\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*- @c %**start of header @setfilename nano.info @settitle nano Command Manual @c %**end of header @c This file has the new style title page commands. @c Run 'makeinfo' rather than 'texinfo-format-buffer'. @smallbook @set EDITION 0.1 @set VERSION 1.9.99pre1 @set UPDATED 26 Jun 2006 @dircategory Editors @direntry * nano: (nano). Small and friendly text editor. @end direntry @c tex @c \overfullrule=0pt @c end tex @titlepage @title GNU @code{nano} @subtitle a small and friendly text editor. @subtitle version 1.9.99pre1 @author Chris Allegretta @page This manual documents GNU @code{nano}, a small and friendly text editor. This manual is part of the GNU @code{nano} distribution.@* @sp4 Copyright (C) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Chris Allegretta. This is free documentation, see the latest version of the GNU General Public License for copying conditions. There is NO warranty. You may contact the author by e-mail: @email{chrisa@@asty.org}@* @end titlepage @node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir) This manual documents GNU @code{nano}, a small and friendly text editor. @menu * Introduction:: * Editor Basics:: * Online Help:: * Feature Toggles:: * Nanorc Files:: * The File Browser:: * Pico Compatibility:: * Building and Configure Options:: @end menu @node Introduction, Editor Basics, Top, Top @chapter Introduction GNU @code{nano} is a small and friendly text editor. Besides basic text editing, @code{nano} offers many extra features like an interactive search and replace, go to line number, auto-indentation, feature toggles, internationalization support, and filename tab completion. @menu * Overview:: * Command Line Options:: @end menu @node Overview, Command Line Options, Introduction, Introduction @section Overview The original goal for @code{nano} was a complete bug-for-bug compatible emulation of Pico, but @code{nano}'s current goal is to be as compatible as possible while offering a superset of Pico's functionality. See @xref{Pico Compatibility}, for more info. The usual way to invoke @code{nano} is: @quotation @code{nano [OPTION]@dots{} [FILE]} @end quotation 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: @quotation @code{nano [OPTION]@dots{} [[+LINE] FILE]@dots{}} @code{nano [OPTION]@dots{} [[+,COLUMN] FILE]@dots{}} @code{nano [OPTION]@dots{} [[+LINE,COLUMN] FILE]@dots{}} @end quotation Email bug reports to @email{nano@@nano-editor.org}. @node Command Line Options, , Overview, Introduction @section Command Line Options @code{nano} takes the following options from the command line: @table @code @item +LINE,COLUMN Start at line number LINE and column number COLUMN (at least one of which must be specified) instead of the default of line 1, column 1. @item -? Same as @code{-h, --help}. @item -A, --smarthome 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. @item -B, --backup When saving a file, back up the previous version of it to the current filename suffixed with a ~. @item -C , --backupdir= Set the directory where @code{nano} puts unique backup files if file backups are enabled. @item -D, --boldtext Use bold text instead of reverse video text. @item -E, --tabstospaces Convert typed tabs to spaces. @item -F, --multibuffer Enable multiple file buffers, if available. @item -H, --historylog Log search and replace strings to ~/.nano_history, so they can be retrieved in later sessions, if nanorc support is available. @item -I, --ignorercfiles Don't look at SYSCONFDIR/nanorc or ~/.nanorc, if nanorc support is available. @item -K, --rebindkeypad 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. @item -L, --nonewlines Don't add newlines to the ends of files. @item -N, --noconvert Don't convert files from DOS/Mac format. @item -Q , --quotestr= Set the quoting string for justifying. The default value is @quotation @code{^([ \t]*[|>:@}#])+} @end quotation if extended regular expression support is available, or "> " otherwise. Note that @code{\t} above stands for a literal Tab character. @item -R, --restricted Restricted mode: don't read or write to any file not specified on the command line; read any nanorc files; allow suspending; allow a file to be appended to, prepended to, or saved under a different name if it already has one; or use backup files or spell checking. Also accessible by invoking @code{nano} with any name beginning with 'r' (e.g. "rnano"). @item -S, --smooth Enable smooth scrolling. Text will scroll line-by-line, instead of the usual chunk-by-chunk behavior. @item -T <#cols>, --tabsize=<#cols> Set the displayed tab length to #cols columns. The value of #cols must be greater than 0. The default value is 8. @item -U, --quickblank Do quick statusbar blanking. Statusbar messages will disappear after 1 keystroke instead of 25. Note that -c overrides this. @item -V, --version Show the current version number and exit. @item -W, --wordbounds Detect word boundaries more accurately by treating punctuation characters as parts of words. @item -Y , --syntax= Specify a specific syntax highlighting from the nanorc to use, if available. See @xref{Nanorc Files}, for more info. @item -c, --const Constantly display the cursor position and line number on the statusbar. Note that this overrides -U. @item -d, --rebinddelete 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. @item -h, --help Show a summary of command line options and exit. @item -i, --autoindent Automatically indent new lines to the same number of spaces and tabs as the previous line. @item -k, --cut Cut from the current cursor position to the end of