Please enable JavaScript to view this site.

A-Shell Reference

Navigation: System Commands > Introduction

Command Line Editing and Recall

Scroll Prev Top Next More

Given the syntactic complexity and advanced typing skills involved with some of these command lines, you are likely to commit syntax errors or simply tire of retyping commands that you already typed just a few moments previously. At that point you will appreciate the ability to recall previous command lines and edit them. To cycle backwards through the last 25 command lines, hit Ctrl+R (typically the same as the Page-Up key). To cycle forwards through them, hit Ctrl+T (page-down). Once you find the previously-typed command line, you can re-execute it just by hitting Enter. If instead of just re-executing it as is, you prefer to edit it first, you can do so using the following keystrokes:

Primary

Alternate

Editing Action

ctrl+a

 

Move cursor to previous word

ctrl+c

 

Abort the current line (start a new one).

ctrl+d

delete

Delete the character under the cursor

ctrl+f

insert

Insert a space under the cursor

ctrl+h

LeftArrow

Move cursor to the left

ctrl+l

RightArrow

Move cursor to the right

ctrl+n

 

Move cursor to the end of the line

ctrl+q

 

Toggle insert/replace mode

ctrl+r

PageUp

Cycle through the previously typed ten command lines.

ctrl+t

PageDown

Cycle forward through the previously typed ten command lines after having used ctrl+r to go backwards.

ctrl+u

 

Move cursor to start of command line

ctrl+w

 

Move cursor to next word

ctrl+y

 

Delete line to the right of the cursor