This is zsh.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.6 from zsh.texi.

INFO-DIR-SECTION Utilities
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* ZSH: (zsh).                     The Z Shell Manual.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY


File: zsh.info,  Node: Top,  Next: The Z Shell Manual,  Prev: (dir),  Up: (dir)

The Z Shell Manual
******************

This Info file documents Zsh, a freely available UNIX command
interpreter (shell), which of the standard shells most closely
resembles the Korn shell (ksh), although it is not completely
compatible.

Version 4.0.6, last updated August 14, 2002.

* Menu:

* The Z Shell Manual::
* Introduction::
* Invocation::
* Files::
* Shell Grammar::
* Redirection::
* Command Execution::
* Functions::
* Jobs & Signals::
* Arithmetic Evaluation::
* Conditional Expressions::
* Prompt Expansion::
* Expansion::
* Parameters::
* Options::
* Shell Builtin Commands::
* Zsh Line Editor::
* Completion Widgets::
* Completion System::
* Completion Using compctl::
* Zsh Modules::
* Zftp Function System::
* User Contributions::


--- Indices ---


* Concept Index::
* Variables Index::
* Options Index::
* Functions Index::
* Editor Functions Index::
* Style and Tag Index::


--- The Detailed Node Listing ---


Introduction


* Author::
* Availability::
* Mailing Lists::
* The Zsh FAQ::
* The Zsh Web Page::
* The Zsh Userguide::
* See Also::


Invocation


* Compatibility::
* Restricted Shell::


Shell Grammar


* Simple Commands & Pipelines::
* Precommand Modifiers::
* Complex Commands::
* Alternate Forms For Complex Commands::
* Reserved Words::
* Comments::
* Aliasing::
* Quoting::


Expansion


* History Expansion::
* Process Substitution::
* Parameter Expansion::
* Command Substitution::
* Arithmetic Expansion::
* Brace Expansion::
* Filename Expansion::
* Filename Generation::


Parameters


* Array Parameters::
* Positional Parameters::
* Local Parameters::
* Parameters Set By The Shell::
* Parameters Used By The Shell::


Options


* Specifying Options::
* Description of Options::
* Option Aliases::
* Single Letter Options::


Zsh Line Editor


* Movement::
* History Control::
* Modifying Text::
* Arguments::
* Completion::
* Miscellaneous::


Completion Widgets


* Special Parameters::
* Builtin Commands::
* Condition Codes::
* Matching Control::
* Completion Widget Example::


Completion System


* Initialization::
* Completion System Configuration::
* Control Functions::
* Bindable Commands::
* Completion Functions::
* Completion Directories::


Completion Using compctl


* Command Flags::
* Option Flags::
* Alternative Completion::
* Extended Completion::
* Example::


Zsh Modules


* The zsh/cap Module::
* The zsh/clone Module::
* The zsh/compctl Module::
* The zsh/complete Module::
* The zsh/complist Module::
* The zsh/computil Module::
* The zsh/deltochar Module::
* The zsh/example Module::
* The zsh/files Module::
* The zsh/mapfile Module::
* The zsh/mathfunc Module::
* The zsh/parameter Module::
* The zsh/sched Module::
* The zsh/stat Module::
* The zsh/termcap Module::
* The zsh/terminfo Module::
* The zsh/zftp Module::
* The zsh/zle Module::
* The zsh/zleparameter Module::
* The zsh/zprof Module::
* The zsh/zpty Module::
* The zsh/zutil Module::


Zftp Function System


* Installation::
* Zftp Functions::
* Miscellaneous Features::


User Contributions


* Utilities::
* Prompt Themes::
* ZLE Functions::
* Other Functions::


File: zsh.info,  Node: The Z Shell Manual,  Next: Introduction,  Prev: Top,  Up: Top

The Z Shell Manual
******************

This document has been produced from the texinfo file zsh.texi,
included in the Doc sub-directory of the Zsh distribution.

Producing documentation from zsh.texi
=====================================

The texinfo source may be converted into several formats:

The Info manual
     The Info format allows searching for topics, commands, functions,
     etc.  from the many Indices. The command `makeinfo zsh.texi' is
     used to produce the Info documentation.

The printed manual
     The command `texi2dvi zsh.texi' will output zsh.dvi which can then
     be processed with `dvips' and optionally `gs' (Ghostscript) to
     produce a nicely formatted printed manual.

The HTML manual
     An HTML version of this manual is available at the Zsh web site
     via:

     http://zsh.sunsite.dk/Doc/.

     (The HTML version is produced with `texi2html', which may be
     obtained from
     http://www.mathematik.uni-kl.de/~obachman/Texi2html/. The command
     is `texi2html -split chapter -expand info zsh.texi'.  If necessary,
     upgrade to version 1.64 of texi2html.)


For those who do not have the necessary tools to process texinfo,
precompiled documentation (PostScript, dvi, info and HTML formats) is
available from the zsh archive site or its mirrors, in the file
zsh-doc.tar.gz. (See *Note Availability:: for a list of sites.)


File: zsh.info,  Node: Introduction,  Next: Invocation,  Prev: The Z Shell Manual,  Up: Top

Introduction
************

Zsh is a UNIX command interpreter (shell) usable as an interactive
login shell and as a shell script command processor.  Of the standard
shells, zsh most closely resembles `ksh' but includes many
enhancements.  Zsh has command line editing, builtin spelling
correction, programmable command completion, shell functions (with
autoloading), a history mechanism, and a host of other features.

* Menu:

* Author::
* Availability::
* Mailing Lists::
* The Zsh FAQ::
* The Zsh Web Page::
* The Zsh Userguide::
* See Also::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Author,  Next: Availability,  Up: Introduction

Author
======

Zsh was originally written by Paul Falstad <pf@zsh.org>.  Zsh is now
maintained by the members of the zsh-workers mailing list
<zsh-workers@sunsite.dk>.  The development is currently coordinated by
Peter Stephenson <pws@zsh.org>.  The coordinator can be contacted at
<coordinator@zsh.org>, but matters relating to the code should
generally go to the mailing list.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Availability,  Next: Mailing Lists,  Prev: Author,  Up: Introduction

Availability
============

Zsh is available from the following anonymous FTP sites.  These mirror
sites are kept frequently up to date.  The sites marked with _(H)_ may
be mirroring ftp.cs.elte.hu instead of the primary site.

Primary site
     ftp://ftp.zsh.org/pub/zsh/
     http://www.zsh.org/pub/zsh/

Australia
     ftp://ftp.zsh.org/pub/zsh/
     http://www.zsh.org/pub/zsh/
     ftp://ftp.ips.gov.au/pub/packages/zsh/  _(H)_

Denmark
     ftp://sunsite.dk/pub/unix/shells/zsh/

Finland
     ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/unix/shells/zsh/

France
     ftp://ftp.cenatls.cena.dgac.fr/shells/zsh/

Germany
     ftp://ftp.fu-berlin.de/pub/unix/shells/zsh/  _(H)_
     ftp://ftp.gmd.de/packages/zsh/
     ftp://ftp.uni-trier.de/pub/unix/shell/zsh/

Hungary
     ftp://ftp.cs.elte.hu/pub/zsh/
     http://www.cs.elte.hu/pub/zsh/
     ftp://ftp.kfki.hu/pub/packages/zsh/

Israel
     ftp://ftp.math.technion.ac.il/pub/zsh/
     http://www.math.technion.ac.il/pub/zsh/

Italy
     ftp://ftp.unina.it/pub/Unix/pkgs/shell/zsh/

Japan
     ftp://ftp.nisiq.net/pub/shells/zsh/  _(H)_
     ftp://ftp.win.ne.jp/pub/shell/zsh/

Norway
     ftp://ftp.uit.no/pub/unix/shells/zsh/

Poland
     ftp://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/unix/shells/zsh/

Romania
     ftp://ftp.roedu.net/pub/mirrors/ftp.zsh.org/pub/zsh/
     ftp://ftp.kappa.ro/pub/mirrors/ftp.zsh.org/pub/zsh/

Slovenia
     ftp://ftp.siol.net/mirrors/zsh/

Sweden
     ftp://ftp.lysator.liu.se/pub/unix/zsh/

UK
     ftp://ftp.net.lut.ac.uk/zsh/
     ftp://sunsite.org.uk/packages/zsh/

USA
     ftp://uiarchive.uiuc.edu/pub/packages/shells/zsh/
     ftp://ftp.rge.com/pub/shells/zsh/
     ftp://foad.org/pub/zsh/
     http://foad.org/zsh/



File: zsh.info,  Node: Mailing Lists,  Next: The Zsh FAQ,  Prev: Availability,  Up: Introduction

Mailing Lists
=============

Zsh has 3 mailing lists:

<zsh-announce@sunsite.dk>
     Announcements about releases, major changes in the shell and the
     monthly posting of the Zsh FAQ.  (moderated)

<zsh-users@sunsite.dk>
     User discussions.

<zsh-workers@sunsite.dk>
     Hacking, development, bug reports and patches.


To subscribe or unsubscribe, send mail to the associated administrative
address for the mailing list.

<zsh-announce-subscribe@sunsite.dk>

<zsh-users-subscribe@sunsite.dk>

<zsh-workers-subscribe@sunsite.dk>

<zsh-announce-unsubscribe@sunsite.dk>

<zsh-users-unsubscribe@sunsite.dk>

<zsh-workers-unsubscribe@sunsite.dk>


YOU ONLY NEED TO JOIN ONE OF THE MAILING LISTS AS THEY ARE NESTED.  All
submissions to `zsh-announce' are automatically forwarded to
`zsh-users'.  All submissions to `zsh-users' are automatically
forwarded to `zsh-workers'.

If you have problems subscribing/unsubscribing to any of the mailing
lists, send mail to <listmaster@zsh.org>.  The mailing lists are
maintained by Karsten Thygesen <karthy@kom.auc.dk>.

The mailing lists are archived; the archives can be accessed via the
administrative addresses listed above.  There is also a hypertext
archive, maintained by Geoff Wing <gcw@zsh.org>, available at
http://www.zsh.org/mla/.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The Zsh FAQ,  Next: The Zsh Web Page,  Prev: Mailing Lists,  Up: Introduction

The Zsh FAQ
===========

Zsh has a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), maintained by Peter
Stephenson <pws@zsh.org>.  It is regularly posted to the newsgroup
`comp.unix.shell' and the `zsh-announce' mailing list.  The latest
version can be found at any of the Zsh FTP sites, or at
http://www.zsh.org/FAQ/.  The contact address for FAQ-related matters
is <faqmaster@zsh.org>.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The Zsh Web Page,  Next: The Zsh Userguide,  Prev: The Zsh FAQ,  Up: Introduction

The Zsh Web Page
================

Zsh has a web page which is located at http://www.zsh.org/.  This is
maintained by Karsten Thygesen <karthy@zsh.org>, of SunSITE Denmark.
The contact address for web-related matters is <webmaster@zsh.org>.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The Zsh Userguide,  Next: See Also,  Prev: The Zsh Web Page,  Up: Introduction

The Zsh Userguide
=================

A userguide is currently in preparation.  It is intended to complement
the manual, with explanations and hints on issues where the manual can
be cabbalistic, hierographic, or downright mystifying (for example, the
word `hierographic' does not exist).  It can be viewed in its current
state at http://zsh.sunsite.dk/Guide/.  At the time of writing, chapters
dealing with startup files and their contents and the new completion
system were essentially complete.


File: zsh.info,  Node: See Also,  Prev: The Zsh Userguide,  Up: Introduction

See Also
========

man page sh(1), man page csh(1), man page tcsh(1), man page rc(1), man
page bash(1), man page ksh(1)

`IEEE Standard for information Technology - Portable Operating System
Interface (POSIX) - Part 2: Shell and Utilities', IEEE Inc, 1993, ISBN
1-55937-255-9.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Invocation,  Next: Files,  Prev: Introduction,  Up: Top

Invocation
**********

Invocation Options
==================

The following flags are interpreted by the shell when invoked to
determine where the shell will read commands from:

-c
     Take the first argument as a command to execute, rather than
     reading commands from a script or standard input.  If any further
     arguments are given, the first one is assigned to $0, rather than
     being used as a positional parameter.

-i
     Force shell to be interactive.

-s
     Force shell to read commands from the standard input.  If the -s
     flag is not present and an argument is given, the first argument
     is taken to be the pathname of a script to execute.


After the first one or two arguments have been appropriated as
described above, the remaining arguments are assigned to the positional
parameters.

For further options, which are common to invocation and the set
builtin, see *Note Options::.

Options may be specified by name using the -o option.  -o acts like a
single-letter option, but takes a following string as the option name.
For example,

     zsh -x -o shwordsplit scr

runs the script scr, setting the XTRACE option by the corresponding
letter `-x' and the SH_WORD_SPLIT option by name.  Options may be
turned _off_ by name by using +o instead of -o.  -o can be stacked up
with preceding single-letter options, so for example `-xo shwordsplit'
or `-xoshwordsplit' is equivalent to `-x -o shwordsplit'.

Options may also be specified by name in GNU long option style,
`-OPTION-NAME'.  When this is done, `-' characters in the option name
are permitted: they are translated into `_', and thus ignored.  So, for
example, `zsh -sh-word-split' invokes zsh with the SH_WORD_SPLIT option
turned on.  Like other option syntaxes, options can be turned off by
replacing the initial `-' with a `+'; thus `+-sh-word-split' is
equivalent to `-no-sh-word-split'.  Unlike other option syntaxes,
GNU-style long options cannot be stacked with any other options, so for
example `-x-shwordsplit' is an error, rather than being treated like
`-x -shwordsplit'.

The special GNU-style option `-version' is handled; it sends to standard
output the shell's version information, then exits successfully.
`-help' is also handled; it sends to standard output a list of options
that can be used when invoking the shell, then exits successfully.

Option processing may be finished, allowing following arguments that
start with `-' or `+' to be treated as normal arguments, in two ways.
Firstly, a lone `-' (or `+') as an argument by itself ends option
processing.  Secondly, a special option `-' (or `+-'), which may be
specified on its own (which is the standard POSIX usage) or may be
stacked with preceding options (so `-x-' is equivalent to `-x -').
Options are not permitted to be stacked after `-' (so `-x-f' is an
error), but note the GNU-style option form discussed above, where
`-shwordsplit' is permitted and does not end option processing.

Except when the `sh'/`ksh' emulation single-letter options are in
effect, the option `-b' (or `+b') ends option processing.  `-b' is like
`-', except that further single-letter options can be stacked after the
`-b' and will take effect as normal.

* Menu:

* Compatibility::
* Restricted Shell::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Compatibility,  Next: Restricted Shell,  Up: Invocation

Compatibility
=============

Zsh tries to emulate `sh' or `ksh' when it is invoked as sh or ksh
respectively; more precisely, it looks at the first letter of the name
by which it was invoked, excluding any initial `r' (assumed to stand
for `restricted'), and if that is `s' or `k' it will emulate `sh' or
`ksh'.  Furthermore, if invoked as su (which happens on certain systems
when the shell is executed by the su command), the shell will try to
find an alternative name from the SHELL environment variable and
perform emulation based on that.

In `sh' and `ksh' compatibility modes the following parameters are not
special and not initialized by the shell: ARGC, argv, cdpath, fignore,
fpath, HISTCHARS, mailpath, MANPATH, manpath, path, prompt, PROMPT,
PROMPT2, PROMPT3, PROMPT4, psvar, status, watch.

The usual zsh startup/shutdown scripts are not executed.  Login shells
source /etc/profile followed by $HOME/.profile.  If the ENV environment
variable is set on invocation, $ENV is sourced after the profile
scripts.  The value of ENV is subjected to parameter expansion, command
substitution, and arithmetic expansion before being interpreted as a
pathname.  Note that the PRIVILEGED option also affects the execution
of startup files.

The following options are set if the shell is invoked as sh or ksh:
NO_BAD_PATTERN, NO_BANG_HIST, NO_BG_NICE, NO_EQUALS,
NO_FUNCTION_ARGZERO, GLOB_SUBST, NO_GLOBAL_EXPORT, NO_HUP,
INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS, KSH_ARRAYS, NO_MULTIOS, NO_NOMATCH, NO_NOTIFY,
POSIX_BUILTINS, NO_PROMPT_PERCENT, RM_STAR_SILENT, SH_FILE_EXPANSION,
SH_GLOB, SH_OPTION_LETTERS, SH_WORD_SPLIT.  Additionally the BSD_ECHO
and IGNORE_BRACES options are set if zsh is invoked as sh.  Also, the
KSH_OPTION_PRINT, LOCAL_OPTIONS, PROMPT_BANG, PROMPT_SUBST and
SINGLE_LINE_ZLE options are set if zsh is invoked as ksh.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Restricted Shell,  Prev: Compatibility,  Up: Invocation

Restricted Shell
================

When the basename of the command used to invoke zsh starts with the
letter `r' or the `-r' command line option is supplied at invocation,
the shell becomes restricted.  Emulation mode is determined after
stripping the letter `r' from the invocation name.  The following are
disabled in restricted mode:

   * changing directories with the cd builtin

   * changing or unsetting the PATH, path, MODULE_PATH, module_path,
     SHELL, HISTFILE, HISTSIZE, GID, EGID, UID, EUID, USERNAME,
     LD_LIBRARY_PATH, LD_AOUT_LIBRARY_PATH, LD_PRELOAD and
     LD_AOUT_PRELOAD parameters

   * specifying command names containing /

   * specifying command pathnames using hash

   * redirecting output to files

   * using the exec builtin command to replace the shell with another
     command

   * using jobs -Z to overwrite the shell process' argument and
     environment space

   * using the ARGV0 parameter to override argv[0] for external commands

   * turning off restricted mode with set +r or unsetopt RESTRICTED

These restrictions are enforced after processing the startup files.  The
startup files should set up PATH to point to a directory of commands
which can be safely invoked in the restricted environment.  They may
also add further restrictions by disabling selected builtins.

Restricted mode can also be activated any time by setting the
RESTRICTED option.  This immediately enables all the restrictions
described above even if the shell still has not processed all startup
files.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Files,  Next: Shell Grammar,  Prev: Invocation,  Up: Top

Files
*****

Startup/Shutdown Files
======================

Commands are first read from /etc/zshenv; this cannot be overridden.
Subsequent behaviour is modified by the RCS and GLOBAL_RCS options; the
former affects all startup files, while the second only affects those
in the /etc directory.  If one of the options is unset at any point,
any subsequent startup file(s) of the corresponding type will not be
read.  It is also possible for a file in $ZDOTDIR to re-enable
GLOBAL_RCS. Both RCS and GLOBAL_RCS are set by default.

Commands are then read from $ZDOTDIR/.zshenv.  If the shell is a login
shell, commands are read from /etc/zprofile and then $ZDOTDIR/.zprofile.
Then, if the shell is interactive, commands are read from /etc/zshrc
and then $ZDOTDIR/.zshrc.  Finally, if the shell is a login shell,
/etc/zlogin and $ZDOTDIR/.zlogin are read.

When a login shell exits, the files $ZDOTDIR/.zlogout and then
/etc/zlogout are read.  This happens with either an explicit exit via
the exit or logout commands, or an implicit exit by reading end-of-file
from the terminal.  However, if the shell terminates due to exec'ing
another process, the logout files are not read.  These are also
affected by the RCS and GLOBAL_RCS options.  Note also that the RCS
option affects the saving of history files, i.e. if RCS is unset when
the shell exits, no history file will be saved.

If ZDOTDIR is unset, HOME is used instead.  Those files listed above as
being in /etc may be in another directory, depending on the
installation.

As /etc/zshenv is run for all instances of zsh, it is important that it
be kept as small as possible.  In particular, it is a good idea to put
code that does not need to be run for every single shell behind a test
of the form `if [[ -o rcs ]]; then ...' so that it will not be executed
when zsh is invoked with the `-f' option.

Files
=====

$ZDOTDIR/.zshenv

$ZDOTDIR/.zprofile

$ZDOTDIR/.zshrc

$ZDOTDIR/.zlogin

$ZDOTDIR/.zlogout

${TMPPREFIX}*   (default is /tmp/zsh*)

/etc/zshenv

/etc/zprofile

/etc/zshrc

/etc/zlogin

/etc/zlogout    (installation-specific - /etc is the default)


Any of these files may be pre-compiled with the zcompile builtin
command (*Note Shell Builtin Commands::).  If a compiled file exists
(named for the original file plus the .zwc extension) and it is newer
than the original file, the compiled file will be used instead.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Shell Grammar,  Next: Redirection,  Prev: Files,  Up: Top

Shell Grammar
*************

* Menu:

* Simple Commands & Pipelines::
* Precommand Modifiers::
* Complex Commands::
* Alternate Forms For Complex Commands::
* Reserved Words::
* Comments::
* Aliasing::
* Quoting::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Simple Commands & Pipelines,  Next: Precommand Modifiers,  Up: Shell Grammar

Simple Commands & Pipelines
===========================

A _simple command_ is a sequence of optional parameter assignments
followed by blank-separated words, with optional redirections
interspersed.  The first word is the command to be executed, and the
remaining words, if any, are arguments to the command.  If a command
name is given, the parameter assignments modify the environment of the
command when it is executed.  The value of a simple command is its exit
status, or 128 plus the signal number if terminated by a signal.  For
example,

     echo foo

is a simple command with arguments.

A _pipeline_ is either a simple command, or a sequence of two or more
simple commands where each command is separated from the next by `|' or
`|&'.  Where commands are separated by `|', the standard output of the
first command is connected to the standard input of the next.  `|&' is
shorthand for `2>&1 |', which connects both the standard output and the
standard error of the command to the standard input of the next.  The
value of a pipeline is the value of the last command, unless the
pipeline is preceded by `!' in which case the value is the logical
inverse of the value of the last command.  For example,

     echo foo | sed 's/foo/bar/'

is a pipeline, where the output (`foo' plus a newline) of the first
command will be passed to the input of the second.

If a pipeline is preceded by `coproc', it is executed as a coprocess; a
two-way pipe is established between it and the parent shell.  The shell
can read from or write to the coprocess by means of the `>&p' and `<&p'
redirection operators or with `print -p' and `read -p'.  A pipeline
cannot be preceded by both `coproc' and `!'.  If job control is active,
the coprocess can be treated in other than input and output as an
ordinary background job.

A _sublist_ is either a single pipeline, or a sequence of two or more
pipelines separated by `&&' or `||'.  If two pipelines are separated by
`&&', the second pipeline is executed only if the first succeeds
(returns a zero value).  If two pipelines are separated by `||', the
second is executed only if the first fails (returns a nonzero value).
Both operators have equal precedence and are left associative.  The
value of the sublist is the value of the last pipeline executed.  For
example,

     dmesg | grep panic && print yes

is a sublist consisting of two pipelines, the second just a simple
command which will be executed if and only if the grep command returns
a zero value.  If it does not, the value of the sublist is that return
value, else it is the value returned by the print (almost certainly
zero).

A _list_ is a sequence of zero or more sublists, in which each sublist
is terminated by `;', `&', `&|', `&!', or a newline.  This terminator
may optionally be omitted from the last sublist in the list when the
list appears as a complex command inside `(...)'  or `{...}'.  When a
sublist is terminated by `;' or newline, the shell waits for it to
finish before executing the next sublist.  If a sublist is terminated
by a `&', `&|', or `&!', the shell executes the last pipeline in it in
the background, and does not wait for it to finish (note the difference
from other shells which execute the whole sublist in the background).
A backgrounded pipeline returns a status of zero.

More generally, a list can be seen as a set of any shell commands
whatsoever, including the complex commands below; this is implied
wherever the word `list' appears in later descriptions.  For example,
the commands in a shell function form a special sort of list.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Precommand Modifiers,  Next: Complex Commands,  Prev: Simple Commands & Pipelines,  Up: Shell Grammar

Precommand Modifiers
====================

A simple command may be preceded by a _precommand modifier_, which will
alter how the command is interpreted.  These modifiers are shell
builtin commands with the exception of nocorrect which is a reserved
word.

-
     The command is executed with a `-' prepended to its argv[0] string.

noglob
     Filename generation (globbing) is not performed on any of the
     words.

nocorrect
     Spelling correction is not done on any of the words.  This must
     appear before any other precommand modifier, as it is interpreted
     immediately, before any parsing is done.  It has no effect in
     non-interactive shells.

exec
     The command is executed in the parent shell without forking.

command
     The command word is taken to be the name of an external command,
     rather than a shell function or builtin.

builtin
     The command word is taken to be the name of a builtin command,
     rather than a shell function or external command.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Complex Commands,  Next: Alternate Forms For Complex Commands,  Prev: Precommand Modifiers,  Up: Shell Grammar

Complex Commands
================

A _complex command_ in zsh is one of the following:

if LIST then LIST [ elif LIST then LIST ] ... [ else LIST ] fi
     The if LIST is executed, and if it returns a zero exit status, the
     then LIST is executed.  Otherwise, the elif LIST is executed and
     if its value is zero, the then LIST is executed.  If each elif
     LIST returns nonzero, the else LIST is executed.

for NAME [ in WORD ... TERM ] do LIST done
     where TERM is at least one newline or ;.  Expand the list of
     WORDs, and set the parameter NAME to each of them in turn,
     executing LIST each time.  If the in WORD is omitted, use the
     positional parameters instead of the WORDs.

for (( [EXPR1] ; [EXPR2] ; [EXPR3] )) do LIST done
     The arithmetic expression EXPR1 is evaluated first (see *Note
     Arithmetic Evaluation::).  The arithmetic expression EXPR2 is
     repeatedly evaluated until it evaluates to zero and when non-zero,
     LIST is executed and the arithmetic expression EXPR3 evaluated.
     If any expression is omitted, then it behaves as if it evaluated
     to 1.

while LIST do LIST done
     Execute the do LIST as long as the while LIST returns a zero exit
     status.

until LIST do LIST done
     Execute the do LIST as long as until LIST returns a nonzero exit
     status.

repeat WORD do LIST done
     WORD is expanded and treated as an arithmetic expression, which
     must evaluate to a number N.  LIST is then executed N times.

case WORD in [ [(] PATTERN [ | PATTERN ] ... ) LIST (;;|;&) ] ... esac
     Execute the LIST associated with the first PATTERN that matches
     WORD, if any.  The form of the patterns is the same as that used
     for filename generation.  See *Note Filename Generation::.  If the
     LIST that is executed is terminated with ;& rather than ;;, the
     following list is also executed.  This continues until either a
     list is terminated with ;; or the esac is reached.

select NAME [ in WORD ... TERM ] do LIST done
     where TERM is one or more newline or ; to terminate the WORDs.
     Print the set of WORDs, each preceded by a number.  If the in WORD
     is omitted, use the positional parameters.  The PROMPT3 prompt is
     printed and a line is read from the line editor if the shell is
     interactive and that is active, or else standard input.  If this
     line consists of the number of one of the listed WORDs, then the
     parameter NAME is set to the WORD corresponding to this number.
     If this line is empty, the selection list is printed again.
     Otherwise, the value of the parameter NAME is set to null.  The
     contents of the line read from standard input is saved in the
     parameter REPLY.  LIST is executed for each selection until a
     break or end-of-file is encountered.

( LIST )
     Execute LIST in a subshell.  Traps set by the trap builtin are
     reset to their default values while executing LIST.

{ LIST }
     Execute LIST.

function WORD ... [ () ] [ TERM ] { LIST }
WORD ... () [ TERM ] { LIST }
WORD ... () [ TERM ] COMMAND
     where TERM is one or more newline or ;.  Define a function which
     is referenced by any one of WORD.  Normally, only one WORD is
     provided; multiple WORDs are usually only useful for setting traps.
     The body of the function is the LIST between the { and }.  See
     *Note Functions::.

     If the option SH_GLOB is set for compatibility with other shells,
     then whitespace may appear between between the left and right
     parentheses when there is a single WORD;  otherwise, the
     parentheses will be treated as forming a globbing pattern in that
     case.

time [ PIPELINE ]
     The PIPELINE is executed, and timing statistics are reported on
     the standard error in the form specified by the TIMEFMT parameter.
     If PIPELINE is omitted, print statistics about the shell process
     and its children.

[[ EXP ]]
     Evaluates the conditional expression EXP and return a zero exit
     status if it is true.  See *Note Conditional Expressions:: for a
     description of EXP.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Alternate Forms For Complex Commands,  Next: Reserved Words,  Prev: Complex Commands,  Up: Shell Grammar

Alternate Forms For Complex Commands
====================================

Many of zsh's complex commands have alternate forms.  These particular
versions of complex commands should be considered deprecated and may be
removed in the future.  The versions in the previous section should be
preferred instead.

The short versions below only work if SUBLIST is of the form `{ LIST }'
or if the SHORT_LOOPS option is set.  For the if, while and until
commands, in both these cases the test part of the loop must also be
suitably delimited, such as by `[[ ... ]]' or `(( ... ))', else the end
of the test will not be recognized.  For the for, repeat, case and
select commands no such special form for the arguments is necessary,
but the other condition (the special form of SUBLIST or use of the
SHORT_LOOPS option) still applies.

if LIST { LIST } [ elif LIST { LIST } ] ... [ else { LIST } ]
     An alternate form of if.  The rules mean that

          if [[ -o ignorebraces ]] {
            print yes
          }

     works, but

          if true {  # Does not work!
            print yes
          }

     does _not_, since the test is not suitably delimited.

if LIST SUBLIST
     A short form of the alternate `if'.  The same limitations on the
     form of LIST apply as for the previous form.

for NAME ( WORD ... ) SUBLIST
     A short form of for.

for NAME [ in WORD ... TERM ] SUBLIST
     where TERM is at least one newline or ;.  Another short form of
     for.

for (( [EXPR1] ; [EXPR2] ; [EXPR3] )) SUBLIST
     A short form of the arithmetic for command.

foreach NAME ( WORD ... ) LIST end
     Another form of for.

while LIST { LIST }
     An alternative form of while.  Note the limitations on the form of
     LIST mentioned above.

until LIST { LIST }
     An alternative form of until.  Note the limitations on the form of
     LIST mentioned above.

repeat WORD SUBLIST
     This is a short form of repeat.

case WORD { [ [(] PATTERN [ | PATTERN ] ... ) LIST (;;|;&) ] ... }
     An alternative form of case.

select NAME [ in WORD TERM ] SUBLIST
     where TERM is at least one newline or ;.  A short form of select.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Reserved Words,  Next: Comments,  Prev: Alternate Forms For Complex Commands,  Up: Shell Grammar

Reserved Words
==============

The following words are recognized as reserved words when used as the
first word of a command unless quoted or disabled using disable -r:

do done esac then elif else fi for case if while function repeat time
until select coproc nocorrect foreach end ! [[ { }

Additionally, `}' is recognized in any position if the IGNORE_BRACES
option is not set.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Comments,  Next: Aliasing,  Prev: Reserved Words,  Up: Shell Grammar

Comments
========

In noninteractive shells, or in interactive shells with the
INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS option set, a word beginning with the third
character of the histchars parameter (`#' by default) causes that word
and all the following characters up to a newline to be ignored.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Aliasing,  Next: Quoting,  Prev: Comments,  Up: Shell Grammar

Aliasing
========

Every token in the shell input is checked to see if there is an alias
defined for it.  If so, it is replaced by the text of the alias if it
is in command position (if it could be the first word of a simple
command), or if the alias is global.  If the text ends with a space,
the next word in the shell input is treated as though it were in
command position for purposes of alias expansion.  An alias is defined
using the alias builtin; global aliases may be defined using the -g
option to that builtin.

Alias expansion is done on the shell input before any other expansion
except history expansion.  Therefore, if an alias is defined for the
word foo, alias expansion may be avoided by quoting part of the word,
e.g. \foo.  But there is nothing to prevent an alias being defined for
\foo as well.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Quoting,  Prev: Aliasing,  Up: Shell Grammar

Quoting
=======

A character may be QUOTED (that is, made to stand for itself) by
preceding it with a `\'.  `\' followed by a newline is ignored.

A string enclosed between `$'' and `'' is processed the same way as the
string arguments of the print builtin, and the resulting string is
considered to be entirely quoted.  A literal `'' character can be
included in the string by using the `\'' escape.

All characters enclosed between a pair of single quotes ('') that is
not preceded by a `$' are quoted.  A single quote cannot appear within
single quotes unless the option RC_QUOTES is set, in which case a pair
of single quotes are turned into a single quote.  For example,

     print ''''

outputs nothing apart from a newline if RC_QUOTES is not set, but one
single quote if it is set.

Inside double quotes (""), parameter and command substitution occur,
and `\' quotes the characters `\', ``', `"', and `$'.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Redirection,  Next: Command Execution,  Prev: Shell Grammar,  Up: Top

Redirection
***********

If a command is followed by & and job control is not active, then the
default standard input for the command is the empty file /dev/null.
Otherwise, the environment for the execution of a command contains the
file descriptors of the invoking shell as modified by input/output
specifications.

The following may appear anywhere in a simple command or may precede or
follow a complex command.  Expansion occurs before WORD or DIGIT is
used except as noted below.  If the result of substitution on WORD
produces more than one filename, redirection occurs for each separate
filename in turn.

< WORD
     Open file WORD for reading as standard input.

<> WORD
     Open file WORD for reading and writing as standard input.  If the
     file does not exist then it is created.

> WORD
     Open file WORD for writing as standard output.  If the file does
     not exist then it is created.  If the file exists, and the CLOBBER
     option is unset, this causes an error; otherwise, it is truncated
     to zero length.

>| WORD
>! WORD
     Same as >, except that the file is truncated to zero length if it
     exists, even if CLOBBER is unset.

>> WORD
     Open file WORD for writing in append mode as standard output.  If
     the file does not exist, and the CLOBBER option is unset, this
     causes an error; otherwise, the file is created.

>>| WORD
>>! WORD
     Same as >>, except that the file is created if it does not exist,
     even if CLOBBER is unset.

<<[-] WORD
     The shell input is read up to a line that is the same as WORD, or
     to an end-of-file.  No parameter expansion, command substitution or
     filename generation is performed on WORD.  The resulting document,
     called a _here-document_, becomes the standard input.

     If any character of WORD is quoted with single or double quotes or
     a `\', no interpretation is placed upon the characters of the
     document.  Otherwise, parameter and command substitution occurs,
     `\' followed by a newline is removed, and `\' must be used to
     quote the characters `\', `$', ``' and the first character of WORD.

     If <<- is used, then all leading tabs are stripped from WORD and
     from the document.

<<< WORD
     Perform shell expansion on WORD and pass the result to standard
     input.  This is known as a _here-string_.

<& NUMBER
>& NUMBER
     The standard input/output is duplicated from file descriptor
     NUMBER (see man page dup2(2)).

<& -
>& -
     Close the standard input/output.

<& p
>& p
     The input/output from/to the coprocess is moved to the standard
     input/output.

>& WORD
&> WORD
     (Except where `>& WORD' matches one of the above syntaxes; `&>'
     can always be used to avoid this ambiguity.)  Redirects both
     standard output and standard error (file descriptor 2) in the
     manner of `> WORD'.  Note that this does _not_ have the same
     effect as `> WORD 2>&1' in the presence of multios (see the
     section below).

>&| WORD
>&! WORD
&>| WORD
&>! WORD
     Redirects both standard output and standard error (file descriptor
     2) in the manner of `>| WORD'.

>>& WORD
&>> WORD
     Redirects both standard output and standard error (file descriptor
     2) in the manner of `>> WORD'.

>>&| WORD
>>&! WORD
&>>| WORD
&>>! WORD
     Redirects both standard output and standard error (file descriptor
     2) in the manner of `>>| WORD'.


If one of the above is preceded by a digit, then the file descriptor
referred to is that specified by the digit instead of the default 0 or
1.  The order in which redirections are specified is significant.  The
shell evaluates each redirection in terms of the (_file descriptor_,
_file_) association at the time of evaluation.  For example:

     ... 1>FNAME 2>&1

first associates file descriptor 1 with file FNAME.  It then associates
file descriptor 2 with the file associated with file descriptor 1 (that
is, FNAME).  If the order of redirections were reversed, file
descriptor 2 would be associated with the terminal (assuming file
descriptor 1 had been) and then file descriptor 1 would be associated
with file FNAME.

Multios
=======

If the user tries to open a file descriptor for writing more than once,
the shell opens the file descriptor as a pipe to a process that copies
its input to all the specified outputs, similar to `tee', provided the
MULTIOS option is set, as it is by default.  Thus:

     date >foo >bar

writes the date to two files, named `foo' and `bar'.  Note that a pipe
is an implicit redirection; thus

     date >foo | cat

writes the date to the file `foo', and also pipes it to cat.

If the MULTIOS option is set, the word after a redirection operator is
also subjected to filename generation (globbing).  Thus

     : > *

will truncate all files in the current directory, assuming there's at
least one.  (Without the MULTIOS option, it would create an empty file
called `*'.)  Similarly, you can do

     echo exit 0 >> *.sh

If the user tries to open a file descriptor for reading more than once,
the shell opens the file descriptor as a pipe to a process that copies
all the specified inputs to its output in the order specified, similar
to `cat', provided the MULTIOS option is set.  Thus

     sort <foo <fubar

or even

     sort <f{oo,ubar}

is equivalent to `cat foo fubar | sort'.