the current line. @item -l, --nofollow When writing files, if the given file is a symbolic link, it is removed and a new file is created. @item -m, --mouse 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. @item -o , --operatingdir= Set operating directory. Makes @code{nano} set up something similar to a chroot. @item -p, --preserve Preserve the ^Q (XON) and ^S (XOFF) sequences so data being sent to the editor can be can be stopped and started. @item -r <#cols>, --fill=<#cols> Wrap lines at column #cols. If this value is 0 or less, wrapping will occur at the width of the screen less #cols, allowing it to vary along with the width of the screen if the screen is resized. The default value is -8. @item -s , --speller= Invoke the given program as the spell checker. By default, @code{nano} uses the command specified in the SPELL environment variable, or, if SPELL is not set, its own interactive spell checker that requires the @code{spell} program to be installed on your system. @item -t, --tempfile 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} as the composer of a mailer program. @item -v, --view 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. @item -w, --nowrap Don't wrap long lines at any length. This option overrides any value for -r. @anchor{Expert Mode} @item -x, --nohelp 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. Note: When accessing the help system, Expert Mode is temporarily disabled to display the help system navigation keys. @item -z, --suspend Enable @code{nano}'s suspend ability using the system's suspend keystroke (usually ^Z). @item -a, -b, -e, -f, -g, -j Ignored, for compatibility with Pico. @end table @node Editor Basics, Online Help, Introduction, Top @chapter Editor Basics @menu * Entering Text:: * Special Functions:: * The Titlebar:: * The Statusbar:: * Shortcut Lists:: * Using the Mouse:: @end menu @node Entering Text, Special Functions, Editor Basics, Editor Basics @section Entering Text All key sequences in @code{nano} are entered using the keyboard. @code{nano} is a "modeless" editor. All keys, with the exception of Control and Meta key sequences, will enter text into the file being edited. @node Special Functions, The Titlebar, Entering Text, Editor Basics @section Special Functions Special functions use the Control (Ctrl) key, displayed in the help and shortcut lists as ^; the Meta key, displayed as M; or the Escape (Esc) key. @itemize @bullet @item Control key sequences are entered by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing the desired key, or by pressing the Esc key twice and pressing the desired key. @item Pressing Esc twice and then typing a three-digit number from 000 to 255 will enter the character with the corresponding value. @item 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 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. @end itemize @node The Titlebar, The Statusbar, Special Functions, Editor Basics @section The Titlebar 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} 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. Special modes: When @code{nano} is in "File browser" mode, the center section will display the current directory instead of the filename. See @xref{The File Browser}, for more info. @node The Statusbar, Shortcut Lists, The Titlebar, Editor Basics @section The Statusbar The statusbar is the third line from the bottom of the screen, or the bottom line in Expert Mode. See @xref{Expert Mode}, 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. @node Shortcut Lists, Using the Mouse, The Statusbar, Editor Basics @section Shortcut Lists 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. @node Using the Mouse, , Shortcut Lists, Editor Basics @section Using the Mouse 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. The mouse will work in the X Window System, and on the console when gpm is running. @node Online Help, Feature Toggles, Editor Basics, Top @chapter Online Help The online help system in @code{nano} 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. @node Feature Toggles, Nanorc Files, Online Help, Top @chapter Feature Toggles 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 @xref{Special Functions}, for more info. The following global toggles are available: @table @code @item Backup Files Toggle (Meta-B) toggles the -B (@code{--backup}) command line option. @item Constant Cursor Position Display Toggle (Meta-C) toggles the -c (@code{--const}) command line option. @item Multiple File Buffers Toggle (Meta-F) toggles the -F (@code{--multibuffer}) command line option. @item Smart Home Key Toggle (Meta-H) toggles the -A (@code{--smarthome}) command line option. @item Auto Indent Toggle (Meta-I) toggles the -i (@code{--autoindent}) command line option. @item Cut To End Toggle (Meta-K) toggles the -k (@code{--cut}) command line option. @item Long Line Wrapping Toggle (Meta-L) toggles the -w (@code{--nowrap}) command line option. @item Mouse Support Toggle (Meta-M) toggles the -m (@code{--mouse}) command line option. @item No Conversion From DOS/Mac Format Toggle (Meta-N) toggles the -N (@code{--noconvert}) command line option. @item More Space For Editing Toggle (Meta-O) toggles the -O (@code{--morespace}) command line option. @item Whitespace Display Toggle (Meta-P) toggles whitespace display mode if you have a "whitespace" option in your nanorc. See @xref{Nanorc Files}, for more info. @item Tabs to Spaces Toggle (Meta-Q) toggles the -E (@code{--tabstospaces}) command line option. @item Smooth Scrolling Toggle (Meta-S) toggles the -S (@code{--smooth}) command line option. @item