2 .TH SCREEN 1 "Aug 2003"
9 screen \- screen manager with VT100/ANSI terminal emulation
23 [[\fIpid\fP\fB.\fP]\fItty\fP[\fB.\fP\fIhost\fP]]
26 \fIsessionowner\fP\fB/\fP[[\fIpid\fP\fB.\fP]\fItty\fP[\fB.\fP\fIhost\fP]]
32 is a full-screen window manager that
33 multiplexes a physical terminal between several processes (typically
35 Each virtual terminal provides the functions
36 of a DEC VT100 terminal and, in addition, several control functions
37 from the ISO 6429 (ECMA 48, ANSI X3.64) and ISO 2022 standards
38 (e.\|g. insert/delete line and support for multiple character sets).
39 There is a scrollback history buffer for each virtual terminal and a
40 copy-and-paste mechanism that allows moving text regions between
45 is called, it creates a single window with a shell in it (or the specified
46 command) and then gets out of your way so that you can use the program as you
48 Then, at any time, you can create new (full-screen) windows with other programs
49 in them (including more shells), kill existing windows, view a list of
50 windows, turn output logging on and off, copy-and-paste text between
51 windows, view the scrollback history, switch between windows
52 in whatever manner you wish, etc. All windows run their programs completely
53 independent of each other. Programs continue to run when their window
54 is currently not visible and even when the whole
56 session is detached from the user's terminal. When a program terminates,
58 (per default) kills the window that contained it.
59 If this window was in the foreground, the display switches to the previous
60 window; if none are left,
64 Everything you type is sent to the program running in the current window.
65 The only exception to this is the one keystroke that is used to initiate
66 a command to the window manager.
67 By default, each command begins with a control-a (abbreviated C-a from
68 now on), and is followed by one other keystroke.
69 The command character and all the key bindings can be fully customized
70 to be anything you like, though they are always two characters in length.
73 does not understand the prefix \*QC-\*U to mean control.
74 Please use the caret notation (\*Q^A\*U instead of \*QC-a\*U) as arguments
77 command or the \fI-e\fP option.
79 will also print out control characters in caret notation.
81 The standard way to create a new window is to type \*QC-a c\*U.
82 This creates a new window running a shell and switches to that
83 window immediately, regardless of the state of the process running
84 in the current window.
85 Similarly, you can create a new window with a custom command in it by
86 first binding the command to a keystroke (in your .screenrc file or at the
87 \*QC-a :\*U command line) and
88 then using it just like the \*QC-a c\*U command.
89 In addition, new windows can be created by running a command like:
93 from a shell prompt within a previously created window.
94 This will not run another copy of
96 but will instead supply the command name and its arguments to the window
97 manager (specified in the $STY environment variable) who will use it to
98 create the new window.
99 The above example would start the emacs editor (editing prog.c) and switch
102 If \*Q/etc/utmp\*U is writable by
104 an appropriate record will be written to this file for each window, and
105 removed when the window is terminated.
106 This is useful for working with \*Qtalk\*U, \*Qscript\*U, \*Qshutdown\*U,
107 \*Qrsend\*U, \*Qsccs\*U and other similar programs that use the utmp
108 file to determine who you are. As long as
110 is active on your terminal,
111 the terminal's own record is removed from the utmp file. See also \*QC-a L\*U.
115 Before you begin to use
117 you'll need to make sure you have correctly selected your terminal type,
118 just as you would for any other termcap/terminfo program.
119 (You can do this by using
123 If you're impatient and want to get started without doing a lot more reading,
124 you should remember this one command: \*QC-a ?\*U.
125 Typing these two characters will display a list of the available
127 commands and their bindings. Each keystroke is discussed in
128 the section \*QDEFAULT KEY BINDINGS\*U. The manual section \*QCUSTOMIZATION\*U
129 deals with the contents of your .screenrc.
131 If your terminal is a \*Qtrue\*U auto-margin terminal (it doesn't allow
132 the last position on the screen to be updated without scrolling the
133 screen) consider using a version of your terminal's termcap that has
134 automatic margins turned \fIoff\fP. This will ensure an accurate and
135 optimal update of the screen in all circumstances. Most terminals
136 nowadays have \*Qmagic\*U margins (automatic margins plus usable last
137 column). This is the VT100 style type and perfectly suited for
139 If all you've got is a \*Qtrue\*U auto-margin terminal
141 will be content to use it, but updating a character put into the last
142 position on the screen may not be possible until the screen scrolls or
143 the character is moved into a safe position in some other way. This
144 delay can be shortened by using a terminal with insert-character
148 .SH "COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS"
149 Screen has the following command-line options:
152 include \fIall\fP capabilities (with some minor exceptions) in each
153 window's termcap, even if
155 must redraw parts of the display in order to implement a function.
158 Adapt the sizes of all windows to the size of the current terminal.
161 tries to restore its old window sizes when attaching to resizable terminals
162 (those with \*QWS\*U in its description, e.g. suncmd or some xterm).
165 override the default configuration file from \*Q$HOME/.screenrc\*U
168 .BR \-d | \-D " [" \fIpid.tty.host ]
171 but detaches the elsewhere running
173 session. It has the same effect as typing \*QC-a d\*U from
175 controlling terminal. \fB\-D\fP is the equivalent to the power detach key.
176 If no session can be detached, this option is ignored. In combination with the
177 \fB\-r\fP/\fB\-R\fP option more powerful effects can be achieved:
180 Reattach a session and if necessary detach it first.
183 Reattach a session and if necessary detach or even create it first.
186 Reattach a session and if necessary detach or create it. Use the first
187 session if more than one session is available.
190 Reattach a session. If necessary detach and logout remotely first.
193 Attach here and now. In detail this means: If a session is running, then
194 reattach. If necessary detach and logout remotely first.
195 If it was not running create it and notify the user. This is the
199 Attach here and now. Whatever that means, just do it.
201 Note: It is always a good idea to check the status of your sessions by means of
205 specifies the command character to be \fIx\fP and the character generating a
206 literal command character to \fIy\fP (when typed after the command character).
207 The default is \*QC-a\*U and `a', which can be specified as \*Q-e^Aa\*U.
210 session, this option sets the default command character. In a multiuser
211 session all users added will start off with this command character. But
212 when attaching to an already running session, this option changes only
213 the command character of the attaching user.
214 This option is equivalent to either the commands \*Qdefescape\*U or
215 \*Qescape\*U respectively.
217 .BR \-f\fP ", " \-fn ", and " \-fa
218 turns flow-control on, off, or \*Qautomatic switching mode\*U.
219 This can also be defined through the \*Qdefflow\*U .screenrc command.
222 Specifies the history scrollback buffer to be \fInum\fP lines high.
225 will cause the interrupt key (usually C-c) to interrupt the display
226 immediately when flow-control is on.
227 See the \*Qdefflow\*U .screenrc command for details.
228 The use of this option is discouraged.
231 turns login mode on or off (for /etc/utmp updating).
232 This can also be defined through the \*Qdeflogin\*U .screenrc command.
234 .BR \-ls " and " \-list
239 strings identifying your
242 Sessions marked `detached' can be resumed with \*Qscreen -r\*U. Those marked
243 `attached' are running and have a controlling terminal. If the session runs in
244 multiuser mode, it is marked `multi'. Sessions marked as `unreachable' either
245 live on a different host or are `dead'.
246 An unreachable session is considered dead, when its name
247 matches either the name of the local host, or the specified parameter, if any.
248 See the \fB-r\fP flag for a description how to construct matches.
249 Sessions marked as `dead' should be thoroughly checked and removed.
250 Ask your system administrator if you are not sure. Remove sessions with the
256 to turn on automatic output logging for the windows.
261 to ignore the $STY environment variable. With \*Qscreen -m\*U creation of
262 a new session is enforced, regardless whether
264 is called from within another
266 session or not. This flag has a special meaning in connection
267 with the `-d' option:
272 in \*Qdetached\*U mode. This creates a new session but doesn't
273 attach to it. This is useful for system startup scripts.
276 This also starts screen in \*Qdetached\*U mode, but doesn't fork
277 a new process. The command exits if the session terminates.
280 selects a more optimal output mode for your terminal rather than true VT100
281 emulation (only affects auto-margin terminals without `LP').
282 This can also be set in your .screenrc by specifying `OP' in a \*Qtermcap\*U
285 .BI "\-p " number_or_name
286 Preselect a window. This is useful when you want to reattach to a
287 specific window or you want to send a command via the \*Q-X\*U
288 option to a specific window. As with screen's select command, \*Q-\*U
289 selects the blank window. As a special case for reattach, \*Q=\*U
290 brings up the windowlist on the blank window.
293 Suppress printing of error messages. In combination with \*Q-ls\*U the exit
294 value is as follows: 9 indicates a directory without sessions. 10
295 indicates a directory with running but not attachable sessions. 11 (or more)
296 indicates 1 (or more) usable sessions.
297 In combination with \*Q-r\*U the exit value is as follows: 10 indicates that
298 there is no session to resume. 12 (or more) indicates that there are 2 (or
299 more) sessions to resume and you should specify which one to choose.
300 In all other cases \*Q-q\*U has no effect.
302 .BR \-r " [" \fIpid.tty.host ]
305 .BR \-r " \fIsessionowner/[" \fIpid.tty.host ]
309 session. No other options (except combinations with \fB\-d\fP/\fB\-D\fP) may
310 be specified, though an optional prefix of [\fIpid.\fP]\fItty.host\fP
311 may be needed to distinguish between multiple detached
313 sessions. The second form is used to connect to another user's screen session
314 which runs in multiuser mode. This indicates that screen should look for
315 sessions in another user's directory. This requires setuid-root.
318 attempts to resume the first detached
320 session it finds. If successful, all other command-line options are ignored.
321 If no detached session exists, starts a new session using the specified
324 had not been specified. The option is set by default if
326 is run as a login-shell (actually screen uses \*Q-xRR\*U in that case).
327 For combinations with the \fB\-d\fP/\fB\-D\fP option see there.
330 sets the default shell to the program specified, instead of the value
331 in the environment variable $SHELL (or \*Q/bin/sh\*U if not defined).
332 This can also be defined through the \*Qshell\*U .screenrc command.
334 .BI "\-S " sessionname
335 When creating a new session, this option can be used to specify a
336 meaningful name for the session. This name identifies the session for
337 \*Qscreen -list\*U and \*Qscreen -r\*U actions. It substitutes the
338 default [\fItty.host\fP] suffix.
341 sets the title (a.\|k.\|a.) for the default shell or specified program.
342 See also the \*Qshelltitle\*U .screenrc command.
345 Run screen in UTF-8 mode. This option tells screen that your terminal
346 sends and understands UTF-8 encoded characters. It also sets the default
347 encoding for new windows to `utf8'.
350 Print version number.
352 .BR \-wipe " [" \fImatch ]
353 does the same as \*Qscreen -ls\*U, but removes destroyed sessions instead of
354 marking them as `dead'.
355 An unreachable session is considered dead, when its name matches either
356 the name of the local host, or the explicitly given parameter, if any.
357 See the \fB-r\fP flag for a description how to construct matches.
360 Attach to a not detached
362 session. (Multi display mode).
364 refuses to attach from within itself.
365 But when cascading multiple screens, loops are not detected; take care.
368 Send the specified command to a running screen session. You can use
369 the \fB-d\fP or \fB-r\fP option to tell screen to look only for
370 attached or detached screen sessions. Note that this command doesn't
371 work if the session is password protected.
374 .SH "DEFAULT KEY BINDINGS"
378 command consists of a
379 \*QC-a\*U followed by one other character.
380 For your convenience, all commands that are bound to lower-case letters are
381 also bound to their control character counterparts (with the exception
382 of \*QC-a a\*U; see below), thus, \*QC-a c\*U as well as \*QC-a C-c\*U can
383 be used to create a window. See section \*QCUSTOMIZATION\*U for a description
387 The following table shows the default key bindings:
388 .IP "\fBC-a '\fP (select)"
389 Prompt for a window name or number to switch to.
390 .IP "\fBC-a ""\fP (windowlist -b)"
391 Present a list of all windows for selection.
392 .IP "\fBC-a 0\fP (select 0)"
394 .IP "\fB ... \fP ..."
395 .IP "\fBC-a 9\fP (select 9)"
396 .IP "\fBC-a -\fP (select -)"
398 Switch to window number 0 \- 9, or to the blank window.
399 .IP "\fBC-a tab\fP (focus)"
401 Switch the input focus to the next region.
402 See also \fIsplit, remove, only\fP.
403 .IP "\fBC-a C-a\fP (other)"
404 Toggle to the window displayed previously.
405 Note that this binding defaults to the command character typed twice,
406 unless overridden. For instance, if you use the option \*Q\fB\-e]x\fP\*U,
407 this command becomes \*Q]]\*U.
408 .IP "\fBC-a a\fP (meta)"
409 Send the command character (C-a) to window. See \fIescape\fP command.
410 .IP "\fBC-a A\fP (title)"
411 Allow the user to enter a name for the current window.
414 .IP "\fBC-a C-b\fP (break)"
416 Send a break to window.
417 .IP "\fBC-a B\fP (pow_break)"
418 Reopen the terminal line and send a break.
421 .IP "\fBC-a C-c\fP (screen)"
423 Create a new window with a shell and switch to that window.
424 .IP "\fBC-a C\fP (clear)"
428 .IP "\fBC-a C-d\fP (detach)"
433 .IP "\fBC-a D D\fP (pow_detach)"
437 .IP "\fBC-a C-f\fP (flow)"
439 Toggle flow \fIon\fP, \fIoff\fP or \fIauto\fP.
440 .IP "\fBC-a F\fP (fit)"
441 Resize the window to the current region size.
442 .IP "\fBC-a C-g\fP (vbell)"
446 .IP "\fBC-a h\fP (hardcopy)"
448 Write a hardcopy of the current window to the file \*Qhardcopy.\fIn\fP\*U.
449 .IP "\fBC-a H\fP (log)"
450 Begins/ends logging of the current window to the file \*Qscreenlog.\fIn\fP\*U.
453 .IP "\fBC-a C-i\fP (info)"
455 Show info about this window.
458 .IP "\fBC-a C-k\fP (kill)"
460 Destroy current window.
463 .IP "\fBC-a C-l\fP (redisplay)"
465 Fully refresh current window.
466 .IP "\fBC-a L\fP (login)"
467 Toggle this windows login slot. Available only if
469 is configured to update the utmp database.
472 .IP "\fBC-a C-m\fP (lastmsg)"
474 Repeat the last message displayed in the message line.
475 .IP "\fBC-a M\fP (monitor)"
476 Toggles monitoring of the current window.
477 .IP "\fBC-a space\fP"
480 .IP "\fBC-a C-n\fP (next)"
482 Switch to the next window.
483 .IP "\fBC-a N\fP (number)"
484 Show the number (and title) of the current window.
485 .IP "\fBC-a backspace\fP"
489 .IP "\fBC-a C-p\fP (prev)"
491 Switch to the previous window (opposite of \fBC-a n\fP).
494 .IP "\fBC-a C-q\fP (xon)"
496 Send a control-q to the current window.
497 .IP "\fBC-a Q\fP (only)"
498 Delete all regions but the current one.
499 See also \fIsplit, remove, focus\fP.
502 .IP "\fBC-a C-r\fP (wrap)"
504 Toggle the current window's line-wrap setting (turn the current window's
505 automatic margins on and off).
508 .IP "\fBC-a C-s\fP (xoff)"
510 Send a control-s to the current window.
511 .IP "\fBC-a S\fP (split)"
512 Split the current region into two new ones.
513 See also \fIonly, remove, focus\fP.
516 .IP "\fBC-a C-t\fP (time)"
518 Show system information.
519 .IP "\fBC-a v\fP (version)"
521 Display the version and compilation date.
522 .IP "\fBC-a C-v\fP (digraph)"
527 .IP "\fBC-a C-w\fP (windows)"
529 Show a list of window.
530 .IP "\fBC-a W\fP (width)"
531 Toggle 80/132 columns.
534 .IP "\fBC-a C-x\fP (lockscreen)"
537 .IP "\fBC-a X\fP (remove)"
538 Kill the current region.
539 See also \fIsplit, only, focus\fP.
542 .IP "\fBC-a C-z\fP (suspend)"
546 Your system must support BSD-style job-control.
547 .IP "\fBC-a Z\fP (reset)"
548 Reset the virtual terminal to its \*Qpower-on\*U values.
549 .IP "\fBC-a .\fP (dumptermcap)"
550 Write out a \*Q.termcap\*U file.
551 .IP "\fBC-a ?\fP (help)"
553 .IP "\fBC-a C-\e\fP (quit)"
554 Kill all windows and terminate
556 .IP "\fBC-a :\fP (colon)"
557 Enter command line mode.
561 .IP "\fBC-a esc\fP (copy)"
563 Enter copy/scrollback mode.
564 .IP "\fBC-a ]\fP (paste .)"
