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<h1 class="settitle" align="center">nano Command Manual</h1>
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<p>
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<p>This manual documents GNU <code>nano</code>, a small and friendly text
editor.
</p>
<table class="menu" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Introduction" accesskey="1">Introduction</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
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<a name="Introduction-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">1 Introduction</h2>
<p>GNU <code>nano</code> is a small and friendly text editor. Besides basic text
editing, <code>nano</code> offers many extra features, like an interactive
search-and-replace, go-to-line-and-column-number, auto-indentation,
feature toggles, internationalization support, and filename tab
completion.
</p>
<table class="menu" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Overview" accesskey="1">Overview</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Command-Line-Options" accesskey="2">Command Line Options</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
</table>
<hr>
<a name="Overview"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Command-Line-Options" accesskey="n" rel="next">Command Line Options</a>, Up: <a href="#Introduction" accesskey="u" rel="up">Introduction</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Overview-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">1.1 Overview</h3>
<p>The original goal for <code>nano</code> was a complete bug-for-bug compatible
emulation of Pico, but <code>nano</code>’s current goal is to be as compatible
as possible while offering a superset of Pico’s functionality. See
See <a href="#Pico-Compatibility">Pico Compatibility</a>, for more info.
</p>
<p>The usual way to invoke <code>nano</code> is:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p><code>nano [OPTION]… [FILE]</code>
</p></blockquote>
<p>But it is also possible to edit several files in a row. Additionally,
the cursor can be put on a desired line number by adding this number
with a plus sign before any filename, and even in a desired column by
adding it with a comma. So the complete synopsis is:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p><code>nano [OPTION]… [[+LINE] FILE]…</code>
</p>
<p><code>nano [OPTION]… [[+,COLUMN] FILE]…</code>
</p>
<p><code>nano [OPTION]… [[+LINE,COLUMN] FILE]…</code>
</p></blockquote>
<p>Email bug reports to <a href="mailto:nano@nano-editor.org">nano@nano-editor.org</a>.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Command-Line-Options"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Previous: <a href="#Overview" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Overview</a>, Up: <a href="#Introduction" accesskey="u" rel="up">Introduction</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Command-Line-Options-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">1.2 Command Line Options</h3>
<p><code>nano</code> takes the following options from the command line:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><samp>+<var>line</var>,<var>column</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Start at line number <var>line</var> and column number <var>column</var> (at least one of
which must be specified) instead of the default of line 1, column 1.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-A</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--smarthome</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Make the Home key smarter. When Home is pressed anywhere but at the
very beginning of non-whitespace characters on a line, the cursor will
jump to that beginning (either forwards or backwards). If the cursor is
already at that position, it will jump to the true beginning of the
line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-B</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--backup</samp></dt>
<dd><p>When saving a file, back up the previous version of it to the current
filename suffixed with a ‘<samp>~</samp>’.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-C <var>directory</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--backupdir=<var>directory</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Set the directory where <code>nano</code> puts unique backup files if file
backups are enabled.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-D</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--boldtext</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Use bold text instead of reverse video text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-E</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--tabstospaces</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Convert typed tabs to spaces.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-F</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--multibuffer</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable multiple file buffers (if support for them has been compiled in).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-G</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--locking</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable vim-style file locking when editing files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-H</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--historylog</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Log search and replace strings to <samp>~/.nano/search_history</samp>,
so they can be retrieved in later sessions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-I</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--ignorercfiles</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t look at the system’s nanorc file nor at the user’s <samp>~/.nanorc</samp>.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-K</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--rebindkeypad</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Interpret the numeric keypad keys so that they all work properly. You
should only need to use this option if they don’t, as mouse support
won’t work properly with this option enabled.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-L</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--nonewlines</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t add newlines to the ends of files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-N</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--noconvert</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Disable automatic conversion of files from DOS/Mac format.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-O</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--morespace</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Use the blank line below the titlebar as extra editing space.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-P</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--poslog</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Log for each file the last location of the cursor, and read it
back upon reopening the file and place it there again.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-Q "<var>characters</var>"</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--quotestr="<var>characters</var>"</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Set the quoting string for justifying. The default value is
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"^([ \t]*[|>:}#])+"
</p></blockquote>
<p>if extended regular expression support is available, or <code>> </code> otherwise.
Note that <code>\t</code> above stands for a literal Tab character.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-R</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--restricted</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Restricted mode: don’t read or write to any file not specified on the
command line; don’t read any nanorc files nor history files; don’t allow
suspending nor spell checking; don’t
allow a file to be appended to, prepended to, or saved under a different
name if it already has one; and don’t use backup files.
This restricted mode is also accessible by invoking <code>nano</code> with
any name beginning with ‘<samp>r</samp>’ (e.g. <code>rnano</code>).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-S</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--smooth</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable smooth scrolling. Text will scroll line-by-line, instead of the
usual chunk-by-chunk behavior.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-T <var>number</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--tabsize=<var>number</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Set the displayed tab length to <var>number</var> columns. The value of
<var>number</var> must be greater than 0. The default value is ‘<samp>8</samp>’.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-U</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--quickblank</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Do quick statusbar blanking. Statusbar messages will disappear after 1
keystroke instead of 25. Note that <samp>-c</samp> overrides this.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-V</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--version</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Show the current version number and exit.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-W</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--wordbounds</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Detect word boundaries more accurately by treating punctuation
characters as parts of words.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-Y <var>name</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--syntax=<var>name</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Specify a specific syntax from the nanorc files to use for highlighting.
See See <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting">Syntax Highlighting</a>, for more info.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-c</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--const</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Constantly display the cursor position and line number on the statusbar.