Note that a pipe is an implicit redirection; thus

     cat bar | sort <foo

is equivalent to `cat bar foo | sort' (note the order of the inputs).

If the MULTIOS option is _un_set, each redirection replaces the
previous redirection for that file descriptor.  However, all files
redirected to are actually opened, so

     echo foo > bar > baz

when MULTIOS is unset will truncate bar, and write `foo' into baz.

Redirections with no command
============================

When a simple command consists of one or more redirection operators and
zero or more parameter assignments, but no command name, zsh can behave
in several ways.

If the parameter NULLCMD is not set or the option CSH_NULLCMD is set,
an error is caused.  This is the `csh' behavior and CSH_NULLCMD is set
by default when emulating `csh'.

If the option SH_NULLCMD is set, the builtin `:' is inserted as a
command with the given redirections.  This is the default when emulating
`sh' or `ksh'.

Otherwise, if the parameter NULLCMD is set, its value will be used as a
command with the given redirections.  If both NULLCMD and READNULLCMD
are set, then the value of the latter will be used instead of that of
the former when the redirection is an input.  The default for NULLCMD
is `cat' and for READNULLCMD is `more'. Thus

     < file

shows the contents of file on standard output, with paging if that is a
terminal.  NULLCMD and READNULLCMD may refer to shell functions.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Command Execution,  Next: Functions,  Prev: Redirection,  Up: Top

Command Execution
*****************

If a command name contains no slashes, the shell attempts to locate it.
If there exists a shell function by that name, the function is invoked
as described in *Note Functions::.  If there exists a shell builtin by
that name, the builtin is invoked.

Otherwise, the shell searches each element of $path for a directory
containing an executable file by that name.  If the search is
unsuccessful, the shell prints an error message and returns a nonzero
exit status.

If execution fails because the file is not in executable format, and
the file is not a directory, it is assumed to be a shell script.
/bin/sh is spawned to execute it.  If the program is a file beginning
with `#!', the remainder of the first line specifies an interpreter for
the program.  The shell will execute the specified interpreter on
operating systems that do not handle this executable format in the
kernel.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Functions,  Next: Jobs & Signals,  Prev: Command Execution,  Up: Top

Functions
*********

Shell functions are defined with the function reserved word or the
special syntax `FUNCNAME ()'.  Shell functions are read in and stored
internally.  Alias names are resolved when the function is read.
Functions are executed like commands with the arguments passed as
positional parameters.  (See *Note Command Execution::.)

Functions execute in the same process as the caller and share all files
and present working directory with the caller.  A trap on EXIT set
inside a function is executed after the function completes in the
environment of the caller.

The return builtin is used to return from function calls.

Function identifiers can be listed with the functions builtin.
Functions can be undefined with the unfunction builtin.

Autoloading Functions
=====================

A function can be marked as _undefined_ using the autoload builtin (or
`functions -u' or `typeset -fu').  Such a function has no body.  When
the function is first executed, the shell searches for its definition
using the elements of the fpath variable.  Thus to define functions for
autoloading, a typical sequence is:

     fpath=(~/myfuncs $fpath)
     autoload myfunc1 myfunc2 ...

The usual alias expansion during reading will be suppressed if the
autoload builtin or its equivalent is given the option -U. This is
recommended for the use of functions supplied with the zsh distribution.
Note that for functions precompiled with the zcompile builtin command
the flag -U must be provided when the .zwc file is created, as the
corresponding information is compiled into the latter.

For each ELEMENT in fpath, the shell looks for three possible files,
the newest of which is used to load the definition for the function:

ELEMENT.zwc
     A file created with the zcompile builtin command, which is
     expected to contain the definitions for all functions in the
     directory named ELEMENT.  The file is treated in the same manner
     as a directory containing files for functions and is searched for
     the definition of the function.   If the definition is not found,
     the search for a definition proceeds with the other two
     possibilities described below.

     If ELEMENT already includes a .zwc extension (i.e. the extension
     was explicitly given by the user), ELEMENT is searched for the
     definition of the function without comparing its age to that of
     other files; in fact, there does not need to be any directory
     named ELEMENT without the suffix.  Thus including an element such
     as `/usr/local/funcs.zwc' in fpath will speed up the search for
     functions, with the disadvantage that functions included must be
     explicitly recompiled by hand before the shell notices any changes.

ELEMENT/FUNCTION.zwc
     A file created with zcompile, which is expected to contain the
     definition for FUNCTION.  It may include other function definitions
     as well, but those are neither loaded nor executed; a file found
     in this way is searched _only_ for the definition of FUNCTION.

ELEMENT/FUNCTION
     A file of zsh command text, taken to be the definition for
     FUNCTION.


In summary, the order of searching is, first, in the _parents of_
directories in fpath for the newer of either a compiled directory or a
directory in fpath; second, if more than one of these contains a
definition for the function that is sought, the leftmost in the fpath
is chosen; and third, within a directory, the newer of either a compiled
function or an ordinary function definition is used.

If the KSH_AUTOLOAD option is set, or the file contains only a simple
definition of the function, the file's contents will be executed.  This
will normally define the function in question, but may also perform
initialization, which is executed in the context of the function
execution, and may therefore define local parameters.  It is an error
if the function is not defined by loading the file.

Otherwise, the function body (with no surrounding `FUNCNAME() {...}')
is taken to be the complete contents of the file.  This form allows the
file to be used directly as an executable shell script.  If processing
of the file results in the function being re-defined, the function
itself is not re-executed.  To force the shell to perform
initialization and then call the function defined, the file should
contain initialization code (which will be executed then discarded) in
addition to a complete function definition (which will be retained for
subsequent calls to the function), and a call to the shell function,
including any arguments, at the end.

For example, suppose the autoload file func contains

     func() { print This is func; }
     print func is initialized

then `func; func' with KSH_AUTOLOAD set will produce both messages on
the first call, but only the message `This is func' on the second and
subsequent calls.  Without KSH_AUTOLOAD set, it will produce the
initialization message on the first call, and the other message on the
second and subsequent calls.

It is also possible to create a function that is not marked as
autoloaded, but which loads its own definition by searching fpath, by
using `autoload -X' within a shell function.  For example, the
following are equivalent:

     myfunc() {
       autoload -X
     }
     myfunc args...

and

     unfunction myfunc   # if myfunc was defined
     autoload myfunc
     myfunc args...

In fact, the functions command outputs `builtin autoload -X' as the
body of an autoloaded function.  A true autoloaded function can be
identified by the presence of the comment `# undefined' in the body,
because all comments are discarded from defined functions.  This is done
so that

     eval "$(functions)"

produces a reasonable result.

To load the definition of an autoloaded function myfunc without
executing myfunc, use:

     autoload +X myfunc

Special Functions
=================

The following functions, if defined, have special meaning to the shell:

chpwd
     Executed whenever the current working directory is changed.

periodic
     If the parameter PERIOD is set, this function is executed every
     $PERIOD seconds, just before a prompt.

precmd
     Executed before each prompt.

preexec
     Executed just after a command has been read and is about to be
     executed.  If the history mechanism is active (and the line was not
     discarded from the history buffer), the string that the user typed
     is passed as the first argument, otherwise it is an empty string.
     The actual command that will be executed (including expanded
     aliases) is passed in two different forms: the second argument is
     a single-line, size-limited version of the command (with things
     like function bodies elided); the third argument contains the full
     text what what is being executed.

TRAPNAL
     If defined and non-null, this function will be executed whenever
     the shell catches a signal SIGNAL, where NAL is a signal name as
     specified for the kill builtin.  The signal number will be passed
     as the first parameter to the function.

     If a function of this form is defined and null, the shell and
     processes spawned by it will ignore SIGNAL.

TRAPDEBUG
     Executed after each command.

TRAPEXIT
     Executed when the shell exits, or when the current function exits
     if defined inside a function.

TRAPZERR
     Executed whenever a command has a non-zero exit status.  However,
     the function is not executed if the command occurred in a sublist
     followed by `&&' or `||'; only the final command in a sublist of
     this type causes the trap to be executed.


The functions beginning `TRAP' may alternatively be defined with the
trap builtin:  this may be preferable for some uses, as they are then
run in the environment of the calling process, rather than in their own
function environment.  Apart from the difference in calling procedure
and the fact that the function form appears in lists of functions, the
forms

     TRAPNAL() {
      # code
     }

and

     trap '
      # code
     ' NAL

are equivalent.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Jobs & Signals,  Next: Arithmetic Evaluation,  Prev: Functions,  Up: Top

Jobs & Signals
**************

Jobs
====

If the MONITOR option is set, an interactive shell associates a _job_
with each pipeline.  It keeps a table of current jobs, printed by the
jobs command, and assigns them small integer numbers.  When a job is
started asynchronously with `&', the shell prints a line which looks
like:

     [1] 1234

indicating that the job which was started asynchronously was job number
1 and had one (top-level) process, whose process ID was 1234.

If a job is started with `&|' or `&!', then that job is immediately
disowned.  After startup, it does not have a place in the job table,
and is not subject to the job control features described here.

If you are running a job and wish to do something else you may hit the
key ^Z (control-Z) which sends a TSTP signal to the current job:  this
key may be redefined by the susp option of the external stty command.
The shell will then normally indicate that the job has been `suspended',
and print another prompt.  You can then manipulate the state of this
job, putting it in the background with the bg command, or run some other
commands and then eventually bring the job back into the foreground with
the foreground command fg.  A ^Z takes effect immediately and is like
an interrupt in that pending output and unread input are discarded when
it is typed.

A job being run in the background will suspend if it tries to read from
the terminal.  Background jobs are normally allowed to produce output,
but this can be disabled by giving the command `stty tostop'.  If you
set this tty option, then background jobs will suspend when they try to
produce output like they do when they try to read input.

When a command is suspended and continued later with the fg or wait
builtins, zsh restores tty modes that were in effect when it was
suspended.  This (intentionally) does not apply if the command is
continued via `kill -CONT', nor when it is continued with bg.

There are several ways to refer to jobs in the shell.  A job can be
referred to by the process ID of any process of the job or by one of
the following:

%NUMBER
     The job with the given number.

%STRING
     Any job whose command line begins with STRING.

%?STRING
     Any job whose command line contains STRING.

%%
     Current job.

%+
     Equivalent to `%%'.

%-
     Previous job.

The shell learns immediately whenever a process changes state.  It
normally informs you whenever a job becomes blocked so that no further
progress is possible.  If the NOTIFY option is not set, it waits until
just before it prints a prompt before it informs you.

When the monitor mode is on, each background job that completes
triggers any trap set for CHLD.

When you try to leave the shell while jobs are running or suspended,
you will be warned that `You have suspended (running) jobs'.  You may
use the jobs command to see what they are.  If you do this or
immediately try to exit again, the shell will not warn you a second
time; the suspended jobs will be terminated, and the running jobs will
be sent a SIGHUP signal, if the HUP option is set.

To avoid having the shell terminate the running jobs, either use the
`nohup' command (see man page nohup(1)) or the disown builtin.

Signals
=======

The INT and QUIT signals for an invoked command are ignored if the
command is followed by `&' and the MONITOR option is not active.
Otherwise, signals have the values inherited by the shell from its
parent (but see the TRAPNAL special functions in *Note Functions::).


File: zsh.info,  Node: Arithmetic Evaluation,  Next: Conditional Expressions,  Prev: Jobs & Signals,  Up: Top

Arithmetic Evaluation
*********************

The shell can perform integer and floating point arithmetic, either
using the builtin let, or via a substitution of the form $((...)).  For
integers, the shell is usually compiled to use 8-byte precision where
this is available, otherwise precision is 4 bytes.  This can be tested,
for example, by giving the command `print - $(( 12345678901 ))'; if the
number appears unchanged, the precision is at least 8 bytes.  Floating
point arithmetic is always double precision.

The let builtin command takes arithmetic expressions as arguments; each
is evaluated separately.  Since many of the arithmetic operators, as
well as spaces, require quoting, an alternative form is provided: for
any command which begins with a `((', all the characters until a
matching `))' are treated as a quoted expression and arithmetic
expansion performed as for an argument of let.  More precisely,
`((...))' is equivalent to `let "..."'.  For example, the following
statement

     (( val = 2 + 1 ))

is equivalent to

     let "val = 2 + 1"

both assigning the value 3 to the shell variable val and returning a
zero status.

Integers can be in bases other than 10.  A leading `0x' or `0X' denotes
hexadecimal.  Integers may also be of the form `BASE#N', where BASE is
a decimal number between two and thirty-six representing the arithmetic
base and N is a number in that base (for example, `16#ff' is 255 in
hexadecimal).  The BASE# may also be omitted, in which case base 10 is
used.  For backwards compatibility the form `[BASE]N' is also accepted.

It is also possible to specify a base to be used for output in the form
`[#BASE]', for example `[#16]'.  This is used when outputting
arithmetical substitutions or when assigning to scalar parameters, but
an explicitly defined integer or floating point parameter will not be
affected.  If an integer variable is implicitly defined by an
arithmetic expression, any base specified in this way will be set as the
variable's output arithmetic base as if the option `-i BASE' to the
typeset builtin had been used.  The expression has no precedence and if
it occurs more than once in a mathematical expression, the last
encountered is used.  For clarity it is recommended that it appear at
the beginning of an expression.  As an example:

     typeset -i 16 y
     print $(( [#8] x = 32, y = 32 ))
     print $x $y

outputs first `8#40', the rightmost value in the given output base, and
then `8#40 16#20', because y has been explicitly declared to have
output base 16, while x (assuming it does not already exist) is
implicitly typed by the arithmetic evaluation, where it acquires the
output base 8.

When an output base is specified using the `[#BASE]' syntax, an
appropriate base prefix will be output if necessary, so that the value
output is valid syntax for input.  If the # is doubled, for example
`[##16]', then no base prefix is output.

Floating point constants are recognized by the presence of a decimal
point or an exponent.  The decimal point may be the first character of
the constant, but the exponent character e or E may not, as it will be
taken for a parameter name.

An arithmetic expression uses nearly the same syntax, precedence, and
associativity of expressions in C.  The following operators are
supported (listed in decreasing order of precedence):

+ - ! ~ ++ -
     unary plus/minus, logical NOT, complement, {pre,post}{in,de}crement

<< >>
     bitwise shift left, right

&
     bitwise AND

^
     bitwise XOR

|
     bitwise OR

**
     exponentiation

* / %
     multiplication, division, modulus (remainder)

+ -
     addition, subtraction

< > <= >=
     comparison

== !=
     equality and inequality

&&
     logical AND

|| ^^
     logical OR, XOR

? :
     ternary operator

= += -= *= /= %= &= ^= |= <<= >>= &&= ||= ^^= **=
     assignment

,
     comma operator

The operators `&&', `||', `&&=', and `||=' are short-circuiting, and
only one of the latter two expressions in a ternary operator is
evaluated.  Note the precedence of the bitwise AND, OR, and XOR
operators.

Mathematical functions can be called with the syntax `FUNC(ARGS)',
where the function decides if the ARGS is used as a string or a
comma-separated list of arithmetic expressions. The shell currently
defines no mathematical functions by default, but the module
zsh/mathfunc may be loaded with the zmodload builtin to provide
standard floating point mathematical functions.

An expression of the form `##X' where X is any character sequence such
as `a', `^A', or `\M-\C-x' gives the ASCII value of this character and
an expression of the form `#FOO' gives the ASCII value of the first
character of the value of the parameter FOO.  Note that this is
different from the expression `$#FOO', a standard parameter
substitution which gives the length of the parameter FOO.  `#\' is
accepted instead of `##', but its use is deprecated.

Named parameters and subscripted arrays can be referenced by name
within an arithmetic expression without using the parameter expansion
syntax.  For example,

     ((val2 = val1 * 2))

assigns twice the value of $val1 to the parameter named val2.

An internal integer representation of a named parameter can be
specified with the integer builtin.  Arithmetic evaluation is performed
on the value of each assignment to a named parameter declared integer
in this manner.  Assigning a floating point number to an integer
results in rounding down to the next integer.

Likewise, floating point numbers can be declared with the float
builtin; there are two types, differing only in their output format, as
described for the typeset builtin.  The output format can be bypassed
by using arithmetic substitution instead of the parameter substitution,
i.e. `${FLOAT}' uses the defined format, but `$((FLOAT))' uses a
generic floating point format.

Promotion of integer to floating point values is performed where
necessary.  In addition, if any operator which requires an integer
(`~', `&', `|', `^', `%', `<<', `>>' and their equivalents with
assignment) is given a floating point argument, it will be silently
rounded down to the next integer.

Scalar variables can hold integer or floating point values at different
times; there is no memory of the numeric type in this case.

If a variable is first assigned in a numeric context without previously
being declared, it will be implicitly typed as integer or float and
retain that type either until the type is explicitly changed or until
the end of the scope.  This can have unforeseen consequences.  For
example, in the loop

     for (( f = 0; f < 1; f += 0.1 )); do
     # use $f
     done

if f has not already been declared, the first assignment will cause it
to be created as an integer, and consequently the operation `f += 0.1'
will always cause the result to be truncated to zero, so that the loop
will fail.  A simple fix would be to turn the initialization into `f =
0.0'.  It is therefore best to declare numeric variables with explicit
types.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Conditional Expressions,  Next: Prompt Expansion,  Prev: Arithmetic Evaluation,  Up: Top

Conditional Expressions
***********************

A _conditional expression_ is used with the [[ compound command to test
attributes of files and to compare strings.  Each expression can be
constructed from one or more of the following unary or binary
expressions:

-a FILE
     true if FILE exists.

-b FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a block special file.

-c FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a character special file.

-d FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a directory.

-e FILE
     true if FILE exists.

-f FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a regular file.

-g FILE
     true if FILE exists and has its setgid bit set.

-h FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a symbolic link.

-k FILE
     true if FILE exists and has its sticky bit set.

-n STRING
     true if length of STRING is non-zero.

-o OPTION
     true if option named OPTION is on.  OPTION may be a single
     character, in which case it is a single letter option name.  (See
     *Note Specifying Options::.)

-p FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a FIFO special file (named pipe).

-r FILE
     true if FILE exists and is readable by current process.

-s FILE
     true if FILE exists and has size greater than zero.

-t FD
     true if file descriptor number FD is open and associated with a
     terminal device.  (note: FD is not optional)

-u FILE
     true if FILE exists and has its setuid bit set.

-w FILE
     true if FILE exists and is writable by current process.

-x FILE
     true if FILE exists and is executable by current process.  If FILE
     exists and is a directory, then the current process has permission
     to search in the directory.

-z STRING
     true if length of STRING is zero.

-L FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a symbolic link.

-O FILE
     true if FILE exists and is owned by the effective user ID of this
     process.

-G FILE
     true if FILE exists and its group matches the effective group ID
     of this process.

-S FILE
     true if FILE exists and is a socket.

-N FILE
     true if FILE exists and its access time is not newer than its
     modification time.

FILE1 -nt FILE2
     true if FILE1 exists and is newer than FILE2.

FILE1 -ot FILE2
     true if FILE1 exists and is older than FILE2.

FILE1 -ef FILE2
     true if FILE1 and FILE2 exist and refer to the same file.

STRING = PATTERN
STRING == PATTERN
     true if STRING matches PATTERN.  The `==' form is the preferred
     one.  The `=' form is for backward compatibility and should be
     considered obsolete.

STRING != PATTERN
     true if STRING does not match PATTERN.

STRING1 < STRING2
     true if STRING1 comes before STRING2 based on ASCII value of their
     characters.

STRING1 > STRING2
     true if STRING1 comes after STRING2 based on ASCII value of their
     characters.

EXP1 -eq EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically equal to EXP2.

EXP1 -ne EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically not equal to EXP2.

EXP1 -lt EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically less than EXP2.

EXP1 -gt EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically greater than EXP2.

EXP1 -le EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically less than or equal to EXP2.

EXP1 -ge EXP2
     true if EXP1 is numerically greater than or equal to EXP2.

( EXP )
     true if EXP is true.

! EXP
     true if EXP is false.

EXP1 && EXP2
     true if EXP1 and EXP2 are both true.

EXP1 || EXP2
     true if either EXP1 or EXP2 is true.


Normal shell expansion is performed on the FILE, STRING and PATTERN
arguments, but the result of each expansion is constrained to be a
single word, similar to the effect of double quotes.  However, pattern
metacharacters are active for the PATTERN arguments; the patterns are
the same as those used for filename generation, see *Note Filename
Generation::, but there is no special behaviour of `/' nor initial
dots, and no glob qualifiers are allowed.

In each of the above expressions, if FILE is of the form `/dev/fd/N',
where N is an integer, then the test applied to the open file whose
descriptor number is N, even if the underlying system does not support
the /dev/fd directory.

In the forms which do numeric comparison, the expressions EXP undergo
arithmetic expansion as if they were enclosed in $((...)).

For example, the following:

     [[ ( -f foo || -f bar ) && $report = y* ]] && print File exists.

tests if either file foo or file bar exists, and if so, if the value of
the parameter report begins with `y'; if the complete condition is
true, the message `File exists.' is printed.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Prompt Expansion,  Next: Expansion,  Prev: Conditional Expressions,  Up: Top

Prompt Expansion
****************

Prompt sequences undergo a special form of expansion.  This type of
expansion is also available using the -P option to the print builtin.

If the PROMPT_SUBST option is set, the prompt string is first subjected
to _parameter expansion_, _command substitution_ and _arithmetic
expansion_.  See *Note Expansion::.

Certain escape sequences may be recognised in the prompt string.

If the PROMPT_BANG option is set, a `!' in the prompt is replaced by
the current history event number.  A literal `!' may then be
represented as `!!'.

If the PROMPT_PERCENT option is set, certain escape sequences that
start with `%' are expanded.  Some escapes take an optional integer
argument, which should appear between the `%' and the next character of
the sequence.  The following escape sequences are recognized:

%%
     A `%'.

%)
     A `)'.

%d
%/
     Present working directory ($PWD).  If an integer follows the `%',
     it specifies a number of trailing components of $PWD to show; zero
     means the whole path.  A negative integer specifies leading
     components, i.e. %-1d specifies the first component.

%~
     As %d and %/, but if $PWD has a named directory as its prefix,
     that part is replaced by a `~' followed by the name of the
     directory.  If it starts with $HOME, that part is replaced by a
     `~'.

%h
%!
     Current history event number.

%L
     The current value of $SHLVL.

%M
     The full machine hostname.

%m
     The hostname up to the first `.'.  An integer may follow the `%'
     to specify how many components of the hostname are desired.  With
     a negative integer, trailing components of the hostname are shown.

%S (%s)
     Start (stop) standout mode.

%U (%u)
     Start (stop) underline mode.

%B (%b)
     Start (stop) boldface mode.

%t
%@
     Current time of day, in 12-hour, am/pm format.

%T
     Current time of day, in 24-hour format.

%*
     Current time of day in 24-hour format, with seconds.

%n
     $USERNAME.

%N
     The name of the script, sourced file, or shell function that zsh is
     currently executing, whichever was started most recently.  If
     there is none, this is equivalent to the parameter $0.  An integer
     may follow the `%' to specify a number of trailing path components
     to show; zero means the full path.  A negative integer specifies
     leading components.

%i
     The line number currently being executed in the script, sourced
     file, or shell function given by %N.  This is most useful for
     debugging as part of $PS4.

%w
     The date in DAY-DD format.

%W
     The date in MM/DD/YY format.

%D
     The date in YY-MM-DD format.

%D{STRING}
     STRING is formatted using the strftime function.  See man page
     strftime(3) for more details.  Three additional codes are
     available:  %f prints the day of the month, like %e but without
     any preceding space if the day is a single digit, and %K/%L
     correspond to %k/%l for the hour of the day (24/12 hour clock) in
     the same way.

%l
     The line (tty) the user is logged in on without /dev/ prefix.  If
     name starts with /dev/tty this is stripped.

%y
     The line (tty) the user is logged in on without /dev/ prefix.  It
     does not treat /dev/tty* specially.

%?
     The return code of the last command executed just before the
     prompt.

%_
     The status of the parser, i.e. the shell constructs (like `if' and
     `for') that have been started on the command line. If given an
     integer number that many strings will be printed; zero or negative
     or no integer means print as many as there are.  This is most
     useful in prompts PS2 for continuation lines and PS4 for debugging
     with the XTRACE option; in the latter case it will also work
     non-interactively.

%E
     Clears to end of line.

%#
     A `#' if the shell is running with privileges, a `%' if not.
     Equivalent to `%(!.#.%%)'.  The definition of `privileged', for
     these purposes, is that either the effective user ID is zero, or,
     if POSIX.1e capabilities are supported, that at least one
     capability is raised in either the Effective or Inheritable
     capability vectors.

%v
     The value of the first element of the psvar array parameter.
     Following the `%' with an integer gives that element of the array.
     Negative integers count from the end of the array.

%{...%}
     Include a string as a literal escape sequence.  The string within
     the braces should not change the cursor position.  Brace pairs can
     nest.

%(X.TRUE-TEXT.FALSE-TEXT)
     Specifies a ternary expression.  The character following the X is
     arbitrary; the same character is used to separate the text for the
     `true' result from that for the `false' result.  This separator
     may not appear in the TRUE-TEXT, except as part of a %-escape
     sequence.  A `)' may appear in the FALSE-TEXT as `%)'.  TRUE-TEXT
     and FALSE-TEXT may both contain arbitrarily-nested escape
     sequences, including further ternary expressions.

     The left parenthesis may be preceded or followed by a positive
     integer N, which defaults to zero.  A negative integer will be
     multiplied by -1.  The test character X may be any of the
     following:

    c
    .
    ~
          True if the current path, with prefix replacement, has at
          least N elements.

    /
    C
          True if the current absolute path has at least N elements.

    t
          True if the time in minutes is equal to N.

    T
          True if the time in hours is equal to N.

    d
          True if the day of the month is equal to N.

    D
          True if the month is equal to N (January = 0).

    w
          True if the day of the week is equal to N (Sunday = 0).

    ?
          True if the exit status of the last command was N.

    #
          True if the effective uid of the current process is N.

    g
          True if the effective gid of the current process is N.

    l
          True if at least N characters have already been printed on
          the current line.

    L
          True if the SHLVL parameter is at least N.

    S
          True if the SECONDS parameter is at least N.

    v
          True if the array psvar has at least N elements.

    _
          True if at least N shell constructs were started.

    !
          True if the shell is running with privileges.

%<STRING<
%>STRING>
%[XSTRING]
     Specifies truncation behaviour for the remainder of the prompt
     string.  The third, deprecated, form is equivalent to `%XSTRINGX',
     i.e. X may be `<' or `>'.  The numeric argument, which in the
     third form may appear immediately after the `[', specifies the
     maximum permitted length of the various strings that can be
     displayed in the prompt.  The STRING will be displayed in place of
     the truncated portion of any string; note this does not undergo
     prompt expansion.

     The forms with `<' truncate at the left of the string, and the
     forms with `>' truncate at the right of the string.  For example,
     if the current directory is `/home/pike', the prompt `%8<..<%/'
     will expand to `..e/pike'.  In this string, the terminating
     character (`<', `>' or `]'), or in fact any character, may be
     quoted by a preceding `\'; note when using print -P, however, that
     this must be doubled as the string is also subject to standard
     print processing, in addition to any backslashes removed by a
     double quoted string:  the worst case is therefore `print -P
     "%<\\\\<<..."'.

     If the STRING is longer than the specified truncation length, it
     will appear in full, completely replacing the truncated string.

     The part of the prompt string to be truncated runs to the end of
     the string, or to the end of the next enclosing group of the `%('
     construct, or to the next truncation encountered at the same
     grouping level (i.e. truncations inside a `%(' are separate), which
     ever comes first.  In particular, a truncation with argument zero
     (e.g. `%<<') marks the end of the range of the string to be
     truncated while turning off truncation from there on. For example,
     the prompt '%10<...<%~%<<%# ' will print a truncated
     representation of the current directory, followed by a `%' or `#',
     followed by a space.  Without the `%<<', those two characters
     would be included in the string to be truncated.

%c
%.
%C
     Trailing component of $PWD.  An integer may follow the `%' to get
     more than one component.  Unless `%C' is used, tilde contraction
     is performed first.  These are deprecated as %c and %C are
     equivalent to %1~ and %1/, respectively, while explicit positive
     integers have the same effect as for the latter two sequences.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Expansion,  Next: Parameters,  Prev: Prompt Expansion,  Up: Top

Expansion
*********

The following types of expansions are performed in the indicated order
in five steps:

_History Expansion_
     This is performed only in interactive shells.

_Alias Expansion_
     Aliases are expanded immediately before the command line is parsed
     as explained in *Note Aliasing::.

_Process Substitution_
_Parameter Expansion_
_Command Substitution_
_Arithmetic Expansion_
_Brace Expansion_
     These five are performed in one step in left-to-right fashion.
     After these expansions, all unquoted occurrences of the characters
     `\', `'' and `"' are removed.

_Filename Expansion_
     If the SH_FILE_EXPANSION option is set, the order of expansion is
     modified for compatibility with `sh' and `ksh'.  In that case
     _filename expansion_ is performed immediately after _alias
     expansion_, preceding the set of five expansions mentioned above.

_Filename Generation_
     This expansion, commonly referred to as `globbing', is always done
     last.


The following sections explain the types of expansion in detail.

* Menu:

* History Expansion::
* Process Substitution::
* Parameter Expansion::
* Command Substitution::
* Arithmetic Expansion::
* Brace Expansion::
* Filename Expansion::
* Filename Generation::


File: zsh.info,  Node: History Expansion,  Next: Process Substitution,  Up: Expansion

History Expansion
=================

History expansion allows you to use words from previous command lines
in the command line you are typing.  This simplifies spelling
corrections and the repetition of complicated commands or arguments.
Immediately before execution, each command is saved in the history list,
the size of which is controlled by the HISTSIZE parameter.  The one
most recent command is always retained in any case.  Each saved command
in the history list is called a history _event_ and is assigned a
number, beginning with 1 (one) when the shell starts up.  The history
number that you may see in your prompt (see *Note Prompt Expansion::)
is the number that is to be assigned to the _next_ command.

* Menu:

* Overview::
* Event Designators::
* Word Designators::
* Modifiers::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Overview,  Next: Event Designators,  Up: History Expansion

Overview
--------

A history expansion begins with the first character of the histchars
parameter, which is `!' by default, and may occur anywhere on the
command line; history expansions do not nest.  The `!' can be escaped
with `\' or can be enclosed between a pair of single quotes ('') to
suppress its special meaning.  Double quotes will _not_ work for this.
Following this history character is an optional event designator (*Note
Event Designators::) and then an optional word designator (*Note Word
Designators::); if neither of these designators is present, no history
expansion occurs.

Input lines containing history expansions are echoed after being
expanded, but before any other expansions take place and before the
command is executed.  It is this expanded form that is recorded as the
history event for later references.

By default, a history reference with no event designator refers to the
same event as any preceding history reference on that command line; if
it is the only history reference in a command, it refers to the previous
command.  However, if the option CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY is set, then every
history reference with no event specification _always_ refers to the
previous command.

For example, `!' is the event designator for the previous command, so
`!!:1' always refers to the first word of the previous command, and
`!!$' always refers to the last word of the previous command.  With
CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY set, then `!:1' and `!$' function in the same manner
as `!!:1' and `!!$', respectively.  Conversely, if CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY
is unset, then `!:1' and `!$' refer to the first and last words,
respectively, of the same event referenced by the nearest other history
reference preceding them on the current command line, or to the
previous command if there is no preceding reference.

The character sequence `^FOO^BAR' (where `^' is actually the second
character of the histchars parameter) repeats the last command,
replacing the string FOO with BAR.  More precisely, the sequence
`^FOO^BAR^' is synonymous with `!!:s^FOO^BAR^', hence other modifiers
(see *Note Modifiers::) may follow the final `^'.

If the shell encounters the character sequence `!"'  in the input, the
history mechanism is temporarily disabled until the current list (see
*Note Shell Grammar::) is fully parsed.  The `!"' is removed from the
input, and any subsequent `!' characters have no special significance.

A less convenient but more comprehensible form of command history
support is provided by the fc builtin.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Event Designators,  Next: Word Designators,  Prev: Overview,  Up: History Expansion

Event Designators
-----------------

An event designator is a reference to a command-line entry in the
history list.  In the list below, remember that the initial `!' in each
item may be changed to another character by setting the histchars
parameter.

!
     Start a history expansion, except when followed by a blank,
     newline, `=' or `('.  If followed immediately by a word designator
     (*Note Word Designators::), this forms a history reference with no
     event designator (*Note Overview::).

!!
     Refer to the previous command.  By itself, this expansion repeats
     the previous command.

!N
     Refer to command-line N.

!-N
     Refer to the current command-line minus N.

!STR
     Refer to the most recent command starting with STR.

!?STR[?]
     Refer to the most recent command containing STR.  The trailing `?'
     is necessary if this reference is to be followed by a modifier or
     followed by any text that is not to be considered part of STR.

!#
     Refer to the current command line typed in so far.  The line is
     treated as if it were complete up to and including the word before
     the one with the `!#' reference.

!{...}
     Insulate a history reference from adjacent characters (if
     necessary).



File: zsh.info,  Node: Word Designators,  Next: Modifiers,  Prev: Event Designators,  Up: History Expansion

Word Designators
----------------

A word designator indicates which word or words of a given command line
are to be included in a history reference.  A `:' usually separates the
event specification from the word designator.  It may be omitted only
if the word designator begins with a `^', `$', `*', `-' or `%'.  Word
designators include:

0
     The first input word (command).

N
     The Nth argument.

^
     The first argument.  That is, 1.

$
     The last argument.

%
     The word matched by (the most recent) ?STR search.

X-Y
     A range of words; X defaults to 0.

*
     All the arguments, or a null value if there are none.

X*
     Abbreviates `X-$'.

X-
     Like `X*' but omitting word $.

Note that a `%' word designator works only when used in one of `!%',
`!:%' or `!?STR?:%', and only when used after a !? expansion (possibly
in an earlier command).  Anything else results in an error, although
the error may not be the most obvious one.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Modifiers,  Prev: Word Designators,  Up: History Expansion

Modifiers
---------

After the optional word designator, you can add a sequence of one or
more of the following modifiers, each preceded by a `:'.  These
modifiers also work on the result of _filename generation_ and
_parameter expansion_, except where noted.

h
     Remove a trailing pathname component, leaving the head.  This works
     like `dirname'.

r
     Remove a filename extension of the form `.XXX', leaving the root
     name.

e
     Remove all but the extension.

t
     Remove all leading pathname components, leaving the tail.  This
     works like `basename'.

p
     Print the new command but do not execute it.  Only works with
     history expansion.

q
     Quote the substituted words, escaping further substitutions.  Works
     with history expansion and parameter expansion, though for
     parameters it is only useful if the resulting text is to be
     re-evaluated such as by eval.

Q
     Remove one level of quotes from the substituted words.

x
     Like q, but break into words at whitespace.  Does not work with
     parameter expansion.

l
     Convert the words to all lowercase.

u
     Convert the words to all uppercase.

s/L/R[/]
     Substitute R for L as described below.  Unless preceded
     immediately by a g, with no colon between, the substitution is
     done only for the first string that matches L.  For arrays and for
     filename generation, this applies to each word of the expanded
     text.

&
     Repeat the previous s substitution.  Like s, may be preceded
     immediately by a g.  In parameter expansion the & must appear
     inside braces, and in filename generation it must be quoted with a
     backslash.


The s/l/r/ substitution works as follows.  The left-hand side of
substitutions are not regular expressions, but character strings.  Any
character can be used as the delimiter in place of `/'.  A backslash
quotes the delimiter character.  The character `&', in the
right-hand-side R, is replaced by the text from the left-hand-side L.
The `&' can be quoted with a backslash.  A null L uses the previous
string either from the previous L or from the contextual scan string S
from `!?S'.  You can omit the rightmost delimiter if a newline
immediately follows R; the rightmost `?' in a context scan can
similarly be omitted.  Note the same record of the last L and R is
maintained across all forms of expansion.

The following f, F, w and W modifiers work only with parameter
expansion and filename generation.  They are listed here to provide a
single point of reference for all modifiers.

f
     Repeats the immediately (without a colon) following modifier until
     the resulting word doesn't change any more.

F:EXPR:
     Like f, but repeats only N times if the expression EXPR evaluates
     to N.  Any character can be used instead of the `:'; if `(', `[',
     or `{' is used as the opening delimiter, the closing delimiter
     should be ')', `]', or `}', respectively.

w
     Makes the immediately following modifier work on each word in the
     string.

W:SEP:
     Like w but words are considered to be the parts of the string that
     are separated by SEP. Any character can be used instead of the
     `:'; opening parentheses are handled specially, see above.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Process Substitution,  Next: Parameter Expansion,  Prev: History Expansion,  Up: Expansion

Process Substitution
====================

Each command argument of the form `<(LIST)', `>(LIST)' or `=(LIST)' is
subject to process substitution.  In the case of the < or > forms, the
shell runs process LIST asynchronously.  If the system supports the
/dev/fd mechanism, the command argument is the name of the device file
corresponding to a file descriptor; otherwise, if the system supports
named pipes (FIFOs), the command argument will be a named pipe.  If the
form with > is selected then writing on this special file will provide
input for LIST.  If < is used, then the file passed as an argument will
be connected to the output of the LIST process.  For example,

     paste <(cut -f1 FILE1) <(cut -f3 FILE2) |
     tee >(PROCESS1) >(PROCESS2) >/dev/null

cuts fields 1 and 3 from the files FILE1 and FILE2 respectively, pastes
the results together, and sends it to the processes PROCESS1 and
PROCESS2.

