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SSUUMMMMAARRYY OOFF LLEESSSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS
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Commands marked with * may be preceded by a number, _N.
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Notes in parentheses indicate the behavior if _N is given.
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A key preceded by a caret indicates the Ctrl key; thus ^K is ctrl-K.
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h H Display this help.
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q :q Q :Q ZZ Exit.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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MMOOVVIINNGG
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e ^E j ^N CR * Forward one line (or _N lines).
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y ^Y k ^K ^P * Backward one line (or _N lines).
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f ^F ^V SPACE * Forward one window (or _N lines).
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b ^B ESC-v * Backward one window (or _N lines).
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z * Forward one window (and set window to _N).
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w * Backward one window (and set window to _N).
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ESC-SPACE * Forward one window, but don't stop at end-of-file.
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d ^D * Forward one half-window (and set half-window to _N).
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u ^U * Backward one half-window (and set half-window to _N).
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ESC-) RightArrow * Right one half screen width (or _N positions).
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ESC-( LeftArrow * Left one half screen width (or _N positions).
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ESC-} ^RightArrow Right to last column displayed.
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ESC-{ ^LeftArrow Left to first column.
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F Forward forever; like "tail -f".
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ESC-F Like F but stop when search pattern is found.
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r ^R ^L Repaint screen.
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R Repaint screen, discarding buffered input.
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---------------------------------------------------
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Default "window" is the screen height.
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Default "half-window" is half of the screen height.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGG
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/_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search forward for (_N-th) matching line.
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?_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Search backward for (_N-th) matching line.
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n * Repeat previous search (for _N-th occurrence).
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N * Repeat previous search in reverse direction.
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ESC-n * Repeat previous search, spanning files.
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ESC-N * Repeat previous search, reverse dir. & spanning files.
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ESC-u Undo (toggle) search highlighting.
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ESC-U Clear search highlighting.
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&_p_a_t_t_e_r_n * Display only matching lines.
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---------------------------------------------------
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A search pattern may begin with one or more of:
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^N or ! Search for NON-matching lines.
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^E or * Search multiple files (pass thru END OF FILE).
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^F or @ Start search at FIRST file (for /) or last file (for ?).
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^K Highlight matches, but don't move (KEEP position).
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^R Don't use REGULAR EXPRESSIONS.
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^W WRAP search if no match found.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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JJUUMMPPIINNGG
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g < ESC-< * Go to first line in file (or line _N).
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G > ESC-> * Go to last line in file (or line _N).
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p % * Go to beginning of file (or _N percent into file).
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t * Go to the (_N-th) next tag.
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T * Go to the (_N-th) previous tag.
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{ ( [ * Find close bracket } ) ].
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} ) ] * Find open bracket { ( [.
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ESC-^F _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find close bracket _<_c_2_>.
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ESC-^B _<_c_1_> _<_c_2_> * Find open bracket _<_c_1_>.
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---------------------------------------------------
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Each "find close bracket" command goes forward to the close bracket
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matching the (_N-th) open bracket in the top line.
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Each "find open bracket" command goes backward to the open bracket
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matching the (_N-th) close bracket in the bottom line.
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m_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Mark the current top line with <letter>.
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M_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Mark the current bottom line with <letter>.
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'_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Go to a previously marked position.
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'' Go to the previous position.
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^X^X Same as '.
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ESC-M_<_l_e_t_t_e_r_> Clear a mark.
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---------------------------------------------------
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A mark is any upper-case or lower-case letter.
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Certain marks are predefined:
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^ means beginning of the file
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$ means end of the file
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CCHHAANNGGIINNGG FFIILLEESS
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:e [_f_i_l_e] Examine a new file.
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^X^V Same as :e.
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:n * Examine the (_N-th) next file from the command line.
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:p * Examine the (_N-th) previous file from the command line.
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:x * Examine the first (or _N-th) file from the command line.
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:d Delete the current file from the command line list.
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= ^G :f Print current file name.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS
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-_<_f_l_a_g_> Toggle a command line option [see OPTIONS below].
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--_<_n_a_m_e_> Toggle a command line option, by name.
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__<_f_l_a_g_> Display the setting of a command line option.
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___<_n_a_m_e_> Display the setting of an option, by name.
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+_c_m_d Execute the less cmd each time a new file is examined.
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!_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Execute the shell command with $SHELL.
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|XX_c_o_m_m_a_n_d Pipe file between current pos & mark XX to shell command.
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s _f_i_l_e Save input to a file.
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v Edit the current file with $VISUAL or $EDITOR.
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V Print version number of "less".
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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OOPPTTIIOONNSS
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Most options may be changed either on the command line,
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or from within less by using the - or -- command.
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Options may be given in one of two forms: either a single
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character preceded by a -, or a name preceded by --.
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-? ........ --help
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Display help (from command line).
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-a ........ --search-skip-screen
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Search skips current screen.
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-A ........ --SEARCH-SKIP-SCREEN
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Search starts just after target line.
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-b [_N] .... --buffers=[_N]
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Number of buffers.
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-B ........ --auto-buffers
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Don't automatically allocate buffers for pipes.
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-c ........ --clear-screen
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Repaint by clearing rather than scrolling.
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-d ........ --dumb
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Dumb terminal.
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-D xx_c_o_l_o_r . --color=xx_c_o_l_o_r
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Set screen colors.
