --quit-on-intr 16120006a0bStron Exit less in response to ctrl-C. 16220006a0bStron -L ........ --no-lessopen 16320006a0bStron Ignore the LESSOPEN environment variable. 16420006a0bStron -m -M .... --long-prompt --LONG-PROMPT 16520006a0bStron Set prompt style. 166*e4a6e799Ssimonb -n ......... --line-numbers 167*e4a6e799Ssimonb Suppress line numbers in prompts and messages. 168*e4a6e799Ssimonb -N ......... --LINE-NUMBERS 169*e4a6e799Ssimonb Display line number at start of each line. 17020006a0bStron -o [_f_i_l_e] . --log-file=[_f_i_l_e] 17120006a0bStron Copy to log file (standard input only). 17220006a0bStron -O [_f_i_l_e] . --LOG-FILE=[_f_i_l_e] 17320006a0bStron Copy to log file (unconditionally overwrite). 17420006a0bStron -p [_p_a_t_t_e_r_n] --pattern=[_p_a_t_t_e_r_n] 17520006a0bStron Start at pattern (from command line). 17620006a0bStron -P [_p_r_o_m_p_t] --prompt=[_p_r_o_m_p_t] 17720006a0bStron Define new prompt. 17820006a0bStron -q -Q .... --quiet --QUIET --silent --SILENT 17920006a0bStron Quiet the terminal bell. 18020006a0bStron -r -R .... --raw-control-chars --RAW-CONTROL-CHARS 18120006a0bStron Output "raw" control characters. 18220006a0bStron -s ........ --squeeze-blank-lines 18320006a0bStron Squeeze multiple blank lines. 18420006a0bStron -S ........ --chop-long-lines 185749ad2faStron Chop (truncate) long lines rather than wrapping. 18620006a0bStron -t [_t_a_g] .. --tag=[_t_a_g] 18720006a0bStron Find a tag. 18820006a0bStron -T [_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e] --tag-file=[_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e] 18920006a0bStron Use an alternate tags file. 19020006a0bStron -u -U .... --underline-special --UNDERLINE-SPECIAL 191*e4a6e799Ssimonb Change handling of backspaces, tabs and carriage returns. 19220006a0bStron -V ........ --version 19320006a0bStron Display the version number of "less". 19420006a0bStron -w ........ --hilite-unread 19520006a0bStron Highlight first new line after forward-screen. 19620006a0bStron -W ........ --HILITE-UNREAD 19720006a0bStron Highlight first new line after any forward movement. 19820006a0bStron -x [_N[,...]] --tabs=[_N[,...]] 19920006a0bStron Set tab stops. 20020006a0bStron -X ........ --no-init 20120006a0bStron Don't use termcap init/deinit strings. 20220006a0bStron -y [_N] .... --max-forw-scroll=[_N] 20320006a0bStron Forward scroll limit. 20420006a0bStron -z [_N] .... --window=[_N] 20520006a0bStron Set size of window. 20620006a0bStron -" [_c[_c]] . --quotes=[_c[_c]] 20720006a0bStron Set shell quote characters. 20820006a0bStron -~ ........ --tilde 20920006a0bStron Don't display tildes after end of file. 21020006a0bStron -# [_N] .... --shift=[_N] 211*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set horizontal scroll amount (0 = one half screen width). 212*e4a6e799Ssimonb --exit-follow-on-close 213*e4a6e799Ssimonb Exit F command on a pipe when writer closes pipe. 214*e4a6e799Ssimonb --file-size 215*e4a6e799Ssimonb Automatically determine the size of the input file. 216*e4a6e799Ssimonb --follow-name 21720006a0bStron The F command changes files if the input file is renamed. 218*e4a6e799Ssimonb --header=[_N[,_M]] 219*e4a6e799Ssimonb Use N lines and M columns to display file headers. 220*e4a6e799Ssimonb --incsearch 221*e4a6e799Ssimonb Search file as each pattern character is typed in. 222*e4a6e799Ssimonb --intr=_C 223*e4a6e799Ssimonb Use _C instead of ^X to interrupt a read. 224*e4a6e799Ssimonb --line-num-width=_N 225*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set the width of the -N line number field to _N characters. 226*e4a6e799Ssimonb --modelines=_N 227*e4a6e799Ssimonb Read _N lines from the input file and look for vim modelines. 228*e4a6e799Ssimonb --mouse 229*e4a6e799Ssimonb Enable mouse input. 230*e4a6e799Ssimonb --no-keypad 231*e4a6e799Ssimonb Don't send termcap keypad init/deinit strings. 232*e4a6e799Ssimonb --no-histdups 233*e4a6e799Ssimonb Remove duplicates from command history. 