Both the /dev/fd and the named pipe implementation have drawbacks.  In
the former case, some programmes may automatically close the file
descriptor in question before examining the file on the command line,
particularly if this is necessary for security reasons such as when the
programme is running setuid.  In the second case, if the programme does
not actually open the file, the subshell attempting to read from or
write to the pipe will (in a typical implementation, different
operating systems may have different behaviour) block for ever and have
to be killed explicitly.  In both cases, the shell actually supplies the
information using a pipe, so that programmes that expect to lseek (see
man page lseek(2)) on the file will not work.

Also note that the previous example can be more compactly and
efficiently written (provided the MULTIOS option is set) as:

     paste <(cut -f1 FILE1) <(cut -f3 FILE2) > >(PROCESS1) > >(PROCESS2)

The shell uses pipes instead of FIFOs to implement the latter two
process substitutions in the above example.

If = is used, then the file passed as an argument will be the name of a
temporary file containing the output of the LIST process.  This may be
used instead of the < form for a program that expects to lseek (see man
page lseek(2)) on the input file.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameter Expansion,  Next: Command Substitution,  Prev: Process Substitution,  Up: Expansion

Parameter Expansion
===================

The character `$' is used to introduce parameter expansions.  See *Note
Parameters:: for a description of parameters, including arrays,
associative arrays, and subscript notation to access individual array
elements.

In the expansions discussed below that require a pattern, the form of
the pattern is the same as that used for filename generation; see *Note
Filename Generation::.  Note that these patterns, along with the
replacement text of any substitutions, are themselves subject to
parameter expansion, command substitution, and arithmetic expansion.
In addition to the following operations, the colon modifiers described
in *Note Modifiers:: in *Note History Expansion:: can be applied:  for
example, ${i:s/foo/bar/} performs string substitution on the expansion
of parameter $i.

${NAME}
     The value, if any, of the parameter NAME is substituted.  The
     braces are required if the expansion is to be followed by a
     letter, digit, or underscore that is not to be interpreted as part
     of NAME.  In addition, more complicated forms of substitution
     usually require the braces to be present; exceptions, which only
     apply if the option KSH_ARRAYS is not set, are a single subscript
     or any colon modifiers appearing after the name, or any of the
     characters `^', `=', `~', `#' or `+' appearing before the name,
     all of which work with or without braces.

     If NAME is an array parameter, and the KSH_ARRAYS option is not
     set, then the value of each element of NAME is substituted, one
     element per word.  Otherwise, the expansion results in one word
     only; with KSH_ARRAYS, this is the first element of an array.  No
     field splitting is done on the result unless the SH_WORD_SPLIT
     option is set.

${+NAME}
     If NAME is the name of a set parameter `1' is substituted,
     otherwise `0' is substituted.

${NAME:-WORD}
     If NAME is set and is non-null then substitute its value;
     otherwise substitute WORD. If NAME is missing, substitute WORD.

${NAME:=WORD}
${NAME::=WORD}
     In the first form, if NAME is unset or is null then set it to
     WORD; in the second form, unconditionally set NAME to WORD.  In
     both forms, the value of the parameter is then substituted.

${NAME:?WORD}
     If NAME is set and is non-null then substitute its value;
     otherwise, print WORD and exit from the shell.  Interactive shells
     instead return to the prompt.  If WORD is omitted, then a standard
     message is printed.

${NAME:+WORD}
     If NAME is set and is non-null then substitute WORD; otherwise
     substitute nothing.


If the colon is omitted from one of the above expressions containing a
colon, then the shell only checks whether NAME is set, not whether its
value is null.

In the following expressions, when NAME is an array and the
substitution is not quoted, or if the `(@)' flag or the NAME[@] syntax
is used, matching and replacement is performed on each array element
separately.

${NAME#PATTERN}
${NAME##PATTERN}
     If the PATTERN matches the beginning of the value of NAME, then
     substitute the value of NAME with the matched portion deleted;
     otherwise, just substitute the value of NAME.  In the first form,
     the smallest matching pattern is preferred; in the second form,
     the largest matching pattern is preferred.

${NAME%PATTERN}
${NAME%%PATTERN}
     If the PATTERN matches the end of the value of NAME, then
     substitute the value of NAME with the matched portion deleted;
     otherwise, just substitute the value of NAME.  In the first form,
     the smallest matching pattern is preferred; in the second form,
     the largest matching pattern is preferred.

${NAME:#PATTERN}
     If the PATTERN matches the value of NAME, then substitute the
     empty string; otherwise, just substitute the value of NAME.  If
     NAME is an array the matching array elements are removed (use the
     `(M)' flag to remove the non-matched elements).

${NAME/PATTERN/REPL}
${NAME//PATTERN/REPL}
     Replace the longest possible match of PATTERN in the expansion of
     parameter NAME by string REPL.  The first form replaces just the
     first occurrence, the second form all occurrences.  Both PATTERN
     and REPL are subject to double-quoted substitution, so that
     expressions like ${name/$opat/$npat} will work, but note the usual
     rule that pattern characters in $opat are not treated specially
     unless either the option GLOB_SUBST is set, or $opat is instead
     substituted as ${~opat}.

     The PATTERN may begin with a `#', in which case the PATTERN must
     match at the start of the string, or `%', in which case it must
     match at the end of the string.  The REPL may be an empty string,
     in which case the final `/' may also be omitted.  To quote the
     final `/' in other cases it should be preceded by a single
     backslash; this is not necessary if the `/' occurs inside a
     substituted parameter.  Note also that the `#' and `%' are not
     active if they occur inside a substituted parameter, even at the
     start.

     The first `/' may be preceded by a `:', in which case the match
     will only succeed if it matches the entire word.  Note also the
     effect of the I and S parameter expansion flags below; however,
     the flags M, R, B, E and N are not useful.

     For example,

          foo="twinkle twinkle little star" sub="t*e" rep="spy"
          print ${foo//${~sub}/$rep}
          print ${(S)foo//${~sub}/$rep}

     Here, the `~' ensures that the text of $sub is treated as a
     pattern rather than a plain string.  In the first case, the longest
     match for t*e is substituted and the result is `spy star', while
     in the second case, the shortest matches are taken and the result
     is `spy spy lispy star'.

${#SPEC}
     If SPEC is one of the above substitutions, substitute the length
     in characters of the result instead of the result itself.  If SPEC
     is an array expression, substitute the number of elements of the
     result.  Note that `^', `=', and `~', below, must appear to the
     left of `#' when these forms are combined.

${^SPEC}
     Turn on the RC_EXPAND_PARAM option for the evaluation of SPEC; if
     the `^' is doubled, turn it off.  When this option is set, array
     expansions of the form FOO${XX}BAR, where the parameter XX is set
     to (A B C), are substituted with `FOOABAR FOOBBAR FOOCBAR' instead
     of the default `FOOA B CBAR'.

     Internally, each such expansion is converted into the equivalent
     list for brace expansion.  E.g., ${^var} becomes
     {$var[1],$var[2],...}, and is processed as described in *Note
     Brace Expansion:: below.  If word splitting is also in effect the
     $var[N] may themselves be split into different list elements.

${=SPEC}
     Perform word splitting using the rules for SH_WORD_SPLIT during the
     evaluation of SPEC, but regardless of whether the parameter
     appears in double quotes; if the `=' is doubled, turn it off.
     This forces parameter expansions to be split into separate words
     before substitution, using IFS as a delimiter.  This is done by
     default in most other shells.

     Note that splitting is applied to WORD in the assignment forms of
     SPEC _before_ the assignment to NAME is performed.  This affects
     the result of array assignments with the A flag.

${~SPEC}
     Turn on the GLOB_SUBST option for the evaluation of SPEC; if the
     `~' is doubled, turn it off.  When this option is set, the string
     resulting from the expansion will be interpreted as a pattern
     anywhere that is possible, such as in filename expansion and
     filename generation and pattern-matching contexts like the right
     hand side of the `=' and `!=' operators in conditions.


If a ${...} type parameter expression or a $(...) type command
substitution is used in place of NAME above, it is expanded first and
the result is used as if it were the value of NAME.  Thus it is
possible to perform nested operations:  ${${foo#head}%tail} substitutes
the value of $foo with both `head' and `tail' deleted.  The form with
$(...) is often useful in combination with the flags described next;
see the examples below.  Each NAME or nested ${...} in a parameter
expansion may also be followed by a subscript expression as described in
*Note Array Parameters::.

Note that double quotes may appear around nested expressions, in which
case only the part inside is treated as quoted; for example,
${(f)"$(foo)"} quotes the result of $(foo), but the flag `(f)' (see
below) is applied using the rules for unquoted expansions.  Note
further that quotes are themselves nested in this context; for example,
in "${(@f)"$(foo)"}", there are two sets of quotes, one surrounding the
whole expression, the other (redundant) surrounding the $(foo) as
before.

Parameter Expansion Flags
-------------------------

If the opening brace is directly followed by an opening parenthesis,
the string up to the matching closing parenthesis will be taken as a
list of flags.  In cases where repeating a flag is meaningful, the
repetitions need not be consecutive; for example, `(q%q%q)' means the
same thing as the more readable `(%%qqq)'.  The following flags are
supported:

%
     Expand all % escapes in the resulting words in the same way as in
     in prompts (see *Note Prompt Expansion::). If this flag is given
     twice, full prompt expansion is done on the resulting words,
     depending on the setting of the PROMPT_PERCENT, PROMPT_SUBST and
     PROMPT_BANG options.

@
     In double quotes, array elements are put into separate words.
     E.g., `"${(@)foo}"' is equivalent to `"${foo[@]}"' and
     `"${(@)foo[1,2]}"' is the same as `"$foo[1]" "$foo[2]"'.  This is
     distinct from _field splitting_ by the the f, s or z flags, which
     still applies within each array element.

A
     Create an array parameter with `${...=...}', `${...:=...}' or
     `${...::=...}'.  If this flag is repeated (as in `AA'), create an
     associative array parameter.  Assignment is made before sorting or
     padding.  The NAME part may be a subscripted range for ordinary
     arrays; the WORD part _must_ be converted to an array, for example
     by using `${(AA)=NAME=...}' to activate field splitting, when
     creating an associative array.

c
     With ${#NAME}, count the total number of characters in an array,
     as if the elements were concatenated with spaces between them.

C
     Capitalize the resulting words.  `Words' in this case refers to
     sequences of alphanumeric characters separated by
     non-alphanumerics, _not_ to words that result from field splitting.

e
     Perform _parameter expansion_, _command substitution_ and
     _arithmetic expansion_ on the result. Such expansions can be
     nested but too deep recursion may have unpredictable effects.

f
     Split the result of the expansion to lines. This is a shorthand
     for `ps:\n:'.

F
     Join the words of arrays together using newline as a separator.
     This is a shorthand for `pj:\n:'.

i
     With o or O, sort case-independently.

k
     If NAME refers to an associative array, substitute the _keys_
     (element names) rather than the values of the elements.  Used with
     subscripts (including ordinary arrays), force indices or keys to be
     substituted even if the subscript form refers to values.  However,
     this flag may not be combined with subscript ranges.

L
     Convert all letters in the result to lower case.

o
     Sort the resulting words in ascending order.

O
     Sort the resulting words in descending order.

P
     This forces the value of the parameter NAME to be interpreted as a
     further parameter name, whose value will be used where
     appropriate. If used with a nested parameter or command
     substitution, the result of that will be taken as a parameter name
     in the same way.  For example, if you have `foo=bar' and
     `bar=baz', the strings ${(P)foo}, ${(P)${foo}}, and ${(P)$(echo
     bar)} will be expanded to `baz'.

q
     Quote the resulting words with backslashes. If this flag is given
     twice, the resulting words are quoted in single quotes and if it is
     given three times, the words are quoted in double quotes. If it is
     given four times, the words are quoted in single quotes preceded
     by a $.

Q
     Remove one level of quotes from the resulting words.

t
     Use a string describing the type of the parameter where the value
     of the parameter would usually appear. This string consists of
     keywords separated by hyphens (`-'). The first keyword in the
     string describes the main type, it can be one of `scalar',
     `array', `integer', `float' or `association'. The other keywords
     describe the type in more detail:

    local
          for local parameters

    left
          for left justified parameters

    right_blanks
          for right justified parameters with leading blanks

    right_zeros
          for right justified parameters with leading zeros

    lower
          for parameters whose value is converted to all lower case
          when it is expanded

    upper
          for parameters whose value is converted to all upper case
          when it is expanded

    readonly
          for readonly parameters

    tag
          for tagged parameters

    export
          for exported parameters

    unique
          for arrays which keep only the first occurrence of duplicated
          values

    hide
          for parameters with the `hide' flag

    special
          for special parameters defined by the shell


U
     Convert all letters in the result to upper case.

v
     Used with k, substitute (as two consecutive words) both the key
     and the value of each associative array element.  Used with
     subscripts, force values to be substituted even if the subscript
     form refers to indices or keys.

V
     Make any special characters in the resulting words visible.

w
     With ${#NAME}, count words in arrays or strings; the s flag may be
     used to set a word delimiter.

W
     Similar to w with the difference that empty words between repeated
     delimiters are also counted.

X
     With this flag parsing errors occurring with the Q and e flags or
     the pattern matching forms such as `${NAME#PATTERN}' are reported.
     Without the flag they are silently ignored.

z
     Split the result of the expansion into words using shell parsing to
     find the words, i.e. taking into account any quoting in the value.

     Note that this is done very late, as for the `(s)' flag. So to
     access single words in the result, one has to use nested
     expansions as in `${${(z)foo}[2]}'. Likewise, to remove the quotes
     in the resulting words one would do: `${(Q)${(z)foo}}'.


The following flags (except p) are followed by one or more arguments as
shown.  Any character, or the matching pairs `(...)', `{...}', `[...]',
or `<...>', may be used in place of a colon as delimiters, but note
that when a flag takes more than one argument, a matched pair of
delimiters must surround each argument.

p
     Recognize the same escape sequences as the print builtin in string
     arguments to any of the flags described below.

j:STRING:
     Join the words of arrays together using STRING as a separator.
     Note that this occurs before field splitting by the SH_WORD_SPLIT
     option.

l:EXPR::STRING1::STRING2:
     Pad the resulting words on the left.  Each word will be truncated
     if required and placed in a field EXPR characters wide.  The space
     to the left will be filled with STRING1 (concatenated as often as
     needed) or spaces if STRING1 is not given.  If both STRING1 and
     STRING2 are given, this string is inserted once directly to the
     left of each word, before padding.

r:EXPR::STRING1::STRING2:
     As l, but pad the words on the right and insert STRING2 on the
     right.

s:STRING:
     Force field splitting (see the option SH_WORD_SPLIT) at the
     separator STRING.  Note that a STRING of two or more characters
     means all must all match in sequence; this differs from the
     treatment of two or more characters in the IFS parameter.


The following flags are meaningful with the ${...#...} or ${...%...}
forms.  The S and I flags may also be used with the ${.../...} forms.

S
     Search substrings as well as beginnings or ends; with # start from
     the beginning and with % start from the end of the string.  With
     substitution via ${.../...} or ${...//...}, specifies non-greedy
     matching, i.e. that the shortest instead of the longest match
     should be replaced.

I:EXPR:
     Search the EXPRth match (where EXPR evaluates to a number).  This
     only applies when searching for substrings, either with the S
     flag, or with ${.../...} (only the EXPRth match is substituted) or
     ${...//...} (all matches from the EXPRth on are substituted).  The
     default is to take the first match.

     The EXPRth match is counted such that there is either one or zero
     matches from each starting position in the string, although for
     global substitution matches overlapping previous replacements are
     ignored.  With the ${...%...} and ${...%%...} forms, the starting
     position for the match moves backwards from the end as the index
     increases, while with the other forms it moves forward from the
     start.

     Hence with the string
          which switch is the right switch for Ipswich?
     substitutions of the form ${(SI:N:)string#w*ch} as N increases
     from 1 will match and remove `which', `witch', `witch' and `wich';
     the form using `##' will match and remove `which switch is the
     right switch for Ipswich', `witch is the right switch for
     Ipswich', `witch for Ipswich' and `wich'. The form using `%' will
     remove the same matches as for `#', but in reverse order, and the
     form using `%%' will remove the same matches as for `##' in reverse
     order.

B
     Include the index of the beginning of the match in the result.

E
     Include the index of the end of the match in the result.

M
     Include the matched portion in the result.

N
     Include the length of the match in the result.

R
     Include the unmatched portion in the result (the _R_est).


Rules
-----

Here is a summary of the rules for substitution; this assumes that
braces are present around the substitution, i.e. ${...}.  Some
particular examples are given below.  Note that the Zsh Development
Group accepts _no responsibility_ for any brain damage which may occur
during the reading of the following rules.

1. _Nested Substitution_
     If multiple nested ${...} forms are present, substitution is
     performed from the inside outwards.  At each level, the
     substitution takes account of whether the current value is a
     scalar or an array, whether the whole substitution is in double
     quotes, and what flags are supplied to the current level of
     substitution, just as if the nested substitution were the
     outermost.  The flags are not propagated up to enclosing
     substitutions; the nested substitution will return either a scalar
     or an array as determined by the flags, possibly adjusted for
     quoting.  All the following steps take place where applicable at
     all levels of substitution.  Note that, unless the `(P)' flag is
     present, the flags and any subscripts apply directly to the value
     of the nested substitution; for example, the expansion ${${foo}}
     behaves exactly the same as ${foo}.

2. _Parameter Subscripting_
     If the value is a raw parameter reference with a subscript, such as
     ${VAR[3]}, the effect of subscripting is applied directly to the
     parameter.  Subscripts are evaluated left to right; subsequent
     subscripts apply to the scalar or array value yielded by the
     previous subscript.  Thus if var is an array, ${var[1][2]} is the
     second character of the first word, but ${var[2,4][2]} is the
     entire third word (the second word of the range of words two
     through four of the original array).  Any number of subscripts may
     appear.

3. _Parameter Name Replacement_
     The effect of any (P) flag, which treats the value so far as a
     parameter name and replaces it with the corresponding value, is
     applied.

4. _Double-Quoted Joining_
     If the value after this process is an array, and the substitution
     appears in double quotes, and no (@) flag is present at the current
     level, the words of the value are joined with the first character
     of the parameter $IFS, by default a space, between each word
     (single word arrays are not modified).  If the (j) flag is
     present, that is used for joining instead of $IFS.

5. _Nested Subscripting_
     Any remaining subscripts (i.e. of a nested substitution) are
     evaluated at this point, based on whether the value is an array or
     a scalar.  As with 2., multiple subscripts can appear.  Note that
     ${foo[2,4][2]} is thus equivalent to ${${foo[2,4]}[2]} and also to
     "${${(@)foo[2,4]}[2]}" (the nested substitution returns an array in
     both cases), but not to "${${foo[2,4]}[2]}" (the nested
     substitution returns a scalar because of the quotes).

6. _Modifiers_
     Any modifiers, as specified by a trailing `#', `%', `/' (possibly
     doubled) or by a set of modifiers of the form :... (see *Note
     Modifiers:: in *Note History Expansion::), are applied to the words
     of the value at this level.

7. _Forced Joining_
     If the `(j)' flag is present, or no `(j)' flag is present but the
     string is to be split as given by rules 8. or 9., and joining did
     not take place at step 4., any words in the value are joined
     together using the given string or the first character of $IFS if
     none.  Note that the `(F)' flag implicitly supplies a string for
     joining in this manner.

8. _Forced Splitting_
     If one of the `(s)', `(f)' or `(z)' flags are present, or the `='
     specifier was present (e.g. ${=VAR}), the word is split on
     occurrences of the specified string, or (for = with neither of the
     two flags present) any of the characters in $IFS.

9. _Shell Word Splitting_
     If no `(s)', `(f)' or `=' was given, but the word is not quoted
     and the option SH_WORD_SPLIT is set, the word is split on
     occurrences of any of the characters in $IFS.  Note this step, too,
     takes place at all levels of a nested substitution.

10. _Re-Evaluation_
     Any `(e)' flag is applied to the value, forcing it to be
     re-examined for new parameter substitutions, but also for command
     and arithmetic substitutions.

11. _Padding_
     Any padding of the value by the `(l.FILL.)' or `(r.FILL.)' flags
     is applied.

12. _Semantic Joining_
     In contexts where expansion semantics requires a single word to
     result, all words are rejoined with the first character of IFS
     between.  So in `${(P)${(f)lines}}' the value of ${lines} is split
     at newlines, but then must be joined again before the P flag can
     be applied.

     If a single word is not required, this rule is skipped.


Examples
--------

The flag f is useful to split a double-quoted substitution line by
line.  For example, ${(f)"$(<FILE)"} substitutes the contents of FILE
divided so that each line is an element of the resulting array.
Compare this with the effect of $(<FILE) alone, which divides the file
up by words, or the same inside double quotes, which makes the entire
content of the file a single string.

The following illustrates the rules for nested parameter expansions.
Suppose that $foo contains the array (bar baz):

"${(@)${foo}[1]}"
     This produces the result b.  First, the inner substitution
     "${foo}", which has no array (@) flag, produces a single word
     result "bar baz".  The outer substitution "${(@)...[1]}" detects
     that this is a scalar, so that (despite the `(@)' flag) the
     subscript picks the first character.

"${${(@)foo}[1]}"
     This produces the result `bar'.  In this case, the inner
     substitution "${(@)foo}" produces the array `(bar baz)'.  The outer
     substitution "${...[1]}" detects that this is an array and picks
     the first word.  This is similar to the simple case "${foo[1]}".


As an example of the rules for word splitting and joining, suppose $foo
contains the array `(ax1 bx1)'.  Then

${(s/x/)foo}
     produces the words `a', `1 b' and `1'.

${(j/x/s/x/)foo}
     produces `a', `1', `b' and `1'.

${(s/x/)foo%%1*}
     produces `a' and ` b' (note the extra space).  As substitution
     occurs before either joining or splitting, the operation  first
     generates the modified array (ax bx), which is joined to give "ax
     bx", and then split to give `a', ` b' and `'.  The final empty
     string will then be elided, as it is not in double quotes.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Command Substitution,  Next: Arithmetic Expansion,  Prev: Parameter Expansion,  Up: Expansion

Command Substitution
====================

A command enclosed in parentheses preceded by a dollar sign, like
`$(...)', or quoted with grave accents, like ``...`', is replaced with
its standard output, with any trailing newlines deleted.  If the
substitution is not enclosed in double quotes, the output is broken
into words using the IFS parameter.  The substitution `$(cat FOO)' may
be replaced by the equivalent but faster `$(<FOO)'.  In either case, if
the option GLOB_SUBST is set, the output is eligible for filename
generation.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Arithmetic Expansion,  Next: Brace Expansion,  Prev: Command Substitution,  Up: Expansion

Arithmetic Expansion
====================

A string of the form `$[EXP]' or `$((EXP))' is substituted with the
value of the arithmetic expression EXP.  EXP is subjected to _parameter
expansion_, _command substitution_ and _arithmetic expansion_ before it
is evaluated.  See *Note Arithmetic Evaluation::.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Brace Expansion,  Next: Filename Expansion,  Prev: Arithmetic Expansion,  Up: Expansion

Brace Expansion
===============

A string of the form `FOO{XX,YY,ZZ}BAR' is expanded to the individual
words `FOOXXBAR', `FOOYYBAR' and `FOOZZBAR'.  Left-to-right order is
preserved.  This construct may be nested.  Commas may be quoted in
order to include them literally in a word.

An expression of the form `{N1..N2}', where N1 and N2 are integers, is
expanded to every number between N1 and N2 inclusive.  If either number
begins with a zero, all the resulting numbers will be padded with
leading zeroes to that minimum width.  If the numbers are in decreasing
order the resulting sequence will also be in decreasing order.

If a brace expression matches none of the above forms, it is left
unchanged, unless the BRACE_CCL option is set.  In that case, it is
expanded to a sorted list of the individual characters between the
braces, in the manner of a search set.  `-' is treated specially as in
a search set, but `^' or `!' as the first character is treated normally.

Note that brace expansion is not part of filename generation
(globbing); an expression such as */{foo,bar} is split into two
separate words */foo and */bar before filename generation takes place.
In particular, note that this is liable to produce a `no match' error if
_either_ of the two expressions does not match; this is to be contrasted
with */(foo|bar), which is treated as a single pattern but otherwise
has similar effects.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Filename Expansion,  Next: Filename Generation,  Prev: Brace Expansion,  Up: Expansion

Filename Expansion
==================

Each word is checked to see if it begins with an unquoted `~'.  If it
does, then the word up to a `/', or the end of the word if there is no
`/', is checked to see if it can be substituted in one of the ways
described here.  If so, then the `~' and the checked portion are
replaced with the appropriate substitute value.

A `~' by itself is replaced by the value of $HOME.  A `~' followed by a
`+' or a `-' is replaced by the value of $PWD or $OLDPWD, respectively.

A `~' followed by a number is replaced by the directory at that
position in the directory stack.  `~0' is equivalent to `~+', and `~1'
is the top of the stack.  `~+' followed by a number is replaced by the
directory at that position in the directory stack.  `~+0' is equivalent
to `~+', and `~+1' is the top of the stack.  `~-' followed by a number
is replaced by the directory that many positions from the bottom of the
stack.  `~-0' is the bottom of the stack.  The PUSHD_MINUS option
exchanges the effects of `~+' and `~-' where they are followed by a
number.

A `~' followed by anything not already covered is looked up as a named
directory, and replaced by the value of that named directory if found.
Named directories are typically home directories for users on the
system.  They may also be defined if the text after the `~' is the name
of a string shell parameter whose value begins with a `/'.  It is also
possible to define directory names using the -d option to the hash
builtin.

In certain circumstances (in prompts, for instance), when the shell
prints a path, the path is checked to see if it has a named directory
as its prefix.  If so, then the prefix portion is replaced with a `~'
followed by the name of the directory.  The shortest way of referring
to the directory is used, with ties broken in favour of using a named
directory, except when the directory is / itself.  The parameters $PWD
and $OLDPWD are never abbreviated in this fashion.

If a word begins with an unquoted `=' and the EQUALS option is set, the
remainder of the word is taken as the name of a command or alias.  If a
command exists by that name, the word is replaced by the full pathname
of the command.  If an alias exists by that name, the word is replaced
with the text of the alias.

Filename expansion is performed on the right hand side of a parameter
assignment, including those appearing after commands of the typeset
family.  In this case, the right hand side will be treated as a
colon-separated list in the manner of the PATH parameter, so that a `~'
or an `=' following a `:' is eligible for expansion.  All such
behaviour can be disabled by quoting the `~', the `=', or the whole
expression (but not simply the colon); the EQUALS option is also
respected.

If the option MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST is set, any unquoted shell argument in
the form `IDENTIFIER=EXPRESSION' becomes eligible for file expansion as
described in the previous paragraph.  Quoting the first `=' also
inhibits this.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Filename Generation,  Prev: Filename Expansion,  Up: Expansion

Filename Generation
===================

If a word contains an unquoted instance of one of the characters `*',
`(', `|', `<', `[', or `?', it is regarded as a pattern for filename
generation, unless the GLOB option is unset.  If the EXTENDED_GLOB
option is set, the `^' and `#' characters also denote a pattern;
otherwise they are not treated specially by the shell.

The word is replaced with a list of sorted filenames that match the
pattern.  If no matching pattern is found, the shell gives an error
message, unless the NULL_GLOB option is set, in which case the word is
deleted; or unless the NOMATCH option is unset, in which case the word
is left unchanged.

In filename generation, the character `/' must be matched explicitly;
also, a `.' must be matched explicitly at the beginning of a pattern or
after a `/', unless the GLOB_DOTS option is set.  No filename
generation pattern matches the files `.' or `..'.  In other instances
of pattern matching, the `/' and `.' are not treated specially.

Glob Operators
--------------

*
     Matches any string, including the null string.

?
     Matches any character.

[...]
     Matches any of the enclosed characters.  Ranges of characters can
     be specified by separating two characters by a `-'.  A `-' or `]'
     may be matched by including it as the first character in the list.
     There are also several named classes of characters, in the form
     `[:NAME:]' with the following meanings:  `[:alnum:]' alphanumeric,
     `[:alpha:]' alphabetic, `[:blank:]' space or tab, `[:cntrl:]'
     control character, `[:digit:]' decimal digit, `[:graph:]'
     printable character except whitespace, `[:lower:]' lowercase
     letter, `[:print:]' printable character, `[:punct:]' printable
     character neither alphanumeric nor whitespace, `[:space:]'
     whitespace character, `[:upper:]' uppercase letter, `[:xdigit:]'
     hexadecimal digit.  These use the macros provided by the operating
     system to test for the given character combinations, including any
     modifications due to local language settings:  see man page
     ctype(3).  Note that the square brackets are additional to those
     enclosing the whole set of characters, so to test for a single
     alphanumeric character you need `[[:alnum:]]'.  Named character
     sets can be used alongside other types, e.g. `[[:alpha:]0-9]'.

[^...]
[!...]
     Like [...], except that it matches any character which is not in
     the given set.

<[X]-[Y]>
     Matches any number in the range X to Y, inclusive.  Either of the
     numbers may be omitted to make the range open-ended; hence `<->'
     matches any number.  To match individual digits, the [...] form is
     more efficient.

     Be careful when using other wildcards adjacent to patterns of this
     form; for example, <0-9>* will actually match any number
     whatsoever at the start of the string, since the `<0-9>' will
     match the first digit, and the `*' will match any others.  This is
     a trap for the unwary, but is in fact an inevitable consequence of
     the rule that the longest possible match always succeeds.
     Expressions such as `<0-9>[^[:digit:]]*' can be used instead.

(...)
     Matches the enclosed pattern.  This is used for grouping.  If the
     KSH_GLOB option is set, then a `@', `*', `+', `?' or `!'
     immediately preceding the `(' is treated specially, as detailed
     below. The option SH_GLOB prevents bare parentheses from being
     used in this way, though the KSH_GLOB option is still available.

     Note that grouping cannot extend over multiple directories: it is
     an error to have a `/' within a group (this only applies for
     patterns used in filename generation).  There is one exception:  a
     group of the form (PAT/)# appearing as a complete path segment can
     match a sequence of directories.  For example, foo/(a*/)#bar
     matches foo/bar, foo/any/bar, foo/any/anyother/bar, and so on.

X|Y
     Matches either X or Y.  This operator has lower precedence than
     any other.  The `|' character must be within parentheses, to avoid
     interpretation as a pipeline.

^X
     (Requires EXTENDED_GLOB to be set.)  Matches anything except the
     pattern X.  This has a higher precedence than `/', so `^foo/bar'
     will search directories in `.' except `./foo' for a file named
     `bar'.

X~Y
     (Requires EXTENDED_GLOB to be set.)  Match anything that matches
     the pattern X but does not match Y.  This has lower precedence
     than any operator except `|', so `*/*~foo/bar' will search for all
     files in all directories in `.'  and then exclude `foo/bar' if
     there was such a match.  Multiple patterns can be excluded by
     `FOO~BAR~BAZ'.  In the exclusion pattern (Y), `/' and `.' are not
     treated specially the way they usually are in globbing.

X#
     (Requires EXTENDED_GLOB to be set.)  Matches zero or more
     occurrences of the pattern X.  This operator has high precedence;
     `12#' is equivalent to `1(2#)', rather than `(12)#'.  It is an
     error for an unquoted `#' to follow something which cannot be
     repeated; this includes an empty string, a pattern already
     followed by `##', or parentheses when part of a KSH_GLOB pattern
     (for example, `!(FOO)#' is invalid and must be replaced by
     `*(!(FOO))').

X##
     (Requires EXTENDED_GLOB to be set.)  Matches one or more
     occurrences of the pattern X.  This operator has high precedence;
     `12##' is equivalent to `1(2##)', rather than `(12)##'.  No more
     than two active `#' characters may appear together.


ksh-like Glob Operators
-----------------------

If the KSH_GLOB option is set, the effects of parentheses can be
modified by a preceding `@', `*', `+', `?' or `!'.  This character need
not be unquoted to have special effects, but the `(' must be.

@(...)
     Match the pattern in the parentheses.  (Like `(...)'.)

*(...)
     Match any number of occurrences.  (Like `(...)#'.)

+(...)
     Match at least one occurrence.  (Like `(...)##'.)

?(...)
     Match zero or one occurrence.  (Like `(|...)'.)

!(...)
     Match anything but the expression in parentheses.  (Like
     `(^(...))'.)


Precedence
----------

The precedence of the operators given above is (highest) `^', `/', `~',
`|' (lowest); the remaining operators are simply treated from left to
right as part of a string, with `#' and `##' applying to the shortest
possible preceding unit (i.e. a character, `?', `[...]', `<...>', or a
parenthesised expression).  As mentioned above, a `/' used as a
directory separator may not appear inside parentheses, while a `|' must
do so; in patterns used in other contexts than filename generation (for
example, in case statements and tests within `[[...]]'), a `/' is not
special; and `/' is also not special after a `~' appearing outside
parentheses in a filename pattern.

Globbing Flags
--------------

There are various flags which affect any text to their right up to the
end of the enclosing group or to the end of the pattern; they require
the EXTENDED_GLOB option. All take the form (#X) where X may have one
of the following forms:

i
     Case insensitive:  upper or lower case characters in the pattern
     match upper or lower case characters.

l
     Lower case characters in the pattern match upper or lower case
     characters; upper case characters in the pattern still only match
     upper case characters.

I
     Case sensitive:  locally negates the effect of i or l from that
     point on.

b
     Activate backreferences for parenthesised groups in the pattern;
     this does not work in filename generation.  When a pattern with a
     set of active parentheses is matched, the strings matched by the
     groups are stored in the array $match, the indices of the
     beginning of the matched parentheses in the array $mbegin, and the
     indices of the end in the array $mend, with the first element of
     each array corresponding to the first parenthesised group, and so
     on.  These arrays are not otherwise special to the shell.  The
     indices use the same convention as does parameter substitution, so
     that elements of $mend and $mbegin may be used in subscripts; the
     KSH_ARRAYS option is respected.  Sets of globbing flags are not
     considered parenthesised groups; only the first nine active
     parentheses can be referenced.

     For example,

          foo="a string with a message"
          if [[ $foo = (a|an)' '(#b)(*)' '* ]]; then
            print ${foo[$mbegin[1],$mend[1]]}
          fi

     prints `string with a'.  Note that the first parenthesis is before
     the (#b) and does not create a backreference.

     Backreferences work with all forms of pattern matching other than
     filename generation, but note that when performing matches on an
     entire array, such as ${ARRAY#PATTERN}, or a global substitution,
     such as ${PARAM//PAT/REPL}, only the data for the last match
     remains available.  In the case of global replacements this may
     still be useful.  See the example for the m flag below.

     The numbering of backreferences strictly follows the order of the
     opening parentheses from left to right in the pattern string,
     although sets of parentheses may be nested.  There are special
     rules for parentheses followed by `#' or `##'.  Only the last
     match of the parenthesis is remembered: for example, in `[[ abab =
     (#b)([ab])# ]]', only the final `b' is stored in match[1].  Thus
     extra parentheses may be necessary to match the complete segment:
     for example, use `X((ab|cd)#)Y' to match a whole string of either
     `ab' or `cd' between `X' and `Y', using the value of $match[1]
     rather than $match[2].

     If the match fails none of the parameters is altered, so in some
     cases it may be necessary to initialise them beforehand.  If some
     of the backreferences fail to match -- which happens if they are
     in an alternate branch which fails to match, or if they are
     followed by # and matched zero times -- then the matched string is
     set to the empty string, and the start and end indices are set to
     -1.

     Pattern matching with backreferences is slightly slower than
     without.

B
     Deactivate backreferences, negating the effect of the b flag from
     that point on.

m
     Set references to the match data for the entire string matched;
     this is similar to backreferencing and does not work in filename
     generation.  The flag must be in effect at the end of the pattern,
     i.e. not local to a group. The parameters $MATCH,  $MBEGIN and
     $MEND will be set to the string matched and to the indices of the
     beginning and end of the string, respectively.  This is most
     useful in parameter substitutions, as otherwise the string matched
     is obvious.

     For example,

          arr=(veldt jynx grimps waqf zho buck)
          print ${arr//(#m)[aeiou]/${(U)MATCH}}

     forces all the matches (i.e. all vowels) into uppercase, printing
     `vEldt jynx grImps wAqf zhO bUck'.

     Unlike backreferences, there is no speed penalty for using match
     references, other than the extra substitutions required for the
     replacement strings in cases such as the example shown.

