This is Info file zsh.info, produced by Makeinfo-1.55 from the input
file ./zsh.texi.

This is a texinfo version of the man page for the Z Shell, originally by
Paul Falstad.  It was converted from the `zsh.1' file distributed with
zsh v2.5.0 by Jonathan Hardwick, `jch@cs.cmu.edu' and updated/modified
by Clive Messer, `clive@epos.demon.co.uk' to its present state.

   Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this
manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are
preserved on all copies.

   Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of
this manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also
that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms
of a permission notice identical to this one.

   Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this
manual into another language, under the above conditions for modified
versions.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Miscellaneous,  Prev: Completion,  Up: Zsh Line Editor

Miscellaneous
=============

`accept-and-hold (`ESC-A' `ESC-a') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Push the contents of the buffer on the buffer stack and execute it.

`accept-and-infer-next-history'
     Execute the contents of the buffer.  Then search the history list
     for a line matching the current one and push the event following
     onto the buffer stack.

`accept-line (`^J' `^M') (`^J' `^M') (`^J' `^M')'
     Execute the contents of the buffer.

`accept-line-and-down-history (`^O') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Execute the current line, and push the next history event on the
     the buffer stack.

`vi-cmd-mode (`^X^V') (unbound) (`^[')'
     Enter command mode; that is, use the alternate keymap.  Yes, this
     is bound by default in emacs mode.

`vi-caps-lock-panic'
     Hang until any lowercase key is pressed.  This is for vi users
     without the mental capacity to keep track of their caps lock key
     (like the author).

`clear-screen (`^L' `ESC-^L') (`^L') (`^L')'
     Clear the screen and redraw the prompt.

`describe-key-briefly'
     Waits for keypress, then prints the function bound to the pressed
     key.

`exchange-point-and-mark (`^X^X') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Exchange the cursor position with the position of the mark.

`execute-named-cmd (`ESC-x') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Read the name of a editor command and execute it.  A restricted
     set of editing functions is available in the mini-buffer.  An
     interrupt signal, as defined by the stty setting, will abort the
     function.  The allowed functions are: `backward-delete-char',
     `vi-backward-delete-char', `clear-screen', `redisplay',
     `quoted-insert', `vi-quoted-insert', `kill-region' (kills the last
     word), `backward-kill-word', `vi-backward-kill-word',
     `kill-whole-line', `vi-kill-line', `backward-kill-line',
     `list-choices', `delete-char-or-list', `complete-word',
     `expand-or-complete', `expand-or-complete-prefix', `accept-line',
     and `vi-cmd-mode' (treated the same as accept line).  The SPC and
     TAB characters, if not bound to one of these functions, will
     complete the name and then list the possibilities if the
     `AUTO_LIST' option is set.  Any string that is bound to an
     out-string (via `bindkey -s') will behave as if out-string were
     typed directly.  Any other character that is not bound to
     `self-insert' or `self-insert-unmeta' will beep and be ignored.
     If the function is called from vi command mode, the bindings of
     the current insert mode will be used.

`execute-last-named-cmd (`ESC-z') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Redo the last function executed with `execute-named-cmd'.

`get-line (`ESC-G' `ESC-g') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Pop the top line off the buffer stack and insert it at the cursor
     position.

`pound-insert (unbound) (`#') (unbound)'
     If there is no `#' character at the beginning of the buffer, add
     one to the beginning of each line.  If there is one, remove a `#'
     from each line that has one.  In either case, accept the current
     line.  The `INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS' option must be set for this to
     have any usefulness.

`vi-pound-insert'
     If there is no `#' character at the beginning of the current line,
     add one.  If there is one, remove it.  The `INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS'
     option must be set for this to have any usefulness.

`push-input'
     Push the entire current multi-line construct onto the buffer stack
     and return to the top-level (`PS1') prompt.  If the current parser
     construct is only a single line, this is exactly like `push-line'.
     Next time the editor starts up or is popped with `get-line', the
     construct will be popped off the top of the buffer stack and
     loaded into the editing buffer.

