Commands for nano text editor

nano_text_editor_cmds.txt

Useful Nano Keyboard Commands

Since the nano editor doesn't really support the use of a mouse, here's a table of commands you're likely to find very useful. You should experiment with every one of them and try to memorize them, it can speed up your work tremendously. (To see a list of all nano commands, type Ctrl+g when in the editor.)

NOTE: There is no “undo” command in nano, so save your work often!



Topics

File Management

Copy and Paste

Navigating Through Code

Search and Replace

Named Key Equivalents



File Management

Task

Keystroke

Open a file from within nano

Ctrl+r

NOTE: tab completion is in effect; also, once this command has been entered, notice the new menu items at the bottom of the screen. For example, Ctrl+T will allow you to browse the file system and look for a file to open.

Display the next file buffer

Alt+>

Display the previous file buffer

Alt+<

Save the current file buffer to disk

Ctrl+o

Close the current file buffer

Ctrl+x

NOTE: If the file hasn't been saved yet, you'll be asked if you want to save it. Also, if there's only one file buffer open, closing it will exit from nano.



Copy and Paste

Task

Keystroke

Select a region for a cut or paste operation

Alt+a

NOTE: After setting a mark with Alt+a, move the cursor to define the region, you should see it highlighted as you move the cursor. Also, to cancel the definition of the region just enter Alt+a again.

Copy a highlighted region into the clipboard

Alt+^

Cut a highlighted region into the clipboard

Ctrl+k

Paste the contents of the clipboard at the current cursor position

Ctrl+u

Cut from the current cursor position to the end-of-line (EOL)

Ctrl+k

NOTE: This command doesn't require highlighting of the region.



Navigating Through Code

Task

Keystroke

Go to beginning of file

Alt+\

Go to end of file

Alt+/

Move forward one screenful

Ctrl+v

Move backward one screenful

Ctrl+y

Go to a target line number

Alt+g

Jump to matching open/close symbol

Alt+]

NOTE: Very useful for finding mismatched brace compiler errors!

Window scrolling

Alt+= to scroll down, Alt+- to scroll up

Indenting/Outdenting selected blocks

Use Alt+a to select a block, then Alt+} will indent the selected block, and Alt+{ will outdent the block.



Search and Replace

Task

Keystroke

Search for a target string

Ctrl+w

NOTE: Once this command has been entered, notice the new menu items at the bottom of the screen, such as toggling the direction of the search (Alt+B) or replacing the search string with a different string (Ctrl+R)

Repeat the last search

Alt+w

Toggle direction for next search

Ctrl+w followed by Ctrl+b

Search and replace

Alt+r





Named Key Equivalents

Task

Keystroke

Home

Ctrl+a

End

Ctrl+e

Page Up

Ctrl+y

Page Down

Ctrl+v

Arrow Keys

Ctrl+f (right), Ctrl+b (left), Ctrl+n (down), Ctrl+p (up)

Tab

Ctrl+i

Backspace

Ctrl+h

Delete

Ctrl+d

Return

Ctrl+m