566 Write the contents of the paste buffer to the stdin queue of the
570 .IP "\fBC-a }\fP (history)"
572 Copy and paste a previous (command) line.
573 .IP "\fBC-a >\fP (writebuf)"
574 Write paste buffer to a file.
575 .IP "\fBC-a <\fP (readbuf)"
576 Reads the screen-exchange file into the paste buffer.
577 .IP "\fBC-a =\fP (removebuf)"
578 Removes the file used by \fBC-a <\fP and \fPC-a >\fP.
579 .IP "\fBC-a ,\fP (license)"
582 comes from, where it went to and why you can use it.
583 .IP "\fBC-a _\fP (silence)"
584 Start/stop monitoring the current window for inactivity.
585 .IP "\fBC-a *\fP (displays)"
586 Show a listing of all currently attached displays.
590 The \*Qsocket directory\*U defaults either to $HOME/.screen or simply to
591 /tmp/screens or preferably to /usr/local/screens chosen at compile-time. If
593 is installed setuid-root, then the administrator
596 with an adequate (not NFS mounted) socket directory. If
598 is not running setuid-root, the user can specify any mode 700 directory
599 in the environment variable $SCREENDIR.
603 is invoked, it executes initialization commands from the files
604 \*Q/usr/local/etc/screenrc\*U and
605 \*Q.screenrc\*U in the user's home directory. These are the \*Qprogrammer's
606 defaults\*U that can be overridden in the following ways: for the
609 searches for the environment variable $SYSSCREENRC (this override feature
610 may be disabled at compile-time). The user specific
611 screenrc file is searched in $SCREENRC, then $HOME/.screenrc.
612 The command line option \fB-c\fP takes
613 precedence over the above user screenrc files.
615 Commands in these files are used to set options, bind functions to
616 keys, and to automatically establish one or more windows at the
620 Commands are listed one per line, with empty lines being ignored.
621 A command's arguments are separated by tabs or spaces, and may be
622 surrounded by single or double quotes.
623 A `#' turns the rest of the line into a comment, except in quotes.
624 Unintelligible lines are warned about and ignored.
625 Commands may contain references to environment variables. The
626 syntax is the shell-like "$VAR " or "${VAR}". Note that this causes
627 incompatibility with previous
629 versions, as now the '$'-character has to be protected with '\e' if no
630 variable substitution shall be performed. A string in single-quotes is also
631 protected from variable substitution.
633 Two configuration files are shipped as examples with your screen distribution:
634 \*Qetc/screenrc\*U and \*Qetc/etcscreenrc\*U. They contain a number of
635 useful examples for various commands.
637 Customization can also be done 'on-line'. To enter the command mode type
638 `C-a :'. Note that commands starting with \*Qdef\*U change default values,
639 while others change current settings.
641 The following commands are available:
644 .BI acladd " usernames"
647 .BI addacl " usernames"
649 Enable users to fully access this screen session. \fIUsernames\fP can be one
650 user or a comma separated list of users. This command enables to attach to the
652 session and performs the equivalent of `aclchg \fIusernames\fP +rwx \&"#?\&"'.
653 executed. To add a user with restricted access, use the `aclchg' command below.
654 If an optional second parameter is supplied, it should be a crypted password
655 for the named user(s). `Addacl' is a synonym to `acladd'.
656 Multi user mode only.
659 .BI aclchg " usernames permbits list"
661 .BI chacl " usernames permbits list"
663 Change permissions for a comma separated list of users. Permission bits are
664 represented as `r', `w' and `x'. Prefixing `+' grants the permission, `-'
665 removes it. The third parameter is a comma separated list of commands and/or
666 windows (specified either by number or title). The special list `#' refers to
667 all windows, `?' to all commands. if \fIusernames\fP consists of a single `*',
668 all known users are affected.
669 A command can be executed when the user has the `x' bit for it.
670 The user can type input to a window when he has its `w' bit set and no other
671 user obtains a writelock for this window.
672 Other bits are currently ignored.
673 To withdraw the writelock from another user in window 2:
674 `aclchg \fIusername\fP -w+w 2'.
675 To allow read-only access to the session: `aclchg \fIusername\fP
676 -w \&"#\&"'. As soon as a user's name is known to
678 he can attach to the session and (per default) has full permissions for all
679 command and windows. Execution permission for the acl commands, `at' and others
680 should also be removed or the user may be able to regain write permission.
681 Rights of the special username
683 cannot be changed (see the \*Qsu\*U command).
684 `Chacl' is a synonym to `aclchg'.
685 Multi user mode only.
688 .BI acldel " username"
692 access control list. If currently attached, all the
693 user's displays are detached from the session. He cannot attach again.
694 Multi user mode only.
697 .BI aclgrp " username"
700 Creates groups of users that share common access rights. The name of the
701 group is the username of the group leader. Each member of the group inherits
702 the permissions that are granted to the group leader. That means, if a user
703 fails an access check, another check is made for the group leader.
704 A user is removed from all groups the special value \*Qnone\*U is used for
706 If the second parameter is omitted all groups the user is in are listed.
711 .RI |[ users ] -bits " .... ]"
715 .RI |[ users ] -bits " .... ]"
717 This specifies the access other users have to windows that will be created by
718 the caller of the command.
720 may be no, one or a comma separated list of known usernames. If no users are
721 specified, a list of all currently known users is assumed.
723 is any combination of access control bits allowed defined with the
724 \*Qaclchg\*U command. The special username \*Q?\*U predefines the access
725 that not yet known users will be granted to any window initially.
726 The special username \*Q??\*U predefines the access that not yet known
727 users are granted to any command.
728 Rights of the special username
730 cannot be changed (see the \*Qsu\*U command).
731 `Umask' is a synonym to `aclumask'.
734 .BI activity " message"
736 When any activity occurs in a background window that is being monitored,
738 displays a notification in the message line.
739 The notification message can be re-defined by means of the \*Qactivity\*U
741 Each occurrence of `%' in \fImessage\fP is replaced by
742 the number of the window in which activity has occurred,
743 and each occurrence of `^G' is replaced by the definition for bell
744 in your termcap (usually an audible bell).
745 The default message is
747 'Activity in window %n'
749 Note that monitoring is off for all windows by default, but can be altered
750 by use of the \*Qmonitor\*U command (C-a M).
753 .BR "allpartial on" | off
755 If set to on, only the current cursor line is refreshed on window change.
756 This affects all windows and is useful for slow terminal lines. The
757 previous setting of full/partial refresh for each window is restored
758 with \*Qallpartial off\*U. This is a global flag that immediately takes effect
759 on all windows overriding the \*Qpartial\*U settings. It does not change the
760 default redraw behavior of newly created windows.
763 .BR "altscreen on" | off
765 If set to on, "alternate screen" support is enabled in virtual terminals,
766 just like in xterm. Initial setting is `off'.
769 .BR "at " "[\fIidentifier\fP][" "#\fP|\fP*\fP|\fP%\fP] "
770 .IR "command " [ args " ... ]"
772 Execute a command at other displays or windows as if it had been entered there.
773 \*QAt\*U changes the context (the `current window' or `current display'
774 setting) of the command. If the first parameter describes a
775 non-unique context, the command will be executed multiple times. If the first
776 parameter is of the form `\fIidentifier\fP*' then identifier is matched against
777 user names. The command is executed once for each display of the selected
778 user(s). If the first parameter is of the form `\fIidentifier\fP%' identifier
779 is matched against displays. Displays are named after the ttys they
780 attach. The prefix `/dev/' or `/dev/tty' may be omitted from the identifier.
781 If \fIidentifier\fP has a `#' or nothing appended it is matched against
782 window numbers and titles. Omitting an identifier in front of the `#', `*' or
783 `%'-character selects all users, displays or windows because a prefix-match is
784 performed. Note that on the affected display(s) a short message will describe
785 what happened. Permission is checked for initiator of the \*Qat\*U command,
786 not for the owners of the affected display(s).
787 Note that the '#' character works as a comment introducer when it is preceded by
788 whitespace. This can be escaped by prefixing a '\e'.
789 Permission is checked for the initiator of the \*Qat\*U command, not for the
790 owners of the affected display(s).
793 When matching against windows, the command is executed at least
794 once per window. Commands that change the internal arrangement of windows
795 (like \*Qother\*U) may be called again. In shared windows the command will
796 be repeated for each attached display. Beware, when issuing toggle commands
798 Some commands (e.g. \*Qprocess\*U) require that
799 a display is associated with the target windows. These commands may not work
800 correctly under \*Qat\*U looping over windows.
803 .BI "attrcolor " attrib
804 .RI [ "attribute/color-modifier" ]
806 This command can be used to highlight attributes by changing the color of
807 the text. If the attribute
809 is in use, the specified attribute/color modifier is also applied. If no
810 modifier is given, the current one is deleted. See the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U
811 chapter for the syntax of the modifier. Screen understands two
812 pseudo-attributes, \*Qi\*U stands for high-intensity foreground
813 color and \*QI\*U for high-intensity background color.
819 Change the color to bright red if bold text is to be printed.
823 Use blue text instead of underline.
827 Use bright colors for bold text. Most terminal emulators do this
832 Make bright colored text also bold.
835 .BR "autodetach on" | off
839 will automatically detach upon hangup, which
840 saves all your running programs until they are resumed with a
843 When turned off, a hangup signal will terminate
845 and all the processes it contains. Autodetach is on by default.
848 .BR "autonuke on" | off
850 Sets whether a clear screen sequence should nuke all the output
851 that has not been written to the terminal. See also
863 Program the backtick command with the numerical id \fIid\fP.
864 The output of such a command is used for substitution of the
865 \*Q%`\*U string escape. The specified \fIlifespan\fP is the number
866 of seconds the output is considered valid. After this time, the
867 command is run again if a corresponding string escape is encountered.
868 The \fIautorefresh\fP parameter triggers an
869 automatic refresh for caption and hardstatus strings after the
870 specified number of seconds. Only the last line of output is used
873 If both the \fIlifespan\fP and the \fIautorefresh\fP parameters
874 are zero, the backtick program is expected to stay in the
875 background and generate output once in a while.
876 In this case, the command is executed right away and screen stores
877 the last line of output. If a new line gets printed screen will
878 automatically refresh the hardstatus or the captions.
880 The second form of the command deletes the backtick command
881 with the numerical id \fIid\fP.
884 .BR "bce " [ on | off ]
886 Change background-color-erase setting. If \*Qbce\*U is set to on, all
887 characters cleared by an erase/insert/scroll/clear operation
888 will be displayed in the current background color. Otherwise
889 the default background color is used.
895 When a bell character is sent to a background window,
897 displays a notification in the message line.
898 The notification message can be re-defined by this command.
899 Each occurrence of `%' in \fImessage\fP is replaced by
900 the number of the window to which a bell has been sent,
901 and each occurrence of `^G' is replaced by the definition for bell
902 in your termcap (usually an audible bell).
903 The default message is
907 An empty message can be supplied to the \*Qbell_msg\*U command to suppress
908 output of a message line (bell_msg "").
909 Without parameter, the current message is shown.
916 .RI [ command " [" args ]]
918 Bind a command to a key.
919 By default, most of the commands provided by
921 are bound to one or more keys as indicated in the \*QDEFAULT KEY BINDINGS\*U
923 command to create a new window is bound to \*QC-c\*U and \*Qc\*U.
924 The \*Qbind\*U command can be used to redefine the key bindings and to
926 The \fIkey\fP argument is either a single character, a two-character sequence
927 of the form \*Q^x\*U (meaning \*QC-x\*U), a backslash followed by an octal
928 number (specifying the ASCII code of the character), or a backslash followed
929 by a second character, such as \*Q\e^\*U or \*Q\e\e\*U.
930 The argument can also be quoted, if you like.
931 If no further argument is given, any previously established binding
932 for this key is removed.
933 The \fIcommand\fP argument can be any command listed in this section.
935 If a command class is specified via the \*Q-c\*U option, the key
936 is bound for the specified class. Use the \*Qcommand\*U command
937 to activate a class. Command classes can be used to create multiple
938 command keys or multi-character bindings.
947 bind ^f screen telnet foobar
948 bind \e033 screen -ln -t root -h 1000 9 su
951 would bind the space key to the command that displays a list
952 of windows (so that the command usually invoked by \*QC-a C-w\*U
953 would also be available as \*QC-a space\*U). The next three lines
954 remove the default kill binding from \*QC-a C-k\*U and \*QC-a k\*U.
955 \*QC-a K\*U is then bound to the kill command. Then it
956 binds \*QC-f\*U to the command \*Qcreate a window with a TELNET
957 connection to foobar\*U, and bind \*Qescape\*U to the command
958 that creates an non-login window with a.\|k.\|a. \*Qroot\*U in slot #9, with
959 a superuser shell and a scrollback buffer of 1000 lines.
962 bind -c demo1 0 select 10
963 bind -c demo1 1 select 11
964 bind -c demo1 2 select 12
965 bindkey "^B" command -c demo1
968 makes \*QC-b 0\*U select window 10, \*QC-b 1\*U window 11, etc.
971 bind -c demo2 0 select 10
972 bind -c demo2 1 select 11
973 bind -c demo2 2 select 12
974 bind - command -c demo2
977 makes \*QC-a - 0\*U select window 10, \*QC-a - 1\*U window 11, etc.
988 This command manages screen's input translation tables. Every
989 entry in one of the tables tells screen how to react if a certain
990 sequence of characters is encountered. There are three tables:
991 one that should contain actions programmed by the user, one for
992 the default actions used for terminal emulation and one for
993 screen's copy mode to do cursor movement. See section
994 \*QINPUT TRANSLATION\*U for a list of default key bindings.
998 option is given, bindkey modifies the default table,
1000 changes the copy mode table
1001 and with neither option the user table is selected.
1004 is the sequence of characters to which an action is bound. This
1005 can either be a fixed string or a termcap keyboard capability
1006 name (selectable with the
1010 Some keys on a VT100 terminal can send a different
1011 string if application mode is turned on (e.g the cursor keys).
1012 Such keys have two entries in the translation table. You can
1013 select the application mode entry by specifying the
1019 option tells screen not to do inter-character timing. One cannot
1020 turn off the timing if a termcap capability is used.
1023 can be any of screen's commands with an arbitrary number of
1027 is omitted the key-binding is removed from the table.
1029 Here are some examples of keyboard bindings:
1034 Show all of the default key bindings. The application mode entries
1035 are marked with [A].
1038 bindkey -k k1 select 1
1040 Make the "F1" key switch to window one.
1043 bindkey -t foo stuff barfoo
1045 Make "foo" an abbreviation of the word "barfoo". Timeout is disabled
1046 so that users can type slowly.
1049 bindkey "\e024" mapdefault
1051 This key-binding makes \*Q^T\*U an escape character for key-bindings. If
1052 you did the above \*Qstuff barfoo\*U binding, you can enter the word
1053 \*Qfoo\*U by typing \*Q^Tfoo\*U. If you want to insert a \*Q^T\*U
1054 you have to press the key twice (i.e., escape the escape binding).
1057 bindkey -k F1 command
1059 Make the F11 (not F1!) key an alternative screen
1060 escape (besides ^A).
1066 Send a break signal for \fIduration\fP*0.25 seconds to this window.
1067 For non-Posix systems the time interval may be rounded up to full seconds.
1068 Most useful if a character device is attached to the window rather than
1069 a shell process (See also chapter \*QWINDOW TYPES\*U). The maximum duration of
1070 a break signal is limited to 15 seconds.
1075 Activate the screen blanker. First the screen is cleared. If no blanker
1076 program is defined, the cursor is turned off, otherwise, the
1077 program is started and it's output is written to the screen.
1078 The screen blanker is killed with the first keypress, the read key
1081 This command is normally used together with the \*Qidle\*U command.
1085 .RI [ "program args" ]
1087 Defines a blanker program. Disables the blanker program if no
1088 arguments are given.
