EDITLINE(3) EDITLINE(3)
NAME
editline - command-line editing library with history
SYNOPSIS
char *
readline(prompt)
char *prompt;
void
add_history(line)
char *line;
DESCRIPTION
Editline is a library that provides an line-editing interface with
text recall. It is intended to be compatible with the readline
library provided by the Free Software Foundation, but much smaller.
The bulk of this manual page describes the user interface.
The readline routine returns a line of text with the trailing newline
removed. The data is returned in a buffer allocated with malloc(3),
so the space should be released with free(3) when the calling program
is done with it. Before accepting input from the user, the specified
prompt is displayed on the terminal.
The add_history routine makes a copy of the specified line and adds it
to the internal history list.
User Interface
A program that uses this library provides a simple emacs-like editing
interface to its users. A line may be edited before it is sent to the
calling program by typing either control characters or escape
sequences. A control character, shown as a caret followed by a
letter, is typed by holding down the ``control'' key while the letter
is typed. For example, ``^A'' is a control-A. An escape sequence is
entered by typing the ``escape'' key followed by one or more
characters. The escape key is abbreviated as ``ESC.'' Note that
unlike control keys, case matters in escape sequences; ``ESC F'' is
not the same as ``ESC f''.
An editing command may be typed anywhere on the line, not just at the
beginning. In addition, a return may also be typed anywhere on the
line, not just at the end.
Most editing commands may be given a repeat count, n, where n is a
number. To enter a repeat count, type the escape key, the number, and
then the command to execute. For example, ``ESC 4 ^f'' moves forward
four characters. If a command may be given a repeat count then the
text ``[n]'' is given at the end of its description.
The following control characters are accepted:
^A Move to the beginning of the line
- 1 - Formatted: April 23, 2024
EDITLINE(3) EDITLINE(3)
^B Move left (backwards) [n]
^D Delete character [n]
^E Move to end of line
^F Move right (forwards) [n]
^G Ring the bell
^H Delete character before cursor (backspace key) [n]
^I Complete filename (tab key); see below
^J Done with line (return key)
^K Kill to end of line (or column [n])
^L Redisplay line
^M Done with line (alternate return key)
^N Get next line from history [n]
^P Get previous line from history [n]
^R Search backward (forward if [n]) through history for text;
must start line if text begins with an uparrow
^T Transpose characters
^V Insert next character, even if it is an edit command
^W Wipe to the mark
^X^X Exchange current location and mark
^Y Yank back last killed text
^[ Start an escape sequence (escape key)
^]c Move forward to next character ``c''
^? Delete character before cursor (delete key) [n]
The following escape sequences are provided.
ESC ^H Delete previous word (backspace key) [n]
ESC DEL Delete previous word (delete key) [n]
ESC SP Set the mark (space key); see ^X^X and ^Y above
ESC . Get the last (or [n]'th) word from previous line
ESC ? Show possible completions; see below
ESC < Move to start of history
ESC > Move to end of history
ESC b Move backward a word [n]
ESC d Delete word under cursor [n]
ESC f Move forward a word [n]
ESC l Make word lowercase [n]
ESC m Toggle if 8bit chars display normally or with ``M-'' prefix
ESC u Make word uppercase [n]
ESC y Yank back last killed text
ESC w Make area up to mark yankable
ESC nn Set repeat count to the number nn
ESC C Read from environment variable ``_C_'', where C is
an uppercase letter
The editline library has a small macro facility. If you type the
escape key followed by an uppercase letter, C, then the contents of
the environment variable _C_ are read in as if you had typed them at
the keyboard. For example, if the variable _L_ contains the
following:
^A^Kecho '^V^[[H^V^[[2J'^M
Then typing ``ESC L'' will move to the beginning of the line, kill the
- 2 - Formatted: April 23, 2024
EDITLINE(3) EDITLINE(3)
entire line, enter the echo command needed to clear the terminal (if
your terminal is like a VT-100), and send the line back to the shell.
The editline library also does filename completion. Suppose the root
directory has the following files in it:
bin vmunix
core vmunix.old
If you type ``rm /v'' and then the tab key. Editline will then finish
off as much of the name as possible by adding ``munix''. Because the
name is not unique, it will then beep. If you type the escape key and
a question mark, it will display the two choices. If you then type a
period and a tab, the library will finish off the filename for you:
rm /v[TAB]munix.TABold
The tab key is shown by ``[TAB]'' and the automatically-entered text
is shown in italics.
BUGS AND LIMITATIONS
Cannot handle lines more than 80 columns.
AUTHORS
Simmule R. Turner <uunet.uu.net!capitol!sysgo!simmy> and Rich $alz
<rsalz@osf.org>. Original manual page by DaviD W. Sanderson
<dws@ssec.wisc.edu>.
- 3 - Formatted: April 23, 2024