Note that this overrides <samp>-U</samp>.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-d</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--rebinddelete</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Interpret the Delete key differently so that both Backspace and Delete
work properly. You should only need to use this option if Backspace
acts like Delete on your system.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-h</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--help</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Show a summary of command-line options and exit.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-i</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--autoindent</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Automatically indent new lines to the same number of spaces and tabs as
the previous line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-k</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--cut</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Make the ’Cut Text’ command (normally ^K) cut from the current cursor
position to the end of the line, instead of cutting the entire line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-l</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--nofollow</samp></dt>
<dd><p>When writing files, if the given file is a symbolic link, it is removed
and a new file is created.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-m</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--mouse</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable mouse support, if available for your system. When enabled, mouse
clicks can be used to place the cursor, set the mark (with a double
click), and execute shortcuts. The mouse will work in the X Window
System, and on the console when gpm is running. Text can still be
selected through dragging by holding down the Shift key.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-n</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--noread</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Treat any name given on the command line as a new file. This allows
<code>nano</code> to write to named pipes: it will start with a blank buffer,
and will write to the pipe when the user saves the "file". This way
<code>nano</code> can be used as an editor in combination with for instance
<code>gpg</code> without having to write sensitive data to disk first.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-o <var>directory</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--operatingdir=<var>directory</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Set the operating directory. This makes <code>nano</code> set up something
similar to a chroot.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-p</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--preserve</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Preserve the ^Q (XON) and ^S (XOFF) sequences so data being sent to the
editor can be stopped and started.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-q</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--quiet</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Do not report errors in the nanorc file nor ask them to be acknowledged
by pressing Enter at startup.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-r <var>number</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--fill=<var>number</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Hard-wrap lines at column <var>number</var> (by inserting a newline character).
If the given value is 0 or less, wrapping will occur at the width of
the screen minus the given amount, allowing the wrapping width to
vary along with the width of the screen if and when it is resized.
The default value is ‘<samp>-8</samp>’. This option conflicts with <samp>-w</samp>
– the last one given takes effect.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-s <var>program</var></samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--speller=<var>program</var></samp></dt>
<dd><p>Invoke the given program as the spell checker. By default, <code>nano</code>
uses the command specified in the <code>SPELL</code> environment variable, or,
if <code>SPELL</code> is not set, its own interactive spell checker that requires
the <code>spell</code> program to be installed on your system.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-t</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--tempfile</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t ask whether or not to save the current contents of the file when
exiting, assume yes. This is most useful when using <code>nano</code> as the
composer of a mailer program.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-v</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--view</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t allow the contents of the file to be altered. Note that this
option should NOT be used in place of correct file permissions to
implement a read-only file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-w</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--nowrap</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t hard-wrap long lines at any length. This option conflicts with
<samp>-r</samp> – the last one given takes effect.
</p>
<a name="Expert-Mode"></a></dd>
<dt><samp>-x</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--nohelp</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Expert Mode: don’t show the Shortcut Lists at the bottom of the screen.
This affects the location of the statusbar as well, as in Expert Mode it
is located at the very bottom of the editor.
</p>
<p>Note: When accessing the help system, Expert Mode is temporarily
disabled to display the help-system navigation keys.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-z</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--suspend</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable the ability to suspend <code>nano</code> using the system’s suspend
keystroke (usually ^Z).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-$</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>--softwrap</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Enable ’soft wrapping’. This will make <code>nano</code> attempt to display the
entire contents of any line, even if it is longer than the screen width, by
continuing it over multiple screen lines. Since
‘<samp>$</samp>’ normally refers to a variable in the Unix shell, you should specify
this option last when using other options (e.g. <code>nano -wS$</code>) or pass it
separately (e.g. <code>nano -wS -$</code>).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><samp>-a</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>-b</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>-e</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>-f</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>-g</samp></dt>
<dt><samp>-j</samp></dt>
<dd><p>Ignored, for compatibility with Pico.
</p></dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="Editor-Basics"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Online-Help" accesskey="n" rel="next">Online Help</a>, Previous: <a href="#Introduction" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Introduction</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Editor-Basics-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">2 Editor Basics</h2>
<table class="menu" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Entering-Text" accesskey="1">Entering Text</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Special-Functions" accesskey="2">Special Functions</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#The-Cutbuffer" accesskey="3">The Cutbuffer</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#The-Mark" accesskey="4">The Mark</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#The-Titlebar" accesskey="5">The Titlebar</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#The-Statusbar" accesskey="6">The Statusbar</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Shortcut-Lists" accesskey="7">Shortcut Lists</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Using-the-Mouse" accesskey="8">Using the Mouse</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
</table>
<hr>
<a name="Entering-Text"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Special-Functions" accesskey="n" rel="next">Special Functions</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Entering-Text-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.1 Entering Text</h3>
<p><code>nano</code> is a "modeless" editor. All keystrokes, with the exception
of Control and Meta key sequences, enter text into the file being edited.
All key sequences in <code>nano</code> are entered using the keyboard.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Special-Functions"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#The-Cutbuffer" accesskey="n" rel="next">The Cutbuffer</a>, Previous: <a href="#Entering-Text" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Entering Text</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Special-Functions-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.2 Special Functions</h3>
<p>Special functions use the Control key (Ctrl), displayed in the help and
shortcut lists as ^; the Meta key (Alt or Cmd), displayed as M-; or the
Escape key (Esc).
</p>
<ul>
<li> Control key sequences are entered by holding down the Ctrl key and
pressing the desired key, or by pressing the Esc key twice and then
pressing the desired key.
</li><li> Pressing the Esc key twice and then typing a three-digit number from
000 to 255 will enter the character with the corresponding value.
</li><li> Meta key sequences are entered by holding down the Meta key (normally
the Alt key) and pressing the desired key, or by pressing the Esc key
once and then pressing the desired key. Certain operating systems "swallow"
the Alt key so that it never reaches the application; if your operating
system does this, you should use the Esc key to generate Meta key
sequences.
</li></ul>
<hr>
<a name="The-Cutbuffer"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#The-Mark" accesskey="n" rel="next">The Mark</a>, Previous: <a href="#Special-Functions" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Special Functions</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="The-Cutbuffer-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.3 The Cutbuffer</h3>
<p>Text can be cut from a file, a whole line at a time, by using the ’Cut Text’
command (default key binding: ^K). The cut line is stored in the cutbuffer.
Consecutive strokes of ^K will add each cut line to this buffer, but a ^K
after any other keystroke will overwrite the entire cutbuffer.