1092 .RI [ tcsendbreak | TIOCSBRK
1095 Choose one of the available methods of generating a break signal for
1096 terminal devices. This command should affect the current window only.
1097 But it still behaves identical to \*Qdefbreaktype\*U. This will be changed in
1099 Calling \*Qbreaktype\*U with no parameter displays the break method for the
1104 .RI [ exchange-file ]
1106 Change the filename used for reading and writing with the paste buffer.
1107 If the optional argument to the \*Qbufferfile\*U command is omitted,
1108 the default setting (\*Q/tmp/screen-exchange\*U) is reactivated.
1109 The following example will paste the system's password file into
1112 window (using the paste buffer, where a copy remains):
1115 C-a : bufferfile /etc/passwd
1121 .BR "c1 " [ on | off ]
1123 Change c1 code processing. \*QC1 on\*U tells screen to treat
1124 the input characters between 128 and 159 as control functions.
1125 Such an 8-bit code is normally the same as ESC followed by the
1126 corresponding 7-bit code. The default setting is to process c1
1127 codes and can be changed with the \*Qdefc1\*U command.
1128 Users with fonts that have usable characters in the
1129 c1 positions may want to turn this off.
1132 .BR "caption always" | splitonly
1138 This command controls the display of the window captions. Normally
1139 a caption is only used if more than one window is shown on the
1140 display (split screen mode). But if the type is set to
1142 screen shows a caption even if only one window is displayed. The default
1146 The second form changes the text used for the caption. You can use
1147 all escapes from the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U chapter. Screen uses
1148 a default of `%3n %t'.
1150 You can mix both forms by providing a string as an additional argument.
1155 Change the current character set slot designation and charset
1156 mapping. The first four character of
1158 are treated as charset designators while the fifth and sixth
1159 character must be in range '0' to '3' and set the GL/GR charset
1160 mapping. On every position a '.' may be used to indicate that
1161 the corresponding charset/mapping should not be changed
1162 (\fIset\fP is padded to six characters internally by appending '.'
1163 chars). New windows have "BBBB02" as default charset, unless a
1164 \*Qencoding\*U command is active.
1166 The current setting can be viewed with the \*Qinfo\*U command.
1172 Change the \fIcurrent directory\fP of
1174 to the specified directory or, if called without an argument,
1175 to your home directory (the value of the environment variable $HOME).
1176 All windows that are created by means of the \*Qscreen\*U command
1177 from within \*Q.screenrc\*U or by means of \*QC-a : screen ...\*U
1178 or \*QC-a c\*U use this as their default directory.
1179 Without a chdir command, this would be the directory from which
1182 Hardcopy and log files are always written to the \fIwindow's\fP default
1183 directory, \fInot\fP the current directory of the process running in the
1185 You can use this command multiple times in your .screenrc to start various
1186 windows in different default directories, but the last chdir value will
1187 affect all the windows you create interactively.
1192 Clears the current window and saves its image to the scrollback buffer.
1198 Allows you to enter \*Q.screenrc\*U command lines. Useful
1199 for on-the-fly modification of key bindings,
1200 specific window creation and changing settings. Note that the \*Qset\*U
1201 keyword no longer exists! Usually commands affect the current window rather
1202 than default settings for future windows. Change defaults with commands
1203 starting with 'def...'.
1205 If you consider this as the `Ex command mode' of
1207 you may regard \*QC-a esc\*U (copy mode) as its `Vi command mode'.
1214 This command has the same effect as typing the screen escape
1215 character (^A). It is probably only useful for key bindings.
1216 If the \*Q-c\*U option is given, select the specified command
1217 class. See also \*Qbind\*U and \*Qbindkey\*U.
1220 .BR "compacthist " [ on | off ]
1222 This tells screen whether to suppress trailing blank lines when
1223 scrolling up text into the history buffer.
1226 .BR "console " [ on | off ]
1228 Grabs or un-grabs the machines console output to a window.
1230 Only the owner of /dev/console can grab the console output.
1231 This command is only available if the machine supports the ioctl TIOCCONS.
1236 Enter copy/scrollback mode. This allows you to copy text from the current
1237 window and its history into the paste buffer. In this mode a vi-like
1238 `full screen editor' is active:
1240 .IR "Movement keys" :
1244 \fBh\fP, \fBj\fP, \fBk\fP, \fBl\fP move the cursor line by line or
1248 \fB0\fP, \fB^\fP and \fB$\fP move to the leftmost column, to the first or last
1249 non-whitespace character on the line.
1252 \fBH\fP, \fBM\fP and \fBL\fP move the cursor to the leftmost column
1253 of the top, center or bottom line of the window.
1256 \fB+\fP and \fB\-\fP positions one line up and down.
1259 \fBG\fP moves to the specified absolute line (default: end of buffer).
1262 \fB|\fP moves to the specified absolute column.
1265 \fBw\fP, \fBb\fP, \fBe\fP move the cursor word by word.
1268 \fBB\fP, \fBE\fP move the cursor WORD by WORD (as in vi).
1271 .\"\fBf\fP,\fBt\fP, \fBF\fP, \fBT\fP move the cursor forward/backward to the next occurence of the target.
1272 \fBf/F\fP, \fBt/T\fP move the cursor forward/backward to the next occurence of the target. (eg, '3fy' will
1273 move the cursor to the 3rd 'y' to the right.)
1276 \fB;\fP \fB,\fP Repeat the last f/F/t/T command in the same/opposite direction.
1279 \fBC-u\fP and \fBC-d\fP scroll the display up/down by the specified amount of
1280 lines while preserving the cursor position. (Default: half screen-full).
1283 \fBC-b\fP and \fBC-f\fP scroll the display up/down a full screen.
1286 \fBg\fP moves to the beginning of the buffer.
1289 \fB%\fP jumps to the specified percentage of the buffer.
1295 Emacs style movement keys can be customized by a .screenrc command.
1296 (E.\|g. markkeys "h=^B:l=^F:$=^E") There is no simple method for a full
1297 emacs-style keymap, as this involves multi-character codes.
1303 The copy range is specified by setting two marks. The text between these marks
1304 will be highlighted. Press
1307 \fBspace\fP to set the first or second mark
1311 \fBY\fP and \fBy\fP used to mark one whole line or to mark from
1315 \fBW\fP marks exactly one word.
1318 .IR "Repeat count" :
1320 Any of these commands can be prefixed with a repeat count number by pressing
1324 \fB0\fP..\fB9\fP which
1325 is taken as a repeat count.
1327 Example: \*QC-a C-[ H 10 j 5 Y\*U will copy lines
1328 11 to 15 into the paste buffer.
1333 \fB/\fP \fIVi\fP-like search forward.
1335 \fB?\fP \fIVi\fP-like search backward.
1337 \fBC-a s\fP \fIEmacs\fP style incremental search forward.
1339 \fBC-r\fP \fIEmacs\fP style reverse i-search.
1343 There are however some keys that act differently than in
1346 does not allow one to yank rectangular blocks of text, but
1351 \fBc\fP or \fBC\fP to set the left or right margin respectively. If no repeat count is
1352 given, both default to the current cursor position.
1354 Example: Try this on a rather full text screen:
1355 \*QC-a [ M 20 l SPACE c 10 l 5 j C SPACE\*U.
1357 This moves one to the middle line of the screen, moves in 20 columns left,
1358 marks the beginning of the paste buffer, sets the left column, moves 5 columns
1359 down, sets the right column, and then marks the end of
1360 the paste buffer. Now try:
1362 \*QC-a [ M 20 l SPACE 10 l 5 j SPACE\*U
1364 and notice the difference in the amount of text copied.
1367 \fBJ\fP joins lines. It toggles between 4 modes: lines separated by a
1368 newline character (012), lines glued seamless, lines separated by a single
1369 whitespace and comma separated lines. Note that you can prepend the newline
1370 character with a carriage return character, by issuing a \*Qcrlf on\*U.
1373 \fBv\fP is for all the
1375 users with \*Q:set numbers\*U \- it toggles the left margin between column 9
1379 \fBa\fP before the final space key to toggle in append mode. Thus
1380 the contents of the paste buffer will not be overwritten, but is appended to.
1383 \fBA\fP toggles in append mode and sets a (second) mark.
1386 \fB>\fP sets the (second) mark and writes the contents of the paste buffer to
1387 the screen-exchange file (/tmp/screen-exchange per default) once copy-mode is
1390 This example demonstrates how to dump the whole scrollback buffer
1391 to that file: \*QC-A [ g SPACE G $ >\*U.
1394 \fBC-g\fP gives information about the current line and column.
1397 \fBx\fP exchanges the first mark and the current cursor position. You
1398 can use this to adjust an already placed mark.
1401 \fB@\fP does nothing. Does not even exit copy mode.
1404 All keys not described here exit copy mode.
1411 No longer exists, use \*Qreadreg\*U instead.
1414 .BR "crlf " [ on | off ]
1416 This affects the copying of text regions with the `C-a [' command. If it is set
1417 to `on', lines will be separated by the two character sequence `CR' - `LF'.
1418 Otherwise (default) only `LF' is used.
1419 When no parameter is given, the state is toggled.
1422 .BR "debug on" | off
1424 Turns runtime debugging on or off. If
1426 has been compiled with option -DDEBUG debugging available and is turned on per
1427 default. Note that this command only affects debugging output from the main
1428 \*QSCREEN\*U process correctly. Debug output from attacher processes can only
1429 be turned off once and forever.
1432 .BR "defc1 on" | off
1434 Same as the \fBc1\fP command except that the default setting for new
1435 windows is changed. Initial setting is `on'.
1438 .BR "defautonuke on" | off
1440 Same as the \fBautonuke\fP command except that the default setting for new displays is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1441 Note that you can use the special `AN' terminal capability if you
1442 want to have a dependency on the terminal type.
1445 .BR "defbce on" | off
1447 Same as the \fBbce\fP command except that the default setting for new
1448 windows is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1452 .RI [ tcsendbreak | TIOCSBRK
1455 Choose one of the available methods of generating a break signal for
1456 terminal devices. The preferred methods are
1457 .IR tcsendbreak " and " TIOCSBRK .
1462 session for the duration
1463 of the break, but it may be the only way to generate long breaks.
1464 .IR Tcsendbreak " and " TIOCSBRK
1465 may or may not produce long breaks with spikes (e.g. 4 per
1466 second). This is not only system-dependent, this also differs between
1467 serial board drivers.
1468 Calling \*Qdefbreaktype\*U with no parameter displays the current setting.
1471 .BR "defcharset " [ \fIset ]
1473 Like the \fBcharset\fP command except that the default setting for
1474 new windows is changed. Shows current default if called without
1480 Set the default command characters. This is equivalent to the
1481 \*Qescape\*U except that it is useful multiuser sessions only. In a
1482 multiuser session \*Qescape\*U changes the command character of the
1483 calling user, where \*Qdefescape\*U changes the default command
1484 characters for users that will be added later.
1487 .BR "defflow on" | off | auto
1490 Same as the \fBflow\fP command except that the default setting for new windows
1491 is changed. Initial setting is `auto'.
1492 Specifying \*Qdefflow auto interrupt\*U is the same as the command-line options
1498 .BR "defgr on" | off
1500 Same as the \fBgr\fP command except that the default setting for new
1501 windows is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1504 .BR "defhstatus " [ \fIstatus ]
1506 The hardstatus line that all new windows will get is set to
1508 This command is useful to make the hardstatus of every window
1509 display the window number or title or the like.
1511 may contain the same directives as in the window messages, but
1512 the directive escape character is '^E' (octal 005) instead of '%'.
1513 This was done to make a misinterpretation of program generated
1514 hardstatus lines impossible.
1517 is omitted, the current default string is displayed.
1518 Per default the hardstatus line of new windows is empty.
1521 .BI "defencoding " enc
1523 Same as the \fBencoding\fP command except that the default setting for new
1524 windows is changed. Initial setting is the encoding taken from the
1528 .BR "deflog on" | off
1530 Same as the \fBlog\fP command except that the default setting for new windows
1531 is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1534 .BR "deflogin on" | off
1536 Same as the \fBlogin\fP command except that the default setting for new windows
1537 is changed. This is initialized with `on' as distributed (see config.h.in).
1542 The mode of each newly allocated pseudo-tty is set to \fImode\fP.
1543 \fIMode\fP is an octal number.
1544 When no \*Qdefmode\*U command is given, mode 0622 is used.
1547 .BR "defmonitor on" | off
1549 Same as the \fBmonitor\fP command except that the default setting for new
1550 windows is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1554 .BR on | off | \fInumsecs
1556 Same as the \fBnonblock\fP command except that the default setting for
1557 displays is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1560 .BI "defobuflimit " limit
1562 Same as the \fBobuflimit\fP command except that the default setting for new displays is changed. Initial setting is 256 bytes.
1563 Note that you can use the special 'OL' terminal capability if you
1564 want to have a dependency on the terminal type.
1567 .BI "defscrollback " num
1569 Same as the \fBscrollback\fP command except that the default setting for new
1570 windows is changed. Initial setting is 100.
1573 .BI "defshell " command
1575 Synonym to the \fBshell\fP command. See there.
1578 .BR "defsilence on" | off
1580 Same as the \fBsilence\fP command except that the default setting for new
1581 windows is changed. Initial setting is `off'.
1584 .BI "defslowpaste " msec"
1586 Same as the \fBslowpaste\fP command except that the default setting for new
1587 windows is changed. Initial setting is 0 milliseconds, meaning `off'.
1590 .BR "defutf8 on" | off
1592 Same as the \fButf8\fP command except that the default setting for new
1593 windows is changed. Initial setting is `on' if screen was started with
1594 \*Q-U\*U, otherwise `off'.
1597 .BR "defwrap on" | off
1599 Same as the \fBwrap\fP command except that the default setting for new
1600 windows is changed. Initially line-wrap is on and can be toggled with the
1601 \*Qwrap\*U command (\*QC-a r\*U) or by means of "C-a : wrap on|off".
1604 .BR "defwritelock on" | off | auto
1606 Same as the \fBwritelock\fP command except that the default setting for new
1607 windows is changed. Initially writelocks will off.
1610 .BR "defzombie " [\fIkeys\fP]
1612 Synonym to the \fBzombie\fP command. Both currently change the default.
1621 session (disconnect it from the terminal and put it into the background).
1622 This returns you to the shell where you invoked
1626 can be resumed by invoking
1630 option (see also section \*QCOMMAND-LINE OPTIONS\*U). The
1632 option tells screen to immediately close the connection to the
1633 terminal (\*Qhangup\*U).
1638 Show what screen thinks about your terminal. Useful if you want to know
1639 why features like color or the alternate charset don't work.
1644 Shows a tabular listing of all currently connected user front-ends (displays).
1645 This is most useful for multiuser sessions.
1648 .BR "digraph " [ \fIpreset ]
1650 This command prompts the user for a digraph sequence. The next
1651 two characters typed are looked up in a builtin table and the
1652 resulting character is inserted in the input stream. For example,
1653 if the user enters 'a"', an a-umlaut will be inserted. If the
1654 first character entered is a 0 (zero),
1656 will treat the following characters (up to three) as an octal
1657 number instead. The optional argument
1659 is treated as user input, thus one can create an \*Qumlaut\*U key.
1660 For example the command "bindkey ^K digraph '"'" enables the user
1661 to generate an a-umlaut by typing CTRL-K a.
1666 Write the termcap entry for the virtual terminal optimized for the currently
1667 active window to the file \*Q.termcap\*U in the user's
1668 \*Q$HOME/.screen\*U directory (or wherever
1670 stores its sockets. See the \*QFILES\*U section below).
1671 This termcap entry is identical to the value of the environment variable
1672 $TERMCAP that is set up by
1674 for each window. For terminfo based systems you will need to run a converter
1677 and then compile the entry with
1684 The echo command may be used to annoy
1686 users with a 'message of the
1687 day'. Typically installed in a global /local/etc/screenrc.
1688 The option \*Q-n\*U may be used to suppress the line feed.
1689 See also \*Qsleep\*U.
1690 Echo is also useful for online checking of environment variables.
1698 how to interpret the input/output. The first argument
1699 sets the encoding of the current window. Each window can emulate
1700 a different encoding. The optional second parameter overwrites
1701 the encoding of the connected terminal. It should never be
1702 needed as screen uses the locale setting to detect the encoding.
