LESSKEY(1) LESSKEY(1) NNAAMMEE lesskey - specify key bindings for less SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS lleesssskkeeyy [[--oo oouuttppuutt]] [[iinnppuutt]] lleesssskkeeyy --VV DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN _L_e_s_s_k_e_y is used to specify a set of key bindings to be used by _l_e_s_s_. The input file is a text file which describes the key bindings, If the input file is "-", standard input is read. If no input file is specified, $HOME/.lesskey is read. The output file is a binary file which is used by _l_e_s_s_. If no output file is specified, $HOME/.less is written. If the output file already exists, _l_e_s_s_k_e_y will overwrite it. The input file consists of lines of the form: _s_t_r_i_n_g _a_c_t_i_o_n [extra-string] Whitespace is any sequence of one or more spaces and/or tabs. The _s_t_r_i_n_g is the command key(s) which invoke the action. The _s_t_r_i_n_g may be a single command key, or a sequence of up to 15 keys. The _a_c_t_i_o_n is the name of the less action, from the list below. The characters in the _s_t_r_i_n_g may appear literally, or be prefixed by a caret to indicate a control key. A backslash followed by one to three octal digits may be used to specify a character by its octal value. A backslash followed by b, e, n, r or t specifies BACKSPACE, ESCAPE, NEWLINE, RETURN or TAB, respectively. A backslash followed by any other character indicates that character is to be taken literally. Char- acters which must be preceded by backslash include caret, space, tab and the backslash itself. Blank lines and lines which start with a pound sign (#) are ignored. An action may be followed by an "extra" string. When such a command is entered while running _l_e_s_s_, the action is performed, and then the extra string is parsed, just as if it were typed in to _l_e_s_s_. This feature can be used in certain cases to extend the functionality of a command. For example, see the "{" and ":t" commands in the example below. The -V flag causes _l_e_s_s_k_e_y to print its version number and immediately exit. Other flags and arguments are ignored. EEXXAAMMPPLLEE The following input file describes the set of default com- mand keys used by less: \r forw-line 1 LESSKEY(1) LESSKEY(1) \n forw-line e forw-line j forw-line ^E forw-line ^N forw-line k back-line y back-line ^Y back-line ^K back-line ^P back-line J forw-line-force K back-line-force Y back-line-force d forw-scroll ^D forw-scroll u back-scroll ^U back-scroll \40 forw-screen f forw-screen ^F forw-screen ^V forw-screen b back-screen ^B back-screen \ev back-screen z forw-window w back-window F forw-forever R repaint-flush r repaint ^R repaint ^L repaint g goto-line < goto-line \e< goto-line p percent % percent { forw-bracket {} } back-bracket {} ( forw-bracket () ) back-bracket () [ forw-bracket [] ] back-bracket [] \e^F forw-bracket \e^B back-bracket G goto-end \e> goto-end > goto-end = status ^G status :f status / forw-search ? back-search \e/ forw-search * \e? back-search * 2 LESSKEY(1) LESSKEY(1) n repeat-search \en repeat-search-all N reverse-search \eN reverse-search-all \u undo-hilite m set-mark ' goto-mark ^X^X goto-mark E examine :e examine ^X^V examine :n next-file :p prev-file :x index-file - toggle-option :t toggle-option t s toggle-option o _ display-option | pipe v visual ! shell + firstcmd H help h help V version q quit :q quit :Q quit ZZ quit PPRREECCEEDDEENNCCEE Commands specified by _l_e_s_s_k_e_y take precedence over the default commands. A default command key may be disabled by including it in the input file with the action "invalid". Alternatively, a key may be defined to do nothing by using the action "noaction". "noaction" is similar to "invalid", but _l_e_s_s will give an error beep for an "invalid" command, but not for a "noaction" command. In addition, ALL default commands may be disabled by adding this control line to the input file: #stop This will cause all default commands to be ignored. The #stop line should be the last line in that section of the file. (Another section, introduced by #line-edit, may follow the #stop line.) Be aware that #stop can be dangerous. Since all default commands are disabled, you must provide sufficient com- mands before the #stop line to enable all necessary actions. For example, failure to provide a "quit" command can lead to frustration. 3 LESSKEY(1) LESSKEY(1) LLIINNEE EEDDIITTIINNGG New key bindings may be specified for the line editing commands, in a manner similar to the way key bindings for ordinary commands are specified. This control line marks the beginning of a section of line-editing commands: #line-edit Following this line is a list of keys and actions, one per line as in the example below. EEXXAAMMPPLLEE The following input file describes the set of default line-editing keys used by less: #line-edit \t forw-complete \17 back-complete \e\t back-complete \14 expand ^V literal ^A literal \el right \eh left \eb word-left \ew word-right \ei insert \ex delete \e\b word-backspace \e0 home \e$ end \ek up \ej down SSEEEE AALLSSOO less(1) CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT Copyright (c) 1984,1985,1989,1994 Mark Nudelman 4 .