


LESSKEY(1)                                             LESSKEY(1)


NNAAMMEE
       lesskey - specify key bindings for less

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
       lleesssskkeeyy [[--oo oouuttppuutt]] [[iinnppuutt]]
       lleesssskkeeyy --VV

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
       _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 <whitespace> _a_c_t_i_o_n [extra-string] <newline>

       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.


EEXXAAMMPPLLEE
       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


PPRREECCEEDDEENNCCEE
       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)


LLIINNEE EEDDIITTIINNGG
       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.


EEXXAAMMPPLLEE
       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



SSEEEE AALLSSOO
       less(1)


CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
       Copyright (c) 1984,1985,1989,1994  Mark Nudelman














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