</p>
<p>The contents of the cutbuffer can be pasted back into the file with the
’Uncut Text’ command (default key binding: ^U).
</p>
<p>A line of text can be copied into the cutbuffer (without cutting it) with
the ’Copy Text’ command (default key binding: M-6).
</p>
<hr>
<a name="The-Mark"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#The-Titlebar" accesskey="n" rel="next">The Titlebar</a>, Previous: <a href="#The-Cutbuffer" accesskey="p" rel="prev">The Cutbuffer</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="The-Mark-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.4 The Mark</h3>
<p>Text can be selected by first ’setting the Mark’ (default key bindings:
^6 and M-A) and then moving the cursor to the other end of the portion
to be selected. The selected portion of text will be highlighted in
reverse video (or in bold if you set the boldtext option).
This selection can now be cut or copied in its entirety with a single
^K or M-6. Or the selection can be used to limit the scope of a
search-and-replace (^\) or spell-checking session (^T).
</p>
<p>Cutting or copying selected text will toggle the mark off automatically.
If necessary, it can be toggled off manually with another ^6 or M-A.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="The-Titlebar"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#The-Statusbar" accesskey="n" rel="next">The Statusbar</a>, Previous: <a href="#The-Mark" accesskey="p" rel="prev">The Mark</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="The-Titlebar-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.5 The Titlebar</h3>
<p>The titlebar is the line displayed at the top of the editor. There are
three sections: left, center and right. The section on the left
displays the version of <code>nano</code> being used. The center section
displays the current filename, or "New Buffer" if the file has not yet
been named. The section on the right will display "Modified" if the
file has been modified since it was last saved or opened.
</p>
<p>Special modes: When <code>nano</code> is in "File browser" mode, the center
section will display the current directory instead of the filename. See
See <a href="#The-File-Browser">The File Browser</a>, for more info.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="The-Statusbar"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Shortcut-Lists" accesskey="n" rel="next">Shortcut Lists</a>, Previous: <a href="#The-Titlebar" accesskey="p" rel="prev">The Titlebar</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="The-Statusbar-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.6 The Statusbar</h3>
<p>The statusbar is the third line from the bottom of the screen, or the
bottom line in Expert Mode. See See <a href="#Expert-Mode">Expert Mode</a>, for more info. It
shows important and informational messages. Any error messages that
occur from using the editor will appear on the statusbar. Any questions
that are asked of the user will be asked on the statusbar, and any user
input (search strings, filenames, etc.) will be input on the statusbar.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Shortcut-Lists"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Using-the-Mouse" accesskey="n" rel="next">Using the Mouse</a>, Previous: <a href="#The-Statusbar" accesskey="p" rel="prev">The Statusbar</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Shortcut-Lists-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.7 Shortcut Lists</h3>
<p>The Shortcut Lists are the two lines at the bottom of the screen which
show some of the more commonly used functions in the editor.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Using-the-Mouse"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Previous: <a href="#Shortcut-Lists" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Shortcut Lists</a>, Up: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="u" rel="up">Editor Basics</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Using-the-Mouse-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">2.8 Using the Mouse</h3>
<p>When mouse support has been configured and enabled, a single mouse click
places the cursor at the indicated position. Clicking a second time in
the same position toggles the mark. Clicking in the shortcut list
executes the selected shortcut. To be able to select text with the
left button, or paste text with the middle button, hold down the
Shift key during those actions.
</p>
<p>The mouse will work in the X Window System, and on the console when gpm
is running.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Online-Help"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Feature-Toggles" accesskey="n" rel="next">Feature Toggles</a>, Previous: <a href="#Editor-Basics" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Editor Basics</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Online-Help-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">3 Online Help</h2>
<p>The online help system in <code>nano</code> is available by pressing ^G.
It is fairly self-explanatory, documenting the various parts of the
editor and available keystrokes. Navigation is via the ^Y (Page Up)
and ^V (Page Down) keys. ^X exits the help system.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Feature-Toggles"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Nanorc-Files" accesskey="n" rel="next">Nanorc Files</a>, Previous: <a href="#Online-Help" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Online Help</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Feature-Toggles-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">4 Feature Toggles</h2>
<p>Toggles allow you to change certain aspects of the editor that would
normally be done via command-line options. They are invoked via Meta
key sequences. See See <a href="#Special-Functions">Special Functions</a>, for more info. The
following global toggles are available:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>Backup Files Toggle (Meta-B)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -B (<code>--backup</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Constant Cursor Position Display Toggle (Meta-C)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -c (<code>--const</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Multiple File Buffers Toggle (Meta-F)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -F (<code>--multibuffer</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Smart Home Key Toggle (Meta-H)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -A (<code>--smarthome</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Auto Indent Toggle (Meta-I)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -i (<code>--autoindent</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Cut To End Toggle (Meta-K)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -k (<code>--cut</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Long Line Wrapping Toggle (Meta-L)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -w (<code>--nowrap</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Mouse Support Toggle (Meta-M)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -m (<code>--mouse</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>No Conversion From DOS/Mac Format Toggle (Meta-N)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -N (<code>--noconvert</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>More Space For Editing Toggle (Meta-O)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -O (<code>--morespace</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Whitespace Display Toggle (Meta-P)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles whitespace-display mode.
See See <a href="#Whitespace">Whitespace</a>, for more info.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Tabs to Spaces Toggle (Meta-Q)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -E (<code>--tabstospaces</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Smooth Scrolling Toggle (Meta-S)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -S (<code>--smooth</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Expert/No Help Toggle (Meta-X)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -x (<code>--nohelp</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Color Syntax Highlighting Toggle (Meta-Y)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles color syntax highlighting if you have color syntaxes in your
nanorc. See See <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting">Syntax Highlighting</a>, for more info.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Suspend Toggle (Meta-Z)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -z (<code>--suspend</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Soft Wrapping Toggle (Meta-$)</code></dt>
<dd><p>toggles the -$ (<code>--softwrap</code>) command line option.