M
     Deactivate the m flag, hence no references to match data will be
     created.

aNUM
     Approximate matching: NUM errors are allowed in the string matched
     by the pattern.  The rules for this are described in the next
     subsection.

s, e
     Unlike the other flags, these have only a local effect, and each
     must appear on its own:  `(#s)' and `(#e)' are the only valid
     forms.  The `(#s)' flag succeeds only at the start of the test
     string, and the `(#e)' flag succeeds only at the end of the test
     string; they correspond to `^' and `$' in standard regular
     expressions.  They are useful for matching path segments in
     patterns other than those in filename generation (where path
     segments are in any case treated separately).  For example,
     `*((#s)|/)test((#e)|/)*' matches a path segment `test' in any of
     the following strings: test, test/at/start, at/end/test,
     in/test/middle.

     Another use is in parameter substitution; for example
     `${array/(#s)A*Z(#e)}' will remove only elements of an array which
     match the complete pattern `A*Z'.  There are other ways of
     performing many operations of this type, however the combination
     of the substitution operations `/' and `//' with the `(#s)' and
     `(#e)' flags provides a single simple and memorable method.

     Note that assertions of the form `(^(#s))' also work, i.e. match
     anywhere except at the start of the string, although this actually
     means `anything except a zero-length portion at the start of the
     string'; you need to use `(""~(#s))' to match a zero-length
     portion of the string not at the start.


For example, the test string fooxx can be matched by the pattern
(#i)FOOXX, but not by (#l)FOOXX, (#i)FOO(#I)XX or ((#i)FOOX)X.  The
string (#ia2)readme specifies case-insensitive matching of readme with
up to two errors.

When using the ksh syntax for grouping both KSH_GLOB and EXTENDED_GLOB
must be set and the left parenthesis should be preceded by @.  Note
also that the flags do not affect letters inside [...] groups, in other
words (#i)[a-z] still matches only lowercase letters.  Finally, note
that when examining whole paths case-insensitively every directory must
be searched for all files which match, so that a pattern of the form
(#i)/foo/bar/... is potentially slow.

Approximate Matching
--------------------

When matching approximately, the shell keeps a count of the errors
found, which cannot exceed the number specified in the (#aNUM) flags.
Four types of error are recognised:

1.
     Different characters, as in fooxbar and fooybar.

2.
     Transposition of characters, as in banana and abnana.

3.
     A character missing in the target string, as with the pattern road
     and target string rod.

4.
     An extra character appearing in the target string, as with stove
     and strove.


Thus, the pattern (#a3)abcd matches dcba, with the errors occurring by
using the first rule twice and the second once, grouping the string as
[d][cb][a] and [a][bc][d].

Non-literal parts of the pattern must match exactly, including
characters in character ranges: hence (#a1)???  matches strings of
length four, by applying rule 4 to an empty part of the pattern, but not
strings of length two, since all the ? must match.  Other characters
which must match exactly are initial dots in filenames (unless the
GLOB_DOTS option is set), and all slashes in filenames, so that a/bc is
two errors from ab/c (the slash cannot be transposed with another
character).  Similarly, errors are counted separately for
non-contiguous strings in the pattern, so that (ab|cd)ef is two errors
from aebf.

When using exclusion via the ~ operator, approximate matching is
treated entirely separately for the excluded part and must be activated
separately.  Thus, (#a1)README~READ_ME matches READ.ME but not READ_ME,
as the trailing READ_ME is matched without approximation.  However,
(#a1)README~(#a1)READ_ME does not match any pattern of the form READ?ME
as all such forms are now excluded.

Apart from exclusions, there is only one overall error count; however,
the maximum errors allowed may be altered locally, and this can be
delimited by grouping.  For example, (#a1)cat((#a0)dog)fox allows one
error in total, which may not occur in the dog section, and the pattern
(#a1)cat(#a0)dog(#a1)fox is equivalent.  Note that the point at which
an error is first found is the crucial one for establishing whether to
use approximation; for example, (#a1)abc(#a0)xyz will not match
abcdxyz, because the error occurs at the `x', where approximation is
turned off.

Entire path segments may be matched approximately, so that
`(#a1)/foo/d/is/available/at/the/bar' allows one error in any path
segment.  This is much less efficient than without the (#a1), however,
since every directory in the path must be scanned for a possible
approximate match.  It is best to place the (#a1) after any path
segments which are known to be correct.

Recursive Globbing
------------------

A pathname component of the form `(FOO/)#' matches a path consisting of
zero or more directories matching the pattern FOO.

As a shorthand, `**/' is equivalent to `(*/)#'; note that this
therefore matches files in the current directory as well as
subdirectories.  Thus:

     ls (*/)#bar

or

     ls **/bar

does a recursive directory search for files named `bar' (potentially
including the file `bar' in the current directory).  This form does not
follow symbolic links; the alternative form `***/' does, but is
otherwise identical.  Neither of these can be combined with other forms
of globbing within the same path segment; in that case, the `*'
operators revert to their usual effect.

Glob Qualifiers
---------------

Patterns used for filename generation may end in a list of qualifiers
enclosed in parentheses.  The qualifiers specify which filenames that
otherwise match the given pattern will be inserted in the argument list.

If the option BARE_GLOB_QUAL is set, then a trailing set of parentheses
containing no `|' or `(' characters (or `~' if it is special) is taken
as a set of glob qualifiers.  A glob subexpression that would normally
be taken as glob qualifiers, for example `(^x)', can be forced to be
treated as part of the glob pattern by doubling the parentheses, in
this case producing `((^x))'.

A qualifier may be any one of the following:

/
     directories

.
     plain files

@
     symbolic links

=
     sockets

p
     named pipes (FIFOs)

*
     executable plain files (0100)

%
     device files (character or block special)

%b
     block special files

%c
     character special files

r
     owner-readable files (0400)

w
     owner-writable files (0200)

x
     owner-executable files (0100)

A
     group-readable files (0040)

I
     group-writable files (0020)

E
     group-executable files (0010)

R
     world-readable files (0004)

W
     world-writable files (0002)

X
     world-executable files (0001)

s
     setuid files (04000)

S
     setgid files (02000)

t
     files with the sticky bit (01000)

fSPEC
     files with access rights matching SPEC. This SPEC may be a octal
     number optionally preceded by a `=', a `+', or a `-'. If none of
     these characters is given, the behavior is the same as for `='.
     The octal number describes the mode bits to be expected, if
     combined with a `=', the value given must match the file-modes
     exactly, with a `+', at least the bits in the given number must be
     set in the file-modes, and with a `-', the bits in the number must
     not be set. Giving a `?' instead of a octal digit anywhere in the
     number ensures that the corresponding bits in the file-modes are
     not checked, this is only useful in combination with `='.

     If the qualifier `f' is followed by any other character anything
     up to the next matching character (`[', `{', and `<' match `]',
     `}', and `>' respectively, any other character matches itself) is
     taken as a list of comma-separated SUB-SPECs. Each SUB-SPEC may be
     either an octal number as described above or a list of any of the
     characters `u', `g', `o', and `a', followed by a `=', a `+', or a
     `-', followed by a list of any of the characters `r', `w', `x',
     `s', and `t', or an octal digit. The first list of characters
     specify which access rights are to be checked. If a `u' is given,
     those for the owner of the file are used, if a `g' is given, those
     of the group are checked, a `o' means to test those of other
     users, and the `a' says to test all three groups. The `=', `+',
     and `-' again says how the modes are to be checked and have the
     same meaning as described for the first form above. The second
     list of characters finally says which access rights are to be
     expected: `r' for read access, `w' for write access, `x' for the
     right to execute the file (or to search a directory), `s' for the
     setuid and setgid bits, and `t' for the sticky bit.

     Thus, `*(f70?)' gives the files for which the owner has read,
     write, and execute permission, and for which other group members
     have no rights, independent of the permissions for other users.
     The pattern `*(f-100)' gives all files for which the owner does
     not have execute permission, and `*(f:gu+w,o-rx:)' gives the files
     for which the owner and the other members of the group have at
     least write permission, and for which other users don't have read
     or execute permission.

eSTRING
     The STRING will be executed as shell code.  The filename will be
     included in the list if and only if the code returns a zero status
     (usually the status of the last command).  The first character
     after the `e' will be used as a separator and anything up to the
     next matching separator will be taken  as the STRING; `[', `{',
     and `<' match `]', `}', and `>', respectively, while any other
     character matches itself. Note that expansions must be quoted in
     the STRING to prevent them from being expanded before globbing is
     done.

     During the execution of STRING the filename currently being tested
     is available in the parameter REPLY; the parameter may be altered
     to a string to be inserted into the list instead of the original
     filename.  In addition, the parameter reply may be set to an array
     or a string, which overrides the value of REPLY.  If set to an
     array, the latter is inserted into the command line word by word.

     For example, suppose a directory contains a single file `lonely'.
     Then the expression `*(e:'reply=(${REPLY}{1,2})':)' will cause the
     words `lonely1 lonely2' to be inserted into the command line.
     Note the quotation marks.

dDEV
     files on the device DEV

l[-|+]CT
     files having a link count less than CT (-), greater than CT (+),
     or equal to CT

U
     files owned by the effective user ID

G
     files owned by the effective group ID

uID
     files owned by user ID ID if it is a number, if not, than the
     character after the `u' will be used as a separator and the string
     between it and the next matching separator (`[', `{', and `<'
     match `]', `}', and `>' respectively, any other character matches
     itself) will be taken as a user name, and the user ID of this user
     will be taken (e.g. `u:foo:' or `u[foo]' for user `foo')

gID
     like uID but with group IDs or names

a[Mwhms][-|+]N
     files accessed exactly N days ago.  Files accessed within the last
     N days are selected using a negative value for N (-N).  Files
     accessed more than N days ago are selected by a positive N value
     (+N).  Optional unit specifiers `M', `w', `h', `m' or `s' (e.g.
     `ah5') cause the check to be performed with months (of 30 days),
     weeks, hours, minutes or seconds instead of days, respectively.
     For instance, `echo *(ah-5)' would echo files accessed within the
     last five hours.

m[Mwhms][-|+]N
     like the file access qualifier, except that it uses the file
     modification time.

c[Mwhms][-|+]N
     like the file access qualifier, except that it uses the file inode
     change time.

L[+|-]N
     files less than N bytes (-), more than N bytes (+), or exactly N
     bytes in length. If this flag is directly followed by a `k' (`K'),
     `m' (`M'), or `p' (`P') (e.g. `Lk-50') the check is performed with
     kilobytes, megabytes, or blocks (of 512 bytes) instead.

^
     negates all qualifiers following it

-
     toggles between making the qualifiers work on symbolic links (the
     default) and the files they point to

M
     sets the MARK_DIRS option for the current pattern

T
     appends a trailing qualifier mark to the filenames, analogous to
     the LIST_TYPES option, for the current pattern (overrides M)

N
     sets the NULL_GLOB option for the current pattern

D
     sets the GLOB_DOTS option for the current pattern

n
     sets the NUMERIC_GLOB_SORT option for the current pattern

oC
     specifies how the names of the files should be sorted. If C is n
     they are sorted by name (the default); if it is L they are sorted
     depending on the size (length) of the files; if l they are sorted
     by the number of links; if a, m, or c they are sorted by the time
     of the last access, modification, or inode change respectively; if
     d, files in subdirectories appear before those in the current
     directory at each level of the search -- this is best combined
     with other criteria, for example `odon' to sort on names for files
     within the same directory.  Note that a, m, and c compare the age
     against the current time, hence the first name in the list is the
     youngest file. Also note that the modifiers ^ and - are used, so
     `*(^-oL)' gives a list of all files sorted by file size in
     descending order, following any symbolic links.

OC
     like `o', but sorts in descending order; i.e. `*(^oc)' is the same
     as `*(Oc)' and `*(^Oc)' is the same as `*(oc)'; `Od' puts files in
     the current directory before those in subdirectories at each level
     of the search.

[BEG[,END]]
     specifies which of the matched filenames should be included in the
     returned list. The syntax is the same as for array subscripts. BEG
     and the optional END may be mathematical expressions. As in
     parameter subscripting they may be negative to make them count
     from the last match backward. E.g.: `*(-OL[1,3])' gives a list of
     the names of the three largest files.


More than one of these lists can be combined, separated by commas. The
whole list matches if at least one of the sublists matches (they are
`or'ed, the qualifiers in the sublists are `and'ed).  Some qualifiers,
however, affect all matches generated, independent of the sublist in
which they are given.  These are the qualifiers `M', `T', `N', `D',
`n', `o', `O' and the subscripts given in brackets (`[...]').

If a `:' appears in a qualifier list, the remainder of the expression in
parenthesis is interpreted as a modifier (see *Note Modifiers:: in
*Note History Expansion::).  Note that each modifier must be introduced
by a separate `:'.  Note also that the result after modification does
not have to be an existing file.  The name of any existing file can be
followed by a modifier of the form `(:..)' even if no actual filename
generation is performed.  Thus:

     ls *(-/)

lists all directories and symbolic links that point to directories, and

     ls *(%W)

lists all world-writable device files in the current directory, and

     ls *(W,X)

lists all files in the current directory that are world-writable or
world-executable, and

     echo /tmp/foo*(u0^@:t)

outputs the basename of all root-owned files beginning with the string
`foo' in /tmp, ignoring symlinks, and

     ls *.*~(lex|parse).[ch](^D^l1)

lists all files having a link count of one whose names contain a dot
(but not those starting with a dot, since GLOB_DOTS is explicitly
switched off) except for lex.c, lex.h, parse.c and parse.h.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters,  Next: Options,  Prev: Expansion,  Up: Top

Parameters
**********

Description
===========

A parameter has a name, a value, and a number of attributes.  A name
may be any sequence of alphanumeric characters and underscores, or the
single characters `*', `@', `#', `?', `-', `$', or `!'.  The value may
be a _scalar_ (a string), an integer, an array (indexed numerically),
or an _associative_ array (an unordered set of name-value pairs,
indexed by name).  To declare the type of a parameter, or to assign a
scalar or integer value to a parameter, use the typeset builtin.

The value of a scalar or integer parameter may also be assigned by
writing:

     NAME=VALUE

If the integer attribute, -i, is set for NAME, the VALUE is subject to
arithmetic evaluation.  See *Note Array Parameters:: for additional
forms of assignment.

To refer to the value of a parameter, write `$NAME' or `${NAME}'.  See
*Note Parameter Expansion:: for complete details.

In the parameter lists that follow, the mark `<S>' indicates that the
parameter is special.  Special parameters cannot have their type
changed, and they stay special even if unset.  `<Z>' indicates that the
parameter does not exist when the shell initializes in sh or ksh
emulation mode.

* Menu:

* Array Parameters::
* Positional Parameters::
* Local Parameters::
* Parameters Set By The Shell::
* Parameters Used By The Shell::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Array Parameters,  Next: Positional Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Array Parameters
================

To assign an array value, write one of:

     set -A NAME VALUE ...

     NAME=(VALUE ...)

If no parameter NAME exists, an ordinary array parameter is created.
If the parameter NAME exists and is a scalar, it is replaced by a new
array.  Ordinary array parameters may also be explicitly declared with:

     typeset -a NAME

Associative arrays _must_ be declared before assignment, by using:

     typeset -A NAME

When NAME refers to an associative array, the list in an assignment is
interpreted as alternating keys and values:

     set -A NAME KEY VALUE ...

     NAME=(KEY VALUE ...)

Every KEY must have a VALUE in this case.  Note that this assigns to
the entire array, deleting any elements that do not appear in the list.

To create an empty array (including associative arrays), use one of:

     set -A NAME

     NAME=()

Array Subscripts
----------------

Individual elements of an array may be selected using a subscript.  A
subscript of the form `[EXP]' selects the single element EXP, where EXP
is an arithmetic expression which will be subject to arithmetic
expansion as if it were surrounded by `$((...))'.  The elements are
numbered beginning with 1, unless the KSH_ARRAYS option is set in which
case they are numbered from zero.

Subscripts may be used inside braces used to delimit a parameter name,
thus `${foo[2]}' is equivalent to `$foo[2]'.  If the KSH_ARRAYS option
is set, the braced form is the only one that works, as bracketed
expressions otherwise are not treated as subscripts.

The same subscripting syntax is used for associative arrays, except that
no arithmetic expansion is applied to EXP.  However, the parsing rules
for arithmetic expressions still apply, which affects the way that
certain special characters must be protected from interpretation.  See
_Subscript Parsing_ below for details.

A subscript of the form `[*]' or `[@]' evaluates to all elements of an
array; there is no difference between the two except when they appear
within double quotes.  `"$foo[*]"' evaluates to `"$foo[1] $foo[2]
..."', whereas `"$foo[@]"' evaluates to `"$foo[1]" "$foo[2]" ...'.  For
associative arrays, `[*]' or `[@]' evaluate to all the values (not the
keys, but see _Subscript Flags_ below), in no particular order.  When
an array parameter is referenced as `$NAME' (with no subscript) it
evaluates to `$NAME[*]', unless the KSH_ARRAYS option is set in which
case it evaluates to `${NAME[0]}' (for an associative array, this means
the value of the key `0', which may not exist even if there are values
for other keys).

A subscript of the form `[EXP1,EXP2]' selects all elements in the range
EXP1 to EXP2, inclusive. (Associative arrays are unordered, and so do
not support ranges.) If one of the subscripts evaluates to a negative
number, say -N, then the Nth element from the end of the array is used.
Thus `$foo[-3]' is the third element from the end of the array foo, and
`$foo[1,-1]' is the same as `$foo[*]'.

Subscripting may also be performed on non-array values, in which case
the subscripts specify a substring to be extracted.  For example, if
FOO is set to `foobar', then `echo $FOO[2,5]' prints `ooba'.

Array Element Assignment
------------------------

A subscript may be used on the left side of an assignment like so:

     NAME[EXP]=VALUE

In this form of assignment the element or range specified by EXP is
replaced by the expression on the right side.  An array (but not an
associative array) may be created by assignment to a range or element.
Arrays do not nest, so assigning a parenthesized list of values to an
element or range changes the number of elements in the array, shifting
the other elements to accommodate the new values.  (This is not
supported for associative arrays.)

This syntax also works as an argument to the typeset command:

     typeset "NAME[EXP]"=VALUE

The VALUE may _not_ be a parenthesized list in this case; only
single-element assignments may be made with typeset.  Note that quotes
are necessary in this case to prevent the brackets from being
interpreted as filename generation operators.  The noglob precommand
modifier could be used instead.

To delete an element of an ordinary array, assign `()' to that element.
To delete an element of an associative array, use the unset command:

     unset "NAME[EXP]"

Subscript Flags
---------------

If the opening bracket, or the comma in a range, in any subscript
expression is directly followed by an opening parenthesis, the string up
to the matching closing one is considered to be a list of flags, as in
`NAME[(FLAGS)EXP]'.  The flags currently understood are:

w
     If the parameter subscripted is a scalar than this flag makes
     subscripting work on words instead of characters.  The default word
     separator is whitespace.

s:STRING:
     This gives the STRING that separates words (for use with the w
     flag).

p
     Recognize the same escape sequences as the print builtin in the
     string argument of a subsequent `s' flag.

f
     If the parameter subscripted is a scalar than this flag makes
     subscripting work on lines instead of characters, i.e. with
     elements separated by newlines.  This is a shorthand for `pws:\n:'.

r
     Reverse subscripting: if this flag is given, the EXP is taken as a
     pattern and the result is the first matching array element,
     substring or word (if the parameter is an array, if it is a
     scalar, or if it is a scalar and the `w' flag is given,
     respectively).  The subscript used is the number of the matching
     element, so that pairs of subscripts such as `$foo[(r)??,3]' and
     `$foo[(r)??,(r)f*]' are possible.  If the parameter is an
     associative array, only the value part of each pair is compared to
     the pattern, and the result is that value.  Reverse subscripts may
     be used for assigning to ordinary array elements, but not for
     assigning to associative arrays.

R
     Like `r', but gives the last match.  For associative arrays, gives
     all possible matches.

i
     Like `r', but gives the index of the match instead; this may not be
     combined with a second argument.  On the left side of an
     assignment, behaves like `r'.  For associative arrays, the key
     part of each pair is compared to the pattern, and the first
     matching key found is the result.

I
     Like `i', but gives the index of the last match, or all possible
     matching keys in an associative array.

k
     If used in a subscript on an associative array, this flag causes
     the keys to be interpreted as patterns, and returns the value for
     the first key found where EXP is matched by the key.  This flag
     does not work on the left side of an assignment to an associative
     array element.  If used on another type of parameter, this behaves
     like `r'.

K
     On an associative array this is like `k' but returns all values
     where EXP is matched by the keys.  On other types of parameters
     this has the same effect as `R'.

n:EXPR:
     If combined with `r', `R', `i' or `I', makes them give the Nth or
     Nth last match (if EXPR evaluates to N).  This flag is ignored
     when the array is associative.

b:EXPR:
     If combined with `r', `R', `i' or `I', makes them begin at the Nth
     or Nth last element, word, or character (if EXPR evaluates to N).
     This flag is ignored when the array is associative.

e
     This flag has no effect and for ordinary arrays is retained for
     backward compatibility only.  For associative arrays, this flag
     can be used to force * or @ to be interpreted as a single key
     rather than as a reference to all values.  This flag may be used
     on the left side of an assignment.


See _Parameter Expansion Flags_ (*Note Parameter Expansion::) for
additional ways to manipulate the results of array subscripting.

Subscript Parsing
-----------------

This discussion applies mainly to associative array key strings and to
patterns used for reverse subscripting (the `r', `R', `i', etc. flags),
but it may also affect parameter substitutions that appear as part of
an arithmetic expression in an ordinary subscript.

The basic rule to remember when writing a subscript expression is that
all text between the opening `[' and the closing `]' is interpreted _as
if_ it were in double quotes (*Note Quoting::).  However, unlike double
quotes which normally cannot nest, subscript expressions may appear
inside double-quoted strings or inside other subscript expressions (or
both!), so the rules have two important differences.

The first difference is that brackets (`[' and `]') must appear as
balanced pairs in a subscript expression unless they are preceded by a
backslash (`\').  Therefore, within a subscript expression (and unlike
true double-quoting) the sequence `\[' becomes `[', and similarly `\]'
becomes `]'.  This applies even in cases where a backslash is not
normally required; for example, the pattern `[^[]' (to match any
character other than an open bracket) should be written `[^\[]' in a
reverse-subscript pattern.  However, note that `\[^\[\]' and even
`\[^[]' mean the _same_ thing, because backslashes are always stripped
when they appear before brackets!

The same rule applies to parentheses (`(' and `)') and braces (`{' and
`}'): they must appear either in balanced pairs or preceded by a
backslash, and backslashes that protect parentheses or braces are
removed during parsing.  This is because parameter expansions may be
surrounded balanced braces, and subscript flags are introduced by
balanced parenthesis.

The second difference is that a double-quote (`"') may appear as part
of a subscript expression without being preceded by a backslash, and
therefore that the two characters `\"' remain as two characters in the
subscript (in true double-quoting, `\"' becomes `"').  However, because
of the standard shell quoting rules, any double-quotes that appear must
occur in balanced pairs unless preceded by a backslash.  This makes it
more difficult to write a subscript expression that contains an odd
number of double-quote characters, but the reason for this difference is
so that when a subscript expression appears inside true double-quotes,
one can still write `\"' (rather than `\\\"') for `"'.

To use an odd number of double quotes as a key in an assignment, use the
typeset builtin and an enclosing pair of double quotes; to refer to the
value of that key, again use double quotes:

     typeset -A aa
     typeset "aa[one\"two\"three\"quotes]"=QQQ
     print "$aa[one\"two\"three\"quotes]"

It is important to note that the quoting rules do not change when a
parameter expansion with a subscript is nested inside another subscript
expression.  That is, it is not necessary to use additional backslashes
within the inner subscript expression; they are removed only once, from
the innermost subscript outwards.  Parameters are also expanded from the
innermost subscript first, as each expansion is encountered left to
right in the outer expression.

A further complication arises from a way in which subscript parsing is
_not_ different from double quote parsing.  As in true double-quoting,
the sequences `\*', and `\@' remain as two characters when they appear
in a subscript expression.  To use a literal `*' or `@' as an
associative array key, the `e' flag must be used:

     typeset -A aa
     aa[(e)*]=star
     print $aa[(e)*]

A last detail must be considered when reverse subscripting is performed.
Parameters appearing in the subscript expression are first expanded and
then the complete expression is interpreted as a pattern.  This has two
effects: first, parameters behave as if GLOB_SUBST were on (and it
cannot be turned off); second, backslashes are interpreted twice, once
when parsing the array subscript and again when parsing the pattern.
In a reverse subscript, it's necessary to use _four_ backslashes to
cause a single backslash to match literally in the pattern.  For
complex patterns, it is often easiest to assign the desired pattern to
a parameter and then refer to that parameter in the subscript, because
then the backslashes, brackets, parentheses, etc., are seen only when
the complete expression is converted to a pattern.  To match the value
of a parameter literally in a reverse subscript, rather than as a
pattern, use `${(q)NAME}' (*Note Parameter Expansion::) to quote the
expanded value.

Note that the `k' and `K' flags are reverse subscripting for an
ordinary array, but are _not_ reverse subscripting for an associative
array!  (For an associative array, the keys in the array itself are
interpreted as patterns by those flags; the subscript is a plain string
in that case.)

One final note, not directly related to subscripting: the numeric names
of positional parameters (*Note Positional Parameters::) are parsed
specially, so for example `$2foo' is equivalent to `${2}foo'.
Therefore, to use subscript syntax to extract a substring from a
positional parameter, the expansion must be surrounded by braces; for
example, `${2[3,5]}' evaluates to the third through fifth characters of
the second positional parameter, but `$2[3,5]' is the entire second
parameter concatenated with the filename generation pattern `[3,5]'.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Positional Parameters,  Next: Local Parameters,  Prev: Array Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Positional Parameters
=====================

The positional parameters provide access to the command-line arguments
of a shell function, shell script, or the shell itself; see *Note
Invocation::, and also *Note Functions::.  The parameter N, where N is
a number, is the Nth positional parameter.  The parameters *, @ and
argv are arrays containing all the positional parameters; thus
`$argv[N]', etc., is equivalent to simply `$N'.

Positional parameters may be changed after the shell or function starts
by using the set builtin, by assigning to the argv array, or by direct
assignment of the form `N=VALUE' where N is the number of the
positional parameter to be changed.  This also creates (with empty
values) any of the positions from 1 to N that do not already have
values.  Note that, because the positional parameters form an array, an
array assignment of the form `N=(VALUE ...)' is allowed, and has the
effect of shifting all the values at positions greater than N by as
many positions as necessary to accommodate the new values.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Local Parameters,  Next: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Prev: Positional Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Local Parameters
================

Shell function executions delimit scopes for shell parameters.
(Parameters are dynamically scoped.)  The typeset builtin, and its
alternative forms declare, integer, local and readonly (but not
export), can be used to declare a parameter as being local to the
innermost scope.

When a parameter is read or assigned to, the innermost existing
parameter of that name is used.  (That is, the local parameter hides
any less-local parameter.)  However, assigning to a non-existent
parameter, or declaring a new parameter with export, causes it to be
created in the _outer_most scope.

Local parameters disappear when their scope ends.  unset can be used to
delete a parameter while it is still in scope; any outer parameter of
the same name remains hidden.

Special parameters may also be made local; they retain their special
attributes unless either the existing or the newly-created parameter
has the -h (hide) attribute.  This may have unexpected effects: there
is no default value, so if there is no assignment at the point the
variable is made local, it will be set to an empty value (or zero in
the case of integers).  The following:

     typeset PATH=/new/directory:$PATH

is valid for temporarily allowing the shell or programmes called from
it to find the programs in /new/directory inside a function.

Note that the restriction in older versions of zsh that local parameters
were never exported has been removed.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Next: Parameters Used By The Shell,  Prev: Local Parameters,  Up: Parameters

Parameters Set By The Shell
===========================

The following parameters are automatically set by the shell:

! <S>
     The process ID of the last background command invoked.

# <S>
     The number of positional parameters in decimal.  Note that some
     confusion may occur with the syntax $#PARAM which substitutes the
     length of PARAM.  Use ${#} to resolve ambiguities.  In particular,
     the sequence `$#-...' in an arithmetic expression is interpreted as
     the length of the parameter -, q.v.

ARGC <S> <Z>
     Same as #.

$ <S>
     The process ID of this shell.

- <S>
     Flags supplied to the shell on invocation or by the set or setopt
     commands.

* <S>
     An array containing the positional parameters.

argv <S> <Z>
     Same as *.  Assigning to argv changes the local positional
     parameters, but argv is _not_ itself a local parameter.  Deleting
     argv with unset in any function deletes it everywhere, although
     only the innermost positional parameter array is deleted (so * and
     @ in other scopes are not affected).

@ <S>
     Same as argv[@], even when argv is not set.

? <S>
     The exit value returned by the last command.

0 <S>
     The name used to invoke the current shell.  If the
     FUNCTION_ARGZERO option is set, this is set temporarily within a
     shell function to the name of the function, and within a sourced
     script to the name of the script.

status <S> <Z>
     Same as ?.

pipestatus <S> <Z>
     An array containing the exit values returned by all commands in the
     last pipeline.

_ <S>
     The last argument of the previous command.  Also, this parameter
     is set in the environment of every command executed to the full
     pathname of the command.

CPUTYPE
     The machine type (microprocessor class or machine model), as
     determined at run time.

EGID <S>
     The effective group ID of the shell process.  If you have
     sufficient privileges, you may change the effective group ID of
     the shell process by assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming
     sufficient privileges), you may start a single command with a
     different effective group ID by `(EGID=GID; command)'

EUID <S>
     The effective user ID of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the effective user ID of the shell
     process by assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient
     privileges), you may start a single command with a different
     effective user ID by `(EUID=UID; command)'

ERRNO <S>
     The value of errno (see man page errno(3)) as set by the most
     recently failed system call.  This value is system dependent and
     is intended for debugging purposes.

GID <S>
     The real group ID of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the group ID of the shell process by
     assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient
     privileges), you may start a single command under a different
     group ID by `(GID=GID; command)'

HOST
     The current hostname.

LINENO <S>
     The line number of the current line within the current script,
     sourced file, or shell function being executed, whichever was
     started most recently.  Note that in the case of shell functions
     the line number refers to the function as it appeared in the
     original definition, not necessarily as displayed by the functions
     builtin.

LOGNAME
     If the corresponding variable is not set in the environment of the
     shell, it is initialized to the login name corresponding to the
     current login session. This parameter is exported by default but
     this can be disabled using the typeset builtin.

MACHTYPE
     The machine type (microprocessor class or machine model), as
     determined at compile time.

OLDPWD
     The previous working directory.  This is set when the shell
     initializes and whenever the directory changes.

OPTARG <S>
     The value of the last option argument processed by the getopts
     command.

OPTIND <S>
     The index of the last option argument processed by the getopts
     command.

OSTYPE
     The operating system, as determined at compile time.

PPID <S>
     The process ID of the parent of the shell.

PWD
     The present working directory.  This is set when the shell
     initializes and whenever the directory changes.

RANDOM <S>
     A random integer from 0 to 32767, newly generated each time this
     parameter is referenced.  The random number generator can be
     seeded by assigning a numeric value to RANDOM.

SECONDS <S>
     The number of seconds since shell invocation.  If this parameter
     is assigned a value, then the value returned upon reference will
     be the value that was assigned plus the number of seconds since
     the assignment.

SHLVL <S>
     Incremented by one each time a new shell is started.

signals
     An array containing the names of the signals.

TTY
     The name of the tty associated with the shell, if any.

TTYIDLE <S>
     The idle time of the tty associated with the shell in seconds or
     -1 if there is no such tty.

UID <S>
     The real user ID of the shell process.  If you have sufficient
     privileges, you may change the user ID of the shell by assigning
     to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient privileges), you may
     start a single command under a different user ID by `(UID=UID;
     command)'

USERNAME <S>
     The username corresponding to the real user ID of the shell
     process.  If you have sufficient privileges, you may change the
     username (and also the user ID and group ID) of the shell by
     assigning to this parameter.  Also (assuming sufficient
     privileges), you may start a single command under a different
     username (and user ID and group ID) by `(USERNAME=USERNAME;
     command)'

VENDOR
     The vendor, as determined at compile time.

ZSH_NAME
     Expands to the basename of the command used to invoke this instance
     of zsh.

ZSH_VERSION
     The version number of this zsh.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Parameters Used By The Shell,  Prev: Parameters Set By The Shell,  Up: Parameters

Parameters Used By The Shell
============================

The following parameters are used by the shell.

In cases where there are two parameters with an upper- and lowercase
form of the same name, such as path and PATH, the lowercase form is an
array and the uppercase form is a scalar with the elements of the array
joined together by colons.  These are similar to tied parameters
created via `typeset -T'.  The normal use for the colon-separated form
is for exporting to the environment, while the array form is easier to
manipulate within the shell.  Note that unsetting either of the pair
will unset the other; they retain their special properties when
recreated, and recreating one of the pair will recreate the other.

ARGV0
     If exported, its value is used as the argv[0] of external commands.
     Usually used in constructs like `ARGV0=emacs nethack'.

BAUD
     The baud rate of the current connection.  Used by the line editor
     update mechanism to compensate for a slow terminal by delaying
     updates until necessary.  This may be profitably set to a lower
     value in some circumstances, e.g.  for slow modems dialing into a
     communications server which is connected to a host via a fast
     link; in this case, this variable would be set by default to the
     speed of the fast link, and not the modem.  This parameter should
     be set to the baud rate of the slowest part of the link for best
     performance. The compensation mechanism can be turned off by
     setting the variable to zero.

cdpath <S> <Z> (CDPATH <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories specifying the
     search path for the cd command.

COLUMNS <S>
     The number of columns for this terminal session.  Used for
     printing select lists and for the line editor.

DIRSTACKSIZE
     The maximum size of the directory stack.  If the stack gets larger
     than this, it will be truncated automatically.  This is useful
     with the AUTO_PUSHD option.

FCEDIT
     The default editor for the fc builtin.

fignore <S> <Z> (FIGNORE <S>)
     An array (colon separated list) containing the suffixes of files
     to be ignored during filename completion.  However, if completion
     only generates files with suffixes in this list, then these files
     are completed anyway.

fpath <S> <Z> (FPATH <S>)
     An array (colon separated list) of directories specifying the
     search path for function definitions.  This path is searched when
     a function with the -u attribute is referenced.  If an executable
     file is found, then it is read and executed in the current
     environment.

histchars <S>
     Three characters used by the shell's history and lexical analysis
     mechanism.  The first character signals the start of a history
     expansion (default `!').  The second character signals the start
     of a quick history substitution (default `^').  The third
     character is the comment character (default `#').

HISTCHARS <S> <Z>
     Same as histchars.  (Deprecated.)

HISTFILE
     The file to save the history in when an interactive shell exits.
     If unset, the history is not saved.

HISTSIZE <S>
     The maximum number of events stored in the internal history list.
     If you use the HIST_EXPIRE_DUPS_FIRST option, setting this value
     larger than the SAVEHIST size will give you the difference as a
     cushion for saving duplicated history events.

HOME <S>
     The default argument for the cd command.

IFS <S>
     Internal field separators (by default space, tab, newline and
     NUL), that are used to separate words which result from command or
     parameter expansion and words read by the read builtin.  Any
     characters from the set space, tab and newline that appear in the
     IFS are called _IFS white space_.  One or more IFS white space
     characters or one non-IFS white space character together with any
     adjacent IFS white space character delimit a field.  If an IFS
     white space character appears twice consecutively in the IFS, this
     character is treated as if it were not an IFS white space
     character.

KEYTIMEOUT
     The time the shell waits, in hundredths of seconds, for another
     key to be pressed when reading bound multi-character sequences.

LANG <S>
     This variable determines the locale category for any category not
     specifically selected via a variable starting with `LC_'.

LC_ALL <S>
     This variable overrides the value of the `LANG' variable and the
     value of any of the other variables starting with `LC_'.

LC_COLLATE <S>
     This variable determines the locale category for character
     collation information within ranges in glob brackets and for
     sorting.

LC_CTYPE <S>
     This variable determines the locale category for character handling
     functions.

LC_MESSAGES <S>
     This variable determines the language in which messages should be
     written.  Note that zsh does not use message catalogs.

LC_NUMERIC <S>
     This variable affects the decimal point character and thousands
     separator character for the formatted input/output functions and
     string conversion functions.  Note that zsh ignores this setting
     when parsing floating point mathematical expressions.

LC_TIME <S>
     This variable determines the locale category for date and time
     formatting in prompt escape sequences.

LINES <S>
     The number of lines for this terminal session.  Used for printing
     select lists and for the line editor.

LISTMAX
     In the line editor, the number of matches to list without asking
     first. If the value is negative, the list will be shown if it
     spans at most as many lines as given by the absolute value.  If
     set to zero, the shell asks only if the top of the listing would
     scroll off the screen.

LOGCHECK
     The interval in seconds between checks for login/logout activity
     using the watch parameter.

MAIL
     If this parameter is set and mailpath is not set, the shell looks
     for mail in the specified file.

