topic Command Completion in Operating System - Linux

Command Completion

Rick Copley — Fri, 31 Jan 2003 17:28:43 GMT

Is it possible to do Command Line Completion using the "Up-Arrow" cursor? I see you can put this in place for TAB. Either way is fine, but the Cursor Up-Arrow method is perferred. Wondering if someone knows how to put this in place?

Tks,
-Ken

Re: Command Completion

Steven E. Protter — Fri, 31 Jan 2003 17:38:09 GMT

Thats how Linux fuctions out of the box,just like windows.

The tab key completes filenames.

If its not working for you, your stty settings aren't right.

Here are mine.

[invest@jerusalem mail]$ stty -a | more
speed 9600 baud; rows 24; columns 80; line = 0;
intr = ^C; quit = ^\; erase = ^H; kill = ^U; eof = ^D; eol = ;
eol2 = ; start = ^Q; stop = ^S; susp = ^Z; rprnt = ^R; werase = ^W;
lnext = ^V; flush = ^O; min = 1; time = 0;
-parenb -parodd cs8 -hupcl -cstopb cread -clocal -crtscts
-ignbrk -brkint -ignpar -parmrk -inpck -istrip -inlcr -igncr icrnl ixon -ixoff
-iuclc -ixany -imaxbel
opost -olcuc -ocrnl onlcr -onocr -onlret -ofill -ofdel nl0 cr0 tab0 bs0 vt0 ff0
isig icanon iexten echo echoe echok -echonl -noflsh -xcase -tostop -echoprt
echoctl echoke

I have full functionality on my Linux boxes.

OT:HP-UX does not conform to this standard btw.

P

Re: Command Completion

Stuart Browne — Sat, 01 Feb 2003 07:10:21 GMT

Actually, it's a function of the shell that's in use.

On a Linux box, the default shell is usally "bash".

Bash uses the 'readline' libraries to take input, and the TAB completion is part of it.

I'm unaware of a way to change the completion character, and the bash man page doesn't mention the ability to do this.

Sorry.

Re: Command Completion

Steven E. Protter — Sun, 02 Feb 2003 08:00:55 GMT

Lastly the command completion in Linux is pretty nice. Messing around with it will confuse the next guy that works on the system.

P

Re: Command Completion

Steven E. Protter — Sun, 02 Feb 2003 16:02:30 GMT

Not Lastly. With regards to what Stuart said, its actually a combination between the shell and the ssty settings.

If the shell supports completion with the tab key and the stty settings don't handle that, command completion won't happen.

P