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="Nanorc-Files"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#The-File-Browser" accesskey="n" rel="next">The File Browser</a>, Previous: <a href="#Feature-Toggles" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Feature Toggles</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Nanorc-Files-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">5 Nanorc Files</h2>
<p>The nanorc files contain the default settings for <code>nano</code>. They
should be in Unix format, not in DOS or Mac format. During startup,
<code>nano</code> will first read the system-wide settings, from /etc/nanorc
(the exact path might be different), and then the user-specific settings,
from ~/.nanorc.
</p>
<p>A nanorc file accepts a series of "set" and "unset" commands, which can
be used to configure <code>nano</code> on startup without using command-line
options. Additionally, there are some commands to define syntax highlighting
and to rebind keys – See <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting">Syntax Highlighting</a>, and See <a href="#Rebinding-Keys">Rebinding Keys</a>.
<code>nano</code> will read one command per line.
</p>
<p>Options in nanorc files take precedence over <code>nano</code>’s defaults, and
command-line options override nanorc settings. Also, options that do not
take an argument are unset by default. So using the <code>unset</code> command
is only needed when wanting to override a setting of the system’s nanorc
file in your own <samp>~/.nanorc</samp>. Options that take an argument cannot
be unset.
</p>
<p>Quotes inside string parameters don’t have to be escaped with
backslashes. The last double quote in the string will be treated as its
end. For example, for the "brackets" option, <code>""')>]}"</code> will match
<code>"</code>, <code>'</code>, <code>)</code>, <code>></code>, <code>]</code>, and <code>}</code>.
</p>
<table class="menu" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Settings" accesskey="1">Settings</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting" accesskey="2">Syntax Highlighting</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="left" valign="top">• <a href="#Rebinding-Keys" accesskey="3">Rebinding Keys</a>:</td><td> </td><td align="left" valign="top">
</td></tr>
</table>
<hr>
<a name="Settings"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting" accesskey="n" rel="next">Syntax Highlighting</a>, Up: <a href="#Nanorc-Files" accesskey="u" rel="up">Nanorc Files</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Settings-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">5.1 Settings</h3>
<p>The supported settings in a nanorc file are:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>set allow_insecure_backup</code></dt>
<dd><p>When backing up files, allow the backup to succeed even if its
permissions can’t be (re)set due to special OS considerations.
You should NOT enable this option unless you are sure you need it.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set autoindent</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use auto-indentation.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set backup</code></dt>
<dd><p>When saving a file, back up the previous version of it to the current
filename suffixed with a tilde (<code>~</code>).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set backupdir "directory"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Set the directory where <code>nano</code> puts unique backup files, if file
backups are enabled.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set backwards</code></dt>
<dd><p>Do backwards searches by default.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set boldtext</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use bold instead of reverse video for the titlebar, statusbar, key combos,
and selected text. This can be overridden for the first three by setting
the options "titlecolor", "statuscolor", and "keycolor".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set brackets "<var>string</var>"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Set the characters treated as closing brackets when justifying
paragraphs. This may not include blank characters. Only closing
punctuation (see "punct"), optionally followed by the specified
closing brackets, can end sentences. The default value is
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>""’)>]}"
</p></blockquote>
</dd>
<dt><code>set casesensitive</code></dt>
<dd><p>Do case-sensitive searches by default.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set const</code></dt>
<dd><p>Constantly display the cursor position in the status bar.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set cut</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use cut-to-end-of-line by default, instead of cutting the whole line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set fill <var>number</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Hard-wrap lines at column number <var>number</var>. If <var>number</var> is 0 or less,
the maximum line length will be the screen width less <var>number</var> columns.
The default value is -8.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set functioncolor <var>fgcolor</var>,<var>bgcolor</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Specify the color combination to use for the function descriptions
in the two help lines at the bottom of the screen.
See <code>set titlecolor</code> for more details.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set historylog</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable the use of <samp>~/.nano/search_history</samp> for saving and reading
search/replace strings.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set keycolor <var>fgcolor</var>,<var>bgcolor</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Specify the color combination to use for the shortcut key combos
in the two help lines at the bottom of the screen.
See <code>set titlecolor</code> for more details.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set locking</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable vim-style lock-files for when editing files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set matchbrackets "<var>string</var>"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Set the opening and closing brackets that can be found by bracket
searches. This may not include blank characters. The opening set must
come before the closing set, and the two sets must be in the same order.
The default value is
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"(<[{)>]}"
</p></blockquote>
</dd>
<dt><code>set morespace</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use the blank line below the titlebar as extra editing space.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set mouse</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable mouse support, so that mouse clicks can be used to place the
cursor, set the mark (with a double click), or execute shortcuts.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set multibuffer</code></dt>
<dd><p>Allow inserting files into their own buffers.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set noconvert</code></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t convert files from DOS/Mac format.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set nofollow</code></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t follow symlinks when writing files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set nohelp</code></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t display the help lists at the bottom of the screen.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set nonewlines</code></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t add newlines to the ends of files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set nowrap</code></dt>
<dd><p>Don’t hard-wrap text at all.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set operatingdir "directory"</code></dt>
<dd><p><code>nano</code> will only read and write files inside "directory" and its
subdirectories. Also, the current directory is changed to here, so
files are inserted from this directory. By default, the operating
directory feature is turned off.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set poslog</code></dt>
<dd><p>Save the cursor position of files between editing sessions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set preserve</code></dt>
<dd><p>Preserve the XON and XOFF keys (^Q and ^S).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set punct "<var>string</var>"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Set the characters treated as closing punctuation when justifying
paragraphs. This may not include blank characters. Only the
specified closing punctuation, optionally followed by closing brackets
(see "brackets"), can end sentences. The default value is "!.?".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set quickblank</code></dt>
<dd><p>Do quick statusbar blanking. Statusbar messages will disappear after 1
keystroke instead of 25.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set quiet</code></dt>
<dd><p>When set, <code>nano</code> will not report errors in the nanorc file nor ask them
to be acknowledged by pressing Enter at startup. If this option is used, it
should be placed at the top of the file to be fully effective.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set quotestr "<var>string</var>"</code></dt>
<dd><p>The email-quote string, used to justify email-quoted paragraphs. This
is an extended regular expression if your system supports them,
otherwise a literal string. The default value is
</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"^([ \\t]*[#:>\\|}])+"
</p></blockquote>
<p>if you have extended regular expression support, and "> " otherwise.