1703 There is also a way to select a terminal encoding depending on
1704 the terminal type by using the \*QKJ\*U termcap entry.
1706 Supported encodings are eucJP, SJIS, eucKR, eucCN, Big5, GBK, KOI8-R,
1707 CP1251, UTF-8, ISO8859-2, ISO8859-3, ISO8859-4, ISO8859-5, ISO8859-6,
1708 ISO8859-7, ISO8859-8, ISO8859-9, ISO8859-10, ISO8859-15, jis.
1710 See also \*Qdefencoding\*U, which changes the default setting of a new
1716 Set the command character to \fIx\fP and the character generating a literal
1717 command character (by triggering the \*Qmeta\*U command) to \fIy\fP (similar
1719 Each argument is either a single character, a two-character sequence
1720 of the form \*Q^x\*U (meaning \*QC-x\*U), a backslash followed by an octal
1721 number (specifying the ASCII code of the character), or a backslash followed
1722 by a second character, such as \*Q\e^\*U or \*Q\e\e\*U.
1723 The default is \*Q^Aa\*U.
1731 Parses and executes each argument as separate command.
1736 .IR "newcommand " [ "args ..." ]]
1738 Run a unix subprocess (specified by an executable path \fInewcommand\fP and its
1739 optional arguments) in the current window. The flow of data between
1740 newcommands stdin/stdout/stderr, the process originally started in the window
1741 (let us call it "application-process") and screen itself (window) is
1742 controlled by the file descriptor pattern fdpat.
1743 This pattern is basically a three character sequence representing stdin, stdout
1744 and stderr of newcommand. A dot (.) connects the file descriptor
1747 An exclamation mark (!) causes the file
1748 descriptor to be connected to the application-process. A colon (:) combines
1750 User input will go to newcommand unless newcommand receives the
1751 application-process'
1752 output (fdpats first character is `!' or `:') or a pipe symbol (|) is added
1753 (as a fourth character) to the end of fdpat.
1755 Invoking `exec' without arguments shows name and arguments of the currently
1756 running subprocess in this window. Only one subprocess a time can be running
1759 When a subprocess is running the `kill' command will affect it instead of the
1762 Refer to the postscript file `doc/fdpat.ps' for a confusing illustration
1763 of all 21 possible combinations. Each drawing shows the digits 2,1,0
1764 representing the three file descriptors of newcommand. The box marked
1765 `W' is the usual pty that has the application-process on its slave side.
1766 The box marked `P' is the secondary pty that now has
1772 Whitespace between the word `exec' and fdpat and the command
1773 can be omitted. Trailing dots and a fdpat consisting only of dots can be
1774 omitted. A simple `|' is synonymous for the pattern `!..|'; the word exec can
1775 be omitted here and can always be replaced by `!'.
1785 Creates another shell in the same window, while the original shell is still
1786 running. Output of both shells is displayed and user input is sent to the new
1795 Set the speed of the window's tty. If your stty command operates on stdout,
1796 then add another `!'.
1802 This adds a pager to the window output. The special character `|' is needed to
1803 give the user control over the pager although it gets its input from the
1804 window's process. This works, because
1806 listens on stderr (a behavior that
1808 would not expect without the `|')
1809 when its stdin is not a tty.
1811 versions newer than 177 fail miserably here; good old
1815 !:sed -n s/.*Error.*/\e007/p
1817 Sends window output to both, the user and the sed command. The sed inserts an
1818 additional bell character (oct. 007) to the window output seen by
1820 This will cause "Bell in window x" messages, whenever the string "Error"
1821 appears in the window.
1826 Change the window size to the size of the current region. This
1827 command is needed because screen doesn't adapt the window size
1828 automatically if the window is displayed more than once.
1832 .RB [ on | off | "auto\fR]\fP"
1834 Sets the flow-control mode for this window.
1835 Without parameters it cycles the current window's flow-control setting from
1836 "automatic" to "on" to "off".
1837 See the discussion on \*QFLOW-CONTROL\*U later on in this document for full
1838 details and note, that this is subject to change in future releases.
1839 Default is set by `defflow'.
1842 .BR "focus " [ up | down | top | bottom ]
1844 Move the input focus to the next region. This is done in a cyclic
1845 way so that the top region is selected after the bottom one. If
1846 no subcommand is given it defaults to `down'. `up' cycles in the
1847 opposite order, `top' and `bottom' go to the top and bottom
1848 region respectively. Useful bindings are (j and k as in vi)
1855 Note that \fBk\fP is traditionally bound to the \fIkill\fP command.
1858 .BR "gr " [ on | off ]
1860 Turn GR charset switching on/off. Whenever screen sees an input
1861 character with the 8th bit set, it will use the charset stored in the
1862 GR slot and print the character with the 8th bit stripped. The
1863 default (see also \*Qdefgr\*U) is not to process GR switching because
1864 otherwise the ISO88591 charset would not work.
1871 Writes out the currently displayed image to the file \fIfile\fP,
1872 or, if no filename is specified, to \fIhardcopy.n\fP in the
1873 default directory, where \fIn\fP is the number of the current window.
1874 This either appends or overwrites the file if it exists. See below.
1875 If the option \fB-h\fP is specified, dump also the contents of the
1879 .BR "hardcopy_append on" | off
1883 will append to the "hardcopy.n" files created by the command \*QC-a h\*U,
1884 otherwise these files are overwritten each time.
1888 .BI "hardcopydir "directory
1890 Defines a directory where hardcopy files will be placed. If unset, hardcopys
1893 current working directory.
1896 .BR "hardstatus " [ on | off ]
1898 .BR "hardstatus \fR[\fBalways\fR]\fBlastline" | message | ignore
1901 .B "hardstatus string"
1904 This command configures the use and emulation of the terminal's
1905 hardstatus line. The first form
1908 will use the hardware status line to display messages. If the
1909 flag is set to `off', these messages
1910 are overlaid in reverse video mode at the display line. The default
1913 The second form tells
1915 what to do if the terminal doesn't
1916 have a hardstatus line (i.e. the termcap/terminfo capabilities
1917 "hs", "ts", "fs" and "ds" are not set). If the type
1918 \*Qlastline\*U is used,
1920 will reserve the last line of the
1922 the hardstatus. \*Qmessage\*U uses
1924 message mechanism and
1927 never to display the hardstatus.
1928 If you prepend the word \*Qalways\*U to the type (e.g., \*Qalwayslastline\*U),
1930 will use the type even if the terminal supports a hardstatus.
1932 The third form specifies the contents of the hardstatus line. '%h' is
1933 used as default string, i.e., the stored hardstatus of the current
1934 window (settable via \*QESC]0;<string>^G\*U or \*QESC_<string>ESC\e\*U)
1935 is displayed. You can customize this to any string you like including
1936 the escapes from the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U chapter. If you leave out
1939 the current string is displayed.
1941 You can mix the second and third form by providing the string as
1942 additional argument.
1947 .RI [ lines " [" cols ]]
1949 Set the display height to a specified number of lines. When no argument
1950 is given it toggles between 24 and 42 lines display. You can also
1951 specify a width if you want to change both values.
1954 option tells screen to leave the display size unchanged and just set
1964 Not really a online help, but
1967 showing you all the key bindings.
1968 The first pages list all the internal commands followed by their current
1970 Subsequent pages will display the custom commands, one command per key.
1971 Press space when you're done reading each page, or return to exit early.
1972 All other characters are ignored. If the \*Q-c\*U option is given,
1973 display all bound commands for the specified command class.
1974 See also \*QDEFAULT KEY BINDINGS\*U section.
1979 Usually users work with a shell that allows easy access to previous commands.
1980 For example csh has the command \*Q!!\*U to repeat the last command executed.
1982 allows you to have a primitive way of re-calling \*Qthe command that
1983 started ...\*U: You just type the first letter of that command, then hit
1986 tries to find a previous line that matches with the `prompt character'
1987 to the left of the cursor. This line is pasted into this window's input queue.
1988 Thus you have a crude command history (made up by the visible window and its
1992 .BI "hstatus " status
1994 Change the window's hardstatus line to the string \fIstatus\fP.
2001 Sets a command that is run after the specified number of seconds
2002 inactivity is reached. This command will normally be the \*Qblanker\*U
2003 command to create a screen blanker, but it can be any screen command.
2004 If no command is specified, only the timeout is set. A timeout of
2005 zero (ot the special timeout \fBoff\fP) disables the timer.
2006 If no arguments are given, the current settings are displayed.
2009 .BR "ignorecase " [ on | off ]
2011 Tell screen to ignore the case of characters in searches. Default is
2017 Uses the message line to display some information about the current window:
2018 the cursor position in the form \*Q(column,row)\*U starting with \*Q(1,1)\*U,
2019 the terminal width and height plus the size of the scrollback buffer in lines,
2020 like in \*Q(80,24)+50\*U, the current state of window XON/XOFF flow control
2021 is shown like this (See also section FLOW CONTROL):
2024 +flow automatic flow control, currently on.
2025 -flow automatic flow control, currently off.
2026 +(+)flow flow control enabled. Agrees with automatic control.
2027 -(+)flow flow control disabled. Disagrees with automatic control.
2028 +(-)flow flow control enabled. Disagrees with automatic control.
2029 -(-)flow flow control disabled. Agrees with automatic control.
2032 The current line wrap setting (`+wrap' indicates enabled, `\-wrap' not) is
2033 also shown. The flags `ins', `org', `app', `log', `mon' or `nored' are
2034 displayed when the window is in insert mode, origin mode,
2035 application-keypad mode, has output logging,
2036 activity monitoring or partial redraw enabled.
2038 The currently active character set (\fIG0\fP, \fIG1\fP, \fIG2\fP,
2039 or \fIG3\fP) and in square brackets the terminal character sets that are
2040 currently designated as \fIG0\fP through \fIG3\fP is shown. If the window
2041 is in UTF-8 mode, the string \*QUTF-8\*U is shown instead.
2043 Additional modes depending on the type of the window are displayed at the end of the status line (See also chapter \*QWINDOW TYPES\*U).
2045 If the state machine of the terminal emulator is in a non-default state,
2046 the info line is started with a string identifying the current state.
2048 For system information use the \*Qtime\*U command.
2051 .BR ins_reg " [" \fIkey ]
2053 No longer exists, use \*Qpaste\*U instead.
2058 Kill current window.
2060 If there is an `exec' command running then it is killed. Otherwise the process
2061 (shell) running in the window receives a HANGUP condition,
2062 the window structure is removed and
2064 (your display) switches to another
2065 window. When the last window is destroyed,
2070 switches to the previously displayed window.
2074 users should keep this command in mind, when killing a line.
2075 It is recommended not to use \*QC-a\*U as the
2077 escape key or to rebind kill to \*QC-a K\*U.
2082 Redisplay the last contents of the message/status line.
2083 Useful if you're typing when a message appears, because the message goes
2084 away when you press a key (unless your terminal has a hardware status line).
2085 Refer to the commands \*Qmsgwait\*U and \*Qmsgminwait\*U for fine tuning.
2090 Display the disclaimer page. This is done whenever
2092 is started without options, which should be often enough. See also
2093 the \*Qstartup_message\*U command.
2099 Call a screenlock program (/local/bin/lck or /usr/bin/lock or a builtin if no
2100 other is available). Screen does not accept any command keys until this program
2101 terminates. Meanwhile processes in the windows may continue, as the windows
2102 are in the `detached' state. The screenlock program may be changed through the
2103 environment variable $LOCKPRG (which must be set in the shell from which
2105 is started) and is executed with the user's uid and gid.
2108 When you leave other shells unlocked and you have no password set on
2110 the lock is void: One could easily re-attach from an unlocked
2111 shell. This feature should rather be called `lockterminal'.
2114 .BR "log " [ on | off ]
2116 Start/stop writing output of the current window to a file
2117 \*Qscreenlog.\fIn\fP\*U in the window's default directory, where \fIn\fP
2118 is the number of the current window. This filename can be changed with
2119 the `logfile' command. If no parameter is given, the state
2120 of logging is toggled. The session log is appended to the previous contents
2121 of the file if it already exists. The current contents and the contents
2122 of the scrollback history are not included in the session log.
2126 .BI "logfile " filename
2128 .BI "logfile flush " secs
2130 Defines the name the log files will get. The default is
2131 \*Qscreenlog.%n\*U. The second form changes the number of seconds
2133 will wait before flushing the logfile buffer to the file-system. The
2134 default value is 10 seconds.
2137 .BR "login " [ on | off ]
2139 Adds or removes the entry in the utmp database file for the current window.
2140 This controls if the window is `logged in'.
2141 When no parameter is given, the login state of the window is toggled.
2142 Additionally to that toggle, it is convenient having a `log in' and a `log out'
2143 key. E.\|g. `bind I login on' and `bind O login off' will map these
2144 keys to be C-a I and C-a O.
2145 The default setting (in config.h.in) should be \*Qon\*U for a
2147 that runs under suid-root.
2148 Use the \*Qdeflogin\*U command to change the default login state for new
2149 windows. Both commands are only present when
2151 has been compiled with utmp support.
2154 .BR "logtstamp " [ on | off ]
2156 .B "logtstamp after"
2159 .B "logtstamp string"
2162 This command controls logfile time-stamp mechanism of
2165 time-stamps are turned \*Qon\*U,
2167 adds a string containing
2168 the current time to the logfile after two minutes of inactivity.
2169 When output continues and more than another two minutes have passed,
2170 a second time-stamp is added to document the restart of the
2171 output. You can change this timeout with the second form
2172 of the command. The third form is used for customizing the time-stamp
2173 string (`-- %n:%t -- time-stamp -- %M/%d/%y %c:%s --\\n' by
2181 that the next input character should only be looked up
2182 in the default bindkey table. See also \*Qbindkey\*U.
2187 Like mapdefault, but don't even look in the default bindkey table.
2193 Set the inter-character timer for input sequence detection to a timeout
2196 ms. The default timeout is 300ms. Maptimeout with no arguments shows
2197 the current setting.
2198 See also \*Qbindkey\*U.
2201 .BI "markkeys " string
2203 This is a method of changing the keymap used for copy/history mode.
2204 The string is made up of \fIoldchar\fP=\fInewchar\fP pairs which are
2205 separated by `:'. Example: The string \*QB=^B:F=^F\*U will change the
2206 keys `C-b' and `C-f' to the vi style binding (scroll up/down fill page).
2207 This happens to be the default binding for `B' and `F'.
2208 The command \*Qmarkkeys h=^B:l=^F:$=^E\*U would set the mode for an emacs-style
2210 If your terminal sends characters, that cause you to abort copy mode,
2211 then this command may help by binding these characters to do nothing.
2212 The no-op character is `@' and is used like this: \*Qmarkkeys
2213 @=L=H\*U if you do not want to use the `H' or `L' commands any longer.
2214 As shown in this example, multiple keys can be assigned to one function in a
2220 Set the maximum window number screen will create. Doesn't affect
2221 already existing windows. The number may only be decreased.
2226 Insert the command character (C-a) in the current window's input stream.
2229 .BR "monitor " [ on | off ]
2231 Toggles activity monitoring of windows.
2232 When monitoring is turned on and an affected window is switched into the
2233 background, you will receive the activity notification message in the
2234 status line at the first sign of output and the window will also be marked
2235 with an `@' in the window-status display.
2236 Monitoring is initially off for all windows.
2239 .BI "msgminwait " sec
2243 delays a new message when one message is currently displayed.
2244 The default is 1 second.
2249 Defines the time a message is displayed if
2251 is not disturbed by other activity. The default is 5 seconds.
2254 .BR "multiuser on" | off
2256 Switch between singleuser and multiuser mode. Standard
2258 operation is singleuser. In multiuser mode the commands `acladd',
2259 `aclchg', `aclgrp' and `acldel'
2260 can be used to enable (and disable) other users accessing this
2265 .BR "nethack on" | off
2267 Changes the kind of error messages used by
2269 When you are familiar with the game \*Qnethack\*U, you may enjoy the
2270 nethack-style messages which will often blur the facts a little, but are
2271 much funnier to read. Anyway, standard messages often tend to be unclear as
2277 was compiled with the NETHACK flag defined. The
2278 default setting is then determined by the presence of the environment
2279 variable $NETHACKOPTIONS.
