     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

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     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:  July 8, 2002

     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:  July 8, 2002