lesskey

NAME
     lesskey - specify key bindings for less

SYNOPSIS
     lesskey [-o output] [input]
     lesskey -V

DESCRIPTION
     Lesskey is used to specify a set of key bindings to be  used
     by  less.  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
     less.  If  no output file is specified, $HOME/.less is writ-
     ten.  If  the  output  file  already  exists,  lesskey  will
     overwrite it.

     The input file consists of lines of the form:

          string <whitespace> action [extra-string] <newline>

     Whitespace is any sequence of  one  or  more  spaces  and/or
     tabs.   The  string  is  the command key(s) which invoke the
     action.  The string may  be  a  single  command  key,  or  a
     sequence  of  up  to 15 keys.  The action is the name of the
     less action, from the list below.   The  characters  in  the
     string  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 speci-
     fies  BACKSPACE,  ESCAPE,  NEWLINE,  RETURN  or TAB, respec-
     tively.  A backslash followed by any other  character  indi-
     cates  that  character is to be taken literally.  Characters
     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 less, the action is per-
     formed, and then the extra string is parsed, just as  if  it
     were  typed  in to less. This feature can be used in certain
     cases to extend the functionality of a command.   For  exam-
     ple, see the "{" and ":t" commands in the example below.

     The -V flag causes lesskey to print its version  number  and
     immediately exit. Other flags and arguments are ignored.


EXAMPLE
     The following input file describes the set of  default  com-
     mand keys used by less:


                  forw-line

                 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
          \v       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
          \<       goto-line
          p         percent
          %         percent
          {         forw-bracket {}
          }         back-bracket {}
          (         forw-bracket ()
          )         back-bracket ()
          [         forw-bracket []
          ]         back-bracket []
          \^F      forw-bracket
          \^B      back-bracket
          G         goto-end
          \>       goto-end
          >         goto-end
          =         status
          ^G        status
          :f        status
          /         forw-search


          ?         back-search
          \/       forw-search *
          \?       back-search *
          n         repeat-search
          \n       repeat-search-all
          N         reverse-search
          \N       reverse-search-all
                  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


PRECEDENCE
     Commands specified  by  lesskey  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  less  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  fol-
     low the #stop line.)



     Be aware that #stop can be dangerous. Since all default com-
     mands  are  disabled,  you  must provide sufficient commands
     before the #stop line to enable all necessary actions.   For
     example,  failure  to  provide  a "quit" command can lead to
     frustration.


LINE EDITING
     New key bindings may be specified for the line editing  com-
     mands, in a manner similar to the way key bindings for ordi-
     nary 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.


EXAMPLE
     The following input file describes the set of default  line-
     editing keys used by less:

          #line-edit
                  forw-complete
          17       back-complete
          \      back-complete
          14       expand
          ^V        literal
          ^A        literal
          \l       right
          \h       left
          \b       word-left
          \w       word-right
          \i       insert
          \x       delete
          \    word-backspace
          ##tresc##       home
          \$       end
          \k       up
          \j       down



SEE ALSO
     less(1)


COPYRIGHT
     Copyright (c) 1984,1985,1989,1994,1995  Mark Nudelman