MAILCHECK
     The interval in seconds between checks for new mail.

mailpath <S> <Z> (MAILPATH <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) of filenames to check for new
     mail.  Each filename can be followed by a `?' and a message that
     will be printed.  The message will undergo parameter expansion,
     command substitution and arithmetic expansion with the variable $_
     defined as the name of the file that has changed.  The default
     message is `You have new mail'.  If an element is a directory
     instead of a file the shell will recursively check every file in
     every subdirectory of the element.

manpath <S> <Z> (MANPATH <S> <Z>)
     An array (colon-separated list) whose value is not used by the
     shell.  The manpath array can be useful, however, since setting it
     also sets MANPATH, and vice versa.

module_path <S> <Z> (MODULE_PATH <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories that zmodload
     searches for dynamically loadable modules.  This is initialized to
     a standard pathname, usually `/usr/local/lib/zsh/$ZSH_VERSION'.
     (The `/usr/local/lib' part varies from installation to
     installation.)  For security reasons, any value set in the
     environment when the shell is started will be ignored.

     These parameters only exist if the installation supports dynamic
     module loading.

NULLCMD <S>
     The command name to assume if a redirection is specified with no
     command.  Defaults to cat.  For `sh'/`ksh' behavior, change this
     to :.  For `csh'-like behavior, unset this parameter; the shell
     will print an error message if null commands are entered.

path <S> <Z> (PATH <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) of directories to search for
     commands.  When this parameter is set, each directory is scanned
     and all files found are put in a hash table.

POSTEDIT <S>
     This string is output whenever the line editor exits.  It usually
     contains termcap strings to reset the terminal.

PROMPT <S> <Z>
PROMPT2 <S> <Z>
PROMPT3 <S> <Z>
PROMPT4 <S> <Z>
     Same as PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4, respectively.

prompt <S> <Z>
     Same as PS1.

PS1 <S>
     The primary prompt string, printed before a command is read.  the
     default is `%m%# '.  It undergoes a special form of expansion
     before being displayed; see *Note Prompt Expansion::.

PS2 <S>
     The secondary prompt, printed when the shell needs more information
     to complete a command.  It is expanded in the same way as PS1.
     The default is `%_> ', which displays any shell constructs or
     quotation marks which are currently being processed.

PS3 <S>
     Selection prompt used within a select loop.  It is expanded in the
     same way as PS1.  The default is `?# '.

PS4 <S>
     The execution trace prompt.  Default is `+%N:%i> ', which displays
     the name of the current shell structure and the line number within
     it.  In sh or ksh emulation, the default is `+ '.

psvar <S> <Z> (PSVAR <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) whose first nine values can be
     used in PROMPT strings.  Setting psvar also sets PSVAR, and vice
     versa.

READNULLCMD <S>
     The command name to assume if a single input redirection is
     specified with no command.  Defaults to more.

REPORTTIME
     If nonnegative, commands whose combined user and system execution
     times (measured in seconds) are greater than this value have timing
     statistics printed for them.

REPLY
     This parameter is reserved by convention to pass string values
     between shell scripts and shell builtins in situations where a
     function call or redirection are impossible or undesirable.  The
     read builtin and the select complex command may set REPLY, and
     filename generation both sets and examines its value when
     evaluating certain expressions.  Some modules also employ REPLY
     for similar purposes.

reply
     As REPLY, but for array values rather than strings.

RPROMPT <S>
RPS1 <S>
     This prompt is displayed on the right-hand side of the screen when
     the primary prompt is being displayed on the left.  This does not
     work if the SINGLELINEZLE option is set.  It is expanded in the
     same way as PS1.

SAVEHIST
     The maximum number of history events to save in the history file.

SPROMPT <S>
     The prompt used for spelling correction.  The sequence `%R'
     expands to the string which presumably needs spelling correction,
     and `%r' expands to the proposed correction.  All other prompt
     escapes are also allowed.

STTY
     If this parameter is set in a command's environment, the shell
     runs the stty command with the value of this parameter as
     arguments in order to set up the terminal before executing the
     command. The modes apply only to the command, and are reset when
     it finishes or is suspended. If the command is suspended and
     continued later with the fg or wait builtins it will see the modes
     specified by STTY, as if it were not suspended.  This
     (intentionally) does not apply if the command is continued via
     `kill -CONT'.  STTY is ignored if the command is run in the
     background, or if it is in the environment of the shell but not
     explicitly assigned to in the input line. This avoids running stty
     at every external command by accidentally exporting it. Also note
     that STTY should not be used for window size specifications; these
     will not be local to the command.

TERM <S>
     The type of terminal in use.  This is used when looking up termcap
     sequences.  An assignment to TERM causes zsh to re-initialize the
     terminal, even if the value does not change (e.g., `TERM=$TERM').
     It is necessary to make such an assignment upon any change to the
     terminal definition database or terminal type in order for the new
     settings to take effect.

TIMEFMT
     The format of process time reports with the time keyword.  The
     default is `%E real  %U user  %S system  %P %J'.  Recognizes the
     following escape sequences:

    %%
          A `%'.

    %U
          CPU seconds spent in user mode.

    %S
          CPU seconds spent in kernel mode.

    %E
          Elapsed time in seconds.

    %P
          The CPU percentage, computed as (%U+%S)/%E.

    %J
          The name of this job.

     A star may be inserted between the percent sign and flags printing
     time.  This cause the time to be printed in `HH:MM:SS.TTT' format
     (hours and minutes are only printed if they are not zero).

TMOUT
     If this parameter is nonzero, the shell will receive an ALRM
     signal if a command is not entered within the specified number of
     seconds after issuing a prompt. If there is a trap on SIGALRM, it
     will be executed and a new alarm is scheduled using the value of
     the TMOUT parameter after executing the trap.  If no trap is set,
     and the idle time of the terminal is not less than the value of the
     TMOUT parameter, zsh terminates.  Otherwise a new alarm is
     scheduled to TMOUT seconds after the last keypress.

TMPPREFIX
     A pathname prefix which the shell will use for all temporary files.
     Note that this should include an initial part for the file name as
     well as any directory names.  The default is `/tmp/zsh'.

watch <S> <Z> (WATCH <S>)
     An array (colon-separated list) of login/logout events to report.
     If it contains the single word `all', then all login/logout events
     are reported.  If it contains the single word `notme', then all
     events are reported as with `all' except $USERNAME.  An entry in
     this list may consist of a username, an `@' followed by a remote
     hostname, and a `%' followed by a line (tty).  Any or all of these
     components may be present in an entry; if a login/logout event
     matches all of them, it is reported.

WATCHFMT
     The format of login/logout reports if the watch parameter is set.
     Default is `%n has %a %l from %m'.  Recognizes the following
     escape sequences:

    %n
          The name of the user that logged in/out.

    %a
          The observed action, i.e. "logged on" or "logged off".

    %l
          The line (tty) the user is logged in on.

    %M
          The full hostname of the remote host.

    %m
          The hostname up to the first `.'.  If only the IP address is
          available or the utmp field contains the name of an X-windows
          display, the whole name is printed.

          _NOTE:_ The `%m' and `%M' escapes will work only if there is
          a host name field in the utmp on your machine.  Otherwise
          they are treated as ordinary strings.

    %S (%s)
          Start (stop) standout mode.

    %U (%u)
          Start (stop) underline mode.

    %B (%b)
          Start (stop) boldface mode.

    %t
    %@
          The time, in 12-hour, am/pm format.

    %T
          The time, in 24-hour format.

    %w
          The date in `DAY-DD' format.

    %W
          The date in `MM/DD/YY' format.

    %D
          The date in `YY-MM-DD' format.

    %(X:TRUE-TEXT:FALSE-TEXT)
          Specifies a ternary expression.  The character following the
          X is arbitrary; the same character is used to separate the
          text for the "true" result from that for the "false" result.
          Both the separator and the right parenthesis may be escaped
          with a backslash.  Ternary expressions may be nested.

          The test character X may be any one of `l', `n', `m' or `M',
          which indicate a `true' result if the corresponding escape
          sequence would return a non-empty value; or it may be `a',
          which indicates a `true' result if the watched user has
          logged in, or `false' if he has logged out.  Other characters
          evaluate to neither true nor false; the entire expression is
          omitted in this case.

          If the result is `true', then the TRUE-TEXT is formatted
          according to the rules above and printed, and the FALSE-TEXT
          is skipped.  If `false', the TRUE-TEXT is skipped and the
          FALSE-TEXT is formatted and printed.  Either or both of the
          branches may be empty, but both separators must be present in
          any case.


WORDCHARS <S>
     A list of non-alphanumeric characters considered part of a word by
     the line editor.

ZBEEP
     If set, this gives a string of characters, which can use all the
     same codes as the bindkey command as described in *Note The
     zsh/zle Module::, that will be output to the terminal instead of
     beeping.  This may have a visible instead of an audible effect;
     for example, the string `\e[?5h\e[?5l' on a vt100 or xterm will
     have the effect of flashing reverse video on and off (if you
     usually use reverse video, you should use the string
     `\e[?5l\e[?5h' instead).  This takes precedence over the NOBEEP
     option.

ZDOTDIR
     The directory to search for shell startup files (.zshrc, etc), if
     not $HOME.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Options,  Next: Shell Builtin Commands,  Prev: Parameters,  Up: Top

Options
*******

* Menu:

* Specifying Options::
* Description of Options::
* Option Aliases::
* Single Letter Options::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Specifying Options,  Next: Description of Options,  Up: Options

Specifying Options
==================

Options are primarily referred to by name.  These names are case
insensitive and underscores are ignored.  For example, `allexport' is
equivalent to `A__lleXP_ort'.

The sense of an option name may be inverted by preceding it with `no',
so `setopt No_Beep' is equivalent to `unsetopt beep'.  This inversion
can only be done once, so `nonobeep' is _not_ a synonym for `beep'.
Similarly, `tify' is not a synonym for `nonotify' (the inversion of
`notify').

Some options also have one or more single letter names.  There are two
sets of single letter options: one used by default, and another used to
emulate `sh'/`ksh' (used when the SH_OPTION_LETTERS option is set).
The single letter options can be used on the shell command line, or
with the set, setopt and unsetopt builtins, as normal Unix options
preceded by `-'.

The sense of the single letter options may be inverted by using `+'
instead of `-'.  Some of the single letter option names refer to an
option being off, in which case the inversion of that name refers to
the option being on.  For example, `+n' is the short name of `exec', and
`-n' is the short name of its inversion, `noexec'.

In strings of single letter options supplied to the shell at startup,
trailing whitespace will be ignored; for example the string `-f    '
will be treated just as `-f', but the string `-f i' is an error.  This
is because many systems which implement the `#!' mechanism for calling
scripts do not strip trailing whitespace.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Description of Options,  Next: Option Aliases,  Prev: Specifying Options,  Up: Options

Description of Options
======================

In the following list, options set by default in all emulations are
marked <D>; those set by default only in csh, ksh, sh, or zsh
emulations are marked <C>, <K>, <S>, <Z> as appropriate.  When listing
options (by `setopt', `unsetopt', `set -o' or `set +o'), those turned
on by default appear in the list prefixed with `no'.  Hence (unless
KSH_OPTION_PRINT is set), `setopt' shows all options whose settings are
changed from the default.

ALIASES <D>
     Expand aliases.

ALL_EXPORT (-a, ksh: -a)
     All parameters subsequently defined are automatically exported.

ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT <D>
     If unset, key functions that list completions try to return to the
     last prompt if given a numeric argument. If set these functions
     try to return to the last prompt if given _no_ numeric argument.

ALWAYS_TO_END
     If a completion is performed with the cursor within a word, and a
     full completion is inserted, the cursor is moved to the end of the
     word.  That is, the cursor is moved to the end of the word if
     either a single match is inserted or menu completion is performed.

APPEND_HISTORY <D>
     If this is set, zsh sessions will append their history list to the
     history file, rather than overwrite it. Thus, multiple parallel
     zsh sessions will all have their history lists added to the
     history file, in the order they are killed.

AUTO_CD (-J)
     If a command is issued that can't be executed as a normal command,
     and the command is the name of a directory, perform the cd command
     to that directory.

AUTO_LIST (-9) <D>
     Automatically list choices on an ambiguous completion.

AUTO_MENU <D>
     Automatically use menu completion after the second consecutive
     request for completion, for example by pressing the tab key
     repeatedly. This option is overridden by MENU_COMPLETE.

AUTO_NAME_DIRS
     Any parameter that is set to the absolute name of a directory
     immediately becomes a name for that directory, that will be used
     by the `%~' and related prompt sequences, and will be available
     when completion is performed on a word starting with `~'.
     (Otherwise, the parameter must be used in the form `~PARAM' first.)

AUTO_PARAM_KEYS <D>
     If a parameter name was completed and a following character
     (normally a space) automatically inserted, and the next character
     typed is one of those that have to come directly after the name
     (like `}', `:', etc.), the automatically added character is
     deleted, so that the character typed comes immediately after the
     parameter name.  Completion in a brace expansion is affected
     similarly: the added character is a `,', which will be removed if
     `}' is typed next.

AUTO_PARAM_SLASH <D>
     If a parameter is completed whose content is the name of a
     directory, then add a trailing slash instead of a space.

AUTO_PUSHD (-N)
     Make cd push the old directory onto the directory stack.

AUTO_REMOVE_SLASH <D>
     When the last character resulting from a completion is a slash and
     the next character typed is a word delimiter, a slash, or a
     character that ends a command (such as a semicolon or an
     ampersand), remove the slash.

AUTO_RESUME (-W)
     Treat single word simple commands without redirection as
     candidates for resumption of an existing job.

BAD_PATTERN (+2) <C> <Z>
     If a pattern for filename generation is badly formed, print an
     error message.  (If this option is unset, the pattern will be left
     unchanged.)

BANG_HIST (+K) <C> <Z>
     Perform textual history expansion, `csh'-style, treating the
     character `!' specially.

BARE_GLOB_QUAL <Z>
     In a glob pattern, treat a trailing set of parentheses as a
     qualifier list, if it contains no `|', `(' or (if special) `~'
     characters.  See *Note Filename Generation::.

BASH_AUTO_LIST
     On an ambiguous completion, automatically list choices when the
     completion function is called twice in succession.  This takes
     precedence over AUTO_LIST.  The setting of LIST_AMBIGUOUS is
     respected.  If AUTO_MENU is set, the menu behaviour will then start
     with the third press.  Note that this will not work with
     MENU_COMPLETE, since repeated completion calls immediately cycle
     through the list in that case.

BEEP (+B) <D>
     Beep on error in ZLE.

BG_NICE (-6) <C> <Z>
     Run all background jobs at a lower priority.  This option is set
     by default.

BRACE_CCL
     Expand expressions in braces which would not otherwise undergo
     brace expansion to a lexically ordered list of all the characters.
     See *Note Brace Expansion::.

BSD_ECHO <S>
     Make the echo builtin compatible with the BSD man page echo(1)
     command.  This disables backslashed escape sequences in echo
     strings unless the -e option is specified.

C_BASES
     Output hexadecimal numbers in the standard C format, for example
     `0xFF' instead of the usual `16#FF'.  If the option OCTAL_ZEROES
     is also set (it is not by default), octal numbers will be treated
     similarly and hence appear as `077' instead of `8#77'.  This
     option has no effect on the choice of the output base, nor on the
     output of bases other than hexadecimal and octal.  Note that these
     formats will be understood on input irrespective of the setting of
     C_BASES.

CDABLE_VARS (-T)
     If the argument to a cd command (or an implied cd with the AUTO_CD
     option set) is not a directory, and does not begin with a slash,
     try to expand the expression as if it were preceded by a `~' (see
     *Note Filename Expansion::).

CHASE_DOTS
     When changing to a directory containing a path segment `..' which
     would otherwise be treated as canceling the previous segment in
     the path (in other words, `foo/..' would be removed from the path,
     or if `..' is the first part of the path, the last part of $PWD
     would be deleted), instead resolve the path to the physical
     directory.  This option is overridden by CHASE_LINKS.

     For example, suppose /foo/bar is a link to the directory /alt/rod.
     Without this option set, `cd /foo/bar/..' changes to /foo; with it
     set, it changes to /alt.  The same applies if the current directory
     is /foo/bar and `cd ..' is used.  Note that all other symbolic
     links in the path will also be resolved.

CHASE_LINKS (-w)
     Resolve symbolic links to their true values when changing
     directory.  This also has the effect of CHASE_DOTS, i.e. a `..'
     path segment will be treated as referring to the physical parent,
     even if the preceding path segment is a symbolic link.

CHECK_JOBS <Z>
     Report the status of background and suspended jobs before exiting
     a shell with job control; a second attempt to exit the shell will
     succeed.  NO_CHECK_JOBS is best used only in combination with
     NO_HUP, else such jobs will be killed automatically.

     The check is omitted if the commands run from the previous command
     line included a `jobs' command, since it is assumed the user is
     aware that there are background or suspended jobs.  A `jobs'
     command run from the precmd function is not counted for this
     purpose.

CLOBBER (+C, ksh: +C) <D>
     Allows `>' redirection to truncate existing files, and `>>' to
     create files.  Otherwise `>!' or `>|' must be used to truncate a
     file, and `>>!' or `>>|' to create a file.

COMPLETE_ALIASES
     Prevents aliases on the command line from being internally
     substituted before completion is attempted.  The effect is to make
     the alias a distinct command for completion purposes.

COMPLETE_IN_WORD
     If unset, the cursor is set to the end of the word if completion is
     started. Otherwise it stays there and completion is done from both
     ends.

CORRECT (-0)
     Try to correct the spelling of commands.

CORRECT_ALL (-O)
     Try to correct the spelling of all arguments in a line.

CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY <C>
     A history reference without an event specifier will always refer
     to the previous command.  Without this option, such a history
     reference refers to the same event as the previous history
     reference, defaulting to the previous command.

CSH_JUNKIE_LOOPS <C>
     Allow loop bodies to take the form `LIST; end' instead of `do
     LIST; done'.

CSH_JUNKIE_QUOTES <C>
     Changes the rules for single- and double-quoted text to match that
     of `csh'.  These require that embedded newlines be preceded by a
     backslash; unescaped newlines will cause an error message.  In
     double-quoted strings, it is made impossible to escape `$', ``' or
     `"' (and `\' itself no longer needs escaping).  Command
     substitutions are only expanded once, and cannot be nested.

CSH_NULLCMD <C>
     Do not use the values of NULLCMD and READNULLCMD when running
     redirections with no command.  This make such redirections fail
     (see *Note Redirection::).

CSH_NULL_GLOB <C>
     If a pattern for filename generation has no matches, delete the
     pattern from the argument list; do not report an error unless all
     the patterns in a command have no matches.  Overrides NOMATCH.

DVORAK
     Use the Dvorak keyboard instead of the standard qwerty keyboard as
     a basis for examining spelling mistakes for the CORRECT and
     CORRECT_ALL options and the spell-word editor command.

EQUALS <Z>
     Perform = filename expansion.  (See *Note Filename Expansion::.)

ERR_EXIT (-e, ksh: -e)
     If a command has a non-zero exit status, execute the ZERR trap, if
     set, and exit.  This is disabled while running initialization
     scripts.

EXEC (+n, ksh: +n) <D>
     Do execute commands.  Without this option, commands are read and
     checked for syntax errors, but not executed.  This option cannot
     be turned off in an interactive shell, except when `-n' is
     supplied to the shell at startup.

EXTENDED_GLOB
     Treat the `#', `~' and `^' characters as part of patterns for
     filename generation, etc.  (An initial unquoted `~' always
     produces named directory expansion.)

EXTENDED_HISTORY <C>
     Save each command's beginning timestamp (in seconds since the
     epoch) and the duration (in seconds) to the history file.  The
     format of this prefixed data is:

     `:<BEGINNING TIME>:<ELAPSED SECONDS>:<COMMAND>'.

FLOW_CONTROL <D>
     If this option is unset, output flow control via start/stop
     characters (usually assigned to ^S/^Q) is disabled in the shell's
     editor.

FUNCTION_ARGZERO <C> <Z>
     When executing a shell function or sourcing a script, set $0
     temporarily to the name of the function/script.

GLOB (+F, ksh: +f) <D>
     Perform filename generation (globbing).  (See *Note Filename
     Generation::.)

GLOBAL_EXPORT (<Z>)
     If this option is set, passing the -x flag to the builtins declare,
     float, integer, readonly and typeset (but not local) will also set
     the -g flag;  hence parameters exported to the environment will
     not be made local to the enclosing function, unless they were
     already or the flag +g is given explicitly.  If the option is
     unset, exported parameters will be made local in just the same way
     as any other parameter.

     This option is set by default for backward compatibility; it is not
     recommended that its behaviour be relied upon.  Note that the
     builtin export always sets both the -x and -g flags, and hence its
     effect extends beyond the scope of the enclosing function; this is
     the most portable way to achieve this behaviour.

GLOBAL_RCS (-d) <D>
     If this option is unset, the startup files /etc/zprofile,
     /etc/zshrc, /etc/zlogin and /etc/zlogout will not be run.  It can
     be disabled and re-enabled at any time, including inside local
     startup files (.zshrc, etc.).

GLOB_ASSIGN <C>
     If this option is set, filename generation (globbing) is performed
     on the right hand side of scalar parameter assignments of the form
     `NAME=PATTERN (e.g. `foo=*').  If the result has more than one
     word the parameter will become an array with those words as
     arguments. This option is provided for backwards compatibility
     only: globbing is always performed on the right hand side of array
     assignments of the form `NAME=(VALUE)' (e.g. `foo=(*)') and this
     form is recommended for clarity; with this option set, it is not
     possible to predict whether the result will be an array or a
     scalar.

GLOB_COMPLETE
     When the current word has a glob pattern, do not insert all the
     words resulting from the expansion but generate matches as for
     completion and cycle through them like MENU_COMPLETE. The matches
     are generated as if a `*' was added to the end of the word, or
     inserted at the cursor when COMPLETE_IN_WORD is set.  This
     actually uses pattern matching, not globbing, so it works not only
     for files but for any completion, such as options, user names, etc.

GLOB_DOTS (-4)
     Do not require a leading `.' in a filename to be matched
     explicitly.

GLOB_SUBST <C> <K> <S>
     Treat any characters resulting from parameter expansion as being
     eligible for file expansion and filename generation, and any
     characters resulting from command substitution as being eligible
     for filename generation.  Braces (and commas in between) do not
     become eligible for expansion.

HASH_CMDS <D>
     Note the location of each command the first time it is executed.
     Subsequent invocations of the same command will use the saved
     location, avoiding a path search.  If this option is unset, no
     path hashing is done at all.  However, when CORRECT is set,
     commands whose names do not appear in the functions or aliases
     hash tables are hashed in order to avoid reporting them as
     spelling errors.

HASH_DIRS <D>
     Whenever a command name is hashed, hash the directory containing
     it, as well as all directories that occur earlier in the path.
     Has no effect if neither HASH_CMDS nor CORRECT is set.

HASH_LIST_ALL <D>
     Whenever a command completion is attempted, make sure the entire
     command path is hashed first.  This makes the first completion
     slower.

HIST_ALLOW_CLOBBER
     Add `|' to output redirections in the history.  This allows history
     references to clobber files even when CLOBBER is unset.

HIST_BEEP <D>
     Beep when an attempt is made to access a history entry which isn't
     there.

HIST_EXPIRE_DUPS_FIRST
     If the internal history needs to be trimmed to add the current
     command line, setting this option will cause the oldest history
     event that has a duplicate to be lost before losing a unique event
     from the list.  You should be sure to set the value of HISTSIZE to
     a larger number than SAVEHIST in order to give you some room for
     the duplicated events, otherwise this option will behave just like
     HIST_IGNORE_ALL_DUPS once the history fills up with unique events.

HIST_FIND_NO_DUPS
     When searching for history entries in the line editor, do not
     display duplicates of a line previously found, even if the
     duplicates are not contiguous.

HIST_IGNORE_ALL_DUPS
     If a new command line being added to the history list duplicates an
     older one, the older command is removed from the list (even if it
     is not the previous event).

HIST_IGNORE_DUPS (-h)
     Do not enter command lines into the history list if they are
     duplicates of the previous event.

HIST_IGNORE_SPACE (-g)
     Remove command lines from the history list when the first
     character on the line is a space, or when one of the expanded
     aliases contains a leading space.  Note that the command lingers
     in the internal history until the next command is entered before
     it vanishes, allowing you to briefly reuse or edit the line.  If
     you want to make it vanish right away without entering another
     command, type a space and press return.

HIST_NO_FUNCTIONS
     Remove function definitions from the history list.  Note that the
     function lingers in the internal history until the next command is
     entered before it vanishes, allowing you to briefly reuse or edit
     the definition.

HIST_NO_STORE
     Remove the history (fc -l) command from the history list when
     invoked.  Note that the command lingers in the internal history
     until the next command is entered before it vanishes, allowing you
     to briefly reuse or edit the line.

HIST_REDUCE_BLANKS
     Remove superfluous blanks from each command line being added to
     the history list.

HIST_SAVE_NO_DUPS
     When writing out the history file, older commands that duplicate
     newer ones are omitted.

HIST_VERIFY
     Whenever the user enters a line with history expansion, don't
     execute the line directly; instead, perform history expansion and
     reload the line into the editing buffer.

HUP <Z>
     Send the HUP signal to running jobs when the shell exits.

IGNORE_BRACES (-I) <S>
     Do not perform brace expansion.

IGNORE_EOF (-7)
     Do not exit on end-of-file.  Require the use of exit or logout
     instead.  However, ten consecutive EOFs will cause the shell to
     exit anyway, to avoid the shell hanging if its tty goes away.

     Also, if this option is set and the Zsh Line Editor is used,
     widgets implemented by shell functions can be bound to EOF
     (normally Control-D) without printing the normal warning message.
     This works only for normal widgets, not for completion widgets.

INC_APPEND_HISTORY
     This options works like APPEND_HISTORY except that new history
     lines are added to the $HISTFILE incrementally (as soon as they are
     entered), rather than waiting until the shell is killed.  The file
     is periodically trimmed to the number of lines specified by
     $SAVEHIST, but can exceed this value between trimmings.

INTERACTIVE (-i, ksh: -i)
     This is an interactive shell.  This option is set upon
     initialisation if the standard input is a tty and commands are
     being read from standard input.  (See the discussion of
     SHIN_STDIN.)  This heuristic may be overridden by specifying a
     state for this option on the command line.  The value of this
     option cannot be changed anywhere other than the command line.

INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS (-k) <K> <S>
     Allow comments even in interactive shells.

KSH_ARRAYS <K> <S>
     Emulate `ksh' array handling as closely as possible.  If this
     option is set, array elements are numbered from zero, an array
     parameter without subscript refers to the first element instead of
     the whole array, and braces are required to delimit a subscript
     (`${path[2]}' rather than just `$path[2]').

KSH_AUTOLOAD <K> <S>
     Emulate `ksh' function autoloading.  This means that when a
     function is autoloaded, the corresponding file is merely executed,
     and must define the function itself.  (By default, the function is
     defined to the contents of the file.  However, the most common
     `ksh'-style case - of the file containing only a simple definition
     of the function - is always handled in the `ksh'-compatible
     manner.)

KSH_GLOB <K>
     In pattern matching, the interpretation of parentheses is affected
     by a preceding `@', `*', `+', `?' or `!'.  See *Note Filename
     Generation::.

KSH_OPTION_PRINT <K>
     Alters the way options settings are printed: instead of separate
     lists of set and unset options, all options are shown, marked `on'
     if they are in the non-default state, `off' otherwise.

KSH_TYPESET <K>
     Alters the way arguments to the typeset family of commands,
     including declare, export, float, integer, local and readonly, are
     processed.  Without this option, zsh will perform normal word
     splitting after command and parameter expansion in arguments of an
     assignment; with it, word splitting does not take place in those
     cases.

LIST_AMBIGUOUS <D>
     This option works when AUTO_LIST or BASH_AUTO_LIST is also set.
     If there is an unambiguous prefix to insert on the command line,
     that is done without a completion list being displayed; in other
     words, auto-listing behaviour only takes place when nothing would
     be inserted.  In the case of BASH_AUTO_LIST, this means that the
     list will be delayed to the third call of the function.

LIST_BEEP <D>
     Beep on an ambiguous completion.  More accurately, this forces the
     completion widgets to return status 1 on an ambiguous completion,
     which causes the shell to beep if the option BEEP is also set;
     this may be modified if completion is called from a user-defined
     widget.

LIST_PACKED
     Try to make the completion list smaller (occupying less lines) by
     printing the matches in columns with different widths.

LIST_ROWS_FIRST
     Lay out the matches in completion lists sorted horizontally, that
     is, the second match is to the right of the first one, not under
     it as usual.

LIST_TYPES (-X) <D>
     When listing files that are possible completions, show the type of
     each file with a trailing identifying mark.

LOCAL_OPTIONS <K>
     If this option is set at the point of return from a shell function,
     all the options (including this one) which were in force upon
     entry to the function are restored.  Otherwise, only this option
     and the XTRACE and PRINT_EXIT_VALUE options are restored.  Hence
     if this is explicitly unset by a shell function the other options
     in force at the point of return will remain so.  A shell function
     can also guarantee itself a known shell configuration with a
     formulation like `emulate -L zsh'; the -L activates LOCAL_OPTIONS.

LOCAL_TRAPS <K>
     If this option is set when a signal trap is set inside a function,
     then the previous status of the trap for that signal will be
     restored when the function exits.  Note that this option must be
     set _prior_ to altering the trap behaviour in a function; unlike
     LOCAL_OPTIONS, the value on exit from the function is irrelevant.
     However, it does not need to be set before any global trap for
     that to be correctly restored by a function.  For example,

          unsetopt localtraps
          trap - INT
          fn() { setopt localtraps; trap '' INT; sleep 3; }

     will restore normally handling of SIGINT after the function exits.

LOGIN (-l, ksh: -l)
     This is a login shell.  If this option is not explicitly set, the
     shell is a login shell if the first character of the argv[0]
     passed to the shell is a `-'.

LONG_LIST_JOBS (-R)
     List jobs in the long format by default.

MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST
     All unquoted arguments of the form `ANYTHING=EXPRESSION' appearing
     after the command name have filename expansion (that is, where
     EXPRESSION has a leading `~' or `=') performed on EXPRESSION as if
     it were a parameter assignment.  The argument is not otherwise
     treated specially; it is passed to the command as a single
     argument, and not used as an actual parameter assignment.  For
     example, in echo foo=~/bar:~/rod, both occurrences of ~ would be
     replaced.  Note that this happens anyway with typeset and similar
     statements.

     This option respects the setting of the KSH_TYPESET option.  In
     other words, if both options are in effect, arguments looking like
     assignments will not undergo wordsplitting.

MAIL_WARNING (-U)
     Print a warning message if a mail file has been accessed since the
     shell last checked.

MARK_DIRS (-8, ksh: -X)
     Append a trailing `/' to all directory names resulting from
     filename generation (globbing).

MENU_COMPLETE (-Y)
     On an ambiguous completion, instead of listing possibilities or
     beeping, insert the first match immediately.  Then when completion
     is requested again, remove the first match and insert the second
     match, etc.  When there are no more matches, go back to the first
     one again.  reverse-menu-complete may be used to loop through the
     list in the other direction. This option overrides AUTO_MENU.

MONITOR (-m, ksh: -m)
     Allow job control.  Set by default in interactive shells.

MULTIOS <Z>
     Perform implicit `tee's or `cat's when multiple redirections are
     attempted (see *Note Redirection::).

NOMATCH (+3) <C> <Z>
     If a pattern for filename generation has no matches, print an
     error, instead of leaving it unchanged in the argument list.  This
     also applies to file expansion of an initial `~' or `='.

NOTIFY (-5, ksh: -b) <Z>
     Report the status of background jobs immediately, rather than
     waiting until just before printing a prompt.

NULL_GLOB (-G)
     If a pattern for filename generation has no matches, delete the
     pattern from the argument list instead of reporting an error.
     Overrides NOMATCH.

NUMERIC_GLOB_SORT
     If numeric filenames are matched by a filename generation pattern,
     sort the filenames numerically rather than lexicographically.

OCTAL_ZEROES <S>
     Interpret any integer constant beginning with a 0 as octal, per
     IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (ISO 9945-2:1993).  This is not enabled by
     default as it causes problems with parsing of, for example, date
     and time strings with leading zeroes.

OVERSTRIKE
     Start up the line editor in overstrike mode.

PATH_DIRS (-Q)
     Perform a path search even on command names with slashes in them.
     Thus if `/usr/local/bin' is in the user's path, and he or she types
     `X11/xinit', the command `/usr/local/bin/X11/xinit' will be
     executed (assuming it exists).  Commands explicitly beginning with
     `/', `./' or `../' are not subject to the path search.  This also
     applies to the . builtin.

     Note that subdirectories of the current directory are always
     searched for executables specified in this form.  This takes place
     before any search indicated by this option, and regardless of
     whether `.' or the current directory appear in the command search
     path.

POSIX_BUILTINS <K> <S>
     When this option is set the command builtin can be used to execute
     shell builtin commands.  Parameter assignments specified before
     shell functions and special builtins are kept after the command
     completes unless the special builtin is prefixed with the command
     builtin.  Special builtins are ., :, break, continue, declare,
     eval, exit, export, integer, local, readonly, return, set, shift,
     source, times, trap and unset.

PRINT_EIGHT_BIT
     Print eight bit characters literally in completion lists, etc.
     This option is not necessary if your system correctly returns the
     printability of eight bit characters (see man page ctype(3)).

PRINT_EXIT_VALUE (-1)
     Print the exit value of programs with non-zero exit status.

PRIVILEGED (-p, ksh: -p)
     Turn on privileged mode. This is enabled automatically on startup
     if the effective user (group) ID is not equal to the real user
     (group) ID.  Turning this option off causes the effective user and
     group IDs to be set to the real user and group IDs. This option
     disables sourcing user startup files.  If zsh is invoked as `sh'
     or `ksh' with this option set, /etc/suid_profile is sourced (after
     /etc/profile on interactive shells). Sourcing ~/.profile is
     disabled and the contents of the ENV variable is ignored. This
     option cannot be changed using the -m option of setopt and
     unsetopt, and changing it inside a function always changes it
     globally regardless of the LOCAL_OPTIONS option.

PROMPT_BANG <K>
     If set, `!' is treated specially in prompt expansion.  See *Note
     Prompt Expansion::.

PROMPT_CR (+V) <D>
     Print a carriage return just before printing a prompt in the line
     editor.  This is on by default as multi-line editing is only
     possible if the editor knows where the start of the line appears.

PROMPT_PERCENT <C> <Z>
     If set, `%' is treated specially in prompt expansion.  See *Note
     Prompt Expansion::.

PROMPT_SUBST <K>
     If set, _parameter expansion_, _command substitution_ and
     _arithmetic expansion_ are performed in prompts.

PUSHD_IGNORE_DUPS
     Don't push multiple copies of the same directory onto the
     directory stack.

PUSHD_MINUS
     Exchanges the meanings of `+' and `-' when used with a number to
     specify a directory in the stack.

PUSHD_SILENT (-E)
     Do not print the directory stack after pushd or popd.

PUSHD_TO_HOME (-D)
     Have pushd with no arguments act like `pushd $HOME'.

RC_EXPAND_PARAM (-P)
     Array expansions of the form `FOO${XX}BAR', where the parameter XX
     is set to (A B C), are substituted with `FOOABAR FOOBBAR FOOCBAR'
     instead of the default `FOOA B CBAR'.

RC_QUOTES
     Allow the character sequence `''' to signify a single quote within
     singly quoted strings.  Note this does not apply in quoted strings
     using the format $'...', where a backslashed single quote can be
     used.

RCS (+f) <D>
     After /etc/zshenv is sourced on startup, source the .zshenv,
     /etc/zprofile, .zprofile, /etc/zshrc, .zshrc, /etc/zlogin,
     .zlogin, and .zlogout files, as described in *Note Files::.  If
     this option is unset, the /etc/zshenv file is still sourced, but
     any of the others will not be; it can be set at any time to
     prevent the remaining startup files after the currently executing
     one from being sourced.

REC_EXACT (-S)
     In completion, recognize exact matches even if they are ambiguous.

RESTRICTED (-r)
     Enables restricted mode.  This option cannot be changed using
     unsetopt, and setting it inside a function always changes it
     globally regardless of the LOCAL_OPTIONS option.  See *Note
     Restricted Shell::.

RM_STAR_SILENT (-H) <K> <S>
     Do not query the user before executing `rm *' or `rm path/*'.

RM_STAR_WAIT
     If querying the user before executing `rm *' or `rm path/*', first
     wait ten seconds and ignore anything typed in that time.  This
     avoids the problem of reflexively answering `yes' to the query
     when one didn't really mean it.  The wait and query can always be
     avoided by expanding the `*' in ZLE (with tab).

SHARE_HISTORY <K>
     This option both imports new commands from the history file, and
     also causes your typed commands to be appended to the history file
     (the latter is like specifying INC_APPEND_HISTORY).  The history
     lines are also output with timestamps ala EXTENDED_HISTORY (which
     makes it easier to find the spot where we left off reading the
     file after it gets re-written).

     By default, history movement commands visit the imported lines as
     well as the local lines, but you can toggle this on and off with
     the set-local-history zle binding.  It is also possible to create
     a zle widget that will make some commands ignore imported
     commands, and some include them.