`push-line (`^Q' `ESC-Q' `ESC-q') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Push the current buffer onto the buffer stack and clear the buffer.
     Next time the editor starts up, the buffer will be popped off the
     top of the buffer stack and loaded into the editing buffer.

`push-line-or-edit'
     At the top-level (`PS1') prompt, equivalent to `push-line'.  At a
     secondary (`PS2') prompt, move the entire current multi-line
     construct into the editor buffer.  The latter is equivalent to
     `push-line' followed by `get-line'.

`redisplay (unbound) (`^R') (`^R')'
     Redisplays the edit buffer.

`send-break (`^G' `ESC-^G') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Abort the current editor function, e.g. `execute-named-command', or
     the editor itself, e.g. if you are in `vared'.  Otherwise abort the
     parsing of the current line.

`run-help (`ESC-H' `ESC-h') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Push the buffer onto the buffer stack, and execute the command
     `run-help CMD', where CMD is the current command.  `run-help' is
     normally aliased to `man'.

`vi-set-buffer (unbound) (`"') (unbound)'
     Specify a buffer to be used in the following command.  There are
     35 buffers that can be  specified: the  26  "named" buffers `"a'
     to  `"z'  and the nine "queued" buffers "1 to "9.  The named
     buffers can also be specified as `"A' to `"Z'.  When a buffer is
     specified for a cut command, the text being cut replaces the
     previous contents of the specified buffer.  If a named buffer is
     specified using a capital, the newly cut text is appended to the
     buffer instead of overwriting it.  If no buffer is specified for a
     cut command, `"1' is used, and the contents of `"1' to `"8' are
     each shifted along one buffer; the contents of `"9' is lost.

`vi-set-mark (unbound) (`m') (unbound)'
     Set the specified mark at the cursor position.

`set-mark-command (`^@') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Set the mark at the cursor position.

`spell-word (`ESC-$' `ESC-S' `ESC-s') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Attempt spelling correction on the current word.

`undefined-key (lots o' keys) (lots o' keys) (unbound)'
     Beep.

`undo (`^_' `^Xu' `^X^U') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Incrementally undo the last text modification.

`vi-undo-change (unbound) (`u') (unbound)'
     Undo the last text modification.  If repeated, redo the
     modification.

`where-is'
     Read the name of an editor command and and print the listing of
     key sequences that invoke the specified command.

`which-command (`ESC-?') (unbound) (unbound)'
     Push the buffer onto the buffer stack, and execute the command
     `which-command CMD', where CMD is the current command.
     `which-command' is normally aliased to `whence'.

`vi-digit-or-beginning-of-line(unbound) (`0') (unbound)'
     If the last command executed was a digit as part of an argument,
     continue the argument.  Otherwise, execute `vi-beginning-of-line'.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters,  Next: Options,  Prev: Zsh Line Editor,  Up: Top

Parameters
**********

A parameter has a name, a value, and a number of attributes.  A name may
be any sequence of alphanumeric characters and `_''s, or the single
characters `*', `@', `#', `?', `-', `$', or `!'.  The value may be
either a scalar (a string), an integer, or an array.  To assign a
scalar or integer value to a parameter, use the `typeset' builtin.  To
assign an array value, use `set -A NAME VALUE ...'.  The value of a
parameter may also be assigned by writing:

   `NAME=VALUE ...'

If the integer attribute, `-i', is set for NAME, the VALUE is subject
to arithmetic evaluation.

* Menu:

* Array Parameters::
* Positional Parameters::
* Parameters Set By The Shell::
* Parameters Used By The Shell::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Array Parameters,  Next: Positional Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Array Parameters
================

The value of an array parameter may be assigned by writing:

   NAME=(VALUE ...) ...

Individual elements of an array may be selected using a subscript.  A
subscript of the form `[EXP]' selects the single element EXP, where EXP
is an arithmetic expression which will be subject to arithmetic
expansion as if it were surrounded by `$((...))'.  The elements are
numbered beginning with 1 unless the `KSH_ARRAYS' option is set when
they are numbered from zero.

