char *
readline(prompt)
char *prompt;
void
add_history(line)
char *line;
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.
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
^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;
prefixing the string with a caret (^) forces it to
match only at the beginning of a history line
^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 ESC Show possible completions; see below
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 as themselves or with
an ``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:
The editline library also does filename completion. Suppose the root directory has the following files in it:
bin vmunix core vmunix.old
rm /v[TAB]munix.[TAB]old