     If you find that you want more control over when commands get
     imported, you may wish to turn SHARE_HISTORY off,
     INC_APPEND_HISTORY on, and then manually import commands whenever
     you need them using `fc -RI'.

SH_FILE_EXPANSION <K> <S>
     Perform filename expansion (e.g., ~ expansion) _before_ parameter
     expansion, command substitution, arithmetic expansion and brace
     expansion.  If this option is unset, it is performed _after_ brace
     expansion, so things like `~$USERNAME' and `~{pfalstad,rc}' will
     work.

SH_GLOB <K> <S>
     Disables the special meaning of `(', `|', `)' and '<' for globbing
     the result of parameter and command substitutions, and in some
     other places where the shell accepts patterns.  This option is set
     by default if zsh is invoked as sh or ksh.

SHIN_STDIN (-s, ksh: -s)
     Commands are being read from the standard input.  Commands are
     read from standard input if no command is specified with -c and no
     file of commands is specified.  If SHIN_STDIN is set explicitly on
     the command line, any argument that would otherwise have been
     taken as a file to run will instead be treated as a normal
     positional parameter.  Note that setting or unsetting this option
     on the command line does not necessarily affect the state the
     option will have while the shell is running - that is purely an
     indicator of whether on not commands are _actually_ being read
     from standard input.  The value of this option cannot be changed
     anywhere other than the command line.

SH_NULLCMD <K> <S>
     Do not use the values of NULLCMD and READNULLCMD when doing
     redirections, use `:' instead (see *Note Redirection::).

SH_OPTION_LETTERS <K> <S>
     If this option is set the shell tries to interpret single letter
     options (which are used with set and setopt) like `ksh' does.
     This also affects the value of the - special parameter.

SHORT_LOOPS <C> <Z>
     Allow the short forms of for, select, if, and function constructs.

SH_WORD_SPLIT (-y) <K> <S>
     Causes field splitting to be performed on unquoted parameter
     expansions.  Note that this option has nothing to do with word
     splitting.  (See *Note Parameter Expansion::.)

SINGLE_COMMAND (-t, ksh: -t)
     If the shell is reading from standard input, it exits after a
     single command has been executed.  This also makes the shell
     non-interactive, unless the INTERACTIVE option is explicitly set
     on the command line.  The value of this option cannot be changed
     anywhere other than the command line.

SINGLE_LINE_ZLE (-M) <K>
     Use single-line command line editing instead of multi-line.

SUN_KEYBOARD_HACK (-L)
     If a line ends with a backquote, and there are an odd number of
     backquotes on the line, ignore the trailing backquote.  This is
     useful on some keyboards where the return key is too small, and
     the backquote key lies annoyingly close to it.

UNSET (+u, ksh: +u) <K> <S> <Z>
     Treat unset parameters as if they were empty when substituting.
     Otherwise they are treated as an error.

VERBOSE (-v, ksh: -v)
     Print shell input lines as they are read.

XTRACE (-x, ksh: -x)
     Print commands and their arguments as they are executed.

ZLE (-Z)
     Use the zsh line editor.  Set by default in interactive shells
     connected to a terminal.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Option Aliases,  Next: Single Letter Options,  Prev: Description of Options,  Up: Options

Option Aliases
==============

Some options have alternative names.  These aliases are never used for
output, but can be used just like normal option names when specifying
options to the shell.

BRACE_EXPAND
     _NO__IGNORE_BRACES (ksh and bash compatibility)

DOT_GLOB
     GLOB_DOTS (bash compatibility)

HASH_ALL
     HASH_CMDS (bash compatibility)

HIST_APPEND
     APPEND_HISTORY (bash compatibility)

HIST_EXPAND
     BANG_HIST (bash compatibility)

LOG
     _NO__HIST_NO_FUNCTIONS (ksh compatibility)

MAIL_WARN
     MAIL_WARNING (bash compatibility)

ONE_CMD
     SINGLE_COMMAND (bash compatibility)

PHYSICAL
     CHASE_LINKS (ksh and bash compatibility)

PROMPT_VARS
     PROMPT_SUBST (bash compatibility)

STDIN
     SHIN_STDIN (ksh compatibility)

TRACK_ALL
     HASH_CMDS (ksh compatibility)



File: zsh.info,  Node: Single Letter Options,  Prev: Option Aliases,  Up: Options

Single Letter Options
=====================

Default set
-----------

-0
     CORRECT

-1
     PRINT_EXIT_VALUE

-2
     _NO__BAD_PATTERN

-3
     _NO__NOMATCH

-4
     GLOB_DOTS

-5
     NOTIFY

-6
     BG_NICE

-7
     IGNORE_EOF

-8
     MARK_DIRS

-9
     AUTO_LIST

-B
     _NO__BEEP

-C
     _NO__CLOBBER

-D
     PUSHD_TO_HOME

-E
     PUSHD_SILENT

-F
     _NO__GLOB

-G
     NULL_GLOB

-H
     RM_STAR_SILENT

-I
     IGNORE_BRACES

-J
     AUTO_CD

-K
     _NO__BANG_HIST

-L
     SUN_KEYBOARD_HACK

-M
     SINGLE_LINE_ZLE

-N
     AUTO_PUSHD

-O
     CORRECT_ALL

-P
     RC_EXPAND_PARAM

-Q
     PATH_DIRS

-R
     LONG_LIST_JOBS

-S
     REC_EXACT

-T
     CDABLE_VARS

-U
     MAIL_WARNING

-V
     _NO__PROMPT_CR

-W
     AUTO_RESUME

-X
     LIST_TYPES

-Y
     MENU_COMPLETE

-Z
     ZLE

-a
     ALL_EXPORT

-e
     ERR_EXIT

-f
     _NO__RCS

-g
     HIST_IGNORE_SPACE

-h
     HIST_IGNORE_DUPS

-i
     INTERACTIVE

-k
     INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS

-l
     LOGIN

-m
     MONITOR

-n
     _NO__EXEC

-p
     PRIVILEGED

-r
     RESTRICTED

-s
     SHIN_STDIN

-t
     SINGLE_COMMAND

-u
     _NO__UNSET

-v
     VERBOSE

-w
     CHASE_LINKS

-x
     XTRACE

-y
     SH_WORD_SPLIT

sh/ksh emulation set
--------------------

-C
     _NO__CLOBBER

-X
     MARK_DIRS

-a
     ALL_EXPORT

-b
     NOTIFY

-e
     ERR_EXIT

-f
     _NO__GLOB

-i
     INTERACTIVE

-l
     LOGIN

-m
     MONITOR

-n
     _NO__EXEC

-p
     PRIVILEGED

-r
     RESTRICTED

-s
     SHIN_STDIN

-t
     SINGLE_COMMAND

-u
     _NO__UNSET

-v
     VERBOSE

-x
     XTRACE

Also note
---------

-A
     Used by set for setting arrays

-b
     Used on the command line to specify end of option processing

-c
     Used on the command line to specify a single command

-m
     Used by setopt for pattern-matching option setting

-o
     Used in all places to allow use of long option names

-s
     Used by set to sort positional parameters


File: zsh.info,  Node: Shell Builtin Commands,  Next: Zsh Line Editor,  Prev: Options,  Up: Top

Shell Builtin Commands
**********************

- SIMPLE COMMAND
     See *Note Precommand Modifiers::.

. FILE [ ARG ... ]
     Read commands from FILE and execute them in the current shell
     environment.

     If FILE does not contain a slash, or if PATH_DIRS is set, the
     shell looks in the components of $path to find the directory
     containing FILE.  Files in the current directory are not read
     unless `.' appears somewhere in $path.  If a file named `FILE.zwc'
     is found, is newer than FILE, and is the compiled form (created
     with the zcompile builtin) of FILE, then commands are read from
     that file instead of FILE.

     If any arguments ARG are given, they become the positional
     parameters; the old positional parameters are restored when the
     FILE is done executing.  The exit status is the exit status of the
     last command executed.

: [ ARG ... ]
     This command does nothing, although normal argument expansions is
     performed which may have effects on shell parameters.  A zero exit
     code is returned.

alias [ {+|-}gmrL ] [ NAME[=VALUE] ... ]
     For each NAME with a corresponding VALUE, define an alias with
     that value.  A trailing space in VALUE causes the next word to be
     checked for alias expansion.  If the -g flag is present, define a
     global alias; global aliases are expanded even if they do not
     occur in command position.

     For each NAME with no VALUE, print the value of NAME, if any.
     With no arguments, print all currently defined aliases.  If the -m
     flag is given the arguments are taken as patterns (they should be
     quoted to preserve them from being interpreted as glob patterns),
     and the aliases matching these patterns are printed.  When
     printing aliases and the -g or -r flags are present, then restrict
     the printing to global or regular aliases, respectively.  Using
     `+' instead of `-', or ending the option list with a single `+',
     prevents the values of the aliases from being printed.

     If the -L flag is present, then print each alias in a manner
     suitable for putting in a startup script.  The exit status is
     nonzero if a NAME (with no VALUE) is given for which no alias has
     been defined.

autoload [ {+|-}UXmt ] [ -wkz ] [ NAME ... ]
     Equivalent to functions -u, with the exception of -X/+X, -w, -k
     and -z.

     The flag -X may be used only inside a shell function, and may not
     be followed by a NAME.  It causes the calling function to be
     marked for autoloading and then immediately loaded and executed,
     with the current array of positional parameters as arguments.
     This replaces the previous definition of the function.  If no
     function definition is found, an error is printed and the function
     remains undefined and marked for autoloading.

     The flag +X attempts to load each NAME as an autoloaded function,
     but does _not_ execute it.  The exit status is zero (success) if
     the function was not previously defined _and_ a definition for it
     was found.  This does _not_ replace any existing definition of the
     function.  The exit status is nonzero (failure) if the function
     was already defined or when no definition was found.  In the
     latter case the function remains undefined and marked for
     autoloading.

     The flag +X may be combined with either -k or -z to make the
     function be loaded using ksh-style or zsh-style autoloading,
     respectively. If neither is given, the current setting of the
     KSH_AUTOLOAD options determines how the function is loaded. With
     ksh-style autoloading, the contents of the file will not be
     executed immediately. Instead, the function created will contain
     the contents of the file plus a call to the function itself
     appended to it, thus given normal ksh autoloading behaviour on the
     first call to the function.

     With the -w flag, the NAMEs are taken as names of files compiled
     with the zcompile builtin, and all functions defined in them are
     marked for autoloading.

bg [ JOB ... ]
JOB ... &
     Put each specified JOB in the background, or the current job if
     none is specified.

bindkey
     See *Note Zle Builtins::.

break [ N ]
     Exit from an enclosing for, while, until, select or repeat loop.
     If N is specified, then break N levels instead of just one.

builtin NAME [ ARGS ... ]
     Executes the builtin NAME, with the given ARGS.

bye
     Same as exit.

cap
     See *Note The zsh/cap Module::.

cd [ -sLP ] [ ARG ]
cd [ -sLP ] OLD NEW
cd [ -sLP ] {+|-}N
     Change the current directory.  In the first form, change the
     current directory to ARG, or to the value of $HOME if ARG is not
     specified.  If ARG is `-', change to the value of $OLDPWD, the
     previous directory.  Otherwise, if a directory named ARG is not
     found in the current directory and ARG does not begin with a
     slash, search each component of the shell parameter cdpath.  If no
     directory is found and the option CDABLE_VARS is set, and a
     parameter named ARG exists whose value begins with a slash, treat
     its value as the directory.  In that case, the parameter is added
     to the named directory hash table.

     The second form of cd substitutes the string NEW for the string
     OLD in the name of the current directory, and tries to change to
     this new directory.

     The third form of cd extracts an entry from the directory stack,
     and changes to that directory.  An argument of the form `+N'
     identifies a stack entry by counting from the left of the list
     shown by the dirs command, starting with zero.  An argument of the
     form `-N' counts from the right.  If the PUSHD_MINUS option is
     set, the meanings of `+' and `-' in this context are swapped.

     If the -s option is specified, cd refuses to change the current
     directory if the given pathname contains symlinks.  If the -P
     option is given or the CHASE_LINKS option is set, symbolic links
     are resolved to their true values.  If the -L option is given
     symbolic links are followed regardless of the state of the
     CHASE_LINKS option.

chdir
     Same as cd.

clone
     See *Note The zsh/clone Module::.

command SIMPLE COMMAND
     See *Note Precommand Modifiers::.

comparguments
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

compcall
     See *Note The zsh/compctl Module::.

compctl
     See *Note The zsh/compctl Module::.

compdescribe
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

compfiles
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

compgroups
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

compquote
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

comptags
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

comptry
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

compvalues
     See *Note The zsh/computil Module::.

continue [ N ]
     Resume the next iteration of the enclosing for, while, until,
     select or repeat loop.  If N is specified, break out of N-1 loops
     and resume at the Nth enclosing loop.

declare
     Same as typeset.

dirs [ -v ] [ ARG ... ]
     With no arguments, print the contents of the directory stack.  If
     the -v option is given, number the directories in the stack when
     printing.  Directories are added to this stack with the pushd
     command, and removed with the cd or popd commands.  If arguments
     are specified, load them onto the directory stack, replacing
     anything that was there, and push the current directory onto the
     stack.

disable [ -afmr ] NAME ...
     Temporarily disable the NAMEd hash table elements.  The default is
     to disable builtin commands.  This allows you to use an external
     command with the same name as a builtin command.  The -a option
     causes disable to act on aliases.  The -f option causes disable to
     act on shell functions.  The -r options causes disable to act on
     reserved words.  Without arguments all disabled hash table
     elements from the corresponding hash table are printed.  With the
     -m flag the arguments are taken as patterns (which should be
     quoted to prevent them from undergoing filename expansion), and
     all hash table elements from the corresponding hash table matching
     these patterns are disabled.  Disabled objects can be enabled with
     the enable command.

disown [ JOB ... ]
JOB ... &|
JOB ... &!
     Remove the specified JOBs from the job table; the shell will no
     longer report their status, and will not complain if you try to
     exit an interactive shell with them running or stopped.  If no JOB
     is specified, disown the current job.

echo [ -neE ] [ ARG ... ]
     Write each ARG on the standard output, with a space separating
     each one.  If the -n flag is not present, print a newline at the
     end.  echo recognizes the following escape sequences:

    \a
          bell character

    \b
          backspace

    \c
          suppress final newline

    \e
          escape

    \f
          form feed

    \n
          linefeed (newline)

    \r
          carriage return

    \t
          horizontal tab

    \v
          vertical tab

    \\
          backslash

    \0NNN
          character code in octal

    \xNN
          character code in hexadecimal

     The -E flag, or the BSD_ECHO option, can be used to disable these
     escape sequences.  In the latter case, -e flag can be used to
     enable them.

echotc
     See *Note The zsh/termcap Module::.

echoti
     See *Note The zsh/terminfo Module::.

emulate [ -LR ] {zsh|sh|ksh|csh}
     Set up zsh options to emulate the specified shell as much as
     possible.  `csh' will never be fully emulated.  If the argument is
     not one of the shells listed above, zsh will be used as a default;
     more precisely, the tests performed on the argument are the same
     as those used to determine the emulation at startup based on the
     shell name, see *Note Compatibility:: .  If the -R option is
     given, all options are reset to their default value corresponding
     to the specified emulation mode, except for certain options
     describing the interactive environment; otherwise, only those
     options likely to cause portability problems in scripts and
     functions are altered.  If the -L option is given, the options
     LOCAL_OPTIONS and LOCAL_TRAPS will be set as well, causing the
     effects of the emulate command and any setopt and trap commands to
     be local to the immediately surrounding shell function, if any;
     normally these options are turned off in all emulation modes
     except ksh.

enable [ -afmr ] NAME ...
     Enable the NAMEd hash table elements, presumably disabled earlier
     with disable.  The default is to enable builtin commands.  The -a
     option causes enable to act on aliases.  The -f option causes
     enable to act on shell functions.  The -r option causes enable to
     act on reserved words.  Without arguments all enabled hash table
     elements from the corresponding hash table are printed.  With the
     -m flag the arguments are taken as patterns (should be quoted) and
     all hash table elements from the corresponding hash table matching
     these patterns are enabled.  Enabled objects can be disabled with
     the disable builtin command.

eval [ ARG ... ]
     Read the arguments as input to the shell and execute the resulting
     command in the current shell process.

exec SIMPLE COMMAND
     See *Note Precommand Modifiers::.

exit [ N ]
     Exit the shell with the exit code specified by N; if none is
     specified, use the exit code from the last command executed.  An
     EOF condition will also cause the shell to exit, unless the
     IGNORE_EOF option is set.

export [ NAME[=VALUE] ... ]
     The specified NAMEs are marked for automatic export to the
     environment of subsequently executed commands.  Equivalent to
     typeset -gx.  If a parameter specified does not already exist, it
     is created in the global scope.

false [ ARG ... ]
     Do nothing and return an exit code of 1.

fc [ -e ENAME ] [ -nlrdDfEim ] [ OLD=NEW ... ] [ FIRST [ LAST ] ]
fc -ARWI [ FILENAME ]
     Select a range of commands from FIRST to LAST from the history
     list.  The arguments FIRST and LAST may be specified as a number
     or as a string.  A negative number is used as an offset to the
     current history event number.  A string specifies the most recent
     event beginning with the given string.  All substitutions OLD=NEW,
     if any, are then performed on the commands.

     If the -l flag is given, the resulting commands are listed on
     standard output.  If the -m flag is also given the first argument
     is taken as a pattern (should be quoted) and only the history
     events matching this pattern will be shown.  Otherwise the editor
     program ENAME is invoked on a file containing these history
     events.  If ENAME is not given, the value of the parameter FCEDIT
     is used.  If ENAME is `-', no editor is invoked.  When editing is
     complete, the edited command is executed.

     If FIRST is not specified, it will be set to -1 (the most recent
     event), or to -16 if the -l flag is given.  If LAST is not
     specified, it will be set to FIRST, or to -1 if the -l flag is
     given.

     The flag -r reverses the order of the commands and the flag -n
     suppresses command numbers when listing.  Also when listing, -d
     prints timestamps for each command, and -f prints full time-date
     stamps.  Adding the -E flag causes the dates to be printed as
     `DD.MM.YYYY', instead of the default `MM/DD/YYYY'.  Adding the -i
     flag causes the dates to be printed in ISO8601 `YYYY-MM-DD' format.
     With the -D flag, fc prints elapsed times.

     `fc -R' reads the history from the given file, `fc -W' writes the
     history out to the given file, and `fc -A' appends the history out
     to the given file.  If no filename is specified, the $HISTFILE is
     assumed.  If the -I option is added to -R, only those events that
     are not already contained within the internal history list are
     added.  If the -I option is added to -A or -W, only those events
     that are new since last incremental append/write to the history
     file are appended/written.  In any case, the created file will
     have no more than $SAVEHIST entries.

fg [ JOB ... ]
JOB ...
     Bring each specified JOB in turn to the foreground.  If no JOB is
     specified, resume the current job.

float [ {+|-}EFHghlrtux ] [ NAME[=VALUE] ... ]
     Equivalent to typeset -E, except that options irrelevant to
     floating point numbers are not permitted.

functions [ {+|-}UXmtu ] [ NAME ... ]
     Equivalent to typeset -f.

getcap
     See *Note The zsh/cap Module::.

getln [ -AclneE ] NAME ...
     Read the top value from the buffer stack and put it in the shell
     parameter name.  Equivalent to read -zr.

getopts OPTSTRING NAME [ ARG ... ]
     Checks the ARGs for legal options.  If the ARGs are omitted, use
     the positional parameters.  A valid option argument begins with a
     `+' or a `-'.  An argument not beginning with a `+' or a `-', or
     the argument `-', ends the options.  OPTSTRING contains the
     letters that getopts recognizes.  If a letter is followed by a
     `:', that option is expected to have an argument.  The options can
     be separated from the argument by blanks.

     Each time it is invoked, getopts places the option letter it finds
     in the shell parameter NAME, prepended with a `+' when ARG begins
     with a `+'.  The index of the next ARG is stored in OPTIND.  The
     option argument, if any, is stored in OPTARG.

     The first option to be examined may be changed by explicitly
     assigning to OPTIND.  OPTIND has an initial value of 1, and is
     normally reset to 1 upon exit from a shell function.  OPTARG is
     not reset and retains its value from the most recent call to
     getopts.  If either of OPTIND or OPTARG is explicitly unset, it
     remains unset, and the index or option argument is not stored.
     The option itself is still stored in NAME in this case.

     A leading `:' in OPTSTRING causes getopts to store the letter of
     any invalid option in OPTARG, and to set NAME to `?' for an
     unknown option and to `:' when a required option is missing.
     Otherwise, getopts sets NAME to `?' and prints an error message
     when an option is invalid.  The exit status is nonzero when there
     are no more options.

hash [ -Ldfmrv ] [ NAME[=VALUE] ] ...
     hash can be used to directly modify the contents of the command
     hash table, and the named directory hash table.  Normally one would
     modify these tables by modifying one's PATH (for the command hash
     table) or by creating appropriate shell parameters (for the named
     directory hash table).  The choice of hash table to work on is
     determined by the -d option; without the option the command hash
     table is used, and with the option the named directory hash table
     is used.

     Given no arguments, and neither the -r or -f options, the selected
     hash table will be listed in full.

     The -r option causes the selected hash table to be emptied.  It
     will be subsequently rebuilt in the normal fashion.  The -f option
     causes the selected hash table to be fully rebuilt immediately.
     For the command hash table this hashes all the absolute
     directories in the PATH, and for the named directory hash table
     this adds all users' home directories.  These two options cannot
     be used with any arguments.

     The -m option causes the arguments to be taken as patterns (which
     should be quoted) and the elements of the hash table matching
     those patterns are printed.  This is the only way to display a
     limited selection of hash table elements.

     For each NAME with a corresponding VALUE, put `NAME' in the
     selected hash table, associating it with the pathname `VALUE'.  In
     the command hash table, this means that whenever `NAME' is used as
     a command argument, the shell will try to execute the file given
     by `VALUE'.  In the named directory hash table, this means that
     `VALUE' may be referred to as `~NAME'.

     For each NAME with no corresponding VALUE, attempt to add NAME to
     the hash table, checking what the appropriate value is in the
     normal manner for that hash table.  If an appropriate value can't
     be found, then the hash table will be unchanged.

     The -v option causes hash table entries to be listed as they are
     added by explicit specification.  If has no effect if used with -f.

     If the -L flag is present, then each hash table entry is printed in
     the form of a call to hash.

history
     Same as fc -l.

integer [ {+|-}Hghilrtux ] [ NAME[=VALUE] ... ]
     Equivalent to typeset -i, except that options irrelevant to
     integers are not permitted.

jobs [ -dlprs ] [ JOB ... ]
jobs -Z STRING
     Lists information about each given job, or all jobs if JOB is
     omitted.  The -l flag lists process IDs, and the -p flag lists
     process groups.  If the -r flag is specified only running jobs
     will be listed and if the -s flag is given only stopped jobs are
     shown.  If the -d flag is given, the directory from which the job
     was started (which may not be the current directory of the job)
     will also be shown.

     The -Z option replaces the shell's argument and environment space
     with the given string, truncated if necessary to fit.  This will
     normally be visible in ps (man page ps(1)) listings.  This feature
     is typically used by daemons, to indicate their state.

kill [ -s SIGNAL_NAME ] JOB ...
kill [ -SIG ] JOB ...
kill -l [ SIG ... ]
     Sends either SIGTERM or the specified signal to the given jobs or
     processes.  Signals are given by number or by names, without the
     `SIG' prefix.  If the signal being sent is not `KILL' or `CONT',
     then the job will be sent a `CONT' signal if it is stopped.  The
     argument JOB can be the process ID of a job not in the job list.
     In the third form, kill -l, if SIG is not specified the signal
     names are listed.  Otherwise, for each SIG that is a name, the
     corresponding signal number is listed.  For each SIG that is a
     signal number or a number representing the exit status of a
     process which was terminated or stopped by a signal the name of
     the signal is printed.

let ARG ...
     Evaluate each ARG as an arithmetic expression.  See *Note
     Arithmetic Evaluation:: for a description of arithmetic
     expressions.  The exit status is 0 if the value of the last
     expression is nonzero, and 1 otherwise.

limit [ -hs ] [ RESOURCE [ LIMIT ] ] ...
     Set or display resource limits.  Unless the -s flag is given, the
     limit applies only the children of the shell.  If -s is given
     without other arguments, the resource limits of the current shell
     is set to the previously set resource limits of the children.

     If LIMIT is not specified, print the current limit placed on
     RESOURCE, otherwise set the limit to the specified value.  If the
     -h flag is given, use hard limits instead of soft limits.  If no
     RESOURCE is given, print all limits.

     RESOURCE can be one of:

    addressspace
          Maximum amount of address space used.

    aiomemorylocked
          Maximum amount of memory locked in RAM for AIO operations.

    aiooperations
          Maximum number of AIO operations.

    cachedthreads
          Maximum number of cached threads.

    coredumpsize
          Maximum size of a core dump.

    cputime
          Maximum CPU seconds per process.

    datasize
          Maximum data size (including stack) for each process.

    descriptors
          Maximum value for a file descriptor.

    filesize
          Largest single file allowed.

    maxproc
          Maximum number of processes.

    maxpthreads
          Maximum number of threads per process.

    memorylocked
          Maximum amount of memory locked in RAM.

    memoryuse
          Maximum resident set size.

    resident
          Maximum resident set size.

    sockbufsize
          Maximum size of all socket buffers.

    stacksize
          Maximum stack size for each process.

    vmemorysize
          Maximum amount of virtual memory.

     Which of these resource limits are available depends on the system.
     RESOURCE can be abbreviated to any unambiguous prefix.

     LIMIT is a number, with an optional scaling factor, as follows:

    Nh
          hours

    Nk
          kilobytes (default)

    Nm
          megabytes or minutes

    [MM:]SS
          minutes and seconds

local [ {+|-}AEFHLRUZahilrtux [N]] [ NAME[=VALUE] ] ...
     Same as typeset, except that the options -g, and -f are not
     permitted.  In this case the -x option does not force the use of
     -g, i.e. exported variables will be local to functions.

log
     List all users currently logged in who are affected by the current
     setting of the watch parameter.

logout [ N ]
     Same as exit, except that it only works in a login shell.

noglob SIMPLE COMMAND
     See *Note Precommand Modifiers::.

popd [ {+|-}N ]
     Remove an entry from the directory stack, and perform a cd to the
     new top directory.  With no argument, the current top entry is
     removed.  An argument of the form `+N' identifies a stack entry by
     counting from the left of the list shown by the dirs command,
     starting with zero.  An argument of the form -n counts from the
     right.  If the PUSHD_MINUS option is set, the meanings of `+' and
     `-' in this context are swapped.

print [ -bnrslzpNDPoOicm ] [ -uN ] [ -R [ -en ]] [ ARG ... ]
     With no flags or with the flag `-', the arguments are printed on
     the standard output as described by echo, with the following
     differences: the escape sequence `\M-X' metafies the character X
     (sets the highest bit), `\C-X' produces a control character
     (`\C-@' and `\C-?' give the characters NUL and delete), and `\E'
     is a synonym for `\e'.  Finally, if not in an escape sequence, `\'
     escapes the following character and is not printed.

    -r
          Ignore the escape conventions of echo.

    -R
          Emulate the BSD echo command, which does not process escape
          sequences unless the -e flag is given.  The -n flag
          suppresses the trailing newline.  Only the -e and -n flags
          are recognized after -R; all other arguments and options are
          printed.

    -b
          Recognize all the escape sequences defined for the bindkey
          command, see *Note Zle Builtins::.

    -m
          Take the first argument as a pattern (should be quoted), and
          remove it from the argument list together with subsequent
          arguments that do not match this pattern.

    -s
          Place the results in the history list instead of on the
          standard output.

    -n
          Do not add a newline to the output.

    -l
          Print the arguments separated by newlines instead of spaces.

    -N
          Print the arguments separated and terminated by nulls.

    -o
          Print the arguments sorted in ascending order.

    -O
          Print the arguments sorted in descending order.

    -i
          If given together with -o or -O, sorting is performed
          case-independently.

    -c
          Print the arguments in columns.

    -uN
          Print the arguments to file descriptor N.

    -p
          Print the arguments to the input of the coprocess.

    -z
          Push the arguments onto the editing buffer stack, separated
          by spaces.

    -D
          Treat the arguments as directory names, replacing prefixes
          with ~ expressions, as appropriate.

    -P
          Perform prompt expansion (see *Note Prompt Expansion::).


pushd [ ARG ]
pushd OLD NEW
pushd {+|-}N
     Change the current directory, and push the old current directory
     onto the directory stack.  In the first form, change the current
     directory to ARG.  If ARG is not specified, change to the second
     directory on the stack (that is, exchange the top two entries), or
     change to $HOME if the PUSHD_TO_HOME option is set or if there is
     only one entry on the stack.  Otherwise, ARG is interpreted as it
     would be by cd.  The meaning of OLD and NEW in the second form is
     also the same as for cd.

     The third form of pushd changes directory by rotating the
     directory list.  An argument of the form `+N' identifies a stack
     entry by counting from the left of the list shown by the dirs
     command, starting with zero.  An argument of the form `-N' counts
     from the right.  If the PUSHD_MINUS option is set, the meanings of
     `+' and `-' in this context are swapped.

     If the option PUSHD_SILENT is not set, the directory stack will be
     printed after a pushd is performed.

pushln [ ARG ... ]
     Equivalent to print -nz.

pwd [ -rLP ]
     Print the absolute pathname of the current working directory.  If
     the -r or the -P flag is specified, or the CHASE_LINKS option is
     set and the -L flag is not given, the printed path will not
     contain symbolic links.

r
     Same as fc -e -.

read [ -rzpqAclneEt ] [ -k [ NUM ] ] [ -uN ] [ NAME[?PROMPT] ] [ NAME ...  ]
     Read one line and break it into fields using the characters in
     $IFS as separators, except as noted below.  The first field is
     assigned to the first NAME, the second field to the second NAME,
     etc., with leftover fields assigned to the last NAME.  If NAME is
     omitted then REPLY is used for scalars and reply for arrays.

    -r
          Raw mode: a `\' at the end of a line does not signify line
          continuation and backslashes in the line don't quote the
          following character and are not removed.

    -q
          Read only one character from the terminal and set NAME to `y'
          if this character was `y' or `Y' and to `n' otherwise.  With
          this flag set the return value is zero only if the character
          was `y' or `Y'.  Note that this always reads from the
          terminal, even if used with the -p or -u or -z flags or with
          redirected input.  This option may also be used within zle
          widgets.

    -k [ NUM ]
          Read only one (or NUM) characters.  All are assigned to the
          first NAME, without word splitting.  This flag is ignored
          when -q is present.  Input is read from the terminal unless
          one of -u or -p is present.  This option may also be used
          within zle widgets.

          Note that NUM must be in the argument word that follows -k,
          not in the same word.  See -u.

    -z
          Read one entry from the editor buffer stack and assign it to
          the first NAME, without word splitting.  Text is pushed onto
          the stack with `print -z' or with push-line from the line
          editor (see *Note Zsh Line Editor::).  This flag is ignored
          when the -k or -q flags are present.

    -e
    -E
          The input read is printed (echoed) to the standard output.
          If the -e flag is used, no input is assigned to the
          parameters.

    -A
          The first NAME is taken as the name of an array and all words
          are assigned to it.

    -c
    -l
          These flags are allowed only if called inside a function used
          for completion (specified with the -K flag to compctl).  If
          the -c flag is given, the words of the current command are
          read. If the -l flag is given, the whole line is assigned as
          a scalar.  If both flags are present, -l is used and -c is
          ignored.

    -n
          Together with -c, the number of the word the cursor is on is
          read.  With -l, the index of the character the cursor is on is
          read.  Note that the command name is word number 1, not word
          0, and that when the cursor is at the end of the line, its
          character index is the length of the line plus one.

    -uN
          Input is read from file descriptor N, where N is a single
          digit and must _not_ be separated from -u by any whitespace.

    -p
          Input is read from the coprocess.

    -t
          Test if input is available before attempting to read; if none
          is, return status 1 and do not set any variables.  This is
          not available when reading from the editor buffer with -z,
          when called from within completion with -c or -l, with -q
          which clears the input queue before reading, or within zle
          where other mechanisms should be used to test for input.

          Note that read does not attempt to alter the input processing
          mode.  The default mode is canonical input, in which an
          entire line is read at a time, so usually `read -t' will not
          read anything until an entire line has been typed.  However,
          when reading from the terminal with -k this is automatically
          handled; note that only availability of the first character
          is tested, so that e.g. `read -t -k 2' can still block on the
          second character.

     If the first argument contains a `?', the remainder of this word
     is used as a PROMPT on standard error when the shell is
     interactive.

     The value (exit status) of read is 1 when an end-of-file is
     encountered, or when -c or -l is present and the command is not
     called from a compctl function, or as described for -q.  Otherwise
     the value is 0.

     The behavior of some combinations of the -k, -p, -q, -u and -z
     flags is undefined.  Presently -q cancels all the others, -p
     cancels -u, -k cancels -z, and otherwise -z cancels both -p and -u.

     The -c or -l flags cancel any and all of -kpquz.

readonly
     Same as typeset -r.

rehash
     Same as hash -r.

return [ N ]
     Causes a shell function or . script to return to the invoking
     script with the return status specified by N.  If N is omitted,
     the return status is that of the last command executed.

     If return was executed from a trap in a TRAPNAL function, the
     effect is different for zero and non-zero return status.  With zero
     status (or after an implicit return at the end of the trap), the
     shell will return to whatever it was previously processing; with a
     non-zero status, the shell will behave as interrupted except that
     the return status of the trap is retained.  Note that the numeric
     value of the signal which caused the trap is passed as the first
     argument, so the statement `return $((128+$1))' will return the
     same status as if the signal had not been trapped.

sched
     See *Note The zsh/sched Module::.

set [ {+|-}OPTIONS | {+|-}o OPTION_NAME ] ... [ {+|-}A [ NAME ] ] [ ARG ... ]
     Set the options for the shell and/or set the positional
     parameters, or declare and set an array.  If the -s option is
     given, it causes the specified arguments to be sorted before
     assigning them to the positional parameters (or to the array NAME
     if -A is used).  With +s sort arguments in descending order.  For
     the meaning of the other flags, see *Note Options::.  Flags may be
     specified by name using the -o option.

     If the -A flag is specified, NAME is set to an array containing
     the given ARGs. if +A is used and NAME is an array, the given
     arguments will replace the initial elements of that array; if no
     NAME is specified, all arrays are printed.  Otherwise the
     positional parameters are set.  If no arguments are given, then
     the names and values of all parameters are printed on the standard
     output.  If the only argument is `+', the names of all parameters
     are printed.

setcap
     See *Note The zsh/cap Module::.

setopt [ {+|-}OPTIONS | {+|-}o OPTION_NAME ] [ NAME ... ]
     Set the options for the shell.  All options specified either with
     flags or by name are set.  If no arguments are supplied, the names
     of all options currently set are printed.  If the -m flag is given
     the arguments are taken as patterns (which should be quoted to
     protect them from filename expansion), and all options with names
     matching these patterns are set.

shift [ N ] [ NAME ... ]
     The positional parameters ${N+1} ... are renamed to $1 ..., where
     N is an arithmetic expression that defaults to 1.  If any NAMEs
     are given then the arrays with these names are shifted instead of
     the positional parameters.

source FILE [ ARG ... ]
     Same as ., except that the current directory is always searched and
     is always searched first, before directories in $path.

stat
     See *Note The zsh/stat Module::.

suspend [ -f ]
     Suspend the execution of the shell (send it a SIGTSTP) until it
     receives a SIGCONT.  Unless the -f option is given, this will
     refuse to suspend a login shell.

test [ ARG ... ]
[ [ ARG ... ] ]
     Like the system version of test.  Added for compatibility; use
     conditional expressions instead (see *Note Conditional
     Expressions::).

times
     Print the accumulated user and system times for the shell and for
     processes run from the shell.

trap [ ARG [ SIG ... ] ]
     ARG is a series of commands (usually quoted to protect it from
     immediate evaluation by the shell) to be read and executed when
     the shell receives SIG.  Each SIG can be given as a number or as
     the name of a signal.  If ARG is `-', then all traps SIG are reset
     to their default values.  If ARG is the empty string, then this
     signal is ignored by the shell and by the commands it invokes.

     If SIG is ZERR then ARG will be executed after each command with a
     nonzero exit status.  If SIG is DEBUG then ARG will be executed
     after each command.  If SIG is 0 or EXIT and the trap statement is
     executed inside the body of a function, then the command ARG is
     executed after the function completes.  If SIG is 0 or EXIT and
     the trap statement is not executed inside the body of a function,
     then the command ARG is executed when the shell terminates.

     The trap command with no arguments prints a list of commands
     associated with each signal.