Note that ’\\t’ stands for a literal Tab character.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set rebinddelete</code></dt>
<dd><p>Interpret the Delete key differently so that both Backspace and Delete
work properly. You should only need to use this option if Backspace
acts like Delete on your system.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set rebindkeypad</code></dt>
<dd><p>Interpret the numeric keypad keys so that they all work properly. You
should only need to use this option if they don’t, as mouse support
won’t work properly with this option enabled.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set regexp</code></dt>
<dd><p>Do extended regular expression searches by default.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set smarthome</code></dt>
<dd><p>Make the Home key smarter. When Home is pressed anywhere but at the
very beginning of non-whitespace characters on a line, the cursor will
jump to that beginning (either forwards or backwards). If the cursor is
already at that position, it will jump to the true beginning of the
line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set smooth</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use smooth scrolling by default.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set softwrap</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable soft line wrapping for easier viewing of very long lines.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set speller "spellprog"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Use spelling checker "spellprog" instead of the built-in one, which
calls "spell".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set statuscolor <var>fgcolor</var>,<var>bgcolor</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Specify the color combination to use for the statusbar.
See <code>set titlecolor</code> for more details.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set suspend</code></dt>
<dd><p>Allow <code>nano</code> to be suspended.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set tabsize <var>number</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Use a tab size of <var>number</var> columns. The value of <var>number</var> must be
greater than 0. The default value is 8.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set tabstospaces</code></dt>
<dd><p>Convert typed tabs to spaces.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set tempfile</code></dt>
<dd><p>Save automatically on exit, don’t prompt.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set titlecolor <var>fgcolor</var>,<var>bgcolor</var></code></dt>
<dd><p>Specify the color combination to use for the titlebar.
Valid color names for foreground and background are:
white, black, red, blue, green, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
And either <var>fgcolor</var> or <var>,bgcolor</var> may be left out.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set view</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disallow file modification.
</p>
<a name="Whitespace"></a></dd>
<dt><code>set whitespace "<var>string</var>"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Set the two characters used to indicate the presence of tabs and
spaces. They must be single-column characters. The default pair
for a UTF-8 locale is "»·", and for other locales ">.".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>set wordbounds</code></dt>
<dd><p>Detect word boundaries more accurately by treating punctuation
characters as part of a word.
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="Syntax-Highlighting"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Rebinding-Keys" accesskey="n" rel="next">Rebinding Keys</a>, Previous: <a href="#Settings" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Settings</a>, Up: <a href="#Nanorc-Files" accesskey="u" rel="up">Nanorc Files</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Syntax-Highlighting-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">5.2 Syntax Highlighting</h3>
<p>Coloring the different syntactic elements of a file
is done via regular expressions (see the <code>color</code> command below).
This is inherently imperfect, because regular expressions are not
powerful enough to fully parse a file. Nevertheless, regular
expressions can do a lot and are easy to make, so they are a
good fit for a small editor like <code>nano</code>.
</p>
<p>A separate syntax can be defined for each kind of file
via the following commands in a nanorc file:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>syntax "str" ["fileregex" …]</code></dt>
<dd><p>Defines a syntax named "str" which can be activated via the -Y/–syntax
command-line option, or will be automatically activated if the current
filename matches the extended regular expression "fileregex". All
following "color" and "icolor" statements will apply to this "str"
syntax until a new syntax is defined.
</p>
<p>The "none" syntax is reserved; specifying it on the command line is the
same as not having a syntax at all. The "default" syntax is special: it
takes no "fileregex", and applies to files that don’t match any other
syntax’s "fileregex".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>linter program [arg …]</code></dt>
<dd><p>For the currently defined syntax, use the given program to invoke the
linter (this overrides the speller function when defined).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>formatter program [arg …]</code></dt>
<dd><p>For the currently defined syntax, use the given program to automatically
reformat text. Useful in certain programming languages (e.g. go).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>header "regex" …</code></dt>
<dd><p>For the currently defined syntax, add one or more regexes which will
be compared against the very first line of the file to be edited,
to determine whether this syntax should be used for that file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>magic "regex" …</code></dt>
<dd><p>For the currently defined syntax, add one or more regexes which will be
compared against the result of querying the magic database about the file
to be edited, to determine whether this syntax should be used for that
file. This functionality only works when libmagic is installed on the
system and will be silently ignored otherwise.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>color fgcolor,bgcolor "regex" …</code></dt>
<dd><p>For the currently defined syntax, display all expressions matching the
extended regular expression "regex" with foreground color "fgcolor" and
background color "bgcolor", at least one of which must be specified.
Valid colors for foreground and background are: white, black, red,
blue, green, yellow, magenta, and cyan. You may use the prefix "bright"
to get a stronger color highlight for the foreground. If your
terminal supports transparency, not specifying a "bgcolor" tells <code>nano</code>
to attempt to use a transparent background.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>icolor fgcolor,bgcolor "regex" …</code></dt>
<dd><p>Same as above, except that the expression matching is case insensitive.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>color fgcolor,bgcolor start="sr" end="er"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Display expressions which start with the extended regular expression
"sr" and end with the extended regular expression "er" with foreground
color "fgcolor" and background color "bgcolor", at least one of which
must be specified. This allows syntax highlighting to span multiple
lines. Note that all subsequent instances of "sr" after an initial "sr"
is found will be highlighted until the first instance of "er".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>icolor fgcolor,bgcolor start="sr" end="er"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Same as above, except that the expression matching is case insensitive.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>include "syntaxfile"</code></dt>
<dd><p>Read in self-contained color syntaxes from "syntaxfile". Note that
"syntaxfile" can only contain the above commands, from "syntax" to
"icolor".
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>extendsyntax str directive [arg …]</code></dt>
<dd><p>Extend the syntax previously defined as str to include new information.
