Linux in a Nutshell, Fourth Edition

Name

lesskey

Synopsis

                  lesskey [-o 
                  output-file | --output=
                  output-file] [input-file]

Configure keybindings for the less command using a configuration file. The input file defaults to ~/.lesskey and the output file to ~/.less unless you specify otherwise.

Configuration file format

The configuration file for lesskey has one to three sections. These are marked by a line containing a # symbol and the name of the section: #command, #line-edit, and #env.

The #command section

The command section determines the keys used for actions within less. Each line should contain the key or key combination you wish to define, a space or tab, and the name of the action to perform. You may also add an extra string at the end, which will be performed at the end of the first action.

Keys you define should be entered as you plan to type them, with the exception of the caret (^), space, tab, and backslash (\) characters, which should be preceded by a backslash. In addition, the following special keys are represented by escape sequences that begin with a backslash:

Backspace: \b

Escape: \e

Newline: \n

Return: \r

Tab: \t

Up arrow: \ku

Down arrow: \kd

Right arrow: \kr

Left arrow: \kl

Page up: \kU

Page down: \kD

Home: \kh

End: \ke

Delete: \kx

The actions that can be defined are:

invalid (creates error)

noaction

forw-line

back-line

forw-line-force

forw-scroll

back-scroll

forw-screen

back-screen

forw-window

back-window

forw-screen-force

forw-forever

repaint-flush

repaint

undo-hilite

goto-line

percent

left-scroll

right-scroll

forw-bracket

back-bracket