Expert/No Help Toggle (Meta-X) toggles the -x (@code{--nohelp}) command line option. @item Color Syntax Highlighting Toggle (Meta-Y) toggles color syntax highlighting if you have color syntaxes in your nanorc. See @xref{Nanorc Files}, for more info. @item Suspend Toggle (Meta-Z) toggles the -z (@code{--suspend}) command line option. @end table @node Nanorc Files, The File Browser, Feature Toggles, Top @chapter Nanorc Files The nanorc files contain the default settings for @code{nano}. They should not be in DOS or Mac format. During startup, @code{nano} will first read its system-wide settings from SYSCONFDIR/nanorc, and then user-specific settings from ~/.nanorc. A nanorc file accepts a series of "set" and "unset" commands, which can be used to configure @code{nano} on startup without using the command line options. Additionally, the "syntax", "color", and "icolor" keywords are used to define syntax highlighting rules for different text patterns. @code{nano} will read one command per line. Options in nanorc files take precedence over @code{nano}'s defaults, and command line options override nanorc settings. Options are also unset by default, except for those that take arguments. 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, @quotation @code{""')>]@}"} @end quotation will match @code{"}, @code{'}, @code{)}, @code{>}, @code{]}, and @code{@}}. The supported commands and arguments are: @table @code @item set/unset autoindent Use auto-indentation. @item set/unset backup Create backup files in "filename~". @item set backupdir "directory" Set the directory where @code{nano} puts unique backup files if file backups are enabled. @item set/unset backwards Do backwards searches by default. @item set/unset boldtext Use bold text instead of reverse video text. @item set brackets "string" Set the characters treated as closing brackets when justifying paragraphs. They cannot contain blank characters. Only closing punctuation, optionally followed by closing brackets, can end sentences. The default value is @quotation @code{""')>]@}"} @end quotation @item set/unset casesensitive Do case sensitive searches by default. @item set/unset const Constantly display the cursor position in the status bar. @item set/unset cut Use cut to end of line by default, instead of cutting the whole line. @item set fill "n" Wrap lines at column number "n". If "n" is 0 or less, the maximum line length will be the screen width less "n" columns. The default value is -8. @item set/unset historylog Enable ~/.nano_history for saving and reading search/replace strings. @item set matchbrackets "string" Set the opening and closing brackets that can be found by bracket searches. They cannot contain blank characters. The former set must come before the latter set, and both must be in the same order. The default value is @quotation @code{"(<[@{)>]@}"} @end quotation @item set/unset morespace Allow use of the blank line below the titlebar as extra editing space. @item set/unset mouse Enable mouse support, so that mouse clicks can be used to place the cursor, set the mark (with a double click), or execute shortcuts. @item set/unset multibuffer Allow inserting files into their own buffers. @item set/unset noconvert Don't convert files from DOS/Mac format. @item set/unset nofollow Don't follow symlinks when writing files. @item set/unset nohelp Don't display the help lists at the bottom of the screen. @item set/unset nonewlines Don't add newlines to the ends of files. @item set/unset nowrap Don't wrap text at all. @item set operatingdir "directory" @code{nano} 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. @item set/unset preserve Preserve the XON and XOFF keys (^Q and ^S). @item set punct "string" Set the characters treated as closing punctuation when justifying paragraphs. They cannot contain blank characters. Only closing punctuation, optionally followed by closing brackets, can end sentences. The default value is @code{"!.?"}. @item set/unset quickblank Do quick statusbar blanking. Statusbar messages will disappear after 1 keystroke instead of 25. @item set quotestr "string" 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 @quotation @code{"^([ \\t]*[#:>\\|@}])+"} @end quotation if you have extended regular expression support, or "> " otherwise. Note that '\\t' stands for a literal Tab character. @item set/unset rebinddelete 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. @item set/unset rebindkeypad 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. @item set/unset regexp Do extended regular expression searches by default. @item set/unset smarthome 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. @item set/unset smooth Use smooth scrolling by default. @item set speller "spellprog" Use spelling checker "spellprog" instead of the built-in one, which calls "spell". @item set/unset suspend Allow @code{nano} to be suspended. @item set tabsize "n" Use a tab size of "n" columns. The value of "n" must be greater than 0. The default value is 8. @item set/unset tabstospaces Convert typed tabs to spaces. @item set/unset tempfile Save automatically on exit, don't prompt. @item set/unset view Disallow file modification. @item set whitespace "string" Set the two characters used to display the first characters of tabs and spaces. They must be single-column characters. @item set/unset wordbounds Detect word boundaries more accurately by treating punctuation characters as part of a word. @item syntax "str" ["fileregex" @dots{} ] 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 "syntax" until a new syntax is defined. 