A subscript of the form `[*]' or `[@]' evaluates to all elements of an
array; there is no difference between the two except when they appear
within double quotes.  `"$foo[*]"' evaluates to `"$foo[1] $foo[2]
..."', while `"$foo[@]"' evaluates to `"$foo[1]"' `"$foo[2]"', etc.

A subscript of the form `[EXP1,EXP2]' selects all elements in the range
EXP1 to EXP2, inclusive.  If one of the subscripts evaluates to a
negative number, say `-N', then the N'th element from the end of the
array is used.  Thus `$foo[-3]' is the third element from the end of
the array `foo', and `$foo[1,-1]' is the same as `$foo[*]'.

Subscripting may also be performed on non-array values, in which case
the subscripts specify a substring to be extracted.  For example, if
`FOO' is set to `foobar', then `echo $FOO[2,5]' prints `ooba'.

Subscripts may be used inside braces used to delimit a parameter name,
thus `${foo[2]}' is equivalent to `$foo[2]'.  If the `KSH_ARRAYS'
option is set, the braced form is the only one that will work, the
subscript otherwise not being treated specially.

If a subscript is used on the left side of an assignment the selected
range is replaced by the expression on the right side.

If the opening bracket or the comma is directly followed by an opening
parenthesis the string up to the matching closing parenthesis is
considered to be a list of flags.  The flags currently understood are:

`e'
     This option has no effect and retained for backward compatibility
     only.

`w'
     If the parameter subscripted is a scalar, then this flag makes
     subscription work on a per-word basis instead of characters.

`s:STRING:'
     Defines the STRING that separates words (for use with the `w'
     flag).

`p'
     Recognize the same escape sequences as the `print' builtin in the
     string argument of a subsequent `s' flag.

`f'
     If the parameter subscripted is a scalar than this flag makes
     subscription work on a per-line basis instead of characters.
     This is a shorthand for `pws:\n:'.

`r'
     If this flag is given the exp is taken as a pattern and the result
     is the first matching array element, substring or word (if the
     parameter is an array, if it is a scalar, or if it is a scalar and
     the `w' flag is given, respectively); note that this is like
     giving a number: `$foo[(r)??,3]' and `$foo[(r)??,(r)f*]' work.

`R'
     Like `r', but gives the last match.

`i'
     Like `r', but gives the index of the match instead; this may not be
     combined with a second argument.

`I'
     Like `i', but gives the index of the last match.

`n:EXPR:'
     If combined with `r', `R', `i', or `I', makes them return the N'th
     or N'th last match (if EXPR evaluates to N).


File: zsh.info,  Node: Positional Parameters,  Next: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Prev: Array Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Positional Parameters
=====================

Positional parameters are set by the shell on invocation, by the `set'
builtin, or by direct assignment.  The parameter N, where N is a
number, is the N'th positional parameter.  The parameters `*', `@', and
`argv' are arrays containing all the positional parameters; thus
`argv[N]', is equivalent to simply N.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Next: Parameters Used By The Shell,  Prev: Positional Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Parameters Set By The Shell
===========================

The following parameters are automatically set by the shell:

`!'
     The process id of the last background command invoked.

`#'
     The number of positional parameters in decimal.

`ARGC'
     Same as `#'.  It has no special meaning in sh/ksh compatibility
     mode.

`$'
     The process id of this shell.

`-'
     Flags supplied to the shell on invocation or by the `set' or
     `setopt' commands.

`*'
     An array containing the positional parameters.

`argv'
     Same as `*'.  It has no special meaning in sh/ksh compatibility
     mode.

`@'
     Same as `argv[@]' but it can be used in sh/ksh compatibility mode.

`?'
     The exit value returned by the last command.

`status'
     Same as `?'.  It has no special meaning in sh/ksh compatibility
     mode.

`_'
     The last argument of the previous command.  Also, this parameter
     is set in the environment of every command executed to the full
     pathname of the command.