     Note that traps defined with the trap builtin are slightly
     different from those defined as `TRAPNAL () { ... }', as the
     latter have their own function environment (line numbers, local
     variables, etc.) while the former use the environment of the
     command in which they were called.  For example,

          trap 'print $LINENO' DEBUG

     will print the line number of a command executed after it has run,
     while

          TRAPDEBUG() { print $LINENO; }

     will always print the number zero.

true [ ARG ... ]
     Do nothing and return an exit code of 0.

ttyctl -fu
     The -f option freezes the tty, and -u unfreezes it.  When the tty
     is frozen, no changes made to the tty settings by external
     programs will be honored by the shell, except for changes in the
     size of the screen; the shell will simply reset the settings to
     their previous values as soon as each command exits or is
     suspended.  Thus, stty and similar programs have no effect when
     the tty is frozen.  Without options it reports whether the
     terminal is frozen or not.

type [ -wfpams ] NAME ...
     Equivalent to whence -v.

typeset [ {+|-}AEFHLRUZafghilrtuxm [N]] [ NAME[=VALUE] ... ]
typeset -T [ {+|-}LRUZrux ] SCALAR[=VALUE] ARRAY
     Set or display attributes and values for shell parameters.

     A parameter is created for each NAME that does not already refer
     to one.  When inside a function, a new parameter is created for
     every NAME (even those that already exist), and is unset again
     when the function completes.  See *Note Local Parameters::.  The
     same rules apply to special shell parameters, which retain their
     special attributes when made local.

     For each NAME=VALUE assignment, the parameter NAME is set to
     VALUE.  Note that arrays currently cannot be assigned in typeset
     expressions, only scalars and integers.

     For each remaining NAME that refers to a parameter that is set, the
     name and value of the parameter are printed in the form of an
     assignment.  Nothing is printed for newly-created parameters, or
     when any attribute flags listed below are given along with the
     NAME.  Using `+' instead of minus to introduce an attribute turns
     it off.

     If the -T option is given, exactly two (or zero) NAME arguments
     must be present.  They represent a scalar and an array (in that
     order) that will be tied together in the manner of $PATH and
     $path.  In other words, an array present in the latter variable
     appears as a scalar with the elements of the array joined by
     colons in the former.  Only the scalar may have an initial value.
     Both the scalar and the array may otherwise be manipulated as
     normal.  If one is unset, the other will automatically be unset
     too.  There is no way of untying the variables without unsetting
     them, or converting the type of one of them with another typeset
     command; +T does not work, assigning an array to SCALAR is an
     error, and assigning a scalar to ARRAY sets it to be a
     single-element array.  Note that both `typeset -xT ...' and
     `export -T ...' work, but only the scalar will be marked for
     export.

     The -g (global) flag is treated specially: it means that any
     resulting parameter will not be restricted to local scope.  Note
     that this does not necessarily mean that the parameter will be
     global, as the flag will apply to any existing parameter (even if
     unset) from an enclosing function.  This flag does not affect the
     parameter after creation, hence it has no effect when listing
     existing parameters, nor does the flag +g have any effect except
     in combination with -m (see below).

     If no NAME is present, the names and values of all parameters are
     printed.  In this case the attribute flags restrict the display to
     only those parameters that have the specified attributes, and
     using `+' rather than `-' to introduce the flag suppresses
     printing of the values of parameters when there is no parameter
     name.  Also, if the last option is the word `+', then names are
     printed but values are not.

     If the -m flag is given the NAME arguments are taken as patterns
     (which should be quoted).  With no attribute flags, all parameters
     (or functions with the -f flag) with matching names are printed.
     Note that -m is ignored if no patterns are given.  If the +g flag
     is combined with -m, a new local parameter is created for every
     matching parameter that is not already local.  Otherwise -m
     applies all other flags or assignments to the existing parameters.
     Except when assignments are made with NAME=VALUE, using +m forces
     the matching parameters to be printed, even inside a function.

     If no attribute flags are given and either no -m flag is present or
     the +m form was used, each parameter name printed is preceded by a
     list of the attributes of that parameter (array, association,
     exported, integer, readonly).  If +m is used with attribute flags,
     and all those flags are introduced with +, the matching parameter
     names are printed but their values are not.

     The following attribute flags may be specified:

    -A
          The names refer to associative array parameters; see *Note
          Array Parameters::.

    -L
          Left justify and remove leading blanks from VALUE.  If N is
          nonzero, it defines the width of the field; otherwise it is
          determined by the width of the value of the first assignment.
          When the parameter is expanded, it is filled on the right with
          blanks or truncated if necessary to fit the field.  Leading
          zeros are removed if the -Z flag is also set.

    -R
          Right justify and fill with leading blanks.  If N is nonzero
          if defines the width of the field; otherwise it is determined
          by the width of the value of the first assignment.  When the
          parameter is expanded, the field is left filled with blanks
          or truncated from the end.

    -U
          For arrays (but not for associative arrays), keep only the
          first occurrence of each duplicated value.  This may also be
          set for colon-separated special parameters like PATH or
          FIGNORE, etc.  This flag has a different meaning when used
          with -f; see below.

    -Z
          Right justify and fill with leading zeros if the first
          non-blank character is a digit and the -L flag has not been
          set.  If N is nonzero it defines the width of the field;
          otherwise it is determined by the width of the value of the
          first assignment.

    -a
          The names refer to array parameters.  An array parameter may
          be created this way, but it may not be assigned to in the
          typeset statement.  When displaying, both normal and
          associative arrays are shown.

    -f
          The names refer to functions rather than parameters.  No
          assignments can be made, and the only other valid flags are
          -t, -u and -U.  The flag -t turns on execution tracing for
          this function.  The -u and -U flags cause the function to be
          marked for autoloading; -U also causes alias expansion to be
          suppressed when the function is loaded.  The fpath parameter
          will be searched to find the function definition when the
          function is first referenced; see *Note Functions::.

    -h
          Hide: only useful for special parameters (those marked `<S>'
          in the table in *Note Parameters Set By The Shell::), and for
          local parameters with the same name as a special parameter,
          though harmless for others.  A special parameter with this
          attribute will not retain its special effect when made local.
          Thus after `typeset -h PATH', a function containing `typeset
          PATH' will create an ordinary local parameter without the
          usual behaviour of PATH.  Alternatively, the local parameter
          may itself be given this attribute; hence inside a function
          `typeset -h PATH' creates an ordinary local parameter and the
          special PATH parameter is not altered in any way.  It is also
          possible to create a local parameter using `typeset +h
          SPECIAL', where the local copy of SPECIAL will retain its
          special properties regardless of having the -h attribute.
          Global special parameters loaded from shell modules
          (currently those in zsh/mapfile and zsh/parameter) are
          automatically given the -h attribute to avoid name clashes.

    -H
          Hide value: specifies that typeset will not display the value
          of the parameter when listing parameters; the display for
          such parameters is always as if the `+' flag had been given.
          Use of the parameter is in other respects normal, and the
          option does not apply if the parameter is specified by name,
          or by pattern with the -m option.  This is on by default for
          the parameters in the zsh/parameter and zsh/mapfile modules.
          Note, however, that unlike the -h flag this is also useful
          for non-special parameters.

    -i
          Use an internal integer representation.  If N is nonzero it
          defines the output arithmetic base, otherwise it is
          determined by the first assignment.

    -E
          Use an internal double-precision floating point
          representation.  On output the variable will be converted to
          scientific notation.  If N is nonzero it defines the number
          of significant figures to display; the default is ten.

    -F
          Use an internal double-precision floating point
          representation.  On output the variable will be converted to
          fixed-point decimal notation.  If N is nonzero it defines the
          number of digits to display after the decimal point; the
          default is ten.

    -l
          Convert the result to lower case whenever the parameter is
          expanded.  The value is _not_ converted when assigned.

    -r
          The given NAMEs are marked readonly.

    -t
          Tags the named parameters.  Tags have no special meaning to
          the shell.  This flag has a different meaning when used with
          -f; see above.

    -u
          Convert the result to upper case whenever the parameter is
          expanded.  The value is _not_ converted when assigned.  This
          flag has a different meaning when used with -f; see above.

    -x
          Mark for automatic export to the environment of subsequently
          executed commands.  If the option GLOBAL_EXPORT is set, this
          implies the option -g, unless +g is also explicitly given; in
          other words the parameter is not made local to the enclosing
          function.  This is for compatibility with previous versions
          of zsh.


ulimit [ -SHacdflmnpstv [ LIMIT ] ... ]
     Set or display resource limits of the shell and the processes
     started by the shell.  The value of LIMIT can be a number in the
     unit specified below or the value `unlimited'.  By default, only
     soft limits are manipulated. If the -H flag is given use hard
     limits instead of soft limits.  If the -S flag is given together
     with the -H flag set both hard and soft limits.  If no options are
     used, the file size limit (-f) is assumed.  If LIMIT is omitted
     the current value of the specified resources are printed.  When
     more than one resource values are printed the limit name and unit
     is printed before each value.

    -a
          Lists all of the current resource limits.

    -c
          512-byte blocks on the size of core dumps.

    -d
          K-bytes on the size of the data segment.

    -f
          512-byte blocks on the size of files written.

    -l
          K-bytes on the size of locked-in memory.

    -m
          K-bytes on the size of physical memory.

    -n
          open file descriptors.

    -s
          K-bytes on the size of the stack.

    -t
          CPU seconds to be used.

    -u
          processes available to the user.

    -v
          K-bytes on the size of virtual memory.

umask [ -S ] [ MASK ]
     The umask is set to MASK.  MASK can be either an octal number or a
     symbolic value as described in man page chmod(1).  If MASK is
     omitted, the current value is printed.  The -S option causes the
     mask to be printed as a symbolic value.  Otherwise, the mask is
     printed as an octal number.  Note that in the symbolic form the
     permissions you specify are those which are to be allowed (not
     denied) to the users specified.

unalias
     Same as unhash -a.

unfunction
     Same as unhash -f.

unhash [ -adfm ] NAME ...
     Remove the element named NAME from an internal hash table.  The
     default is remove elements from the command hash table.  The -a
     option causes unhash to remove aliases.  The -f option causes
     unhash to remove shell functions.  The -d options causes unhash to
     remove named directories.  If the -m flag is given the arguments
     are taken as patterns (should be quoted) and all elements of the
     corresponding hash table with matching names will be removed.

unlimit [ -hs ] RESOURCE ...
     The resource limit for each RESOURCE is set to the hard limit.  If
     the -h flag is given and the shell has appropriate privileges, the
     hard resource limit for each RESOURCE is removed.  The resources
     of the shell process are only changed if the -s flag is given.

unset [ -fmv ] NAME ...
     Each named parameter is unset.  Local parameters remain local even
     if unset; they appear unset within scope, but the previous value
     will still reappear when the scope ends.

     Individual elements of associative array parameters may be unset
     by using subscript syntax on NAME, which should be quoted (or the
     entire command prefixed with noglob) to protect the subscript from
     filename generation.

     If the -m flag is specified the arguments are taken as patterns
     (should be quoted) and all parameters with matching names are
     unset.  Note that this cannot be used when unsetting associative
     array elements, as the subscript will be treated as part of the
     pattern.

     The -v flag specifies that NAME refers to parameters. This is the
     default behaviour.

     unset -f is equivalent to unfunction.

unsetopt [ {+|-}OPTIONS | {+|-}o OPTION_NAME ] [ NAME ... ]
     Unset the options for the shell.  All options specified either
     with flags or by name are unset.  If no arguments are supplied,
     the names of all options currently unset are printed.  If the -m
     flag is given the arguments are taken as patterns (which should be
     quoted to preserve them from being interpreted as glob patterns),
     and all options with names matching these patterns are unset.

vared
     See *Note Zle Builtins::.

wait [ JOB ... ]
     Wait for the specified jobs or processes.  If JOB is not given
     then all currently active child processes are waited for.  Each
     JOB can be either a job specification or the process ID of a job
     in the job table.  The exit status from this command is that of
     the job waited for.

whence [ -vcwfpams ] NAME ...
     For each name, indicate how it would be interpreted if used as a
     command name.

    -v
          Produce a more verbose report.

    -c
          Print the results in a `csh'-like format.  This takes
          precedence over -v.

    -w
          For each NAME, print `NAME: WORD' where WORD is one of alias,
          builtin, command, function, hashed, reserved or none,
          according as NAME corresponds to an alias, a built-in
          command, an external command, a shell function, a command
          defined with the hash builtin, a reserved word, or is not
          recognised.  This takes precedence over -v and -c.

    -f
          Causes the contents of a shell function to be displayed,
          which would otherwise not happen unless the -c flag were used.

    -p
          Do a path search for NAME even if it is an alias, reserved
          word, shell function or builtin.

    -a
          Do a search for all occurrences of NAME throughout the
          command path.  Normally only the first occurrence is printed.

    -m
          The arguments are taken as patterns (should be quoted), and
          the information is displayed for each command matching one of
          these patterns.

    -s
          If a pathname contains symlinks, print the symlink-free
          pathname as well.


where [ -wpms ] NAME ...
     Equivalent to whence -ca.

which [ -wpams ] NAME ...
     Equivalent to whence -c.

zcompile [ -U ] [ -z | -k ] [ -R | -M ] FILE [ NAME ... ]
zcompile -ca [ -m ] [ -R | -M ] FILE [ NAME ... ]
zcompile -t FILE [ NAME ... ]
     This builtin command can be used to compile functions or scripts,
     storing the compiled form in a file, and to examine files
     containing the compiled form.  This allows faster autoloading of
     functions and execution of scripts by avoiding parsing of the text
     when the files are read.

     The first form (without the -c, -a or -t options) creates a
     compiled file.  If only the FILE argument is given, the output
     file has the name `FILE.zwc' and will be placed in the same
     directory as the FILE.  The shell will load the compiled file
     instead of the normal function file when the function is
     autoloaded; see *Note Functions:: for a description of how
     autoloaded functions are searched.  The extension .zwc stands for
     `zsh word code'.

     If there is at least one NAME argument, all the named files are
     compiled into the output FILE given as the first argument.  If
     FILE does not end in .zwc, this extension is automatically
     appended.  Files containing multiple compiled functions are called
     `digest' files, and are intended to be used as elements of the
     FPATH/fpath special array.

     The second form, with the -c or -a options, writes the compiled
     definitions for all the named functions into FILE.  For -c, the
     names must be functions currently defined in the shell, not those
     marked for autoloading.  Undefined functions that are marked for
     autoloading may be written by using the -a option, in which case
     the fpath is searched and the contents of the definition files for
     those functions, if found, are compiled into FILE.  If both -c and
     -a are given, names of both defined functions and functions marked
     for autoloading may be given.  In either case, the functions in
     files written with the -c or -a option will be autoloaded as if the
     KSH_AUTOLOAD option were unset.

     The reason for handling loaded and not-yet-loaded functions with
     different options is that some definition files for autoloading
     define multiple functions, including the function with the same
     name as the file, and, at the end, call that function.  In such
     cases the output of `zcompile -c' does not include the additional
     functions defined in the file, and any other initialization code
     in the file is lost.  Using `zcompile -a' captures all this extra
     information.

     If the -m option is combined with -c or -a, the NAMEs are used as
     patterns and all functions whose names match one of these patterns
     will be written. If no NAME is given, the definitions of all
     functions currently defined or marked as autoloaded will be
     written.

     The third form, with the -t option, examines an existing compiled
     file.  Without further arguments, the names of the original files
     compiled into it are listed.  The first line of output shows the
     version of the shell which compiled the file and how the file will
     be used (i.e. by reading it directly or by mapping it into memory).
     With arguments, nothing is output and the return value is set to
     zero if definitions for _all_ NAMEs were found in the compiled
     file, and non-zero if the definition for at least one NAME was not
     found.

     Other options:

    -U
          Aliases are not expanded when compiling the NAMEd files.

    -R
          When the compiled file is read, its contents are copied into
          the shell's memory, rather than memory-mapped (see -M).  This
          happens automatically on systems that do not support memory
          mapping.

          When compiling scripts instead of autoloadable functions, it
          is often desirable to use this option; otherwise the whole
          file, including the code to define functions which have
          already been defined, will remain mapped, consequently
          wasting memory.

    -M
          The compiled file is mapped into the shell's memory when
          read. This is done in such a way that multiple instances of
          the shell running on the same host will share this mapped
          file.  If neither -R nor -M is given, the zcompile builtin
          decides what to do based on the size of the compiled file.

    -k
    -z
          These options are used when the compiled file contains
          functions which are to be autoloaded. If -z is given, the
          function will be autoloaded as if the KSH_AUTOLOAD option is
          _not_ set, even if it is set at the time the compiled file is
          read, while if the -k is given, the function will be loaded
          as if KSH_AUTOLOAD _is_ set.  If neither of these options is
          given, the function will be loaded as determined by the
          setting of the KSH_AUTOLOAD option at the time the compiled
          file is read.

          These options may also appear as many times as necessary
          between the listed NAMEs to specify the loading style of all
          following functions, up to the next -k or -z.


     The created file always contains two versions of the compiled
     format, one for big-endian machines and one for small-endian
     machines.  The upshot of this is that the compiled file is machine
     independent and if it is read or mapped, only one half of the file
     is actually used (and mapped).

zformat
     See *Note The zsh/zutil Module::.

zftp
     See *Note The zsh/zftp Module::.

zle
     See *Note Zle Builtins::.

zmodload [ -dL ] [ ... ]
zmodload -e [ -A ] [ ... ]
zmodload [ -a [ -bcpf [ -I ] ] ] [ -iL ] ...
zmodload -u [ -abcdpf [ -I ] ] [ -iL ] ...
zmodload -A [ -L ] [ MODALIAS[=MODULE] ... ]
zmodload -R MODALIAS ...
     Performs operations relating to zsh's loadable modules.  Loading
     of modules while the shell is running (`dynamical loading') is not
     available on all operating systems, or on all installations on a
     particular operating system, although the zmodload command itself
     is always available and can be used to manipulate modules built
     into versions of the shell executable without dynamical loading.

     Without arguments the names of all currently loaded binary modules
     are printed.  The -L option causes this list to be in the form of a
     series of zmodload commands.  Forms with arguments are:

    zmodload [ -i ] NAME ...
    zmodload -u [ -i ] NAME ...
          In the simplest case, zmodload loads a binary module.  The
          module must be in a file with a name consisting of the
          specified NAME followed by a standard suffix, usually `.so'
          (`.sl' on HPUX).  If the module to be loaded is already
          loaded and the -i option is given, the duplicate module is
          ignored.  Otherwise zmodload prints an error message.

          The NAMEd module is searched for in the same way a command
          is, using $module_path instead of $path.  However, the path
          search is performed even when the module name contains a `/',
          which it usually does.  There is no way to prevent the path
          search.

          With -u, zmodload unloads modules.  The same NAME must be
          given that was given when the module was loaded, but it is not
          necessary for the module to exist in the filesystem.  The -i
          option suppresses the error if the module is already unloaded
          (or was never loaded).

          Each module has a boot and a cleanup function.  The module
          will not be loaded if its boot function fails.  Similarly a
          module can only be unloaded if its cleanup function runs
          successfully.

    zmodload -d [ -L ] [ NAME ]
    zmodload -d NAME DEP ...
    zmodload -ud NAME [ DEP ... ]
          The -d option can be used to specify module dependencies.
          The modules named in the second and subsequent arguments will
          be loaded before the module named in the first argument.

          With -d and one argument, all dependencies for that module
          are listed.  With -d and no arguments, all module
          dependencies are listed.  This listing is by default in a
          Makefile-like format.  The -L option changes this format to a
          list of zmodload -d commands.

          If -d and -u are both used, dependencies are removed.  If
          only one argument is given, all dependencies for that module
          are removed.

    zmodload -ab [ -L ]
    zmodload -ab [ -i ] NAME [ BUILTIN ... ]
    zmodload -ub [ -i ] BUILTIN ...
          The -ab option defines autoloaded builtins.  It defines the
          specified BUILTINs.  When any of those builtins is called,
          the module specified in the first argument is loaded.  If
          only the NAME is given, one builtin is defined, with the same
          name as the module.  -i suppresses the error if the builtin
          is already defined or autoloaded, regardless of which module
          it came from.

          With -ab and no arguments, all autoloaded builtins are
          listed, with the module name (if different) shown in
          parentheses after the builtin name.  The -L option changes
          this format to a list of zmodload -a commands.

          If -b is used together with the -u option, it removes builtins
          previously defined with -ab.  This is only possible if the
          builtin is not yet loaded.  -i suppresses the error if the
          builtin is already removed (or never existed).

    zmodload -ac [ -IL ]
    zmodload -ac [ -iI ] NAME [ COND ... ]
    zmodload -uc [ -iI ] COND ...
          The -ac option is used to define autoloaded condition codes.
          The COND strings give the names of the conditions defined by
          the module. The optional -I option is used to define infix
          condition names. Without this option prefix condition names
          are defined.

          If given no condition names, all defined names are listed (as
          a series of zmodload commands if the -L option is given).

          The -uc option removes definitions for autoloaded conditions.

    zmodload -ap [ -L ]
    zmodload -ap [ -i ] NAME [ PARAMETER ... ]
    zmodload -up [ -i ] PARAMETER ...
          The -p option is like the -b and -c options, but makes
          zmodload work on autoloaded parameters instead.

    zmodload -af [ -L ]
    zmodload -af [ -i ] NAME [ FUNCTION ... ]
    zmodload -uf [ -i ] FUNCTION ...
          The -f option is like the -b, -p, and -c options, but makes
          zmodload work on autoloaded math functions instead.

    zmodload -a [ -L ]
    zmodload -a [ -i ] NAME [ BUILTIN ... ]
    zmodload -ua [ -i ] BUILTIN ...
          Equivalent to -ab and -ub.

    zmodload -e [ -A ] [ STRING ... ]
          The -e option without arguments lists all loaded modules; if
          the -A option is also given, module aliases corresponding to
          loaded modules are also shown.  With arguments only the
          return status is set to zero if all STRINGs given as
          arguments are names of loaded modules and to one if at least
          on STRING is not the name of a loaded module.  This can be
          used to test for the availability of things implemented by
          modules.  In this case, any aliases are automatically
          resolved and the -A flag is not used.

    zmodload -A [ -L ] [ MODALIAS[=MODULE] ... ]
          For each argument, if both MODALIAS and MODULE are given,
          define MODALIAS to be an alias for the module MODULE.  If the
          module MODALIAS is ever subsequently requested, either via a
          call to zmodload or implicitly, the shell will attempt to load
          MODULE instead.  If MODULE is not given, show the definition
          of MODALIAS.  If no arguments are given, list all defined
          module aliases.  When listing, if the -L flag was also given,
          list the definition as a zmodload command to recreate the
          alias.

          The existence of aliases for modules is completely
          independent of whether the name resolved is actually loaded
          as a module: while the alias exists, loading and unloading
          the module under any alias has exactly the same effect as
          using the resolved name, and does not affect the connection
          between the alias and the resolved name which can be removed
          either by zmodload -R or by redefining the alias.  Chains of
          aliases (i.e. where the first resolved name is itself an
          alias) are valid so long as these are not circular.  As the
          aliases take the same format as module names, they may
          include path separators:  in this case, there is no
          requirement for any part of the path named to exist as the
          alias will be resolved first.  For example, `any/old/alias'
          is always a valid alias.

          Dependencies added to aliased modules are actually added to
          the resolved module; these remain if the alias is removed.
          It is valid to create an alias whose name is one of the
          standard shell modules and which resolves to a different
          module.  However, if a module has dependencies, it will not
          be possible to use the module name as an alias as the module
          will already be marked as a loadable module in its own right.

          Apart from the above, aliases can be used in the zmodload
          command anywhere module names are required.  However, aliases
          will not be shown in lists of loaded modules with a bare
          `zmodload'.

    zmodload -R MODALIAS ...
          For each MODALIAS argument that was previously defined as a
          module alias via zmodload -A, delete the alias.  If any was
          not defined, an error is caused and the remainder of the line
          is ignored.


     Note that zsh makes no distinction between modules that were linked
     into the shell and modules that are loaded dynamically. In both
     cases this builtin command has to be used to make available the
     builtins and other things defined by modules (unless the module is
     autoloaded on these definitions). This is true even for systems
     that don't support dynamic loading of modules.

zparseopts
     See *Note The zsh/zutil Module::.

zprof
     See *Note The zsh/zprof Module::.

zpty
     See *Note The zsh/zpty Module::.

zregexparse
     See *Note The zsh/zutil Module::.

zstyle
     See *Note The zsh/zutil Module::.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Zsh Line Editor,  Next: Completion Widgets,  Prev: Shell Builtin Commands,  Up: Top

Zsh Line Editor
***************

Description
===========

If the ZLE option is set (which it is by default in interactive shells)
and the shell input is attached to the terminal, the user is able to
edit command lines.

There are two display modes.  The first, multiline mode, is the
default.  It only works if the TERM parameter is set to a valid
terminal type that can move the cursor up.  The second, single line
mode, is used if TERM is invalid or incapable of moving the cursor up,
or if the SINGLE_LINE_ZLE option is set.  This mode is similar to
`ksh', and uses no termcap sequences.  If TERM is "emacs", the ZLE
option will be unset by default.

The parameters BAUD, COLUMNS, and LINES are also used by the line
editor.  *Note Parameters Used By The Shell::.

* Menu:

* Keymaps::
* Zle Builtins::
* Zle Widgets::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Keymaps,  Next: Zle Builtins,  Up: Zsh Line Editor

Keymaps
=======

A keymap in ZLE contains a set of bindings between key sequences and
ZLE commands.  The empty key sequence cannot be bound.

There can be any number of keymaps at any time, and each keymap has one
or more names.  If all of a keymap's names are deleted, it disappears.
bindkey can be used to manipulate keymap names.

Initially, there are four keymaps:

emacs
     EMACS emulation

viins
     vi emulation - insert mode

vicmd
     vi emulation - command mode

.safe
     fallback keymap

The `.safe' keymap is special.  It can never be altered, and the name
can never be removed.  However, it can be linked to other names, which
can be removed.  In the future other special keymaps may be added;
users should avoid using names beginning with `.' for their own keymaps.

In addition to these four names, either `emacs' or `viins' is also
linked to the name `main'.  If one of the VISUAL or EDITOR environment
variables contain the string `vi' when the shell starts up then it will
be `viins', otherwise it will be `emacs'.  bindkey's -e and -v options
provide a convenient way to override this default choice.

When the editor starts up, it will select the `main' keymap.  If that
keymap doesn't exist, it will use `.safe' instead.

In the `.safe' keymap, each single key is bound to self-insert, except
for ^J (line feed) and ^M (return) which are bound to accept-line.
This is deliberately not pleasant to use; if you are using it, it means
you deleted the main keymap, and you should put it back.

Reading Commands
----------------

When ZLE is reading a command from the terminal, it may read a sequence
that is bound to some command and is also a prefix of a longer bound
string.  In this case ZLE will wait a certain time to see if more
characters are typed, and if not (or they don't match any longer
string) it will execute the binding.  This timeout is defined by the
KEYTIMEOUT parameter; its default is 0.4 sec.  There is no timeout if
the prefix string is not itself bound to a command.

As well as ZLE commands, key sequences can be bound to other strings,
by using `bindkey -s'.  When such a sequence is read, the replacement
string is pushed back as input, and the command reading process starts
again using these fake keystrokes.  This input can itself invoke
further replacement strings, but in order to detect loops the process
will be stopped if there are twenty such replacements without a real
command being read.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Zle Builtins,  Next: Zle Widgets,  Prev: Keymaps,  Up: Zsh Line Editor

Zle Builtins
============

The ZLE module contains three related builtin commands. The bindkey
command manipulates keymaps and key bindings; the vared command invokes
ZLE on the value of a shell parameter; and the zle command manipulates
editing widgets and allows command line access to ZLE commands from
within shell functions.

bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -l
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -d
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -D KEYMAP ...
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -A OLD-KEYMAP NEW-KEYMAP
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -N NEW-KEYMAP [ OLD-KEYMAP ]
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -m
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -r IN-STRING ...
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] -s IN-STRING OUT-STRING ...
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] IN-STRING COMMAND ...
bindkey [ OPTIONS ] [ IN-STRING ]
     bindkey's options can be divided into three categories: keymap
     selection, operation selection, and others.  The keymap selection
     options are:

    -e
          Selects keymap `emacs', and also links it to `main'.

    -v
          Selects keymap `viins', and also links it to `main'.

    -a
          Selects keymap `vicmd'.

    -M
          The first non-option argument is used as a keymap name, and
          does not otherwise count as an argument.


     If a keymap selection is required and none of the options above
     are used, the `main' keymap is used.  Some operations do not
     permit a keymap to be selected, namely:

    -l
          List all existing keymap names.  If the -L option is also
          used, list in the form of bindkey commands to create the
          keymaps.

    -d
          Delete all existing keymaps and reset to the default state.

    -D KEYMAP ...
          Delete the named KEYMAPs.

    -A OLD-KEYMAP NEW-KEYMAP
          Make the NEW-KEYMAP name an alias for OLD-KEYMAP, so that
          both names refer to the same keymap.  The names have equal
          standing; if either is deleted, the other remains.  If there
          is already a keymap with the NEW-KEYMAP name, it is deleted.

    -N NEW-KEYMAP [ OLD-KEYMAP ]
          Create a new keymap, named NEW-KEYMAP.  If a keymap already
          has that name, it is deleted.  If an OLD-KEYMAP name is
          given, the new keymap is initialized to be a duplicate of it,
          otherwise the new keymap will be empty.


     To use a newly created keymap, it should be linked to main.  Hence
     the sequence of commands to create and use a new keymap `mymap'
     initialized from the emacs keymap (which remains unchanged) is:

          bindkey -N mymap emacs
          bindkey -A mymap main

     Note that while `bindkey -A NEWMAP main' will work when NEWMAP is
     emacs or viins, it will not work for vicmd, as switching from vi
     insert to command mode becomes impossible.

     The following operations act on the `main' keymap if no keymap
     selection option was given:

    -m
          Add the built-in set of meta-key bindings to the selected
          keymap.  Only keys that are unbound or bound to self-insert
          are affected.

    -r IN-STRING ...
          Unbind the specified IN-STRINGs in the selected keymap.  This
          is exactly equivalent to binding the strings to undefined-key.

          When -R is also used, interpret the IN-STRINGs as ranges.

          When -p is also used, the IN-STRINGs specify prefixes.  Any
          binding that has the given IN-STRING as a prefix, not
          including the binding for the IN-STRING itself, if any, will
          be removed.  For example,

               bindkey -rpM viins '^['

          will remove all bindings in the vi-insert keymap beginning
          with an escape character (probably cursor keys), but leave
          the binding for the escape character itself (probably
          vi-cmd-mode).  This is incompatible with the option -R.

    -s IN-STRING OUT-STRING ...
          Bind each IN-STRING to each OUT-STRING.  When IN-STRING is
          typed, OUT-STRING will be pushed back and treated as input to
          the line editor.  When -R is also used, interpret the
          IN-STRINGs as ranges.

    IN-STRING COMMAND ...
          Bind each IN-STRING to each COMMAND.  When -R is used,
          interpret the IN-STRINGs as ranges.

    [ IN-STRING ]
          List key bindings.  If an IN-STRING is specified, the binding
          of that string in the selected keymap is displayed.
          Otherwise, all key bindings in the selected keymap are
          displayed.  (As a special case, if the -e or -v option is
          used alone, the keymap is _not_ displayed - the implicit
          linking of keymaps is the only thing that happens.)

          When the option -p is used, the IN-STRING must be present.
          The listing shows all bindings which have the given key
          sequence as a prefix, not including any bindings for the key
          sequence itself.

          When the -L option is used, the list is in the form of bindkey
          commands to create the key bindings.


     When the -R option is used as noted above, a valid range consists
     of two characters, with an optional `-' between them.  All
     characters between the two specified, inclusive, are bound as
     specified.

     For either IN-STRING or OUT-STRING, the following escape sequences
     are recognised:

    \a
          bell character

    \b
          backspace

    \e, \E
          escape

    \f
          form feed

    \n
          linefeed (newline)

    \r
          carriage return

    \t
          horizontal tab

    \v
          vertical tab

    \NNN
          character code in octal

    \xNN
          character code in hexadecimal

    \M[-]X
          character with meta bit set

    \C[-]X
          control character

    ^X
          control character

     In all other cases, `\' escapes the following character.  Delete is
     written as `^?'.  Note that `\M^?' and `^\M?' are not the same,
     and that (unlike emacs), the bindings `\M-X' and `\eX' are
     entirely distinct, although they are initialized to the same
     bindings by `bindkey -m'.

vared [ -Aache ] [ -p PROMPT ] [ -r RPROMPT ] NAME
     The value of the parameter NAME is loaded into the edit buffer,
     and the line editor is invoked.  When the editor exits, NAME is
     set to the string value returned by the editor.  When the -c flag
     is given, the parameter is created if it doesn't already exist.
     The -a flag may be given with -c to create an array parameter, or
     the -A flag to create an associative array.  If the type of an
     existing parameter does not match the type to be created, the
     parameter is unset and recreated.

     If an array or array slice is being edited, separator characters
     as defined in $IFS will be shown quoted with a backslash, as will
     backslashes themselves.  Conversely, when the edited text is split
     into an array, a backslash quotes an immediately following
     separator character or backslash; no other special handling of
     backslashes, or any handling of quotes, is performed.

     Individual elements of existing array or associative array
     parameters may be edited by using subscript syntax on NAME.  New
     elements are created automatically, even without -c.

     If the -p flag is given, the following string will be taken as the
     prompt to display at the left.  If the -r flag is given, the
     following string gives the prompt to display at the right.  If the
     -h flag is specified, the history can be accessed from ZLE. If the
     -e flag is given, typing ^D (Control-D) on an empty line causes
     vared to exit immediately with a non-zero return value.

zle -l [ -L | -a ] [ STRING ... ]
zle -D WIDGET ...
zle -A OLD-WIDGET NEW-WIDGET
zle -N WIDGET [ FUNCTION ]
zle -C WIDGET COMPLETION-WIDGET FUNCTION
zle -R [ -c ] [ DISPLAY-STRING ] [ STRING ... ]
zle -M STRING
zle -U STRING
zle -I
zle WIDGET [ -n NUM ] [ -N ] ARGS ...
zle
     The zle builtin performs a number of different actions concerning
     ZLE.  Which operation it performs depends on its options:

    -l [ -L | -a ]
          List all existing user-defined widgets.  If the -L option is
          used, list in the form of zle commands to create the widgets.

          When combined with the -a option, all widget names are listed,
          including the builtin ones. In this case the -L option is
          ignored.

          If at least one STRING is given, nothing will be printed but
          the return status will be zero if all STRINGs are names of
          existing widgets (or of user-defined widgets if the -a flag
          is not given) and non-zero if at least one STRING is not a
          name of an defined widget.

    -D WIDGET ...
          Delete the named WIDGETs.

    -A OLD-WIDGET NEW-WIDGET
          Make the NEW-WIDGET name an alias for OLD-WIDGET, so that
          both names refer to the same widget.  The names have equal
          standing; if either is deleted, the other remains.  If there
          is already a widget with the NEW-WIDGET name, it is deleted.

    -N WIDGET [ FUNCTION ]
          Create a user-defined widget.  If there is already a widget
          with the specified name, it is overwritten.  When the new
          widget is invoked from within the editor, the specified shell
          FUNCTION is called.  If no function name is specified, it
          defaults to the same name as the widget.  For further
          information, see the section _Widgets_ in *Note Zsh Line
          Editor::.

    -C WIDGET COMPLETION-WIDGET FUNCTION
          Create a user-defined completion widget named WIDGET. The
          completion widget will behave like the built-in
          completion-widget whose name is given as COMPLETION-WIDGET.
          To generate the completions, the shell function FUNCTION will
          be called.  For further information, see *Note Completion
          Widgets::.

    -R [ -c ] [ DISPLAY-STRING ] [ STRING ... ]
          Redisplay the command line; this is to be called from within
          a user-defined widget to allow changes to become visible.  If
          a DISPLAY-STRING is given and not empty, this is shown in the
          status line (immediately below the line being edited).

          If the optional STRINGs are given they are listed below the
          prompt in the same way as completion lists are printed. If no
          STRINGs are given but the -c option is used such a list is
          cleared.

          Note that this option is only useful for widgets that do not
          exit immediately after using it because the strings displayed
          will be erased immediately after return from the widget.

          This command can safely be called outside user defined
          widgets; if zle is active, the display will be refreshed,
          while if zle is not active, the command has no effect.  In
          this case there will usually be no other arguments.  The
          status is zero if zle was active, else one.

    -M STRING
          As with the -R option, the STRING will be displayed below the
          command line; unlike the -R option, the string will not be
          put into the status line but will instead be printed normally
          below the prompt.  This means that the STRING will still be
          displayed after the widget returns (until it is overwritten
          by subsequent commands).

    -U STRING
          This pushes the characters in the STRING onto the input stack
          of ZLE.  After the widget currently executed finishes ZLE
          will behave as if the characters in the STRING were typed by
          the user.

          As ZLE uses a stack, if this option is used repeatedly the
          last string pushed onto the stack will be processed first.
          However, the characters in each STRING will be processed in
          the order in which they appear in the string.