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". @item color fgcolor,bgcolor "regex" @dots{} 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. Legal colors for foreground and background color are: white, black, red, blue, green, yellow, magenta, and cyan. You may use the prefix "bright" to force a stronger color highlight for the foreground. If your terminal supports transparency, not specifying a "bgcolor" tells "nano" to attempt to use a transparent background. @item icolor fgcolor,bgcolor "regex" @dots{} Same as above, except that the expression matching is case insensitive. @item color fgcolor,bgcolor start="sr" end="er" 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". @item icolor fgcolor,bgcolor start="sr" end="er" Same as above, except that the expression matching is case insensitive. @item include "syntaxfile" Read in self-contained color syntaxes from "syntaxfile". Note that "syntaxfile" can only contain "syntax", "color", and "icolor" commands. @end table @node The File Browser, Pico Compatibility, Nanorc Files, Top @chapter The File Browser 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. 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. @node Pico Compatibility, Building and Configure Options, The File Browser, Top @chapter Pico Compatibility @code{nano} attempts to emulate Pico as closely as possible, but there are certain differences between the editors: @table @code @item Search and Replace History As of version 1.1.99pre1 of @code{nano}, text entered as search or replace strings will be stored and can be accessed with the up/down arrow keys. Previously, @code{nano} 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} option, but recent versions of Pico use the @code{-p} 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. @item Writing, Appending, or Prepending Selected Text to Files Text selected using the marking key (^^) can be written out, appended, or prepended to a new or existing file using the WriteOut key (^O). @item Toggles 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}. See @xref{Feature Toggles}, for more info. @item Cursor Position Display The output of the "Display Cursor Position" in @code{nano} displays the given column position, as well as the row and total character position of the cursor. @item Interactive Replace and Spell Checker It is worth noting that @code{nano}'s replace function is interactive, i.e, it does not stop after one search string is found and automatically replace it. The @code{nano} implementation will pause at each search string found 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. @end table @node Building and Configure Options, , Pico Compatibility, Top @chapter Building and Configure Options Building @code{nano} from source is fairly straightforward if you are familiar with compiling programs with autoconf support: @itemize @bullet @item tar xvfz nano-x.y.z.tar.gz (where x.y.z is the version of @code{nano}) @item cd nano-x.y.z/ @item ./configure @item make @item make install @end itemize The possible options to @code{./configure} are: @table @code @item --disable-browser Disable the mini file browser when reading or writing files. @item --disable-help 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. @item --disable-justify Disable the justify and unjustify functions. @item --disable-mouse Disable all mouse functionality. This also disables the -m command line option, which enables the mouse functionality. @item --disable-operatingdir Disable setting the operating directory. This also disables the -o command line option, which sets the operating directory. @item --disable-speller Disable use of the spell checker. This also disables the -s command line option, which allows specifying an alternate spell checker. @item --disable-tabcomp Disable the tab completion code when reading or writing files. @item --disable-wrapping Disable all long line wrapping. This also eliminates the -w command line option, which enables long line wrapping. @item --enable-tiny 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 line code. It also disables the function toggles. @item --enable-debug Enable support for runtime debug output. This can get pretty messy, so chances are you only want this feature to work on the nano source. @item --enable-extra Enable extra features. At the moment, this is just easter egg-type stuff. @item --enable-color Enable support for syntax coloring of files using the nanorc file. This enables nanorc support as well. @item --enable-multibuffer Enable support for opening multiple files at a time and switching between them on the fly. @item --enable-nanorc Enable support for reading the nanorc file at startup. You can store custom settings in the nanorc file rather than having to pass command line options to get desired behavior. See @xref{Nanorc Files}, for more info. @item --enable-all Shortcut for enabling the above four features (extra, color, multibuffer, and nanorc). @item --disable-nls Disables Native Language support. This will disable use of the available GNU @code{nano} translations. @item --disable-wrapping-as-root Disable long line wrapping by default when nano is run as root. @item --enable-utf8 Enable support for reading and writing Unicode files. This will require either the wide version of ncurses, or a UTF-8-enabled version of Slang. @item --disable-utf8 Disable support for reading and writing Unicode files. @item --with-slang Compiling @code{nano} with Slang is supported, and will make the binary notably smaller than if compiled with ncurses or other curses libraries. @end table @contents @bye