`EGID'
     The effective group id of the shell process.  If you have
     sufficient privileges, you may change the effective group id of
     the shell process by assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming
     sufficient privileges), you may start a single command with a
     different effective group id by: `(EGID=egid ; command)'

`EUID'
     The effective user id of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the effective user id of the shell
     process by assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient
     privileges), you may start a single command with a different
     effective user id by: `(EUID=euid ; command)'

`ERRNO'
     The value of `errno' as set by the most recently failed system
     call.  This value is system dependent and is intended for debugging
     purposes.

`GID'
     The group id of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the group id of the shell process by
     assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient
     privileges), you may start a single command under a different
     group id by: `(GID=gid ; command)'

`HOST'
     The current hostname.

`LINENO'
     The line number of the current line within the current script being
     executed.

`LOGNAME'
     If the corresponding variable is not set in the environment of the
     shell, it is initialized to the login name corresponding to the
     current login session.  This parameter is exported by default but
     this can be disabled using the `typeset' builtin.

`MACHTYPE'
     The machine type (microprocessor class or machine model), as
     determined at compile time.

`OLDPWD'
     The previous working directory.

`OPTARG'
     The value of the last option argument processed by the `getopts'
     command.

`OPTIND'
     The index of the last option argument processed by the `getopts'
     command.

`OSTYPE'
     The operating system, as determined at compile time.

`PPID'
     The process id of the parent of the shell.

`PWD'
     The present working directory.

`RANDOM'
     A random integer from 0 to 32767, newly generated each time this
     parameter is referenced.  The random number generator can be
     seeded by assigning a numeric value to `RANDOM'.

`SECONDS'
     The number of seconds since shell invocation.  If this parameter is
     assigned a value, then the value returned upon reference will be
     the value that was assigned plus the number of seconds since the
     assignment.

`SHLVL'
     Incremented by one each time a new shell is started.

`signals'
     An array containing the names of the signals.

`TTY'
     The name of the tty associated with the shell, if any.

`TTYIDLE'
     The idle time of the tty associated with the shell in seconds or
     -1 if there is no such tty.

`UID'
     The user id of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the user id of the shell by assigning
     to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient privileges), you may
     start a single command under a different user id by: `(UID=uid ;
     command)'

`USERNAME'
     The username corresponding to the user id of the shell process.
     If you have sufficient privileges, you may change the username
     (and also the user id and group id) of the shell by assigning to
     this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient privileges), you may
     start a single command under a different username (and user id and
     group id) by: `(USERNAME=username ; command)'

`VENDOR'
     The vendor, as determined at compile time.

`ZSHNAME'
`ZSH_NAME'
     Expands to the basename of the command used to invoke this
     instance of zsh.

`ZSH_VERSION'
     The version number of this zsh.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters Used By The Shell,  Prev: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Up: Parameters

Parameters Used By The Shell
============================

The following parameters are used by the shell:

`ARGV0'
     If exported, its value is used as argv[0] of external commands.
     Usually used in constructs like `ARGV0=emacs nethack'.

`BAUD'
     The baud rate of the current connection.  Used by the line editor
     update mechanism to compensate for a slow terminal by delaying
     updates until necessary.  This may be profitably set to a lower
     value in some circumstances, e.g. for slow modems dialing into a
     communications server which is connected to a host via a fast
     link; in this case, this variable would be set by default to the
     speed of the fast link, and not the modem.  This parameter should
     be set to the baud rate of the slowest part of the link for best
     performance.  The compensation mechanism can be turned off by
     setting the variable to zero.

`cdpath (CDPATH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories specifying the
     search path for the `cd' command.

`COLUMNS'
     The number of columns for this terminal session.  Used for printing
     select lists and for the line editor.

`DIRSTACKSIZE'
     The maximum size of the directory stack.  If the stack gets larger
     than this, it will be truncated automatically.  This is useful
     with the `AUTO_PUSHD' option.

`FCEDIT'
     The default editor for the `fc' builtin.

`fignore (FIGNORE)'
     An array (colon-separated list) containing the suffixes of files
     to be ignored during filename completion.  However, if the
     completion generates only files which would match if this variable
     would be ignored, than these files are completed anyway.