Allows you to add a new color, icolor, magic, header, or linter directive
to an already defined syntax. Useful when you want to add to definitions
from the system-installed syntax definitions (which are normally not writable).
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="Rebinding-Keys"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Previous: <a href="#Syntax-Highlighting" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Syntax Highlighting</a>, Up: <a href="#Nanorc-Files" accesskey="u" rel="up">Nanorc Files</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Rebinding-Keys-1"></a>
<h3 class="section">5.3 Rebinding Keys</h3>
<p>Key bindings may be reassigned via the following two commands in a
nanorc file:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>bind key function menu</code></dt>
<dd><p>Rebinds <code>key</code> to <code>function</code> in the context of <code>menu</code>
(or in all menus where the function exists by using <code>all</code>).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>unbind key menu</code></dt>
<dd><p>Unbinds <code>key</code> from <code>menu</code>
(or from all menus where it exists by using <code>all</code>).
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<p>The format of <code>key</code> should be one of:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>^</code></dt>
<dd><p>followed by an alpha character or the word "Space".
Example: <code>^C</code>
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>M-</code></dt>
<dd><p>followed by a printable character or the word "Space".
Example: <code>M-C</code>
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>F</code></dt>
<dd><p>followed by a numeric value from 1 to 16.
Example: <code>F10</code>
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<p>Valid names for the <code>function</code> to be bound are:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>help</code></dt>
<dd><p>Invokes the help viewer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>cancel</code></dt>
<dd><p>Cancels the current command.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>exit</code></dt>
<dd><p>Exits from the program (or from the help viewer or the file browser).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>writeout</code></dt>
<dd><p>Writes the current buffer to disk.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>insert</code></dt>
<dd><p>Inserts a file into the current buffer (or into a new buffer when multibuffer
is enabled).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>whereis</code></dt>
<dd><p>Searches for text in the current buffer – or for filenames matching
a string in the current list in the file browser
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>searchagain</code></dt>
<dd><p>Repeats the last search command.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>replace</code></dt>
<dd><p>Interactively replaces text within the current buffer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>cut</code></dt>
<dd><p>Cuts and stores the current line (or the marked region).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>copytext</code></dt>
<dd><p>Copies the current line (or the marked region) without deleting it.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>uncut</code></dt>
<dd><p>Copies the currently stored text into the current buffer at the
current cursor position.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>mark</code></dt>
<dd><p>Sets the mark at the current position, to start selecting text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>cutrestoffile</code></dt>
<dd><p>Cuts all text from the cursor position till the end of the buffer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>curpos</code></dt>
<dd><p>Shows the current cursor position: the line, column, and character positions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>wordcount</code></dt>
<dd><p>Counts the number of words, lines and characters in the current buffer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>speller</code></dt>
<dd><p>Invokes a spell-checking program (or a linting program, if the current
syntax highlighting defines one).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>justify</code></dt>
<dd><p>Justifies the current paragraph.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>fulljustify</code></dt>
<dd><p>Justifies the entire current buffer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>indent</code></dt>
<dd><p>Indents (shifts to the right) the currently marked text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>unindent</code></dt>
<dd><p>Unindents (shifts to the left) the currently marked text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>left</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes left one position (in the editor or browser).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>right</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes right one position (in the editor or browser).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>up</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes one line up (in the editor or browser).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>down</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes one line down (in the editor or browser).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>scrollup</code></dt>
<dd><p>Scrolls up one line of text from the current position.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>scrolldown</code></dt>
<dd><p>Scrolls down one line of text from the current position.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nextword</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>prevword</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>home</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>end</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the end of the current line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>beginpara</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current paragraph.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>endpara</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the end of the current paragraph.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>prevpage</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes up one screenful.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nextpage</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes down one screenful.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>firstline</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to the first line of the file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>lastline</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to the last line of the file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>gotoline</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to a specific line (and column if specified).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>gototext</code></dt>
<dd><p>Switches from targeting a line number to searching for text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>findbracket</code></dt>
<dd><p>Moves the cursor to the bracket (brace, parenthesis, etc.) that matches
(pairs) with the one under the cursor.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>prevbuf</code></dt>
<dd><p>Switches to editing/viewing the previous buffer when using multibuffer mode.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nextbuf</code></dt>
<dd><p>Switches to editing/viewing the next buffer when using multibuffer mode.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>verbatim</code></dt>
<dd><p>Inserts the next character verbatim into the file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>tab</code></dt>
<dd><p>Inserts a tab at the current cursor location.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>enter</code></dt>
<dd><p>Inserts a new line below the current one.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>delete</code></dt>
<dd><p>Deletes the character under the cursor.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>backspace</code></dt>
<dd><p>Deletes the character before the cursor.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>undo</code></dt>
<dd><p>Undoes the last performed text action (add text, delete text, etc).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>redo</code></dt>
<dd><p>Redoes the last undone action (i.e., it undoes an undo).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>refresh</code></dt>
<dd><p>Refreshes the screen.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>suspend</code></dt>
<dd><p>Suspends the editor (if the suspending function is enabled, see the
"suspendenable" entry below).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>casesens</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles case sensitivity in searching (search/replace menus only).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>regexp</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether searching/replacing is based on literal strings or regular expressions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>backwards</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether searching/replacing goes forward or backward.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>prevhistory</code></dt>
<dd><p>Shows the previous history entry in the prompt menus (e.g. search).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nexthistory</code></dt>
<dd><p>Shows the next history entry in the prompt menus (e.g. search).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>flipreplace</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles between searching for something and replacing something.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>flipexecute</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles between inserting a file and executing a command.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>flipnewbuffer</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles between inserting into the current buffer and into a new
empty buffer.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>dosformat</code></dt>
<dd><p>When writing a file, switches to writing a DOS format (CR/LF).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>macformat</code></dt>
<dd><p>When writing a file, switches to writing a Mac format.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>append</code></dt>
<dd><p>When writing a file, appends to the end instead of overwriting.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>prepend</code></dt>
<dd><p>When writing a file, ’prepends’ (writes at the beginning) instead of overwriting.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>backup</code></dt>
<dd><p>When writing a file, creates a backup of the current file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>tofiles</code></dt>
<dd><p>Starts the file browser, allowing to select a file from a list.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>gotodir</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to a directory to be specified, allowing to browse anywhere
in the filesystem.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>firstfile</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to the first file when using the file browser (reading or writing files).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>lastfile</code></dt>
<dd><p>Goes to the last file when using the file browser (reading or writing files).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nohelp</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the presence of the two-line list of key bindings at the bottom of the screen.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>constupdate</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the constant display of the current line, column, and character positions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>morespace</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the presence of the blank line which ’separates’ the titlebar from the file text.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>smoothscroll</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles smooth scrolling (when moving around with the arrow keys).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>softwrap</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the displaying of overlong lines on multiple screen lines.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>whitespacedisplay</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the showing of whitespace.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nosyntax</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles syntax highlighting.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>smarthome</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the smartness of the Home key.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>autoindent</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether new lines will contain the same amount of whitespace as the preceding line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>cuttoend</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether cutting text will cut the whole line or just from the current cursor
position to the end of the line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>nowrap</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether long lines will be hard-wrapped to the next line.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>tabstospaces</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether typed tabs will be converted to spaces.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>backupfile</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether a backup will be made of the file to be edited.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>multibuffer</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles the use of multiple file buffers (if available).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>mouse</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles mouse support.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>noconvert</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles automatic conversion of files from DOS/Mac format.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>suspendenable</code></dt>
<dd><p>Toggles whether the suspend sequence (normally ^Z) will suspend the editor window.
