Multi Gnome Terminal User's Guide: Multi Gnome Terminal 1.5.0
Prev |  | Next

# 2. Basic Usage

## 2.1. Shells

`Multi Gnome Terminal` starts a shell environments (command line interpreter). UNIX shells can significantly extend the capabilities of the usual command line prompt. For example, the `bash` shell (which is the default shell for most Linux distributions) provides command completion (try entering beginning of a command or file name and press Tab key), a history buffer (you can recall previously entered commands by pressing Up arrow key), and much more. For complete documentation, see the manual pages for the appropriate shells.

`Multi Gnome Terminal` further extends the traditional command line interface by allowing potentially many shells to co-exist within the same Window simultaneously.

## 2.2. Multiple Terminals

The most prominent innovation of `Multi Gnome Terminal` is the ability to run multiple terminals within the same X Window. Each terminal constitutes a fully functional shell environment and is represented in the GUI by a Tab.

The terminal window can also be split horizontally and vertically, can be moved from one `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window to another, and can be "bonded" to other terminal windows.

Navigation between opened terminals is easily done either via the Tabs, or keyboard shortcuts, which are configurable.

Tabs can be initialized in various ways, and saved such that new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Windows are opened with a user specified configuration, or with the previous state saved, or a combination. See the Tabs Section for details.

## 2.3. Commands

`Multi Gnome Terminal` "Commands" are shell commands to initialize new terminals. These can be something simple to just start a new interactive shell. Or can do more interesting things, such as change to a specified directory on start up, or `ssh` to a remote host and start a shell there. Or whatever else the imagination may allow ;-)

`Multi Gnome Terminal` commands are configured from the Edit Commands selection of the Settings menu, and are then easily invoked from the the New Term menu. Or via keyboard shortcuts. See the Edit Commands Section.

## 2.4. Key Bindings

Keyboard shortcuts are easily configured for various `Multi Gnome Terminal` functions, and various other user preferences. These are configured from the Keybindings selection of the Settings menu. See the Keybindings Section.

## 2.5. GUI Controls

`Multi Gnome Terminal` provides various GUI components for navigation, configuration, and control over `Multi Gnome Terminal`'s behavior. In addition to the Menus and Scrollbar from `Gnome Terminal`, `Multi Gnome Terminal` adds a Toolbar and a Buttonbar. And of course, the Tabs. See the User Interface section for an explanation of each.

## 2.6. Launch URLs

`Multi Gnome Terminal` improves `Gnome Terminal`'s recognition of URL-like strings on the screen. If clicked with CTRL-LeftMouse, `Multi Gnome Terminal` will try to open the appropriate application: a web browser, mail client, or file manager. See the Launching URLs Section for more on this feature.

## 2.7. Command Line Options

`Multi Gnome Terminal` includes a number of useful command line options for creating new Windows, new Tabs, and split Windows. Tabs can even be added to the current Window dynamically. See the Command Line Options Section.

## 2.8. Emulation

`Multi Gnome Terminal` is designed to emulate the `xterm` program provided by the X Consortium and provides improved emulation support over `Gnome Terminal`. `xterm`, in turn, is an almost-complete emulation of the DEC VT102 terminal.

`Multi Gnome Terminal` supports the same extensions to the VT102 that the `xterm` program provides, through special "escape" sequences. Recent changes to `xterm` have been been incorporated into `Multi Gnome Terminal`. This includes emulation of the newer DEC VT220 escape sequences and also, full support for VT52. `Multi Gnome Terminal` is fully compliant with `vttest`, a program for testing terminal emulator support.

In simpler terms, this means that `Multi Gnome Terminal` understands all the commands (escape sequences) used by VT52/VT102/VT220/xterm terminals for things like positioning of the cursor on screen. Therefore, you can run in `Multi Gnome Terminal` any application that is designed to work inside VT52/VT102/VT220/xterm terminals and all the controls (such as arrows, PageUp/PageDown keys, Tab key, etc) should work as expected.

Prev | Home | Next
Description |  | User Interface