`fpath (FPATH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories specifying the
     search path for function definitions.  This path is searched when
     a function with the `-u' attribute is referenced.  If an
     executable file is found, then it is read and executed in the
     current environment.

`histchars'
     Three characters used by the shell's history and lexical analysis
     mechanism.  The first character signals the start of a history
     substitution (default `!').  The second character signals the start
     of a quick history substitution (default `^').  The third character
     is the comment character (default `#').

`HISTCHARS'
     Depreciated. Use `histchars'.

`HISTFILE'
     The file to save the history in when an interactive shell exits.
     If unset, the history is not saved.

`HISTSIZE'
     The maximum size of the history list.

`HOME'
     The default argument for the `cd' command.

`IFS'
     Internal field separators, normally space, tab, and newline, that
     are used to separate words which result from command or parameter
     substitution and words read by the `read' builtin.  Any characters
     from the set space, tab and newline that appear in the `IFS' are
     called "IFS white space".  One or more IFS white space characters
     or one non-IFS white space character together with any adjacent
     IFS white space character delimit a field.  If an IFS white space
     character appears twice consecutively in the `IFS', this character
     is treated as if it were not an IFS white space character.

`KEYTIMEOUT'
     The time the shell waits, in hundredths of seconds, for another
     key to be pressed when reading bound multi-character sequences.

`LANG'
     This variable determines the locale category for any category not
     specifically selected via a variable starting with `LC_'.

`LC_ALL'
     This variable overrides the value of the `LANG' variable and the
     value of any of the other variables starting with `LC_'.

`LC_COLLATE'
     This variable determines the locale category for character
     collation information within ranges in glob brackets and for
     sorting.

`LC_CTYPE'
     This variable determines the locale category for character handling
     functions.

`LC_MESSAGES'
     This variable determines the language in which messages should be
     written.  Note that zsh does not use message catalogs.

`LC_TIME'
     This variable determines the locale category for date and time
     formatting in promt escape sequences.

`LINES'
     The number of lines for this terminal session.  Used for printing
     select lists and for the line editor.

`LISTMAX'
     In the line editor, the number of filenames to list without asking
     first.  If set to zero, the shell asks only if the listing would
     scroll off the screen.

`LOGCHECK'
     The interval in seconds between checks for login/logout activity
     using the `watch' parameter.

`MAIL'
     If this parameter is set and `mailpath' is not set, the shell looks
     for mail in the specified file.

`MAILCHECK'
     The interval in seconds between checks for new mail.

`mailpath (MAILPATH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) of filenames to check for new
     mail.  Each filename can be followed by a `?' and a message that
     will be printed.  The message will undergo parameter expansion,
     command substitution and arithmetic substitution with the variable
     `$_' defined as the name of the file that has changed.  The
     default message is `You have new mail'.  If an element is a
     directory instead of a file the shell will recursively check every
     file in every subdirectory of the element.

`manpath (MANPATH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) whose value is not used by the
     shell.  The `manpath' array can be useful, however, since setting
     it also sets `MANPATH', and vice versa.

`NULLCMD'
     The command name to assume if a redirection is specified with no
     command.  Defaults to `cat'.  For sh/ksh-like behaviour, change
     this to `:'.  For csh-like behaviour, unset this parameter; the
     shell will print an error message if null commands are entered.

`path (PATH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories to search for
     commands.  When this parameter is set, each directory is scanned
     and all files found are put in a hash table.

`POSTEDIT'
     This string is output whenever the line editor exits.  It usually
     contains termcap strings to reset the terminal.

`PS1'
     The primary prompt string, printed before a command is read; the
     default is `%m%# '.  If the escape sequence takes an optional
     integer, it should appear between the `%' and the next character
     of the sequence.  The following escape sequences are recognized:

    `%%'
          A `%'.

    `%)'
          A `)'.

    `%d'
    `%/'
          Present working directory (`$PWD').

    `%~'
          `$PWD'.  If it has a named directory as its prefix, that part
          is replaced by a `~' followed by the name of the directory.
          If it starts with `$HOME', that part is replaced by a `~'.