2284 Switch to the next window.
2285 This command can be used repeatedly to cycle through the list of windows.
2289 .RB [ on | off | \fInumsecs ]
2291 Tell screen how to deal with user interfaces (displays) that cease to
2292 accept output. This can happen if a user presses ^S or a TCP/modem
2293 connection gets cut but no hangup is received. If nonblock is
2294 \fBoff\fP (this is the default) screen waits until the display
2295 restarts to accept the output. If nonblock is \fBon\fP, screen
2296 waits until the timeout is reached (\fBon\fP is treated as 1s). If the
2297 display still doesn't receive characters, screen will consider
2298 it \*Qblocked\*U and stop sending characters to it. If at
2299 some time it restarts to accept characters, screen will unblock
2300 the display and redisplay the updated window contents.
2303 .BR "number " [ \fIn ]
2305 Change the current windows number. If the given number \fIn\fP is already
2306 used by another window, both windows exchange their numbers. If no argument is
2307 specified, the current window number (and title) is shown.
2310 .BR "obuflimit " [ \fIlimit ]
2312 If the output buffer contains more bytes than the specified limit, no
2314 read from the windows. The default value is 256. If you have a fast
2315 display (like xterm), you can set it to some higher value. If no
2316 argument is specified, the current setting is displayed.
2321 Kill all regions but the current one.
2326 Switch to the window displayed previously. If this window does no longer exist,
2327 \fIother\fP has the same effect as \fInext\fP.
2330 .BR "partial on" | off
2332 Defines whether the display should be refreshed (as with \fIredisplay\fP) after
2333 switching to the current window. This command only affects the current window.
2334 To immediately affect all windows use the \fIallpartial\fP command.
2335 Default is `off', of course. This default is fixed, as there is currently no
2336 \fIdefpartial\fP command.
2339 .BR "password " [ \fIcrypted_pw ]
2341 Present a crypted password in your \*Q.screenrc\*U file and
2344 for it, whenever someone attempts to resume a detached. This is useful
2345 if you have privileged programs running under
2347 and you want to protect your session from reattach attempts by another user
2348 masquerading as your uid (i.e. any superuser.)
2349 If no crypted password is specified,
2351 prompts twice for typing a
2352 password and places its encryption in the paste buffer.
2353 Default is `none', this disables password checking.
2357 .RI [ registers " [" dest_reg ]]
2359 Write the (concatenated) contents of the specified registers to the stdin queue
2360 of the current window. The register '.' is treated as the
2361 paste buffer. If no parameter is given the user is prompted for a single
2363 The paste buffer can be filled with the \fIcopy\fP, \fIhistory\fP and
2364 \fIreadbuf\fP commands.
2365 Other registers can be filled with the \fIregister\fP, \fIreadreg\fP and
2366 \fIpaste\fP commands.
2367 If \fIpaste\fP is called with a second argument, the contents of the specified
2368 registers is pasted into the named destination register rather than
2369 the window. If '.' is used as the second argument, the displays paste buffer is
2371 Note, that \*Qpaste\*U uses a wide variety of resources: Whenever a second
2372 argument is specified no current window is needed. When the source specification
2373 only contains registers (not the paste buffer) then there need not be a current
2374 display (terminal attached), as the registers are a global resource. The
2375 paste buffer exists once for every user.
2378 .BR "pastefont " [ on | off ]
2382 to include font information in the paste buffer. The
2383 default is not to do so. This command is especially useful for
2384 multi character fonts like kanji.
2389 Reopen the window's terminal line and send a break condition. See `break'.
2395 Mainly the same as \fIdetach\fP, but also sends a HANGUP signal to
2396 the parent process of
2398 CAUTION: This will result in a logout, when
2400 was started from your login shell.
2406 The \fImessage\fP specified here is output whenever a `Power detach' was
2407 performed. It may be used as a replacement for a logout message or to reset
2409 Without parameter, the current message is shown.
2414 Switch to the window with the next lower number.
2415 This command can be used repeatedly to cycle through the list of windows.
2423 is not an empty string,
2425 will not use the terminal capabilities
2426 \*Qpo/pf\*U if it detects an ansi print sequence
2428 but pipe the output into
2430 This should normally be a command like \*Qlpr\*U or
2431 \*Q'cat > /tmp/scrprint'\*U.
2433 without a command displays the current setting.
2436 ends printing and closes the pipe.
2438 Warning: Be careful with this command! If other user have write
2439 access to your terminal, they will be able to fire off print commands.
2442 .BR process " [" \fIkey ]
2444 Stuff the contents of the specified register into
2446 input queue. If no argument is given you are prompted for a
2447 register name. The text is parsed as if it had been typed in from the user's
2448 keyboard. This command can be used to bind multiple actions to a single key.
2453 Kill all windows and terminate
2455 Note that on VT100-style terminals the keys C-4 and C-\e are identical.
2456 This makes the default bindings dangerous:
2457 Be careful not to type C-a C-4 when selecting window no. 4.
2458 Use the empty bind command (as in \*Qbind '^\e'\*U) to remove a key binding.
2466 Reads the contents of the specified file into the paste buffer.
2467 You can tell screen the encoding of the file via the \fB-e\fP option.
2468 If no file is specified, the screen-exchange filename is used.
2469 See also \*Qbufferfile\*U command.
2475 .RI [ register " [" filename ]]
2477 Does one of two things, dependent on number of arguments: with zero or one
2478 arguments it it duplicates the paste buffer contents into the register specified
2479 or entered at the prompt. With two arguments it reads the contents of the named
2480 file into the register, just as \fIreadbuf\fP reads the screen-exchange file
2481 into the paste buffer.
2482 You can tell screen the encoding of the file via the \fB-e\fP option.
2483 The following example will paste the system's password file into
2486 window (using register p, where a copy remains):
2489 C-a : readreg p /etc/passwd
2496 Redisplay the current window. Needed to get a full redisplay when in
2497 partial redraw mode.
2505 Save the specified \fIstring\fP to the register \fIkey\fP.
2506 The encoding of the string can be specified via the \fB-e\fP option.
2507 See also the \*Qpaste\*U command.
2512 Kill the current region. This is a no-op if there is only one region.
2517 Unlinks the screen-exchange file used by the commands \*Qwritebuf\*U and
2523 Reset the virtual terminal to its \*Qpower-on\*U values. Useful when strange
2524 settings (like scroll regions or graphics character set) are left over from
2530 Resize the current region. The space will be removed from or added to
2531 the region below or if there's not enough space from the region above.
2533 resize +N increase current region height by N
2535 resize -N decrease current region height by N
2537 resize N set current region height to N
2539 resize = make all windows equally high
2541 resize max maximize current region height
2543 resize min minimize current region height
2547 .B "screen \fP[\fI-opts\fP] [\fIn\fP] [\fIcmd\fP [\fIargs\fP]]"
2549 Establish a new window.
2550 The flow-control options (\fB\-f\fP, \fB\-fn\fP and \fB\-fa\fP),
2551 title (a.\|k.\|a.) option (\fB\-t\fP), login options (\fB-l\fP and \fB-ln\fP)
2552 , terminal type option (\fB-T\fP <term>), the all-capability-flag (\fB-a\fP)
2553 and scrollback option (\fB-h\fP <num>) may be specified with each command.
2554 The option (\fB-M\fP) turns monitoring on for this window.
2555 The option (\fB-L\fP) turns output logging on for this window.
2556 If an optional number \fIn\fP in the range 0..9 is given, the window
2557 number \fIn\fP is assigned to the newly created window (or, if this
2558 number is already in-use, the next available number).
2559 If a command is specified after \*Qscreen\*U, this command (with the given
2560 arguments) is started in the window; otherwise, a shell is created.
2561 Thus, if your \*Q.screenrc\*U contains the lines
2564 # example for .screenrc:
2566 screen -fn -t foobar -L 2 telnet foobar
2570 creates a shell window (in window #1) and a window with a TELNET connection
2571 to the machine foobar (with no flow-control using the title \*Qfoobar\*U
2572 in window #2) and will write a logfile (\*Qscreenlog.2\*U) of the telnet
2574 Note, that unlike previous versions of
2576 no additional default window is created when \*Qscreen\*U commands are
2577 included in your \*Q.screenrc\*U file. When the initialization is completed,
2579 switches to the last window specified in your .screenrc file or, if none,
2580 opens a default window #0.
2582 Screen has built in some functionality of \*Qcu\*U and \*Qtelnet\*U.
2583 See also chapter \*QWINDOW TYPES\*U.
2586 .B "scrollback \fP\fInum\fP"
2588 Set the size of the scrollback buffer for the current windows to \fInum\fP
2589 lines. The default scrollback is 100 lines.
2590 See also the \*Qdefscrollback\*U command and use \*QC-a i\*U to view the
2594 .BR "select " [ \fIWindowID ]
2596 Switch to the window identified by \fIWindowID\fP.
2597 This can be a prefix of a window title (alphanumeric window name) or a
2599 The parameter is optional and if omitted, you get prompted for an identifier.
2600 When a new window is established, the first available number
2601 is assigned to this window.
2602 Thus, the first window can be activated by \*Qselect 0\*U.
2603 The number of windows is limited at compile-time by the MAXWIN
2604 configuration parameter.
2605 There are two special WindowIDs, \*Q-\*U selects the
2606 internal blank window and \*Q.\*U selects the current window. The
2607 latter is useful if used with screen's \*Q-X\*U option.
2610 .BR "sessionname " [ \fIname ]
2612 Rename the current session. Note, that for \*Qscreen -list\*U the
2613 name shows up with the process-id prepended. If the argument \*Qname\*U
2614 is omitted, the name of this session is displayed. Caution: The $STY
2615 environment variables still reflects the old name. This may result in
2617 The default is constructed from the tty and host names.
2621 .RI [ var " [" string ]]
2623 Set the environment variable \fIvar\fP to value \fIstring\fP.
2624 If only \fIvar\fP is specified, the user will be prompted to enter a value.
2625 If no parameters are specified, the user will be prompted for both variable
2626 and value. The environment is inherited by all subsequently forked shells.
2629 .BR "setsid " [ on | off ]
2631 Normally screen uses different sessions and process groups for
2632 the windows. If setsid is turned \fIoff\fP, this is not done
2633 anymore and all windows will be in the same process group as the
2634 screen backend process. This also breaks job-control, so be careful.
2635 The default is \fIon\fP, of course. This command is probably useful
2636 only in rare circumstances.
2639 .B "shell \fIcommand\fP"
2641 Set the command to be used to create a new shell.
2642 This overrides the value of the environment variable $SHELL.
2643 This is useful if you'd like to run a tty-enhancer which is expecting to
2644 execute the program specified in $SHELL. If the command begins with
2645 a '-' character, the shell will be started as a login-shell.
2648 .B "shelltitle \fItitle\fP"
2650 Set the title for all shells created during startup or by
2651 the C-A C-c command.
2652 For details about what a title is, see the discussion
2653 entitled \*QTITLES (naming windows)\*U.
2656 .BR "silence " [ on | off "|\fIsec\fP]"
2658 Toggles silence monitoring of windows.
2659 When silence is turned on and an affected window is switched into the
2660 background, you will receive the silence notification message in the
2661 status line after a specified period of inactivity (silence). The default
2662 timeout can be changed with the `silencewait' command or by specifying a
2663 number of seconds instead of `on' or `off'.
2664 Silence is initially off for all windows.
2667 .BI "silencewait " sec
2669 Define the time that all windows monitored for silence should wait before
2670 displaying a message. Default 30 seconds.
2673 .B "sleep \fP\fInum\fP"
2675 This command will pause the execution of a .screenrc file for \fInum\fP seconds.
2676 Keyboard activity will end the sleep.
2677 It may be used to give users a chance to read the messages output by \*Qecho\*U.
2680 .B "slowpaste \fImsec\fP"
2682 Define the speed at which text is inserted into the current window by the
2683 paste ("C-a ]") command.
2684 If the slowpaste value is nonzero text is written character by character.
2686 will make a pause of \fImsec\fP milliseconds after each single character write
2687 to allow the application to process its input. Only use slowpaste if your
2688 underlying system exposes flow control problems while pasting large amounts of
2694 Read and execute commands from file \fIfile\fP. Source commands may
2695 be nested to a maximum recursion level of ten. If file is not an
2696 absolute path and screen is already processing a source command, the
2697 parent directory of the running source command file is used to search
2698 for the new command file before screen's current directory.
2700 Note that termcap/terminfo/termcapinfo commands only work at
2701 startup and reattach time, so they must be reached via the
2702 default screenrc files to have an effect.
2706 .RB [ "\fIattr\fR " [ \fIcolor ]]
2710 does highlighting for text marking and printing messages.
2711 See the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U chapter for the syntax of the modifiers.
2712 The default is currently \*Q=s dd\*U (standout, default colors).
2717 Split the current region into two new ones. All regions on the
2718 display are resized to make room for the new region. The blank
2719 window is displayed on the new region. Use the \*Qremove\*U or the
2720 \*Qonly\*U command to delete regions.
2721 Use \*Qfocus\*U to toggle between regions.
2724 .B "startup_message on\fP|\fBoff"
2726 Select whether you want to see the copyright notice during startup.
2727 Default is `on', as you probably noticed.
2735 in the input buffer of the current window.
2736 This is like the \*Qpaste\*U command but with much less overhead.
2738 large buffers with the \*Qstuff\*U command. It is most useful for key
2739 bindings. See also \*Qbindkey\*U.
2743 .RB [ username " [" password
2746 Substitute the user of a display. The command prompts for all parameters that
2747 are omitted. If passwords are specified as parameters, they have to be
2748 specified un-crypted. The first password is matched against the systems
2749 passwd database, the second password is matched against the
2751 password as set with the commands \*Qacladd\*U or \*Qpassword\*U.
2752 \*QSu\*U may be useful for the
2754 administrator to test multiuser setups.
2755 .\" XXX removed in 3.8.0 XXX
2756 .\" but it is mainly used implicitly
2757 .\" by the \*Qconnect\*U command to identify users that access a remote session.
2758 When the identification fails, the user has access to the commands available
2761 These are \*Qdetach\*U, \*Qlicense\*U, \*Qversion\*U, \*Qhelp\*U and
2769 The windows are in the `detached' state, while
2771 is suspended. This feature relies on the shell being able to do job control.
2774 .B "term \fIterm\fP"
2776 In each window's environment
2778 opens, the $TERM variable is set to \*Qscreen\*U by default.
2779 But when no description for \*Qscreen\*U is installed in the local termcap
2780 or terminfo data base, you set $TERM to \- say \-
2781 \*Qvt100\*U. This won't do much harm, as
2783 is VT100/ANSI compatible.
2784 The use of the \*Qterm\*U command is discouraged for non-default purpose.
2785 That is, one may want to specify special $TERM settings (e.g. vt100) for the
2786 next \*Qscreen rlogin othermachine\*U command. Use the command \*Qscreen -T vt100
2787 rlogin othermachine\*U rather than setting and resetting the default.
2790 .BI termcap " term terminal-tweaks"
2791 .RI [ window-tweaks ]
2793 .BI terminfo " term terminal-tweaks"
2794 .RI [ window-tweaks ]
2796 .BI termcapinfo " term terminal-tweaks"
2797 .RI [ window-tweaks ]
2799 Use this command to modify your terminal's termcap entry without going
2800 through all the hassles involved in creating a custom termcap entry.
2801 Plus, you can optionally customize the termcap generated for the windows.
2802 You have to place these commands in one of the screenrc startup files, as
2803 they are meaningless once the terminal emulator is booted.
2805 If your system works uses the terminfo database rather than termcap,
2807 will understand the `terminfo' command, which has the same effects as the
2808 `termcap' command. Two separate commands are provided, as there are subtle
2809 syntactic differences, e.g. when parameter interpolation (using `%') is
2810 required. Note that termcap names of the capabilities have to be used
2811 with the `terminfo' command.
2813 In many cases, where the arguments are valid in both terminfo and termcap
2814 syntax, you can use the command `termcapinfo', which is just a shorthand
2815 for a pair of `termcap' and `terminfo' commands with identical arguments.
2817 The first argument specifies which terminal(s) should be affected by this
2819 You can specify multiple terminal names by separating them with `|'s.
2820 Use `*' to match all terminals and `vt*' to match all terminals that begin
2823 Each \fItweak\fP argument contains one or more termcap defines (separated
2824 by `:'s) to be inserted at the start of the appropriate termcap entry,
2825 enhancing it or overriding existing values.
2826 The first tweak modifies your terminal's termcap, and contains definitions
2827 that your terminal uses to perform certain functions.