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<p>Valid names for <code>menu</code> are:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>main</code></dt>
<dd><p>The main editor window where text is entered and edited.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>search</code></dt>
<dd><p>The search menu (AKA whereis).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>replace</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’search to replace’ menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>replacewith</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’replace with’ menu, which comes up after ’search to replace’.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>gotoline</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’goto line (and column)’ menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>writeout</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’write file’ menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>insert</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’insert file’ menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>extcmd</code></dt>
<dd><p>The menu for inserting output from an external command, reached from the insert menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>help</code></dt>
<dd><p>The help-viewer menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>spell</code></dt>
<dd><p>The interactive spell checker Yes/no menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>linter</code></dt>
<dd><p>The linter menu.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>browser</code></dt>
<dd><p>The file browser for inserting or writing a file.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>whereisfile</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’search for a file’ menu in the file browser.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>gotodir</code></dt>
<dd><p>The ’go to directory’ menu in the file browser.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>all</code></dt>
<dd><p>A special name that encompasses all menus. For <code>bind</code> it means
all menus where the specified <code>function</code> exists; for <code>unbind</code>
it means all menus where the specified <code>key</code> exists.
</p></dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="The-File-Browser"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Pico-Compatibility" accesskey="n" rel="next">Pico Compatibility</a>, Previous: <a href="#Nanorc-Files" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Nanorc Files</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="The-File-Browser-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">6 The File Browser</h2>
<p>When reading or writing files, pressing ^T will invoke the file browser.
Here, one can navigate directories in a graphical manner in order to
find the desired file.
</p>
<p>Basic movement in the file browser is accomplished with the arrow keys,
page up, and page down. More advanced movement is accomplished by
searching via ^W (or ’w’) and changing directories via ^_ (or ’g’). The
behavior of the Enter (or ’s’) key varies by what is currently selected.
If the currently selected object is a directory, the file browser will
enter and display the contents of the directory. If the object is a
file, this filename and path are copied to the statusbar, and the file
browser exits.
</p>
<hr>
<a name="Pico-Compatibility"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Next: <a href="#Building-and-Configure-Options" accesskey="n" rel="next">Building and Configure Options</a>, Previous: <a href="#The-File-Browser" accesskey="p" rel="prev">The File Browser</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Pico-Compatibility-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">7 Pico Compatibility</h2>
<p><code>nano</code> attempts to emulate Pico as closely as possible, but there
are certain differences between the editors:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>Search and Replace History</code></dt>
<dd><p>As of version 1.1.99pre1 of <code>nano</code>, text entered as search or
replace strings will be stored and can be accessed with the up/down
arrow keys. Previously, <code>nano</code> offered a more consistent, but
incompatible with Pico, method for entering search and replace strings.
In the old method, previous entries would be displayed by default as
editable text in front of the cursor, as opposed to being bracketed and
uneditable as it is in Pico. The old behavior could be made compatible
with Pico via the <code>-p</code> option, but recent versions of Pico use the
<code>-p</code> option to preserve the XON and XOFF sequences within the
editor. Since, with the new method, search and replace strings can
still be edited by simply hitting the up arrow key once, the old method
was removed completely.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Writing, Appending, or Prepending Selected Text to Files</code></dt>
<dd><p>Text selected using the marking key (^^) can be written out, appended,
or prepended to a new or existing file using the WriteOut key (^O).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Toggles</code></dt>
<dd><p>Many options which alter the functionality of the program can be
"toggled" on or off using Meta key sequences, meaning the program does
not have to be restarted to turn a particular feature of the editor on
or off. Please see the internal help function (^G) for a list of what
functions can be toggled for a particular version of <code>nano</code>. See
See <a href="#Feature-Toggles">Feature Toggles</a>, for more info.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Cursor Position Display</code></dt>
<dd><p>The output of the "Display Cursor Position" in <code>nano</code> displays
the current line position of the cursor, as well as the column and
total character position.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>Interactive Replace and Spell Checker</code></dt>
<dd><p>It is worth noting that <code>nano</code>’s replace function is interactive,
i.e. it does not stop after one search string was found and automatically
replaced. The <code>nano</code> implementation will pause at each found
search string and query whether to replace this instance or not. The
internal spell checker operates similarly. Note that there is no way to
force these functions to behave in the Pico fashion. As of version
1.1.99pre1, misspelled words are sorted and trimmed for uniqueness in
the internal spell checker such that the words ’apple’ and ’Apple’ will
be prompted for correction separately.