    `%c'
    `%.'
    `%C'
          Trailing component of `$PWD'.  An integer may follow the `%'
          to get more than one component.  Unless `%C' is used, tilde
          expansion is performed first.

    `!'
    `%h'
    `%!'
          Current history event number.

    `%M'
          The full machine hostname.

    `%m'
          The hostname up to the first `.'.  An integer may follow the
          `%' to specify how many components of the hostname are
          desired.

    `%S (%s)'
          Start (stop) standout mode.

    `%U (%u)'
          Start (stop) underline mode.

    `%B (%b)'
          Start (stop) boldface mode.

    `%t'
    `%@'
          Current time of day, in 12-hour, am/pm format.

    `%T'
          Current time of day, in 24-hour format.

    `%*'
          Current time of day in 24-hour format, with seconds.

    `%n'
          `$USERNAME'.

    `%w'
          The date in day-dd format.

    `%W'
          The date in mm/dd/yy format.

    `%D'
          The date in yy-mm-dd format.

    `%D{STRING}'
          STRING is formatted using the `strftime' function.  See
          `strftime(3)' for more details, if your system has it.

    `%l'
          The line (tty) the user is logged in on.

    `%?'
          The return code of the last command executed just before the
          prompt.

    `%_'
          The status of the parser, i.e. the shell constructs (like
          `if' and `for') that have been started on the command line.
          If given an integer number, that many strings will be
          printed; zero or no integer means print as many as there are.

    `%E'
          Clears to end of line.

    `%#'
          A `#' if the shell is running as root, a `%' if not.
          Equivalent to `%(#.#.%%)'

    `%v'
          The value of the first element of the `psvar' array parameter.
          Following the `%' with an integer gives that element of the
          array.

    `%{...%}'
          Include a string as a literal escape sequence.  The string
          within the braces should not change the cursor position.

    `%(x.TRUE-TEXT.FALSE-TEXT)'
          Specifies a ternary expression.  The character following the
          `x' is arbitrary; the same character is used to separate the
          text for the true result from that for the false result.  The
          separator may not appear in the `true-text', except as part
          of a `%' sequence.  A `)' may appear in the `false-text' as a
          `%)'.  `true-text' and `false-text' may both contain contain
          arbitrarily-nested escape sequences, including further
          ternary expressions.  The left parenthesis may be preceded or
          followed by a positive integer `n', which defaults to zero.
          The test character `x' may be any of the following:

         `c'
         `.'
         `~'
               True if the current path, with prefix replacement, has
               at least N elements.

         `/'
         `C'
               True if the current absolute path has at least N
               elements.

         `t'
               True if the time in minutes is equal to N.

         `T'
               True if the time in hours is equal to N.

         `d'
               True if the day of the month is equal to N.

         `D'
               True if the month is equal to N (January = 0).

         `w'
               True if the day of the week is equal to N (Sunday = 0).

         `?'
               True if the exit status of the last command was N.

         `#'
               True if the effective uid of the current process is N.

         `g'
               True if the effective gid of the current process is N.

         `L'
               True if the `SHLVL' parameter is at least N.

         `S'
               True if the `SECONDS' parameter is at least N.

         `v'
               True if the array `psvar' has at least N elements.

         `_'
               True if at least N shell constructs were started.

         `%<STRING<'
         `%>STRING>'
         `%[XSTRING]'
               Specifies truncation behaviour.  The third form is
               equivalent to `%XSTRINGX', i.e. `X' may be `<' or `>'.
               The numeric argument, which in the third form may appear
               immediately after the `[', specifies the maximum
               permitted length of the various strings that can be
               displayed in the prompt.  If this integer is zero, or
               missing, truncation is disabled.  Truncation is initially
               disabled.  The forms with `<' truncate at the left of
               the string, and the forms with `>' truncate at the right
               of the string.  For example, if the current directory is
               `/home/pike', the prompt `%8<..<%/' will expand to
               `..e/pike'.  The `string' will be displayed in place of
               the truncated portion of any string.  In this string,
               the terminating character (`<', `>' or `]'), or in fact
               any character, may be quoted by a preceding `\'.  `%'
               sequences are not treated specially.  If the `string' is
               longer than the specified truncation length, it will
               appear in full, completely replacing the truncated
               string.