2828 Specify a null string to leave this unchanged (e.\|g. '').
2829 The second (optional) tweak modifies all the window termcaps, and should
2830 contain definitions that
2832 understands (see the \*QVIRTUAL TERMINAL\*U
2837 termcap xterm* LP:hs@
2841 that all terminals that begin with `xterm' have firm auto-margins that
2842 allow the last position on the screen to be updated (LP), but they don't
2843 really have a status line (no 'hs' \- append `@' to turn entries off).
2844 Note that we assume `LP' for all terminal names that start with \*Qvt\*U,
2845 but only if you don't specify a termcap command for that terminal.
2849 termcap vt102|vt220 Z0=\eE[?3h:Z1=\eE[?3l
2851 Specifies the firm-margined `LP' capability for all terminals that begin with
2852 `vt', and the second line will also add the escape-sequences to switch
2853 into (Z0) and back out of (Z1) 132-character-per-line mode if this is
2855 (You must specify Z0 and Z1 in your termcap to use the width-changing
2858 termcap vt100 "" l0=PF1:l1=PF2:l2=PF3:l3=PF4
2860 This leaves your vt100 termcap alone and adds the function key labels to
2861 each window's termcap entry.
2863 termcap h19|z19 am@:im=\eE@:ei=\eEO dc=\eE[P
2865 Takes a h19 or z19 termcap and turns off auto-margins (am@) and enables the
2866 insert mode (im) and end-insert (ei) capabilities (the `@' in the `im'
2867 string is after the `=', so it is part of the string).
2868 Having the `im' and `ei' definitions put into your terminal's termcap will
2871 to automatically advertise the character-insert capability in
2872 each window's termcap.
2873 Each window will also get the delete-character capability (dc) added to its
2876 will translate into a line-update for the terminal
2877 (we're pretending it doesn't support character deletion).
2879 If you would like to fully specify each window's termcap entry, you should
2880 instead set the $SCREENCAP variable prior to running
2882 See the discussion on the \*QVIRTUAL TERMINAL\*U in this manual, and the termcap(5)
2883 man page for more information on termcap definitions.
2889 Uses the message line to display the time of day, the host name, and the load
2890 averages over 1, 5, and 15 minutes (if this is available on your system).
2891 For window specific information use \*Qinfo\*U.
2893 If a string is specified, it changes the format of the time report like it is
2894 described in the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U chapter. Screen uses a default of
2895 "%c:%s %M %d %H%? %l%?".
2898 .BR "title " [ \fIwindowtitle ]
2900 Set the name of the current window to \fIwindowtitle\fP. If no name is
2903 prompts for one. This command was known as `aka' in previous
2909 Unset an environment variable.
2916 Change the encoding used in the current window. If utf8 is enabled, the
2917 strings sent to the window will be UTF-8 encoded and vice versa. Omitting the
2918 parameter toggles the setting. If a second parameter is given, the display's
2919 encoding is also changed (this should rather be done with screen's \*Q-U\*U
2921 See also \*Qdefutf8\*U, which changes the default setting of a new
2928 Sets the visual bell setting for this window. Omitting the parameter
2929 toggles the setting. If vbell is switched on, but your terminal does not
2930 support a visual bell, a `vbell-message' is displayed in the status line when
2931 the bell character (^G) is received.
2932 Visual bell support of a terminal is defined by the termcap variable `vb'
2933 (terminfo: 'flash').
2935 Per default, vbell is off, thus the audible bell is used.
2936 See also `bell_msg'.
2942 Sets the visual bell message. \fImessage\fP is printed to the status line if
2943 the window receives a bell character (^G), vbell is set to \*Qon\*U, but the
2944 terminal does not support a visual bell.
2945 The default message is \*QWuff, Wuff!!\*U.
2946 Without parameter, the current message is shown.
2949 .BI "vbellwait " sec
2951 Define a delay in seconds after each display of
2953 visual bell message. The default is 1 second.
2959 If verbose is switched on, the command name is echoed, whenever a window
2960 is created (or resurrected from zombie state). Default is off.
2961 Without parameter, the current setting is shown.
2966 Print the current version and the compile date in the status line.
2969 .BI "wall " "message"
2971 Write a message to all displays. The message will appear in the terminal's
2977 .RI [ cols " [" lines ]]
2979 Toggle the window width between 80 and 132 columns or set it to \fIcols\fP
2980 columns if an argument is specified.
2981 This requires a capable terminal and the termcap entries \*QZ0\*U and \*QZ1\*U.
2982 See the \*Qtermcap\*U command for more information. You can also specify
2983 a new height if you want to change both values.
2986 option tells screen to leave the display size unchanged and just set
3004 Display all windows in a table for visual window selection. The
3005 desired window can be selected via the standard movement keys (see
3006 the \*Qcopy\*U command) and activated via the return key.
3009 option is given, screen will switch to the blank window before
3010 presenting the list, so that the current window is also selectable.
3013 option changes the order of the windows, instead of sorting by
3014 window numbers screen uses its internal most-recently-used list.
3016 The table format can be changed with the \fBstring\fP and
3017 \fBtitle\fP option, the title is displayed as table heading, while
3018 the lines are made by using the string setting. The default
3019 setting is \*QNum Name%=Flags\*U for the title and \*Q%3n %t%=%f\*U
3021 See the \*QSTRING ESCAPES\*U chapter for more codes (e.g. color
3027 Uses the message line to display a list of all the windows.
3028 Each window is listed by number with the name of process that has been
3029 started in the window (or its title);
3030 the current window is marked with a `*';
3031 the previous window is marked with a `-';
3032 all the windows that are \*Qlogged in\*U are marked with a `$';
3033 a background window that has received a bell is marked with a `!';
3034 a background window that is being monitored and has had activity occur
3035 is marked with an `@';
3036 a window which has output logging turned on is marked with `(L)';
3037 windows occupied by other users are marked with `&';
3038 windows in the zombie state are marked with `Z'.
3039 If this list is too long to fit on the terminal's status line only the
3040 portion around the current window is displayed.
3043 .BR "wrap " [ on | off ]
3045 Sets the line-wrap setting for the current window.
3046 When line-wrap is on, the second consecutive printable character output at
3047 the last column of a line will wrap to the start of the following line.
3048 As an added feature, backspace (^H) will also wrap through the left margin
3049 to the previous line.
3058 Writes the contents of the paste buffer to the specified file, or the public accessible screen-exchange
3059 file if no filename is given. This is thought of as a primitive means of communication between
3061 users on the same host. If an encoding is specified the paste buffer
3062 is recoded on the fly to match the encoding.
3063 The filename can be set with the \fIbufferfile\fP
3064 command and defaults to \*Q/tmp/screen-exchange\*U.
3067 .BR "writelock " [ on | "off\fR|\fBauto\fR]"
3069 In addition to access control lists, not all users may be able to write to
3070 the same window at once. Per default, writelock is in `auto' mode and
3071 grants exclusive input permission to the user who is the first to switch
3072 to the particular window. When he leaves the window, other users may obtain
3073 the writelock (automatically). The writelock of the current window is disabled
3074 by the command \*Qwritelock off\*U. If the user issues the command
3075 \*Qwritelock on\*U he keeps the exclusive write permission while switching
3083 Insert a CTRL-s / CTRL-q character to the stdin queue of the
3088 .RB [ off\fR|\fPauto\fR|\fPcatch\fR|\fPpass ]
3096 Define zmodem support for screen. Screen understands two different
3097 modes when it detects a zmodem request: \*Qpass\*U and \*Qcatch\*U.
3098 If the mode is set to \*Qpass\*U, screen will relay all data
3099 to the attacher until the end of the transmission is reached.
3100 In \*Qcatch\*U mode screen acts as a zmodem endpoint and starts
3101 the corresponding rz/sz commands. If the mode is set to \*Qauto\*U,
3102 screen will use \*Qcatch\*U if the window is a tty (e.g. a serial line),
3103 otherwise it will use \*Qpass\*U.
3105 You can define the templates screen uses in \*Qcatch\*U mode
3106 via the second and the third form.
3108 Note also that this is an experimental feature.
3111 .BR "zombie " [\fIkeys\fP [ onerror ] ]
3113 .BR "defzombie " [\fIkeys\fP]
3117 windows are removed from the window list as soon as
3118 the windows process (e.g. shell) exits. When a string of two keys is
3119 specified to the zombie command, `dead' windows will remain in the list.
3120 The \fBkill\fP command may be used to remove such a window. Pressing the
3121 first key in the dead window has the same effect. When pressing the second
3124 will attempt to resurrect the window. The process that was
3125 initially running in the window will be launched again. Calling \fBzombie\fP
3126 without parameters will clear the zombie setting, thus making windows disappear
3127 when their process exits.
3129 As the zombie-setting is manipulated globally for all windows, this command
3130 should only be called \fBdefzombie\fP. Until we need this as a per window
3131 setting, the commands \fBzombie\fP and \fBdefzombie\fP are synonymous.
3133 Optionally you can put the word \*Qonerror\*U after the keys. This will cause screen
3134 to monitor exit status of the process running in the window. If it exits normally ('0'),
3135 the window disappears. Any other exit value causes the window to become a zombie.
3137 .SH "THE MESSAGE LINE"
3139 displays informational messages and other diagnostics in a \fImessage line\fP.
3140 While this line is distributed to appear at the bottom of the screen,
3141 it can be defined to appear at the top of the screen during compilation.
3142 If your terminal has a status line defined in its termcap,
3144 will use this for displaying its messages, otherwise a line of the
3146 be temporarily overwritten and output will be momentarily interrupted. The
3147 message line is automatically removed after a few seconds delay, but it
3148 can also be removed early (on terminals without a status line) by beginning
3151 The message line facility can be used by an application running in
3152 the current window by means of the ANSI \fIPrivacy message\fP
3154 For instance, from within the shell, try something like:
3156 echo '<esc>^Hello world from window '$WINDOW'<esc>\e\e'
3158 where '<esc>' is an \fIescape\fP, '^' is a literal up-arrow,
3159 and '\e\e' turns into a single backslash.
3162 Screen provides three different window types. New windows are created with
3165 command (see also the entry in chapter \*QCUSTOMIZATION\*U). The first
3168 command defines which type of window is created. The different window types are
3169 all special cases of the normal type. They have been added in order
3172 to be used efficiently as a console multiplexer with 100 or more windows.
3175 The normal window contains a shell (default, if no parameter is given) or any
3176 other system command that could be executed from a shell (e.g.
3181 If a tty (character special device) name (e.g. \*Q/dev/ttya\*U)
3182 is specified as the first parameter, then the window is directly connected to
3184 This window type is similar to \*Qscreen cu -l /dev/ttya\*U.
3185 Read and write access is required on the device node, an exclusive open is
3186 attempted on the node to mark the connection line as busy.
3187 An optional parameter is allowed consisting of a comma separated list of flags
3188 in the notation used by stty(1):
3191 Usually 300, 1200, 9600 or 19200. This affects transmission as well as receive speed.
3193 Specify the transmission of eight (or seven) bits per byte.
3195 Enables (or disables) software flow-control (CTRL-S/CTRL-Q) for sending data.
3196 .IP "ixoff or -ixon"
3197 Enables (or disables) software flow-control for receiving data.
3198 .IP "istrip or -istrip"
3199 Clear (or keep) the eight bit in each received byte.
3201 You may want to specify as many of these options as applicable. Unspecified
3202 options cause the terminal driver to make up the parameter values of the
3203 connection. These values are system dependent and may be in defaults or values
3204 saved from a previous connection.
3206 For tty windows, the
3208 command shows some of the modem control lines
3209 in the status line. These may include `RTS', `CTS', 'DTR', `DSR', `CD' and more.
3210 This depends on the available ioctl()'s and system header files as well as the
3211 on the physical capabilities of the serial board.
3212 Signals that are logical low (inactive) have their name preceded by
3213 an exclamation mark (!), otherwise the signal is logical high (active).
3214 Signals not supported by the hardware but available to the ioctl() interface
3215 are usually shown low.
3217 When the CLOCAL status bit is true, the whole set of modem signals is placed
3218 inside curly braces ({ and }).
3219 When the CRTSCTS or TIOCSOFTCAR bit is set, the signals `CTS' or `CD'
3220 are shown in parenthesis, respectively.
3223 For tty windows, the command
3225 causes the Data transmission line (TxD) to go low for a specified period of
3226 time. This is expected to be interpreted as break signal on the other side.
3227 No data is sent and no modem control line is changed when a
3232 If the first parameter is \*Q//telnet\*U, the second parameter is expected to
3233 be a host name, and an optional third parameter may specify a TCP port number
3234 (default decimal 23). Screen will connect to a server listening on the remote
3235 host and use the telnet protocol to communicate with that server.
3238 For telnet windows, the command
3240 shows details about the connection in square brackets ([ and ]) at the end of
3244 BINARY. The connection is in binary mode.
3246 ECHO. Local echo is disabled.
3248 SGA. The connection is in `character mode' (default: `line mode').
3250 TTYPE. The terminal type has been requested by the remote host.
3251 Screen sends the name \*Qscreen\*U unless instructed otherwise (see also
3252 the command `term').
3254 NAWS. The remote site is notified about window size changes.
3256 LFLOW. The remote host will send flow control information.
3257 (Ignored at the moment.)
3259 Additional flags for debugging are x, t and n (XDISPLOC, TSPEED and
3262 For telnet windows, the command
3264 sends the telnet code IAC BREAK (decimal 243) to the remote host.
3267 This window type is only available if
3269 was compiled with the BUILTIN_TELNET option defined.
3273 .SH "STRING ESCAPES"
3274 Screen provides an escape mechanism to insert information like the
3275 current time into messages or file names. The escape character
3276 is '%' with one exception: inside of a window's hardstatus '^%' ('^E')
3279 Here is the full list of supported escapes:
3281 the escape character itself
3287 current time HH:MM in 24h format
3289 current time HH:MM in 12h format
3297 sets %? to true if the window has the focus
3299 hardstatus of the window
3301 hostname of the system
3303 current load of the system
3317 all other users on this window
3319 all window numbers and names. With '-' qualifier: up to the current
3320 window; with '+' qualifier: starting with the window after the current
3323 all window numbers and names except the current one
3325 last two digits of the year number
3329 the part to the next '%?' is displayed only if a '%' escape
3330 inside the part expands to a non-empty string
3334 pad the string to the display's width (like TeX's hfill). If a
3335 number is specified, pad to the percentage of the window's width.
3336 A '0' qualifier tells screen to treat the number as absolute position.
3337 You can specify to pad relative to the last absolute pad position
3338 by adding a '+' qualifier or to pad relative to the right margin
3339 by using '-'. The padding truncates the string if the specified
3340 position lies before the current position. Add the 'L' qualifier
3343 same as '%=' but just do truncation, do not fill with spaces
3345 mark the current text position for the next truncation. When
3346 screen needs to do truncation, it tries to do it in a way that
3347 the marked position gets moved to the specified percentage of
3348 the output area. (The area starts from the last absolute pad
3349 position and ends with the position specified by the truncation
3350 operator.) The 'L' qualifier tells screen to mark the truncated
3353 attribute/color modifier string terminated by the next \*Q}\*U
3355 Substitute with the output of a 'backtick' command. The length
3356 qualifier is misused to identify one of the commands.
3358 The 'c' and 'C' escape may be qualified with a '0' to make
3360 use zero instead of space as fill character. The '0' qualifier
3361 also makes the '=' escape use absolute positions. The 'n' and '='
3363 a length qualifier (e.g. '%3n'), 'D' and 'M' can be prefixed with 'L'
3364 to generate long names, 'w' and 'W' also show the window flags
3367 An attribute/color modifier is is used to change the attributes or the
3368 color settings. Its format
3369 is \*Q[attribute modifier] [color description]\*U. The attribute modifier
3370 must be prefixed by a change type indicator if it can be confused with
3371 a color description. The following change types are known:
3373 add the specified set to the current attributes
3375 remove the set from the current attributes
3377 invert the set in the current attributes
3379 change the current attributes to the specified set
3381 The attribute set can either be specified as a hexadecimal number or
3382 a combination of the following letters:
3398 Colors are coded either as a hexadecimal number or two letters specifying
3399 the desired background and foreground color (in that order). The following
3421 leave color unchanged
3424 The capitalized versions of the letter specify bright colors. You can also
3425 use the pseudo-color 'i' to set just the brightness and leave the color
3428 A one digit/letter color description is treated as foreground or
3429 background color dependent on the current attributes: if reverse mode is
3430 set, the background color is changed instead of the foreground color.