234*e4a6e799Ssimonb --no-number-headers 235*e4a6e799Ssimonb Don't give line numbers to header lines. 236*e4a6e799Ssimonb --no-search-headers 237*e4a6e799Ssimonb Don't search in header lines or columns. 238*e4a6e799Ssimonb --no-vbell 239*e4a6e799Ssimonb Disable the terminal's visual bell. 240*e4a6e799Ssimonb --redraw-on-quit 241*e4a6e799Ssimonb Redraw final screen when quitting. 242*e4a6e799Ssimonb --rscroll=_C 243*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set the character used to mark truncated lines. 244*e4a6e799Ssimonb --save-marks 245*e4a6e799Ssimonb Retain marks across invocations of less. 246*e4a6e799Ssimonb --search-options=[EFKNRW-] 247*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set default options for every search. 248*e4a6e799Ssimonb --show-preproc-errors 249*e4a6e799Ssimonb Display a message if preprocessor exits with an error status. 250*e4a6e799Ssimonb --proc-backspace 251*e4a6e799Ssimonb Process backspaces for bold/underline. 252*e4a6e799Ssimonb --SPECIAL-BACKSPACE 253*e4a6e799Ssimonb Treat backspaces as control characters. 254*e4a6e799Ssimonb --proc-return 255*e4a6e799Ssimonb Delete carriage returns before newline. 256*e4a6e799Ssimonb --SPECIAL-RETURN 257*e4a6e799Ssimonb Treat carriage returns as control characters. 258*e4a6e799Ssimonb --proc-tab 259*e4a6e799Ssimonb Expand tabs to spaces. 260*e4a6e799Ssimonb --SPECIAL-TAB 261*e4a6e799Ssimonb Treat tabs as control characters. 262*e4a6e799Ssimonb --status-col-width=_N 263*e4a6e799Ssimonb Set the width of the -J status column to _N characters. 264*e4a6e799Ssimonb --status-line 265*e4a6e799Ssimonb Highlight or color the entire line containing a mark. 266*e4a6e799Ssimonb --use-backslash 267*e4a6e799Ssimonb Subsequent options use backslash as escape char. 268*e4a6e799Ssimonb --use-color 269*e4a6e799Ssimonb Enables colored text. 270*e4a6e799Ssimonb --wheel-lines=_N 271*e4a6e799Ssimonb Each click of the mouse wheel moves _N lines. 272*e4a6e799Ssimonb --wordwrap 273*e4a6e799Ssimonb Wrap lines at spaces. 27420006a0bStron 27520006a0bStron 27620006a0bStron --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27720006a0bStron 27820006a0bStron LLIINNEE EEDDIITTIINNGG 27920006a0bStron 28020006a0bStron These keys can be used to edit text being entered 28120006a0bStron on the "command line" at the bottom of the screen. 28220006a0bStron 283*e4a6e799Ssimonb RightArrow ..................... ESC-l ... Move cursor right one character. 284*e4a6e799Ssimonb LeftArrow ...................... ESC-h ... Move cursor left one character. 285*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-RightArrow ESC-RightArrow ESC-w ... Move cursor right one word. 286*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-LeftArrow ESC-LeftArrow ESC-b ... Move cursor left one word. 287*e4a6e799Ssimonb HOME ........................... ESC-0 ... Move cursor to start of line. 288*e4a6e799Ssimonb END ............................ ESC-$ ... Move cursor to end of line. 289*e4a6e799Ssimonb BACKSPACE ................................ Delete char to left of cursor. 290*e4a6e799Ssimonb DELETE ......................... ESC-x ... Delete char under cursor. 291*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-BACKSPACE ESC-BACKSPACE ........... Delete word to left of cursor. 292*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-DELETE .... ESC-DELETE .... ESC-X ... Delete word under cursor. 293*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-U ......... ESC (MS-DOS only) ....... Delete entire line. 294*e4a6e799Ssimonb UpArrow ........................ ESC-k ... Retrieve previous command line. 295*e4a6e799Ssimonb DownArrow ...................... ESC-j ... Retrieve next command line. 296*e4a6e799Ssimonb TAB ...................................... Complete filename & cycle. 297*e4a6e799Ssimonb SHIFT-TAB ...................... ESC-TAB Complete filename & reverse cycle. 298*e4a6e799Ssimonb ctrl-L ................................... Complete filename, list all. 299