`PS2'
     The secondary prompt, printed when the shell needs more
     information to complete a command.  Recognizes the same escape
     sequences as `$PS1'.  The default is `%_> '.

`PS3'
     Selection prompt used within a `select' loop.  Recognizes the same
     escape sequences as `PS1'.  The default is `?# '.

`PS4'
     The execution trace prompt.  Default is `+ '.

`PROMPT'
`PROMPT2'
`PROMPT3'
`PROMPT4'
     Same as `PS1', `PS2', `PS3', and `PS4', respectively.  These
     parameters do not have any special meaning in sh/ksh compatibility
     mode.

`psvar (PSVAR)'
     An array (colon-separated list) whose first nine values can be
     used in `PROMPT' strings.  Setting `psvar' also sets `PSVAR', and
     vice versa.

`prompt'
     Same as `PS1'.  It has no special meaning in sh/ksh compatibility
     mode.

`READNULLCMD'
     The command name to assume if a single input redirection is
     specified with no command.  Defaults to `more'.

`REPORTTIME'
     If nonzero, commands whose combined user and system execution times
     (measured in seconds) are greater than this value have timing
     statistics printed for them.

`RPROMPT'
`RPS1'
     This prompt is displayed on the right-hand side of the screen when
     the primary prompt is being displayed on the left.  This does not
     work if the `SINGLELINEZLE' option is set.  Recognizes the same
     escape sequences as `PROMPT'.

`SAVEHIST'
     The maximum number of history events to save in the history file.

`SPROMPT'
     The prompt used for spelling correction.  The sequence `%R' expands
     to the string which presumably needs spelling correction, and `%r'
     expands to the proposed correction.  All other `PROMPT' escapes are
     also allowed.

`STTY'
     If this parameter is set in a command's environment, the shell
     runs the `stty' command with the value of this parameter as
     arguments in order to set up the terminal before executing the
     command.  The modes apply only to the command, and are reset when
     it finishes or is suspended.  If the command is suspended and
     continued later with the `fg' or `wait' builtins it will see the
     modes specified by `STTY', as if it were not suspended.  This
     (intentionally) does not apply if the command is continued via
     `kill -CONT'.  `STTY' is ignored if the command is run in the
     background, or if it is in the environment of the shell but not
     explicitly assigned to in the input line.  This avoids running
     `stty' at every external command by accidentally exporting it.
     Also note that `STTY' should not be used for window size
     specifications; these will not be local to the command.

`TIMEFMT'
     The format of process time reports with the `time' keyword.  The
     default is `%E real  %U user  %S system  %P %J'.  Recognizes the
     following escape sequences:

    `%'
          A `%'.

    `%U'
          CPU seconds spent in user mode.

    `%S'
          CPU seconds spent in kernel mode.

    `%E'
          Elapsed time in seconds.

    `%P'
          The CPU percentage, computed as (%U+%S)/%E.

    `%J'
          The name of this job.

     A star may be inserted between the percent sign and flags printing
     time.  This cause the time to be printed in `hh:mm:ss.ttt' format
     (hours and minutes are only printed if they are not zero).

`TMOUT'
     If this parameter is nonzero, the shell will receive an `ALRM'
     signal if a command is not entered within the specified number of
     seconds after issuing a prompt.  If there is a trap on `SIGALRM',
     it will be executed and a new alarm is scheduled using the value
     of the `TMOUT' parameter after executing the trap.  If no trap is
     set, and the idle time of the terminal is not less than the value
     of the `TMOUT' parameter, zsh terminates.  Otherwise a new alarm
     is scheduled to `TMOUT' seconds after the last keypress.

`TMPPREFIX'
     A pathname prefix which the shell will use for all temporary files.
     Note that this should include an initial part for the file name as
     well as any directory names.  The default is `/tmp/zsh'.