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-e -E .... --quit-at-eof --QUIT-AT-EOF
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Quit at end of file.
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-f ........ --force
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Force open non-regular files.
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-F ........ --quit-if-one-screen
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Quit if entire file fits on first screen.
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-g ........ --hilite-search
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Highlight only last match for searches.
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-G ........ --HILITE-SEARCH
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Don't highlight any matches for searches.
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-h [_N] .... --max-back-scroll=[_N]
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Backward scroll limit.
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-i ........ --ignore-case
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Ignore case in searches that do not contain uppercase.
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-I ........ --IGNORE-CASE
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Ignore case in all searches.
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-j [_N] .... --jump-target=[_N]
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Screen position of target lines.
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-J ........ --status-column
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Display a status column at left edge of screen.
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-k [_f_i_l_e] . --lesskey-file=[_f_i_l_e]
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Use a lesskey file.
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-K ........ --quit-on-intr
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Exit less in response to ctrl-C.
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-L ........ --no-lessopen
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Ignore the LESSOPEN environment variable.
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-m -M .... --long-prompt --LONG-PROMPT
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Set prompt style.
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-n -N .... --line-numbers --LINE-NUMBERS
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Don't use line numbers.
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-o [_f_i_l_e] . --log-file=[_f_i_l_e]
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Copy to log file (standard input only).
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-O [_f_i_l_e] . --LOG-FILE=[_f_i_l_e]
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Copy to log file (unconditionally overwrite).
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-p [_p_a_t_t_e_r_n] --pattern=[_p_a_t_t_e_r_n]
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Start at pattern (from command line).
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-P [_p_r_o_m_p_t] --prompt=[_p_r_o_m_p_t]
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Define new prompt.
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-q -Q .... --quiet --QUIET --silent --SILENT
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Quiet the terminal bell.
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-r -R .... --raw-control-chars --RAW-CONTROL-CHARS
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Output "raw" control characters.
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-s ........ --squeeze-blank-lines
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Squeeze multiple blank lines.
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-S ........ --chop-long-lines
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Chop (truncate) long lines rather than wrapping.
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-t [_t_a_g] .. --tag=[_t_a_g]
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Find a tag.
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-T [_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e] --tag-file=[_t_a_g_s_f_i_l_e]
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Use an alternate tags file.
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-u -U .... --underline-special --UNDERLINE-SPECIAL
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Change handling of backspaces.
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-V ........ --version
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Display the version number of "less".
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-w ........ --hilite-unread
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Highlight first new line after forward-screen.
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-W ........ --HILITE-UNREAD
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Highlight first new line after any forward movement.
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-x [_N[,...]] --tabs=[_N[,...]]
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Set tab stops.
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-X ........ --no-init
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Don't use termcap init/deinit strings.
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-y [_N] .... --max-forw-scroll=[_N]
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Forward scroll limit.
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-z [_N] .... --window=[_N]
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Set size of window.
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-" [_c[_c]] . --quotes=[_c[_c]]
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Set shell quote characters.
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-~ ........ --tilde
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Don't display tildes after end of file.
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-# [_N] .... --shift=[_N]
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Set horizontal scroll amount (0 = one half screen width).
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--file-size
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Automatically determine the size of the input file.
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--follow-name
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The F command changes files if the input file is renamed.
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--incsearch
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Search file as each pattern character is typed in.
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--line-num-width=N
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Set the width of the -N line number field to N characters.
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--mouse
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Enable mouse input.
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--no-keypad
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Don't send termcap keypad init/deinit strings.
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--no-histdups
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Remove duplicates from command history.
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--rscroll=C
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Set the character used to mark truncated lines.
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--save-marks
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Retain marks across invocations of less.
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--status-col-width=N
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Set the width of the -J status column to N characters.
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--use-backslash
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Subsequent options use backslash as escape char.
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--use-color
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Enables colored text.
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--wheel-lines=N
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Each click of the mouse wheel moves N lines.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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LLIINNEE EEDDIITTIINNGG
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These keys can be used to edit text being entered
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on the "command line" at the bottom of the screen.
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RightArrow ..................... ESC-l ... Move cursor right one character.
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LeftArrow ...................... ESC-h ... Move cursor left one character.
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ctrl-RightArrow ESC-RightArrow ESC-w ... Move cursor right one word.
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ctrl-LeftArrow ESC-LeftArrow ESC-b ... Move cursor left one word.
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HOME ........................... ESC-0 ... Move cursor to start of line.
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END ............................ ESC-$ ... Move cursor to end of line.
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BACKSPACE ................................ Delete char to left of cursor.
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DELETE ......................... ESC-x ... Delete char under cursor.
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ctrl-BACKSPACE ESC-BACKSPACE ........... Delete word to left of cursor.
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ctrl-DELETE .... ESC-DELETE .... ESC-X ... Delete word under cursor.
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ctrl-U ......... ESC (MS-DOS only) ....... Delete entire line.
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UpArrow ........................ ESC-k ... Retrieve previous command line.
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DownArrow ...................... ESC-j ... Retrieve next command line.
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TAB ...................................... Complete filename & cycle.
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SHIFT-TAB ...................... ESC-TAB Complete filename & reverse cycle.
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ctrl-L ................................... Complete filename, list all.
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