</p></dd>
</dl>
<hr>
<a name="Building-and-Configure-Options"></a>
<div class="header">
<p>
Previous: <a href="#Pico-Compatibility" accesskey="p" rel="prev">Pico Compatibility</a>, Up: <a href="#Top" accesskey="u" rel="up">Top</a> [<a href="#SEC_Contents" title="Table of contents" rel="contents">Contents</a>]</p>
</div>
<a name="Building-and-Configure-Options-1"></a>
<h2 class="chapter">8 Building and Configure Options</h2>
<p>Building <code>nano</code> from source is fairly straightforward if you are
familiar with compiling programs with autoconf support:
</p>
<ul>
<li> tar xvfz nano-x.y.z.tar.gz (where x.y.z is the version of
<code>nano</code>)
</li><li> cd nano-x.y.z/
</li><li> ./configure
</li><li> make
</li><li> make install
</li></ul>
<p>The possible options to <code>./configure</code> are:
</p>
<dl compact="compact">
<dt><code>--disable-browser</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the mini file browser when reading or writing files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-color</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable support for the syntax coloring of files. This also eliminates
the -Y command-line option, which chooses a specific syntax.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-extra</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable extra features. At the moment, this is just easter-egg-type
stuff.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-help</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the help function. Doing this makes the binary much smaller,
but makes it difficult for new users to learn more than very basic
things about using the editor.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-histories</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the code for the handling of the history files: the search and
replace strings that were used, and the cursor position at which each
file was closed. This also eliminates the -H and -P command-line
options, which switch on the logging of search/replace strings and
cursor positions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-justify</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the justify and unjustify functions.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-libmagic</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the use of the library of magic-number tests (for determining
the file type and thus which syntax to use for colouring – often the
tests on filename extension and header line will be enough).
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-mouse</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable all mouse functionality. This also eliminates the -m
command-line option, which enables the mouse functionality.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-multibuffer</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable support for opening multiple files at a time and switching
between them on the fly. This also eliminates the -F command-line
option, which switches the use of multiple file buffers on.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-nanorc</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable support for reading the nanorc files at startup. With such
support, you can store custom settings in a system-wide and a per-user
nanorc file rather than having to pass command-line options to get
the desired behavior. See See <a href="#Nanorc-Files">Nanorc Files</a>, for more info.
Disabling this also eliminates the -I and -q command-line options;
the first inhibits the reading of nanorcfiles, and the second
suppresses warnings about errors in those files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-operatingdir</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable setting the operating directory. This also eliminates the -o
command-line option, which sets the operating directory.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-speller</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable use of the spell checker. This also eliminates the -s
command-line option, which allows specifying an alternate spell checker.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-tabcomp</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable the tab completion code when reading or writing files.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-wrapping</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable hard-wrapping of overlong lines. This also eliminates the -w
command-line option, which enables long-line wrapping.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--enable-tiny</code></dt>
<dd><p>This option disables all the above. It also disables some of the larger
internals of the editor, like the marking code and the cut-to-end-of-line
code. It also disables the function toggles. By using the enabling
counterpart of the above options together with –enable-tiny, specific
features can be switched back on.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--enable-debug</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable support for runtime debug output. This can get pretty messy, so
chances are you only want this feature when you’re working on the nano source.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-nls</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disables Native Language support. This will disable the use of any
available GNU <code>nano</code> translations.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-wrapping-as-root</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable hard-wrapping of overlong lines by default when <code>nano</code>
is run as root.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--enable-utf8</code></dt>
<dd><p>Enable support for reading and writing Unicode files. This will require
either a wide version of curses, or a UTF-8-enabled version of Slang.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--disable-utf8</code></dt>
<dd><p>Disable support for reading and writing Unicode files. Normally the
configure script auto-detects whether to enable UTF-8 support or not.
You can use this or the previous option to override that detection.
</p>
</dd>
<dt><code>--with-slang</code></dt>
<dd><p>Compile <code>nano</code> against Slang instead of against ncurses or other
curses libraries.
</p>
</dd>
</dl>
<a name="SEC_Contents"></a>
<h2 class="contents-heading">Table of Contents</h2>
<div class="contents">
<ul class="no-bullet">
<li><a name="toc-Introduction-1" href="#Introduction">1 Introduction</a>
<ul class="no-bullet">
<li><a name="toc-Overview-1" href="#Overview">1.1 Overview</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Command-Line-Options-1" href="#Command-Line-Options">1.2 Command Line Options</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a name="toc-Editor-Basics-1" href="#Editor-Basics">2 Editor Basics</a>
<ul class="no-bullet">
<li><a name="toc-Entering-Text-1" href="#Entering-Text">2.1 Entering Text</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Special-Functions-1" href="#Special-Functions">2.2 Special Functions</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-The-Cutbuffer-1" href="#The-Cutbuffer">2.3 The Cutbuffer</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-The-Mark-1" href="#The-Mark">2.4 The Mark</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-The-Titlebar-1" href="#The-Titlebar">2.5 The Titlebar</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-The-Statusbar-1" href="#The-Statusbar">2.6 The Statusbar</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Shortcut-Lists-1" href="#Shortcut-Lists">2.7 Shortcut Lists</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Using-the-Mouse-1" href="#Using-the-Mouse">2.8 Using the Mouse</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a name="toc-Online-Help-1" href="#Online-Help">3 Online Help</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Feature-Toggles-1" href="#Feature-Toggles">4 Feature Toggles</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Nanorc-Files-1" href="#Nanorc-Files">5 Nanorc Files</a>
<ul class="no-bullet">
<li><a name="toc-Settings-1" href="#Settings">5.1 Settings</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Syntax-Highlighting-1" href="#Syntax-Highlighting">5.2 Syntax Highlighting</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Rebinding-Keys-1" href="#Rebinding-Keys">5.3 Rebinding Keys</a></li>
</ul></li>
<li><a name="toc-The-File-Browser-1" href="#The-File-Browser">6 The File Browser</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Pico-Compatibility-1" href="#Pico-Compatibility">7 Pico Compatibility</a></li>
<li><a name="toc-Building-and-Configure-Options-1" href="#Building-and-Configure-Options">8 Building and Configure Options</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<hr>
</body>
</html>
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