`watch (WATCH)'
     An array (colon-separated list) of login/logout events to report.
     If it contains the single word `all', then all login/logout events
     are reported.  If it contains the single word `notme', then all
     login/logout events are reported except for those originating from
     `$USERNAME'.  An entry in this list may consist of a username, an
     `@' followed by a remote hostname, and a `%' followed by a line
     (tty).  Any or all of these components may be present in an entry;
     if a login/logout event matches all of them, it is reported.

`WATCHFMT'
     The format of login/logout reports if the `watch' parameter is set.
     Default is `%n has %a %l from %m'.  Recognizes the following escape
     sequences:

    `%n'
          The name of the user that logged in/out.

    `%a'
          The observed action, i.e. `logged on' or `logged off'.

    `%l'
          The line (tty) the user is logged in on.

    `%M'
          The full hostname of the remote host.

    `%m'
          The hostname up to the first `.'.  If only the IP address is
          available or the utmp field contains the name of an X-windows
          display, the whole name is printed.

          NOTE: The `%m' and `%M' escapes will work only if there is a
          host name field in the `utmp' on your machine.  Otherwise
          they are treated as ordinary strings.

    `%S (%s)'
          Start (stop) standout mode.

    `%U (%u)'
          Start (stop) underline mode.

    `%B (%b)'
          Start (stop) boldface mode.

    `%t'
    `%@'
          The time, in 12-hour, am/pm format.

    `%T'
          The time, in 24-hour format.

    `%w'
          The date in day-dd format.

    `%W'
          The date in mm/dd/yy format.

    `%D'
          The date in yy-mm-dd format.

    `%(x:TRUE-TEXT:FALSE-TEXT)'
          Specifies a ternary expression.  The character following the
          `x' is arbitrary; the same character is used to separate the
          text for the true result from that for the false result.
          Both the separator and the right parenthesis may be escaped
          with a backslash.  Ternary expressions may be nested.

          The test character `x' may be any one of `l', `n', `m', or
          `M', which indicate a true result if the corresponding escape
          sequence would return a non-empty value; or it may be `a',
          which indicates a true result if the watched user has logged
          in, or false if he has logged out.  Other characters evaluate
          to neither true nor false; the entire expression is omitted
          in this case.

          If the result is true, then the TRUE-TEXT is formatted
          according to the result above and printed, and the FALSE-TEXT
          is skipped.  If false, the TRUE-TEXT is skipped, and the
          FALSE-TEXT is formatted and printed.  Either or both of the
          branches may be empty, but both separators must always be
          present.

`WORDCHARS'
     A list of non-alphanumeric characters considered part of a word by
     the line editor.

`ZDOTDIR'
     The directory to search for shell startup files (`.zshrc', etc), if
     not `$HOME'.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Options,  Next: Shell Builtin Commands,  Prev: Parameters,  Up: Top

Options
*******

* Menu:

* Specifying Options::
* Description of Options::
* Single Letter Options::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Specifying Options,  Next: Description of Options,  Up: Options

Specifying Options
==================

Options are primarily referred to by name.  These names are case
insensitive and underscores are ignored.  For example, `allexport' is
equivalent to `A__lleXP_ort'.

The sense of an option name may be inverted by preceding it with `no',
so `setopt No_Beep' is equivalent to `unsetopt beep'.  This inversion
can only be done once, so `nonobeep' is *not* a synonym for `beep'.
Similarly, `tify' is *not* a synonym for `nonotify' (the inversion of
`notify').

Some options also have one or more single letter names.  There are two
sets of single letter options: one used by default, and another used to
emulate `sh'/`ksh' (used when the `SH_OPTION_LETTERS' option is set).
The single letter options can be used on the shell command line, or
with the `set', `setopt' and `unsetopt' builtins, as normal Unix
options preceded by `-'.

The  sense of the single letter options may be inverted by using `+'
instead of `-'.  Some of the single letter option names refer to an
option being off, in which case the inversion of that name refers to the
option being on.  For example, `+n' is the short name of `exec', and
`-n' is the short name of its inversion, `noexec'.

