ESC vs TAB (POSIX vs BASH)

[Jorge Fabregas]

Hello everyone,

I'm constantly working against Linux and HP-UX servers. I use a lot the shell autocomplete (filename expansion) feature (on both OS's).

I find myself pressing the TAB key on HP-UX (thinking I'm on a Linux machine -unconscious) or the other way (pressing ESC ESC on a Linux machine). I would like to standardize this.

Is there a way I can change the "ESC ESC" pattern on HP-UX to make it a TAB (like in Linux?). Is there something like "stty autocomplete TAB"??? hehe

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jorge

[Stefan Farrelly]

I believe you can download and install bash for hp-ux!

http://hpux.cs.utah.edu/hppd/hpux/Shells/bash-2.05b/

[Jorge Fabregas]

Hello,

I'm sorry. I didn't specify that fact. I still want to use POSIX. I just would like to change the character key used for the autocomplete feature.

Thanks,
Jorge

[Steven E. Protter]

Jorge,

I asked this vary same suggestion to one of HP's Linux experts in California in 2002. She advised me that it was bettter to not take these steps, because of the following reasons:

1) Standardization: If someone else comes into your shop while your'e on vacation or education or whatever, it will make life difficult for them. Linux people expect tab tab auto complete and HP-UX people expect esc esc. I work with both systems and after three years have finally cut my mistake rate down to a reasonable level.

2) Re-arranging these functions will affect other functions that we like about the Linux/Posix shell, depending on which you mess with.

That being said, stty -a you can play to your hearts content with the keystroke sequences and try to achieve your goal.

Good Luck,

SEP

[Umapathy S]

Jorge,
ESC ESC pattern can be achieved in bash using set -o emacs. But emacs editing will come into picture and you wont be able to ESC-k for previous comamnds.
Otherwise, as Stefan suggested, install bash for hpux.

HTH,
Umapathy