Using Command Line Editing    

This section provides information about the command line editor.

Basic Editing

Here are a few basic command line editing notes:

• Case - Keywords are not case sensitive; that is, they can be entered in uppercase, lowercase, or a mix of both. Filenames may be case sensitive. Local filenames are case sensitive; remote filenames are case sensitive if the host system treats filenames as case sensitive. Passwords are case sensitive.
• Abbreviating keywords - You may abbreviate keywords using as few characters as you want, as long as the characters provide a unique abbreviation.
• Executing a command - Always use the <Enter> key.

Command Line Editing Keys

You can use several keys to edit the command line. Table 2-2 defines the keys for editing the command line.

Table 2-2 Command line editing keys 

Key(s)	Function
Delete or Backspace	Removes characters to left of cursor.
Left Arrow1	Moves cursor one character to left.
Right Arrowa	Moves cursor one character to right.
Ctrl+A	Moves cursor to beginning of command line.
Ctrl+B	Moves cursor back one character.
Ctrl+D	Deletes character at cursor.
Ctrl+E	Moves cursor to end of command line.
Ctrl+F	Moves cursor forward one character.
Ctrl+H	Deletes character to left of cursor.
Ctrl+K	Deletes all characters from cursor to end of command line.
Ctrl+L	Redisplays system prompt and command line.
Ctrl+O	Toggles overwrite/insert mode.
Ctrl+T	Transposes character to left of cursor with character located at cursor.
Ctrl+U	Deletes entire command line.
Ctrl+V	Allows the "?" character to be used as a character instead of as a request for help.
Ctrl+W	Deletes the previous word.
Ctrl+X	In all modes, reboots the system. This feature is useful if a command is taking a prolonged time to complete and hangs the console. The command has no effect if you access the system via Telnet. Set the boot option flag using the service ctrl-x-reboot command from Global Configuration mode.
Ctrl+Y	Recalls most recent entry from delete buffer; recalled characters overwrite or are inserted in current line depending on overwrite/insert toggle.
Ctrl+Z	In all modes, except User Exec mode, returns you to Privileged Exec mode.
Esc+B	Moves cursor back one word.
Esc+Backspace	Deletes previous word.
Esc+D	Deletes current or next word.

Command History Keys

The CLI maintains two separate command histories. The first command history maintains only User Exec and Privileged Exec mode commands. The second history maintains all commands entered in any of the configuration modes. The appropriate history will automatically be restored as you transition between Global Configuration mode and Privileged Exec mode.

Table 2-3 defines the keys related to command history.

Table 2-3 Command history keys  

Key	Function
Up Arrow1 or Ctrl+P	Recalls commands in history buffer, starting with most recent command. Repeat key sequence to recall successively older commands.
Down Arrowa or Ctrl+N	Returns to more recent commands in history buffer after recalling commands with Up Arrow or Ctrl+P. Repeat key sequence to recall successively more recent commands.
Ctrl+R	Begin a reverse search for a previously entered string in the history buffer by providing a character string when prompted. Enter <Ctrl+R> to continue searching. <Ctrl+H> or <Del> deletes the last character in the string and starts a search on the new string.

Pagination Keys    

If the system needs to display more text than you can fit on the screen, the output pauses and the --More-- prompt appears. Table 2-4 defines the pagination keys that you can use when the --More-- prompt appears. See The - - More - - Prompt section earlier in this chapter for more information.

Table 2-4 Pagination keys  

Key	Function
Enter	Scrolls down one more line
Space bar	Displays one more screen
+	Displays all output lines that contain the text string
-	Displays all output lines that do not contain the text string
/	Displays all output lines starting at the first line that contains the text string
Any other key	Aborts output and returns you to command prompt