3431 If you don't like this, prefix the color with a \*Q.\*U. If you want
3432 the same behavior for two-letter color descriptions, also prefix them
3435 As a special case, \*Q%{-}\*U restores the attributes and colors that
3436 were set before the last change was made (i.e., pops one level of the
3437 color-change stack).
3441 set color to bright green
3445 clear all attributes, write in default color on yellow background.
3446 .IP "%-Lw%{= BW}%50>%n%f* %t%{-}%+Lw%<"
3447 The available windows centered at the current window and truncated to
3448 the available width. The current window is displayed white on blue.
3449 This can be used with \*Qhardstatus alwayslastline\*U.
3450 .IP "%?%F%{.R.}%?%3n %t%? [%h]%?"
3451 The window number and title and the window's hardstatus, if one is set.
3452 Also use a red background if this is the active focus. Useful for
3453 \*Qcaption string\*U.
3455 Each window has a flow-control setting that determines how
3458 the XON and XOFF characters (and perhaps the interrupt character).
3459 When flow-control is turned off,
3461 ignores the XON and XOFF characters,
3462 which allows the user to send them to the current program by simply typing
3463 them (useful for the \fIemacs\fP editor, for instance).
3464 The trade-off is that it will take longer for output from a \*Qnormal\*U
3465 program to pause in response to an XOFF.
3466 With flow-control turned on, XON and XOFF characters are used to immediately
3467 pause the output of the current window.
3468 You can still send these characters to the current program, but you must use
3469 the appropriate two-character
3471 commands (typically \*QC-a q\*U (xon)
3472 and \*QC-a s\*U (xoff)).
3473 The xon/xoff commands are also useful for typing C-s and C-q past a terminal
3474 that intercepts these characters.
3476 Each window has an initial flow-control value set with either the
3478 option or the \*Qdefflow\*U .screenrc command. Per default the windows
3479 are set to automatic flow-switching.
3480 It can then be toggled between the three states 'fixed on', 'fixed off'
3481 and 'automatic' interactively with the \*Qflow\*U command bound to "C-a f".
3483 The automatic flow-switching mode deals with
3484 flow control using the TIOCPKT mode (like \*Qrlogin\*U does). If
3485 the tty driver does not support TIOCPKT,
3488 the right mode based on the current setting of the application
3489 keypad \- when it is enabled, flow-control is turned off and visa versa.
3490 Of course, you can still manipulate flow-control manually when needed.
3492 If you're running with flow-control enabled and find that pressing the
3493 interrupt key (usually C-c) does not interrupt the display until another
3494 6-8 lines have scrolled by, try running
3496 with the \*Qinterrupt\*U
3497 option (add the \*Qinterrupt\*U flag to the \*Qflow\*U command in
3498 your .screenrc, or use the
3500 command-line option).
3501 This causes the output that
3503 has accumulated from the interrupted program to be flushed.
3504 One disadvantage is that the virtual terminal's memory contains the
3505 non-flushed version of the output, which in rare cases can cause
3506 minor inaccuracies in the output.
3507 For example, if you switch screens and return, or update the screen
3508 with \*QC-a l\*U you would see the version of the output you would
3509 have gotten without \*Qinterrupt\*U being on.
3510 Also, you might need to turn off flow-control (or use auto-flow mode to turn
3511 it off automatically) when running a program that expects you to type the
3512 interrupt character as input, as it is possible to interrupt
3513 the output of the virtual terminal to your physical terminal when flow-control
3515 If this happens, a simple refresh of the screen with \*QC-a l\*U will
3517 Give each mode a try, and use whichever mode you find more comfortable.
3520 .SH "TITLES (naming windows)"
3521 You can customize each window's name in the window display (viewed with the
3522 \*Qwindows\*U command (C-a w)) by setting it with one of
3524 Normally the name displayed is the actual command name of the program
3525 created in the window.
3526 However, it is sometimes useful to distinguish various programs of the same
3527 name or to change the name on-the-fly to reflect the current state of
3530 The default name for all shell windows can be set with the \*Qshelltitle\*U
3531 command in the .screenrc file, while all other windows are created with
3532 a \*Qscreen\*U command and thus can have their name set with the
3535 Interactively, there is the title-string escape-sequence
3536 (<esc>k\fIname\fP<esc>\e) and the \*Qtitle\*U command (C-a A).
3537 The former can be output from an application to control the window's name
3538 under software control, and the latter will prompt for a name when typed.
3539 You can also bind pre-defined names to keys with the \*Qtitle\*U command
3540 to set things quickly without prompting.
3544 has a shell-specific heuristic that is enabled by setting the window's name
3545 to \*Q\fIsearch|name\fP\*U and arranging to have a null title escape-sequence
3546 output as a part of your prompt.
3547 The \fIsearch\fP portion specifies an end-of-prompt search string, while
3548 the \fIname\fP portion specifies the default shell name for the window.
3549 If the \fIname\fP ends in a `:'
3551 will add what it believes to be the current command running in the window
3552 to the end of the window's shell name (e.\|g. \*Q\fIname:cmd\fP\*U).
3553 Otherwise the current command name supersedes the shell name while it is
3556 Here's how it works: you must modify your shell prompt to output a null
3557 title-escape-sequence (<esc>k<esc>\e) as a part of your prompt.
3558 The last part of your prompt must be the same as the string you specified
3559 for the \fIsearch\fP portion of the title.
3560 Once this is set up,
3562 will use the title-escape-sequence to clear the previous command name and
3563 get ready for the next command.
3564 Then, when a newline is received from the shell, a search is made for the
3566 If found, it will grab the first word after the matched string and use it
3567 as the command name.
3568 If the command name begins with either '!', '%', or '^'
3570 will use the first word on the following line (if found) in preference to
3571 the just-found name.
3572 This helps csh users get better command names when using job control or
3573 history recall commands.
3575 Here's some .screenrc examples:
3577 screen -t top 2 nice top
3579 Adding this line to your .screenrc would start a nice-d version of the
3580 \*Qtop\*U command in window 2 named \*Qtop\*U rather than \*Qnice\*U.
3587 These commands would start a shell with the given shelltitle.
3588 The title specified is an auto-title that would expect the prompt and
3589 the typed command to look something like the following:
3591 /usr/joe/src/dir> trn
3593 (it looks after the '> ' for the command name).
3594 The window status would show the name \*Qtrn\*U while the command was
3595 running, and revert to \*Qcsh\*U upon completion.
3597 bind R screen -t '% |root:' su
3599 Having this command in your .screenrc would bind the key
3600 sequence \*QC-a R\*U to the \*Qsu\*U command and give it an
3601 auto-title name of \*Qroot:\*U.
3602 For this auto-title to work, the screen could look something
3610 Here the user typed the csh history command \*Q!em\*U which ran the
3611 previously entered \*Qemacs\*U command.
3612 The window status would show \*Qroot:emacs\*U during the execution
3613 of the command, and revert to simply \*Qroot:\*U at its completion.
3618 bind u title (unknown)
3621 The first binding doesn't have any arguments, so it would prompt you
3622 for a title. when you type \*QC-a o\*U.
3623 The second binding would clear an auto-title's current setting (C-a E).
3624 The third binding would set the current window's title to \*Q(unknown)\*U
3627 One thing to keep in mind when adding a null title-escape-sequence to
3628 your prompt is that some shells (like the csh) count all the non-control
3629 characters as part of the prompt's length.
3630 If these invisible characters aren't a multiple of 8 then backspacing over
3631 a tab will result in an incorrect display.
3632 One way to get around this is to use a prompt like this:
3634 set prompt='^[[0000m^[k^[\e% '
3636 The escape-sequence \*Q<esc>[0000m\*U not only normalizes the character
3637 attributes, but all the zeros round the length of the invisible characters
3639 Bash users will probably want to echo the escape sequence in the
3642 PROMPT_COMMAND='echo -n -e "\e033k\e033\e134"'
3644 (I used \*Q\134\*U to output a `\e' because of a bug in bash v1.04).
3647 .SH "THE VIRTUAL TERMINAL"
3650 session emulates a VT100 terminal, with some extra functions added. The
3651 VT100 emulator is hard-coded, no other terminal types can be emulated.
3655 tries to emulate as much of the VT100/ANSI standard
3656 as possible. But if your terminal lacks certain capabilities,
3657 the emulation may not be complete. In these cases
3659 has to tell the applications that some of the features
3660 are missing. This is no problem on machines using termcap,
3663 can use the $TERMCAP variable to
3664 customize the standard
3669 rlogin on another machine or your machine supports only
3670 terminfo this method fails. Because of this,
3672 offers a way to deal with these cases.
3673 Here is how it works:
3677 tries to figure out a terminal name for itself,
3679 for an entry named \*Qscreen.<term>\*U, where <term> is
3680 the contents of your $TERM variable.
3681 If no such entry exists,
3683 tries \*Qscreen\*U (or \*Qscreen-w\*U if the terminal is wide
3684 (132 cols or more)).
3685 If even this entry cannot be found, \*Qvt100\*U is used as a
3688 The idea is that if you have a terminal which doesn't
3689 support an important feature (e.g. delete char or clear to EOS)
3690 you can build a new termcap/terminfo entry for
3692 (named \*Qscreen.<dumbterm>\*U) in which this capability
3693 has been disabled. If this entry is installed on your
3694 machines you are able to do
3695 a rlogin and still keep the correct termcap/terminfo entry.
3696 The terminal name is put in the $TERM variable
3699 also sets the $TERMCAP variable reflecting the capabilities
3700 of the virtual terminal emulated. Notice that, however, on machines
3701 using the terminfo database this variable has no effect.
3702 Furthermore, the variable $WINDOW is set to the window number
3705 The actual set of capabilities supported by the virtual terminal
3706 depends on the capabilities supported by the physical terminal.
3707 If, for instance, the physical terminal does not support underscore mode,
3709 does not put the `us' and `ue' capabilities into the window's $TERMCAP
3710 variable, accordingly.
3711 However, a minimum number of capabilities must be supported by a
3712 terminal in order to run
3714 namely scrolling, clear screen, and direct cursor addressing
3717 does not run on hardcopy terminals or on terminals that over-strike).
3719 Also, you can customize the $TERMCAP value used by
3721 by using the \*Qtermcap\*U .screenrc command, or
3722 by defining the variable $SCREENCAP prior to startup.
3723 When the is latter defined, its value will be copied verbatim into each
3724 window's $TERMCAP variable.
3725 This can either be the full terminal definition, or a filename where the
3726 terminal \*Qscreen\*U (and/or \*Qscreen-w\*U) is defined.
3730 honors the \*Qterminfo\*U .screenrc command if the system uses the
3731 terminfo database rather than termcap.
3733 When the boolean `G0' capability is present in the termcap entry
3734 for the terminal on which
3736 has been called, the terminal emulation of
3738 supports multiple character sets.
3739 This allows an application to make use of, for instance,
3740 the VT100 graphics character set or national character sets.
3741 The following control functions from ISO 2022 are supported:
3742 \fIlock shift G0\fP (\fISI\fP), \fIlock shift G1\fP (\fISO\fP),
3743 \fIlock shift G2\fP, \fIlock shift G3\fP, \fIsingle shift G2\fP,
3744 and \fIsingle shift G3\fP.
3745 When a virtual terminal is created or reset, the ASCII character
3746 set is designated as \fIG0\fP through \fIG3\fP.
3747 When the `G0' capability is present,
3749 evaluates the capabilities
3750 `S0', `E0', and `C0' if present. `S0' is the sequence the terminal uses
3751 to enable and start the graphics character set rather than \fISI\fP.
3752 `E0' is the corresponding replacement for \fISO\fP. `C0' gives a character
3753 by character translation string that is used during semi-graphics mode. This
3754 string is built like the `acsc' terminfo capability.
3756 When the `po' and `pf' capabilities are present in the terminal's
3757 termcap entry, applications running in a
3759 window can send output to the printer port of the terminal.
3760 This allows a user to have an application in one window
3761 sending output to a printer connected to the terminal, while all
3762 other windows are still active (the printer port is enabled
3763 and disabled again for each chunk of output).
3764 As a side-effect, programs running in different windows can
3765 send output to the printer simultaneously.
3766 Data sent to the printer is not displayed in the window. The
3768 command displays a line starting `PRIN' while the printer is active.
3771 maintains a hardstatus line for every window. If a window
3772 gets selected, the display's hardstatus will be updated to match
3773 the window's hardstatus line. If the display has no hardstatus
3774 the line will be displayed as a standard
3777 The hardstatus line can be changed with the ANSI Application
3778 Program Command (APC): \*QESC_<string>ESC\e\*U. As a convenience
3779 for xterm users the sequence \*QESC]0..2;<string>^G\*U is
3782 Some capabilities are only put into the $TERMCAP
3783 variable of the virtual terminal if they can be efficiently
3784 implemented by the physical terminal.
3785 For instance, `dl' (delete line) is only put into the $TERMCAP
3786 variable if the terminal supports either delete line itself or
3787 scrolling regions. Note that this may provoke confusion, when
3788 the session is reattached on a different terminal, as the value
3789 of $TERMCAP cannot be modified by parent processes.
3791 The "alternate screen" capability is not enabled by default.
3792 Set the \fBaltscreen\fP .screenrc command to enable it.
3794 The following is a list of control sequences recognized by
3796 \*Q(V)\*U and \*Q(A)\*U indicate VT100-specific and ANSI- or
3797 ISO-specific functions, respectively.
3814 Send VT100 Identification String
3817 Save Cursor and Attributes
3820 Restore Cursor and Attributes
3823 Save Cursor and Attributes
3826 Restore Cursor and Attributes
3829 Reset to Initial State
3835 Cursor Visibility (97801)
3837 \h'\w'ESC 'u'Pn = \fB6\fP
3840 \h'\w'ESC Pn = 'u'\fB7\fP
3844 Application Keypad Mode
3849 .BR "ESC # 8" " (V)"
3850 Fill Screen with E's
3856 Privacy Message String (Message Line)
3859 Global Message String (Message Line)
3862 A.\|k.\|a. Definition String
3865 Device Control String.
3866 Outputs a string directly to the host
3867 terminal without interpretation.
3870 Application Program Command (Hardstatus)
3872 .BR "ESC ] 0 ; string ^G" " (A)"
3873 Operating System Command (Hardstatus, xterm title hack)
3875 .BR "ESC ] 83 ; cmd ^G" " (A)"
3876 Execute screen command. This only works if multi-user support is
3877 compiled into screen. The pseudo-user \*Q:window:\*U is used to
3878 check the access control list. Use \*Qaddacl :window: -rwx #?\*U to
3879 create a user with no rights and allow only the needed commands.
3881 .BR "Control-N" " (A)"
3884 .BR "Control-O" " (A)"
3899 .BR "ESC ( \fPPcs" " (A)"
3900 Designate character set as G0
3902 .BR "ESC ) \fPPcs" " (A)"
3903 Designate character set as G1
3905 .BR "ESC * \fPPcs" " (A)"
3906 Designate character set as G2
3908 .BR "ESC + \fPPcs" " (A)"
3909 Designate character set as G3
3911 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB ; \fPPn\fB H"
3912 Direct Cursor Addressing
3914 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB ; \fPPn\fB f"
3917 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB J"
3920 \h'\w'ESC [ 'u'Pn = None or \fB0\fP
3921 From Cursor to End of Screen
3923 \h'\w'ESC [ Pn = 'u'\fB1\fP
3924 From Beginning of Screen to Cursor
3926 \h'\w'ESC [ Pn = 'u'\fB2\fP
3929 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB K"
3932 \h'\w'ESC [ 'u'Pn = None or \fB0\fP
3933 From Cursor to End of Line
3935 \h'\w'ESC [ Pn = 'u'\fB1\fP
3936 From Beginning of Line to Cursor
3938 \h'\w'ESC [ Pn = 'u'\fB2\fP
3941 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB X"
3944 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB A"
3947 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB B"
3950 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB C"
3953 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB D"
3956 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB E"
3959 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB F"
3960 Cursor previous line
3962 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB G"
3963 Cursor horizontal position
3965 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB `"
3968 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB d"
3969 Cursor vertical position
3971 .B "ESC [ \fPPs\fB ;\fP...\fB; \fPPs\fB m"
3972 Select Graphic Rendition
3974 \h'\w'ESC [ 'u'Ps = None or \fB0\fP
3977 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB1\fP
3980 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB2\fP (A)
3983 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB3\fP (A)
3984 \fIStandout\fP Mode (ANSI: Italicized)
3986 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB4\fP
3989 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB5\fP
3992 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB7\fP
3995 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB22\fP (A)
3998 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB23\fP (A)
3999 \fIStandout\fP Mode off (ANSI: Italicized off)
4001 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB24\fP (A)
4004 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB25\fP (A)
4007 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB27\fP (A)
4010 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB30\fP (A)
4013 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB31\fP (A)
4016 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB32\fP (A)
4019 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB33\fP (A)
4022 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB34\fP (A)
4025 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB35\fP (A)
4028 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB36\fP (A)
4031 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB37\fP (A)
4034 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB39\fP (A)
4037 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB40\fP (A)
4040 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB...\fP
4043 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB49\fP (A)
4046 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB g"
4049 \h'\w'ESC [ 'u'Pn = None or \fB0\fP
4050 Clear Tab at Current Position
4052 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB3\fP
4055 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB ; \fPPn\fB r" " (V)"
4056 Set Scrolling Region
4058 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB I" " (A)"
4061 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB Z" " (A)"
4064 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB L" " (A)"
4067 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB M" " (A)"
4070 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB @" " (A)"
4073 .BR "ESC [ \fPPn\fB P" " (A)"
4076 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB S"
4077 Scroll Scrolling Region Up
4079 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB T"
4080 Scroll Scrolling Region Down
4082 .B "ESC [ \fPPn\fB ^"
4085 .B "ESC [ \fPPs\fB ;\fP...\fB; \fPPs\fB h"
4088 .B "ESC [ \fPPs\fB ;\fP...\fB; \fPPs\fB l"
4091 \h'\w'ESC [ 'u'Ps = \fB4\fP (A)
4094 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB20\fP (A)
4095 \fIAutomatic Linefeed\fP Mode
4097 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB34\fP
4098 Normal Cursor Visibility
4100 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?1\fP (V)
4101 Application Cursor Keys
4103 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?3\fP (V)
4104 Change Terminal Width to 132 columns
4106 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?5\fP (V)
4109 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?6\fP (V)
4112 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?7\fP (V)
4115 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?9\fP
4118 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?25\fP (V)
4121 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?47\fP
4122 Alternate Screen (old xterm code)
4124 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?1000\fP (V)
4125 VT200 mouse tracking
4127 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?1047\fP
4128 Alternate Screen (new xterm code)
4130 \h'\w'ESC [ Ps = 'u'\fB?1049\fP
4131 Alternate Screen (new xterm code)
4133 .BR "ESC [ 5 i" " (A)"
4134 Start relay to printer (ANSI Media Copy)
4136 .BR "ESC [ 4 i" " (A)"
4137 Stop relay to printer (ANSI Media Copy)
4139 .B "ESC [ 8 ; \fPPh\fB ; \fPPw\fB t"
4140 Resize the window to `Ph' lines and `Pw' columns (SunView special)
4143 Send VT100 Identification String
4146 Send Terminal Parameter Report
4149 Send VT220 Secondary Device Attributes String
4152 Send Cursor Position Report
4155 .SH "INPUT TRANSLATION"
4156 In order to do a full VT100 emulation
4159 that a sequence of characters in the input stream was generated
4160 by a keypress on the user's keyboard and insert the VT100
4161 style escape sequence. \fIScreen\fP has a very flexible way of doing
4162 this by making it possible to map arbitrary commands on arbitrary
4163 sequences of characters. For standard VT100 emulation the command
4164 will always insert a string in the input buffer of the window
4165 (see also command \fBstuff\fP in the command table).
4166 Because the sequences generated by a keypress can
4167 change after a reattach from a different terminal type, it is
4168 possible to bind commands to the termcap name of the keys.
4169 \fIScreen\fP will insert the correct binding after each
4170 reattach. See the \fBbindkey\fP command for further details on the
4171 syntax and examples.
4173 Here is the table of the default key bindings. (A) means that the
4174 command is executed if the keyboard is switched into application
4179 Key name Termcap name Command
4182 Cursor up ku stuff \e033[A
4184 Cursor down kd stuff \e033[B
4186 Cursor right kr stuff \e033[C
4188 Cursor left kl stuff \e033[D
4190 Function key 0 k0 stuff \e033[10~
4191 Function key 1 k1 stuff \e033OP
4192 Function key 2 k2 stuff \e033OQ
4193 Function key 3 k3 stuff \e033OR
4194 Function key 4 k4 stuff \e033OS
4195 Function key 5 k5 stuff \e033[15~
4196 Function key 6 k6 stuff \e033[17~
4197 Function key 7 k7 stuff \e033[18~
4198 Function key 8 k8 stuff \e033[19~
4199 Function key 9 k9 stuff \e033[20~
4200 Function key 10 k; stuff \e033[21~
4201 Function key 11 F1 stuff \e033[23~
4202 Function key 12 F2 stuff \e033[24~
4203 Home kh stuff \e033[1~
4204 End kH stuff \e033[4~
4205 Insert kI stuff \e033[2~
4206 Delete kD stuff \e033[3~
4207 Page up kP stuff \e033[5~
4208 Page down kN stuff \e033[6~
4243 Keypad enter fe stuff \e015
4248 .SH SPECIAL TERMINAL CAPABILITIES
4249 The following table describes all terminal capabilities
4250 that are recognized by
4252 and are not in the termcap(5) manual.
4253 You can place these capabilities in your termcap entries (in
4254 `/etc/termcap') or use them with the commands `termcap', `terminfo' and
4255 `termcapinfo' in your screenrc files. It is often not possible to place
4256 these capabilities in the terminfo database.
4261 Terminal has VT100 style margins (`magic margins'). Note that
4262 this capability is obsolete because
4264 uses the standard 'xn' instead.
4267 Change width to 132 columns.
4270 Change width to 80 columns.
4273 Resize display. This capability has the desired width and height as
4274 arguments. \fISunView(tm)\fP example: '\eE[8;%d;%dt'.
4277 Terminal doesn't need flow control. Send ^S and ^Q direct to
4278 the application. Same as 'flow off'. The opposite of this
4282 Terminal can deal with ISO 2022 font selection sequences.
4285 Switch charset 'G0' to the specified charset. Default
4289 Switch charset 'G0' back to standard charset. Default
4293 Use the string as a conversion table for font '0'. See
4294 the 'ac' capability for more details.
4297 Switch cursor-keys to application mode.
4300 Switch cursor-keys back to normal mode.
4303 Turn on autonuke. See the 'autonuke' command for more details.
4306 Set the output buffer limit. See the 'obuflimit' command for more details.
4309 Set the encoding of the terminal. See the 'encoding' command for
4313 Change character foreground color in an ANSI conform way. This
4314 capability will almost always be set to '\eE[3%dm' ('\eE[3%p1%dm'
4315 on terminfo machines).
4318 Same as 'AF', but change background color.
4321 Does understand ANSI set default fg/bg color (\eE[39m / \eE[49m).
4324 Describe a translation of characters to strings depending on the
4325 current font. More details follow in the next section.
4328 Terminal understands special xterm sequences (OSC, mouse tracking).
4331 Terminal needs bold to display high-intensity colors (e.g. Eterm).
4334 Add missing capabilities to the termcap/info entry. (Set by default).
4336 .SH CHARACTER TRANSLATION
4337 \fIScreen\fP has a powerful mechanism to translate characters to arbitrary
4338 strings depending on the current font and terminal type.
4339 Use this feature if you want to work with a common standard character
4340 set (say ISO8851-latin1) even on terminals that scatter the more
4341 unusual characters over several national language font pages.
4345 \fBXC=\fP\fI<charset-mapping>\fP{\fB,,\fP\fI<charset-mapping>\fP}
4346 \fI<charset-mapping>\fP := \fI<designator><template>\fP{\fB,\fP\fI<mapping>\fP}
4347 \fI<mapping>\fP := \fI<char-to-be-mapped><template-arg>\fP
4350 The things in braces may be repeated any number of times.
4352 A \fI<charset-mapping>\fP tells
4354 how to map characters
4355 in font \fI<designator>\fP ('B': Ascii, 'A': UK, 'K': German, etc.)
4356 to strings. Every \fI<mapping>\fP describes to what string a single
4357 character will be translated. A template mechanism is used, as
4358 most of the time the codes have a lot in common (for example
4359 strings to switch to and from another charset). Each occurrence
4360 of '%' in \fI<template>\fP gets substituted with the \fI<template-arg>\fP
4361 specified together with the character. If your strings are not
4362 similar at all, then use '%' as a template and place the full
4363 string in \fI<template-arg>\fP. A quoting mechanism was added to make
4364 it possible to use a real '%'. The '\e' character quotes the
4365 special characters '\e', '%', and ','.
4369 termcap hp700 'XC=B\eE(K%\eE(B,\e304[,\e326\e\e\e\e,\e334]'
4373 how to translate ISOlatin1 (charset 'B')
4374 upper case umlaut characters on a hp700 terminal that has a
4375 German charset. '\e304' gets translated to '\eE(K[\eE(B' and so on.
4376 Note that this line gets parsed *three* times before the internal
4377 lookup table is built, therefore a lot of quoting is needed to
4378 create a single '\e'.
4380 Another extension was added to allow more emulation: If a mapping
4381 translates the unquoted '%' char, it will be sent to the terminal
4384 switches to the corresponding \fI<designator>\fP. In this
4385 special case the template is assumed to be just '%' because
4386 the charset switch sequence and the character mappings normally
4387 haven't much in common.
4389 This example shows one use of the extension:
4391 termcap xterm 'XC=K%,%\eE(B,[\e304,\e\e\e\e\e326,]\e334'
4393 Here, a part of the German ('K') charset is emulated on an xterm.
4396 has to change to the 'K' charset, '\eE(B' will be sent
4397 to the terminal, i.e. the ASCII charset is used instead. The
4398 template is just '%', so the mapping is straightforward: '['
4399 to '\e304', '\e' to '\e326', and ']' to '\e334'.
4404 Number of columns on the terminal (overrides termcap entry).
4406 Directory in which to look for .screenrc.
4408 Number of lines on the terminal (overrides termcap entry).
4410 Screen lock program.
4412 Turns on nethack option.
4414 Used for locating programs to run.
4416 For customizing a terminal's TERMCAP value.
4418 Alternate socket directory.
4420 Alternate user screenrc file.
4422 Default shell program for opening windows (default \*Q/bin/sh\*U).
4424 Alternate socket name.
4426 Alternate system screenrc file.
4430 Terminal description.
4432 Window number of a window (at creation time).
4436 .IP .../screen-4.?.??/etc/screenrc 34
4437 .IP .../screen-4.?.??/etc/etcscreenrc
4440 distribution package for private and global initialization files.
4442 .IP /usr/local/etc/screenrc
4444 initialization commands
4447 Read in after /usr/local/etc/screenrc
4448 .IP $SCREENDIR/S-<login>
4449 .IP /local/screens/S-<login>
4450 Socket directories (default)
4451 .IP /usr/tmp/screens/S-<login>
4452 Alternate socket directories.
4453 .IP "<socket directory>/.termcap"
4454 Written by the "termcap" output function
4455 .IP /usr/tmp/screens/screen-exchange
4457 .IP /tmp/screen-exchange
4459 `interprocess communication buffer'
4461 Screen images created by the hardcopy function
4463 Output log files created by the log function
4464 .IP /usr/lib/terminfo/?/*
4467 Terminal capability databases
4471 Program that locks a terminal.
4475 termcap(5), utmp(5), vi(1), captoinfo(1), tic(1)
4479 Originally created by Oliver Laumann, this latest version was
4480 produced by Wayne Davison, Juergen Weigert and Michael Schroeder.
4484 Copyright (C) 1993-2003
4485 Juergen Weigert (jnweiger@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de)
4486 Michael Schroeder (mlschroe@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de)
4487 Copyright (C) 1987 Oliver Laumann
4490 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
4491 it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
4492 the Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option)
4495 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
4496 but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
4497 MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
4498 GNU General Public License for more details.
4500 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
4501 along with this program (see the file COPYING); if not, write to the
4502 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
4503 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA
4507 Ken Beal (kbeal@amber.ssd.csd.harris.com),
4508 Rudolf Koenig (rfkoenig@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de),
4509 Toerless Eckert (eckert@immd4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de),
4510 Wayne Davison (davison@borland.com),
4511 Patrick Wolfe (pat@kai.com, kailand!pat),
4512 Bart Schaefer (schaefer@cse.ogi.edu),
4513 Nathan Glasser (nathan@brokaw.lcs.mit.edu),
4514 Larry W. Virden (lvirden@cas.org),
4515 Howard Chu (hyc@hanauma.jpl.nasa.gov),
4516 Tim MacKenzie (tym@dibbler.cs.monash.edu.au),
4517 Markku Jarvinen (mta@{cc,cs,ee}.tut.fi),
4518 Marc Boucher (marc@CAM.ORG),
4519 Doug Siebert (dsiebert@isca.uiowa.edu),
4520 Ken Stillson (stillson@tsfsrv.mitre.org),
4521 Ian Frechett (frechett@spot.Colorado.EDU),
4522 Brian Koehmstedt (bpk@gnu.ai.mit.edu),
4523 Don Smith (djs6015@ultb.isc.rit.edu),
4524 Frank van der Linden (vdlinden@fwi.uva.nl),
4525 Martin Schweikert (schweik@cpp.ob.open.de),
4526 David Vrona (dave@sashimi.lcu.com),
4527 E. Tye McQueen (tye%spillman.UUCP@uunet.uu.net),
4528 Matthew Green (mrg@eterna.com.au),
4529 Christopher Williams (cgw@pobox.com),
4530 Matt Mosley (mattm@access.digex.net),
4531 Gregory Neil Shapiro (gshapiro@wpi.WPI.EDU),
4532 Johannes Zellner (johannes@zellner.org),
4533 Pablo Averbuj (pablo@averbuj.com).
4538 This is version 4.0.2. Its roots are a merge of a custom version
4539 2.3PR7 by Wayne Davison
4540 and several enhancements to Oliver Laumann's version 2.0. Note that all versions
4541 numbered 2.x are copyright by Oliver Laumann.
4544 The latest official release of
4546 available via anonymous ftp from gnudist.gnu.org, nic.funet.fi or any other
4548 distribution site. The home site of
4550 is ftp.uni-erlangen.de, in the directory
4551 pub/utilities/screen. The subdirectory `private' contains the latest beta
4552 testing release. If you want to help, send a note to
4553 screen@uni-erlangen.de.
4558 `dm' (delete mode) and `xs' are not handled
4559 correctly (they are ignored). `xn' is treated as a magic-margin
4563 has no clue about double-high or double-wide characters.
4564 But this is the only area where
4568 It is not possible to change the environment variable $TERMCAP when
4569 reattaching under a different terminal type.
4571 The support of terminfo based systems is very limited. Adding extra
4572 capabilities to $TERMCAP may not have any effects.
4575 does not make use of hardware tabs.
4578 must be installed as set-uid with owner root on most systems in order
4579 to be able to correctly change the owner of the tty device file for
4581 Special permission may also be required to write the file \*Q/etc/utmp\*U.
4583 Entries in \*Q/etc/utmp\*U are not removed when
4585 is killed with SIGKILL.
4586 This will cause some programs (like "w" or "rwho")
4587 to advertise that a user is logged on who really isn't.
4590 may give a strange warning when your tty has no utmp entry.
4592 When the modem line was hung up,
4594 may not automatically detach (or quit)
4595 unless the device driver is configured to send a HANGUP signal.
4598 session use the -D or -d command line option.
4600 If a password is set, the command line options -d and -D still detach a
4601 session without asking.
4603 Both \*Qbreaktype\*U and \*Qdefbreaktype\*U change the break generating
4604 method used by all terminal devices. The first should change a window
4605 specific setting, where the latter should change only the default for new
4608 When attaching to a multiuser session, the user's .screenrc file is not
4609 sourced. Each user's personal settings have to be included in the .screenrc
4610 file from which the session is booted, or have to be changed manually.
4612 A weird imagination is most useful to gain full advantage of all the features.
4614 Send bug-reports, fixes, enhancements, t-shirts, money, beer & pizza to
4615 .BR screen@uni-erlangen.de .