    -I
          Unusually, this option is only useful _outside_ ordinary
          widget functions.  It invalidates the current zle display in
          preparation for output; usually this will be from a trap
          function.  It has no effect if zle is not active.  When a
          trap exits, the shell checks to see if the display needs
          restoring, hence the following will print output in such a
          way as not to disturb the line being edited:

               TRAPUSR1() {
                   # Invalidate zle display
                 zle -I
                   # Show output
                 print Hello
               }

          Note that there are better ways of manipulating the display
          from within zle widgets.  In general, the trap function may
          need to test whether zle is loaded before using this method;
          if it is not, there is no point in loading it specially since
          the line editor will not be active.

          The status is zero if zle was active, else one.

    WIDGET [ -n NUM ] [ -N ] ARGS ...
          Invoke the specified widget.  This can only be done when ZLE
          is active; normally this will be within a user-defined widget.

          With the options -n and -N, the current numerical argument
          will be saved and then restored after the call to widget; `-n
          NUM' sets the numerical argument temporarily to NUM, while
          `-N' sets it to the default, i.e. as if there were none.

          Any further arguments will be passed to the widget.  If it is
          a shell function, these are passed down as positional
          parameters; for builtin widgets it is up to the widget in
          question what it does with them.  Currently arguments are
          only handled by the incremental-search commands, the
          history-search-forward and -backward and the corresponding
          functions prefixed by vi-, and by universal-argument.  No
          error is flagged if the command does not use the arguments,
          or only uses some of them.

          The return status reflects the success or failure of the
          operation carried out by the widget, or if it is a
          user-defined widget the return status of the shell function.

          A non-zero return status causes the shell to beep when the
          widget exits, unless the BEEP options was unset or the widget
          was called via the zle command.  Thus if a user defined
          widget requires an immediate beep, it should call the beep
          widget directly.


     With no options and no arguments, only the return status will be
     set. It is zero if ZLE is currently active and widgets could be
     invoked using this builtin command and non-zero if ZLE is not
     active.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Zle Widgets,  Prev: Zle Builtins,  Up: Zsh Line Editor

Widgets
=======

All actions in the editor are performed by `widgets'.  A widget's job is
simply to perform some small action.  The ZLE commands that key
sequences in keymaps are bound to are in fact widgets.  Widgets can be
user-defined or built in.

The standard widgets built in to ZLE are listed in Standard Widgets
below.  Other built-in widgets can be defined by other modules (see
*Note Zsh Modules::).  Each built-in widget has two names: its normal
canonical name, and the same name preceded by a `.'.  The `.' name is
special: it can't be rebound to a different widget.  This makes the
widget available even when its usual name has been redefined.

User-defined widgets are defined using `zle -N', and implemented as
shell functions.  When the widget is executed, the corresponding shell
function is executed, and can perform editing (or other) actions.  It
is recommended that user-defined widgets should not have names starting
with `.'.

User-Defined Widgets
====================

User-defined widgets, being implemented as shell functions, can execute
any normal shell command.  They can also run other widgets (whether
built-in or user-defined) using the zle builtin command.  The standard
input of the function is closed to prevent external commands from
unintentionally blocking ZLE by reading from the terminal, but read -k
or read -q can be used to read characters.  Finally, they can examine
and edit the ZLE buffer being edited by reading and setting the special
parameters described below.

These special parameters are always available in widget functions, but
are not in any way special outside ZLE.  If they have some normal value
outside ZLE, that value is temporarily inaccessible, but will return
when the widget function exits.  These special parameters in fact have
local scope, like parameters created in a function using local.

Inside completion widgets and traps called while ZLE is active, these
parameters are available read-only.

BUFFER (scalar)
     The entire contents of the edit buffer.  If it is written to, the
     cursor remains at the same offset, unless that would put it
     outside the buffer.

BUFFERLINES
     The number of screen lines needed for the edit buffer currently
     displayed on screen (i.e. without any changes to the preceding
     parameters done after the last redisplay).

CURSOR (integer)
     The offset of the cursor, within the edit buffer.  This is in the
     range 0 to $#BUFFER, and is by definition equal to $#LBUFFER.
     Attempts to move the cursor outside the buffer will result in the
     cursor being moved to the appropriate end of the buffer.

HISTNO (integer)
     The current history number.

KEYS (scalar)
     The keys typed to invoke this widget, as a literal string.

LASTWIDGET (scalar)
     The name of the last widget that was executed.

LBUFFER (scalar)
     The part of the buffer that lies to the left of the cursor
     position.  If it is assigned to, only that part of the buffer is
     replaced, and the cursor remains between the new $LBUFFER and the
     old $RBUFFER.

MARK (integer)
     Like CURSOR, but for the mark.

NUMERIC (integer)
     The numeric argument. If no numeric argument was given, this
     parameter is unset. When this is set inside a widget function,
     builtin widgets called with the zle builtin command will use the
     value assigned. If it is unset inside a widget function, builtin
     widgets called behave as if no numeric argument was given.

PENDING (integer)
     The number of bytes pending for input, i.e. the number of bytes
     which have already been typed and can immediately be read. On
     systems where the shell is not able to get this information, this
     parameter will always have a value of zero.

PREBUFFER (scalar)
     In a multi-line input at the secondary prompt, this read-only
     parameter contains the contents of the lines before the one the
     cursor is currently in.

RBUFFER (scalar)
     The part of the buffer that lies to the right of the cursor
     position.  If it is assigned to, only that part of the buffer is
     replaced, and the cursor remains between the old $LBUFFER and the
     new $RBUFFER.

WIDGET (scalar)
     The name of the widget currently being executed.


Standard Widgets
================

The following is a list of all the standard widgets, and their default
bindings in emacs mode, vi command mode and vi insert mode (the
`emacs', `vicmd' and `viins' keymaps, respectively).

Note that cursor keys are bound to movement keys in all three keymaps;
the shell assumes that the cursor keys send the key sequences reported
by the terminal-handling library (termcap or terminfo).  The key
sequences shown in the list are those based on the VT100, common on
many modern terminals, but in fact these are not necessarily bound.  In
the case of the viins keymap, the initial escape character of the
sequences serves also to return to the vicmd keymap: whether this
happens is determined by the KEYTIMEOUT parameter, see *Note
Parameters::.

* Menu:

* Movement::
* History Control::
* Modifying Text::
* Arguments::
* Completion::
* Miscellaneous::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Movement,  Next: History Control,  Up: Zle Widgets

Movement
--------

vi-backward-blank-word (unbound) (B) (unbound)
     Move backward one word, where a word is defined as a series of
     non-blank characters.

backward-char (^B ESC-[D) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move backward one character.

vi-backward-char (unbound) (^H h ^?) (ESC-[D)
     Move backward one character, without changing lines.

backward-word (ESC-B ESC-b) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the beginning of the previous word.

emacs-backward-word
     Move to the beginning of the previous word.

vi-backward-word (unbound) (b) (unbound)
     Move to the beginning of the previous word, vi-style.

beginning-of-line (^A) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the beginning of the line.  If already at the beginning of
     the line, move to the beginning of the previous line, if any.

vi-beginning-of-line
     Move to the beginning of the line, without changing lines.

end-of-line (^E) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the line.  If already at the end of the line,
     move to the end of the next line, if any.

vi-end-of-line (unbound) ($) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the line.  If an argument is given to this
     command, the cursor will be moved to the end of the line (argument
     - 1) lines down.

vi-forward-blank-word (unbound) (W) (unbound)
     Move forward one word, where a word is defined as a series of
     non-blank characters.

vi-forward-blank-word-end (unbound) (E) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the current word, or, if at the end of the
     current word, to the end of the next word, where a word is defined
     as a series of non-blank characters.

forward-char (^F ESC-[C) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move forward one character.

vi-forward-char (unbound) (space l) (ESC-[C)
     Move forward one character.

vi-find-next-char (^X^F) (f) (unbound)
     Read a character from the keyboard, and move to the next
     occurrence of it in the line.

vi-find-next-char-skip (unbound) (t) (unbound)
     Read a character from the keyboard, and move to the position just
     before the next occurrence of it in the line.

vi-find-prev-char (unbound) (F) (unbound)
     Read a character from the keyboard, and move to the previous
     occurrence of it in the line.

vi-find-prev-char-skip (unbound) (T) (unbound)
     Read a character from the keyboard, and move to the position just
     after the previous occurrence of it in the line.

vi-first-non-blank (unbound) (^) (unbound)
     Move to the first non-blank character in the line.

vi-forward-word (unbound) (w) (unbound)
     Move forward one word, vi-style.

forward-word (ESC-F ESC-f) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the beginning of the next word.  The editor's idea of a
     word is specified with the WORDCHARS parameter.

emacs-forward-word
     Move to the end of the next word.

vi-forward-word-end (unbound) (e) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the next word.

vi-goto-column (ESC-|) (|) (unbound)
     Move to the column specified by the numeric argument.

vi-goto-mark (unbound) (`) (unbound)
     Move to the specified mark.

vi-goto-mark-line (unbound) (') (unbound)
     Move to beginning of the line containing the specified mark.

vi-repeat-find (unbound) (;) (unbound)
     Repeat the last vi-find command.

vi-rev-repeat-find (unbound) (,) (unbound)
     Repeat the last vi-find command in the opposite direction.



File: zsh.info,  Node: History Control,  Next: Modifying Text,  Prev: Movement,  Up: Zle Widgets

History Control
---------------

beginning-of-buffer-or-history (ESC-<) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the beginning of the buffer, or if already there, move to
     the first event in the history list.

beginning-of-line-hist
     Move to the beginning of the line.  If already at the beginning of
     the buffer, move to the previous history line.

beginning-of-history
     Move to the first event in the history list.

down-line-or-history (^N ESC-[B) (j) (ESC-[B)
     Move down a line in the buffer, or if already at the bottom line,
     move to the next event in the history list.

vi-down-line-or-history (unbound) (+) (unbound)
     Move down a line in the buffer, or if already at the bottom line,
     move to the next event in the history list.  Then move to the
     first non-blank character on the line.

down-line-or-search
     Move down a line in the buffer, or if already at the bottom line,
     search forward in the history for a line beginning with the first
     word in the buffer.

     If called from a function by the zle command with arguments, the
     first argument is taken as the string for which to search, rather
     than the first word in the buffer.

down-history (unbound) (^N) (unbound)
     Move to the next event in the history list.

history-beginning-search-backward
     Search backward in the history for a line beginning with the
     current line up to the cursor.  This leaves the cursor in its
     original position.

end-of-buffer-or-history (ESC->) (unbound) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the buffer, or if already there, move to the
     last event in the history list.

end-of-line-hist
     Move to the end of the line.  If already at the end of the buffer,
     move to the next history line.

end-of-history
     Move to the last event in the history list.

vi-fetch-history (unbound) (G) (unbound)
     Fetch the history line specified by the numeric argument.  This
     defaults to the current history line (i.e. the one that isn't
     history yet).

history-incremental-search-backward (^R ^Xr) (unbound) (unbound)
     Search backward incrementally for a specified string.  The search
     is case-insensitive if the search string does not have uppercase
     letters and no numeric argument was given.  The string may begin
     with `^' to anchor the search to the beginning of the line.

     A restricted set of editing functions is available in the
     mini-buffer.  An interrupt signal, as defined by the stty setting,
     will stop the search and go back to the original line.  An
     undefined key will have the same effect. The supported functions
     are: backward-delete-char, vi-backward-delete-char, clear-screen,
     redisplay, quoted-insert, vi-quoted-insert, accept-and-hold,
     accept-and-infer-next-history, accept-line and
     accept-line-and-down-history.

     magic-space just inserts a space.  vi-cmd-mode toggles between the
     `main' and `vicmd' keymaps; the `main' keymap (insert mode) will
     be selected initially.  history-incremental-search-backward will
     get the next occurrence of the contents of the mini-buffer.
     history-incremental-search-forward inverts the sense of the search.
     vi-repeat-search and vi-rev-repeat-search are similarly supported.
     The direction of the search is indicated in the mini-buffer.

     Any multi-character string that is not bound to one of the above
     functions will beep and interrupt the search, leaving the last
     found line in the buffer. Any single character that is not bound
     to one of the above functions, or self-insert or
     self-insert-unmeta, will have the same effect but the function
     will be executed.

     When called from a widget function by the zle command, the
     incremental search commands can take a string argument.  This will
     be treated as a string of keys, as for arguments to the bindkey
     command, and used as initial input for the command.  Any
     characters in the string which are unused by the incremental
     search will be silently ignored.  For example,

          zle history-incremental-search-backward forceps

     will search backwards for forceps, leaving the minibuffer
     containing the string `forceps'.

history-incremental-search-forward (^S ^Xs) (unbound) (unbound)
     Search forward incrementally for a specified string.  The search is
     case-insensitive if the search string does not have uppercase
     letters and no numeric argument was given.  The string may begin
     with `^' to anchor the search to the beginning of the line.  The
     functions available in the mini-buffer are the same as for
     history-incremental-search-backward.

history-search-backward (ESC-P ESC-p) (unbound) (unbound)
     Search backward in the history for a line beginning with the first
     word in the buffer.

     If called from a function by the zle command with arguments, the
     first argument is taken as the string for which to search, rather
     than the first word in the buffer.

vi-history-search-backward (unbound) (/) (unbound)
     Search backward in the history for a specified string.  The string
     may begin with `^' to anchor the search to the beginning of the
     line.

     A restricted set of editing functions is available in the
     mini-buffer.  An interrupt signal, as defined by the stty setting,
     will stop the search.  The functions available in the mini-buffer
     are: accept-line, backward-delete-char, vi-backward-delete-char,
     backward-kill-word, vi-backward-kill-word, clear-screen, redisplay,
     quoted-insert and vi-quoted-insert.

     vi-cmd-mode is treated the same as accept-line, and magic-space is
     treated as a space.  Any other character that is not bound to
     self-insert or self-insert-unmeta will beep and be ignored. If the
     function is called from vi command mode, the bindings of the
     current insert mode will be used.

     If called from a function by the zle command with arguments, the
     first argument is taken as the string for which to search, rather
     than the first word in the buffer.

history-search-forward (ESC-N ESC-n) (unbound) (unbound)
     Search forward in the history for a line beginning with the first
     word in the buffer.

     If called from a function by the zle command with arguments, the
     first argument is taken as the string for which to search, rather
     than the first word in the buffer.

vi-history-search-forward (unbound) (?) (unbound)
     Search forward in the history for a specified string.  The string
     may begin with `^' to anchor the search to the beginning of the
     line. The functions available in the mini-buffer are the same as
     for vi-history-search-backward.  Argument handling is also the same
     as for that command.

infer-next-history (^X^N) (unbound) (unbound)
     Search in the history list for a line matching the current one and
     fetch the event following it.

insert-last-word (ESC-_ ESC-.) (unbound) (unbound)
     Insert the last word from the previous history event at the cursor
     position.  If a positive numeric argument is given, insert that
     word from the end of the previous history event.  If the argument
     is zero or negative insert that word from the left (zero inserts
     the previous command word).  Repeating this command replaces the
     word just inserted with the last word from the history event prior
     to the one just used; numeric arguments can be used in the same
     way to pick a word from that event.

vi-repeat-search (unbound) (n) (unbound)
     Repeat the last vi history search.

vi-rev-repeat-search (unbound) (N) (unbound)
     Repeat the last vi history search, but in reverse.

up-line-or-history (^P ESC-[A) (k) (ESC-[A)
     Move up a line in the buffer, or if already at the top line, move
     to the previous event in the history list.

vi-up-line-or-history (unbound) (-) (unbound)
     Move up a line in the buffer, or if already at the top line, move
     to the previous event in the history list.  Then move to the first
     non-blank character on the line.

up-line-or-search
     Move up a line in the buffer, or if already at the top line,
     search backward in the history for a line beginning with the first
     word in the buffer.

     If called from a function by the zle command with arguments, the
     first argument is taken as the string for which to search, rather
     than the first word in the buffer.

up-history (unbound) (^P) (unbound)
     Move to the previous event in the history list.

history-beginning-search-forward
     Search forward in the history for a line beginning with the current
     line up to the cursor.  This leaves the cursor in its original
     position.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Modifying Text,  Next: Arguments,  Prev: History Control,  Up: Zle Widgets

Modifying Text
--------------

vi-add-eol (unbound) (A) (unbound)
     Move to the end of the line and enter insert mode.

vi-add-next (unbound) (a) (unbound)
     Enter insert mode after the current cursor position, without
     changing lines.

backward-delete-char (^H ^?) (unbound) (unbound)
     Delete the character behind the cursor.

vi-backward-delete-char (unbound) (X) (^H)
     Delete the character behind the cursor, without changing lines.
     If in insert mode, this won't delete past the point where insert
     mode was last entered.

backward-delete-word
     Delete the word behind the cursor.

backward-kill-line
     Kill from the beginning of the line to the cursor position.

backward-kill-word (^W ESC-^H ESC-^?) (unbound) (unbound)
     Kill the word behind the cursor.

vi-backward-kill-word (unbound) (unbound) (^W)
     Kill the word behind the cursor, without going past the point
     where insert mode was last entered.

capitalize-word (ESC-C ESC-c) (unbound) (unbound)
     Capitalize the current word and move past it.

vi-change (unbound) (c) (unbound)
     Read a movement command from the keyboard, and kill from the
     cursor position to the endpoint of the movement.  Then enter
     insert mode.  If the command is vi-change, change the current line.

vi-change-eol (unbound) (C) (unbound)
     Kill to the end of the line and enter insert mode.

vi-change-whole-line (unbound) (S) (unbound)
     Kill the current line and enter insert mode.

copy-region-as-kill (ESC-W ESC-w) (unbound) (unbound)
     Copy the area from the cursor to the mark to the kill buffer.

copy-prev-word (ESC-^_) (unbound) (unbound)
     Duplicate the word to the left of the cursor.

copy-prev-shell-word (ESC-^_) (unbound) (unbound)
     Like copy-prev-word, but the word is found by using shell parsing,
     whereas copy-prev-word looks for blanks. This makes a difference
     when the word is quoted and contains spaces.

vi-delete (unbound) (d) (unbound)
     Read a movement command from the keyboard, and kill from the
     cursor position to the endpoint of the movement.  If the command
     is vi-delete, kill the current line.

delete-char
     Delete the character under the cursor.

vi-delete-char (unbound) (x) (unbound)
     Delete the character under the cursor, without going past the end
     of the line.

delete-word
     Delete the current word.

down-case-word (ESC-L ESC-l) (unbound) (unbound)
     Convert the current word to all lowercase and move past it.

kill-word (ESC-D ESC-d) (unbound) (unbound)
     Kill the current word.

gosmacs-transpose-chars
     Exchange the two characters behind the cursor.

vi-indent (unbound) (>) (unbound)
     Indent a number of lines.

vi-insert (unbound) (i) (unbound)
     Enter insert mode.

vi-insert-bol (unbound) (I) (unbound)
     Move to the first non-blank character on the line and enter insert
     mode.

vi-join (^X^J) (J) (unbound)
     Join the current line with the next one.

kill-line (^K) (unbound) (unbound)
     Kill from the cursor to the end of the line.  If already on the
     end of the line, kill the newline character.

vi-kill-line (unbound) (unbound) (^U)
     Kill from the cursor back to wherever insert mode was last entered.

vi-kill-eol (unbound) (D) (unbound)
     Kill from the cursor to the end of the line.

kill-region
     Kill from the cursor to the mark.

kill-buffer (^X^K) (unbound) (unbound)
     Kill the entire buffer.

kill-whole-line (^U) (unbound) (unbound)
     Kill the current line.

vi-match-bracket (^X^B) (%) (unbound)
     Move to the bracket character (one of {}, () or []) that matches
     the one under the cursor.  If the cursor is not on a bracket
     character, move forward without going past the end of the line to
     find one, and then go to the matching bracket.

vi-open-line-above (unbound) (O) (unbound)
     Open a line above the cursor and enter insert mode.

vi-open-line-below (unbound) (o) (unbound)
     Open a line below the cursor and enter insert mode.

vi-oper-swap-case
     Read a movement command from the keyboard, and swap the case of
     all characters from the cursor position to the endpoint of the
     movement.  If the movement command is vi-oper-swap-case, swap the
     case of all characters on the current line.

overwrite-mode (^X^O) (unbound) (unbound)
     Toggle between overwrite mode and insert mode.

vi-put-before (unbound) (P) (unbound)
     Insert the contents of the kill buffer before the cursor.  If the
     kill buffer contains a sequence of lines (as opposed to
     characters), paste it above the current line.

vi-put-after (unbound) (p) (unbound)
     Insert the contents of the kill buffer after the cursor.  If the
     kill buffer contains a sequence of lines (as opposed to
     characters), paste it below the current line.

quoted-insert (^V) (unbound) (unbound)
     Insert the next character typed into the buffer literally.  An
     interrupt character will not be inserted.

vi-quoted-insert (unbound) (unbound) (^Q ^V)
     Display a `^' at the cursor position, and insert the next
     character typed into the buffer literally.  An interrupt character
     will not be inserted.

quote-line (ESC-') (unbound) (unbound)
     Quote the current line; that is, put a `'' character at the
     beginning and the end, and convert all `'' characters to `'\'''.

quote-region (ESC-") (unbound) (unbound)
     Quote the region from the cursor to the mark.

vi-replace (unbound) (R) (unbound)
     Enter overwrite mode.

vi-repeat-change (unbound) (.) (unbound)
     Repeat the last vi mode text modification.  If a count was used
     with the modification, it is remembered.  If a count is given to
     this command, it overrides the remembered count, and is remembered
     for future uses of this command.  The cut buffer specification is
     similarly remembered.

vi-replace-chars (unbound) (r) (unbound)
     Replace the character under the cursor with a character read from
     the keyboard.

self-insert (printable characters) (unbound) (printable characters and some control characters)
     Insert a character into the buffer at the cursor position.

self-insert-unmeta (ESC-^I ESC-^J ESC-^M) (unbound) (unbound)
     Insert a character into the buffer after stripping the meta bit
     and converting ^M to ^J.

vi-substitute (unbound) (s) (unbound)
     Substitute the next character(s).

vi-swap-case (unbound) (~) (unbound)
     Swap the case of the character under the cursor and move past it.

transpose-chars (^T) (unbound) (unbound)
     Exchange the two characters to the left of the cursor if at end of
     line, else exchange the character under the cursor with the
     character to the left.

transpose-words (ESC-T ESC-t) (unbound) (unbound)
     Exchange the current word with the one before it.

vi-unindent (unbound) (<) (unbound)
     Unindent a number of lines.

up-case-word (ESC-U ESC-u) (unbound) (unbound)
     Convert the current word to all caps and move past it.

yank (^Y) (unbound) (unbound)
     Insert the contents of the kill buffer at the cursor position.

yank-pop (ESC-y) (unbound) (unbound)
     Remove the text just yanked, rotate the kill-ring, and yank the
     new top.  Only works following yank or yank-pop.

vi-yank (unbound) (y) (unbound)
     Read a movement command from the keyboard, and copy the region
     from the cursor position to the endpoint of the movement into the
     kill buffer.  If the command is vi-yank, copy the current line.

vi-yank-whole-line (unbound) (Y) (unbound)
     Copy the current line into the kill buffer.

vi-yank-eol
     Copy the region from the cursor position to the end of the line
     into the kill buffer.  Arguably, this is what Y should do in vi,
     but it isn't what it actually does.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Arguments,  Next: Completion,  Prev: Modifying Text,  Up: Zle Widgets

Arguments
---------

digit-argument (ESC-0..ESC-9) (1-9) (unbound)
     Start a new numeric argument, or add to the current one.  See also
     vi-digit-or-beginning-of-line.  This only works if bound to a key
     sequence ending in a decimal digit.

     Inside a widget function, a call to this function treats the last
     key of the key sequence which called the widget as the digit.

neg-argument (ESC-) (unbound) (unbound)
     Changes the sign of the following argument.

universal-argument
     Multiply the argument of the next command by 4.  Alternatively, if
     this command is followed by an integer (positive or negative), use
     that as the argument for the next command.  Thus digits cannot be
     repeated using this command.  For example, if this command occurs
     twice, followed immediately by forward-char, move forward sixteen
     spaces; if instead it is followed by -2, then forward-char, move
     backward two spaces.

     Inside a widget function, if passed an argument, i.e. `zle
     universal-argument NUM', the numerical argument will be set to
     NUM; this is equivalent to `NUMERIC=NUM'.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion,  Next: Miscellaneous,  Prev: Arguments,  Up: Zle Widgets

Completion
----------

accept-and-menu-complete
     In a menu completion, insert the current completion into the
     buffer, and advance to the next possible completion.

complete-word
     Attempt completion on the current word.

delete-char-or-list (^D) (unbound) (unbound)
     Delete the character under the cursor.  If the cursor is at the
     end of the line, list possible completions for the current word.

expand-cmd-path
     Expand the current command to its full pathname.

expand-or-complete (TAB) (unbound) (TAB)
     Attempt shell expansion on the current word.  If that fails,
     attempt completion.

expand-or-complete-prefix
     Attempt shell expansion on the current word up to cursor.

expand-history (ESC-space ESC-!) (unbound) (unbound)
     Perform history expansion on the edit buffer.

expand-word (^X*) (unbound) (unbound)
     Attempt shell expansion on the current word.

list-choices (ESC-^D) (^D =) (^D)
     List possible completions for the current word.

list-expand (^Xg ^XG) (^G) (^G)
     List the expansion of the current word.

magic-space
     Perform history expansion and insert a space into the buffer.
     This is intended to be bound to space.

menu-complete
     Like complete-word, except that menu completion is used.  See the
     MENU_COMPLETE option.

menu-expand-or-complete
     Like expand-or-complete, except that menu completion is used.

reverse-menu-complete
     Perform menu completion, like menu-complete, except that if a menu
     completion is already in progress, move to the _previous_
     completion rather than the next.

end-of-list
     When a previous completion displayed a list below the prompt, this
     widget can be used to move the prompt below the list.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Miscellaneous,  Prev: Completion,  Up: Zle Widgets

Miscellaneous
-------------

accept-and-hold (ESC-A ESC-a) (unbound) (unbound)
     Push the contents of the buffer on the buffer stack and execute it.

accept-and-infer-next-history
     Execute the contents of the buffer.  Then search the history list
     for a line matching the current one and push the event following
     onto the buffer stack.

accept-line (^J ^M) (^J ^M) (^J ^M)
     Finish editing the buffer.  Normally this causes the buffer to be
     executed as a shell command.

accept-line-and-down-history (^O) (unbound) (unbound)
     Execute the current line, and push the next history event on the
     the buffer stack.

beep
     Beep, unless the BEEP option is unset.

vi-cmd-mode (^X^V) (unbound) (^[)
     Enter command mode; that is, select the `vicmd' keymap.  Yes, this
     is bound by default in emacs mode.

vi-caps-lock-panic
     Hang until any lowercase key is pressed.  This is for vi users
     without the mental capacity to keep track of their caps lock key
     (like the author).

clear-screen (^L ESC-^L) (^L) (^L)
     Clear the screen and redraw the prompt.

describe-key-briefly
     Reads a key sequence, then prints the function bound to that
     sequence.

exchange-point-and-mark (^X^X) (unbound) (unbound)
     Exchange the cursor position with the position of the mark.

execute-named-cmd (ESC-x) (unbound) (unbound)
     Read the name of an editor command and execute it.  A restricted
     set of editing functions is available in the mini-buffer.  An
     interrupt signal, as defined by the stty setting, will abort the
     function. The allowed functions are: backward-delete-char,
     vi-backward-delete-char, clear-screen, redisplay, quoted-insert,
     vi-quoted-insert, backward-kill-word, vi-backward-kill-word,
     kill-whole-line, vi-kill-line, backward-kill-line, list-choices,
     delete-char-or-list, complete-word, accept-line,
     expand-or-complete and expand-or-complete-prefix.

     kill-region kills the last word, and vi-cmd-mode is treated the
     same as accept-line.  The space and tab characters, if not bound
     to one of these functions, will complete the name and then list the
     possibilities if the AUTO_LIST option is set.  Any other character
     that is not bound to self-insert or self-insert-unmeta will beep
     and be ignored.  The bindings of the current insert mode will be
     used.

execute-last-named-cmd (ESC-z) (unbound) (unbound)
     Redo the last function executed with execute-named-cmd.

get-line (ESC-G ESC-g) (unbound) (unbound)
     Pop the top line off the buffer stack and insert it at the cursor
     position.

pound-insert (unbound) (#) (unbound)
     If there is no # character at the beginning of the buffer, add one
     to the beginning of each line.  If there is one, remove a # from
     each line that has one.  In either case, accept the current line.
     The INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS option must be set for this to have any
     usefulness.

vi-pound-insert
     If there is no # character at the beginning of the current line,
     add one.  If there is one, remove it.  The INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS
     option must be set for this to have any usefulness.

push-input
     Push the entire current multiline construct onto the buffer stack
     and return to the top-level (PS1) prompt.  If the current parser
     construct is only a single line, this is exactly like push-line.
     Next time the editor starts up or is popped with get-line, the
     construct will be popped off the top of the buffer stack and loaded
     into the editing buffer.

push-line (^Q ESC-Q ESC-q) (unbound) (unbound)
     Push the current buffer onto the buffer stack and clear the buffer.
     Next time the editor starts up, the buffer will be popped off the
     top of the buffer stack and loaded into the editing buffer.

push-line-or-edit
     At the top-level (PS1) prompt, equivalent to push-line.  At a
     secondary (PS2) prompt, move the entire current multiline
     construct into the editor buffer.  The latter is equivalent to
     push-input followed by get-line.

redisplay (unbound) (^R) (^R)
     Redisplays the edit buffer.

send-break (^G ESC-^G) (unbound) (unbound)
     Abort the current editor function, e.g. execute-named-command, or
     the editor itself, e.g. if you are in vared. Otherwise abort the
     parsing of the current line.

run-help (ESC-H ESC-h) (unbound) (unbound)
     Push the buffer onto the buffer stack, and execute the command
     `run-help CMD', where CMD is the current command.  run-help is
     normally aliased to man.

vi-set-buffer (unbound) (") (unbound)
     Specify a buffer to be used in the following command.  There are
     35 buffers that can be specified: the 26 `named' buffers "a to "z
     and the nine `queued' buffers "1 to "9.  The named buffers can also
     be specified as "A to "Z.

     When a buffer is specified for a cut command, the text being cut
     replaces the previous contents of the specified buffer.  If a
     named buffer is specified using a capital, the newly cut text is
     appended to the buffer instead of overwriting it.

     If no buffer is specified for a cut command, "1 is used, and the
     contents of "1 to "8 are each shifted along one buffer; the
     contents of "9 is lost.

vi-set-mark (unbound) (m) (unbound)
     Set the specified mark at the cursor position.

set-mark-command (^@) (unbound) (unbound)
     Set the mark at the cursor position.

spell-word (ESC-$ ESC-S ESC-s) (unbound) (unbound)
     Attempt spelling correction on the current word.

undefined-key
     This command is executed when a key sequence that is not bound to
     any command is typed.  By default it beeps.

undo (^_ ^Xu ^X^U) (unbound) (unbound)
     Incrementally undo the last text modification.

redo
     Incrementally redo undone text modifications.

vi-undo-change (unbound) (u) (unbound)
     Undo the last text modification.  If repeated, redo the
     modification.

what-cursor-position (^X=) (unbound) (unbound)
     Print the character under the cursor, its code as an octal,
     decimal and hexadecimal number, the current cursor position within
     the buffer and the column of the cursor in the current line.

where-is
     Read the name of an editor command and and print the listing of key
     sequences that invoke the specified command.

which-command (ESC-?) (unbound) (unbound)
     Push the buffer onto the buffer stack, and execute the command
     `which-command CMD'. where CMD is the current command.
     which-command is normally aliased to WHENCE.

vi-digit-or-beginning-of-line (unbound) (0) (unbound)
     If the last command executed was a digit as part of an argument,
     continue the argument.  Otherwise, execute vi-beginning-of-line.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion Widgets,  Next: Completion System,  Prev: Zsh Line Editor,  Up: Top

Completion Widgets
******************

Description
===========

The shell's programmable completion mechanism can be manipulated in two
ways; here the low-level features supporting the newer, function-based
mechanism are defined.  A complete set of shell functions based on these
features is described in the next chapter, *Note Completion System::,
and users with no interest in adding to that system (or, potentially,
writing their own -- see dictionary entry for `hubris') should skip this
section.  The older system based on the compctl builtin command is
described in the chapter *Note Completion Using compctl::.

Completion widgets are defined by the -C option to the zle builtin
command provided by the zsh/zle module (see *Note The zsh/zle
Module::). For example,

     zle -C complete expand-or-complete completer

defines a widget named `complete'.  The second argument is the name of
any of the builtin widgets that handle completions: complete-word,
expand-or-complete, expand-or-complete-prefix, menu-complete,
menu-expand-or-complete, reverse-menu-complete, list-choices, or
delete-char-or-list.  Note that this will still work even if the widget
in question has been re-bound.

When this newly defined widget is bound to a key using the bindkey
builtin command defined in the zsh/zle module (*Note Zsh Line
Editor::), typing that key will call the shell function `completer'.
This function is responsible for generating the possible matches using
the builtins described below.  As with other ZLE widgets, the function
is called with its standard input closed.

Once the function returns, the completion code takes over control again
and treats the matches in the same manner as the specified builtin
widget, in this case expand-or-complete.

* Menu:

* Special Parameters::
* Builtin Commands::
* Condition Codes::
* Matching Control::
* Completion Widget Example::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Special Parameters,  Next: Builtin Commands,  Up: Completion Widgets

Special Parameters
==================

Inside completion widgets, and any functions called from them, some
parameters have special meaning; outside these functions they are not
special to the shell in any way.  These parameters are used to pass
information between the completion code and the completion widget. Some
of the builtin commands and the condition codes use or change the
current values of these parameters.  Any existing values will be hidden
during execution of completion widgets; except for compstate, the
parameters are reset on each function exit (including nested function
calls from within the completion widget) to the values they had when
the function was entered.

CURRENT
     This is the number of the current word, i.e. the word the cursor is
     currently on in the words array.  Note that this value is only
     correct if the ksharrays option is not set.

IPREFIX
     Initially this will be set to the empty string.  This parameter
     functions like PREFIX; it contains a string which precedes the one
     in PREFIX and is not considered part of the list of matches.
     Typically, a string is transferred from the beginning of PREFIX to
     the end of IPREFIX, for example:

          IPREFIX=${PREFIX%%\=*}=
          PREFIX=${PREFIX#*=}

     causes the part of the prefix up to and including the first equal
     sign not to be treated as part of a matched string.  This can be
     done automatically by the compset builtin, see below.

ISUFFIX
     As IPREFIX, but for a suffix that should not be considered part of
     the matches; note that the ISUFFIX string follows the SUFFIX
     string.

PREFIX
     Initially this will be set to the part of the current word from the
     beginning of the word up to the position of the cursor; it may be
     altered to give a common prefix for all matches.

QIPREFIX
     This parameter is read-only and contains the quoted string up to
     the word being completed. E.g. when completing `"foo', this
     parameter contains the double quote. If the -q option of compset
     is used (see below), and the original string was `"foo bar' with
     the cursor on the `bar', this parameter contains `"foo '.

QISUFFIX
     Like QIPREFIX, but containing the suffix.

SUFFIX
     Initially this will be set to the part of the current word from the
     cursor position to the end; it may be altered to give a common
     suffix for all matches.  It is most useful when the option
     COMPLETE_IN_WORD is set, as otherwise the whole word on the
     command line is treated as a prefix.

compstate
     This is an associative array with various keys and values that the
     completion code uses to exchange information with the completion
     widget.  The keys are:

    all_quotes
          The -q option of the compset builtin command (see below)
          allows a quoted string to be broken into separate words; if
          the cursor is on one of those words, that word will be
          completed, possibly invoking `compset -q' recursively.  With
          this key it is possible to test the types of quoted strings
          which are currently broken into parts in this fashion.  Its
          value contains one character for each quoting level.  The
          characters are a single quote or a double quote for strings
          quoted with these characters and a backslash for strings not
          starting with a quote character.  The first character in the
          value always corresponds to the innermost quoting level.

    context
          This will be set by the completion code to the overall context
          in which completion is attempted. Possible values are:

         array_value
               when completing inside the value of an array parameter
               assignment; in this case the words array contains the
               words inside the parentheses.

         brace_parameter
               when completing the name of a parameter in a parameter
               expansion beginning with ${.

         command
               when completing for a normal command (either in command
               position or for an argument of the command).

         condition
               when completing inside a `[[...]]' conditional
               expression; in this case the words array contains only
               the words inside the conditional expression.

         math
               when completing in a mathematical environment such as a
               `((...))' construct.

         parameter
               when completing the name of a parameter in a parameter
               expansion beginning with $ but not ${.

         redirect
               when completing after a redirection operator.

         subscript
               when completing inside a parameter subscript.

         value
               when completing the value of a parameter assignment.


    exact
          Controls the behaviour when the REC_EXACT option is set.  It
          will be set to accept if an exact match would be accepted,
          and will be unset otherwise.

          If it was set when at least one match equal to the string on
          the line was generated, the match is accepted.

    exact_string
          The string of an exact match if one was found, otherwise
          unset.

    ignored
          The number of words that were ignored because they matched
          one of the patterns given with the -F option to the compadd
          builtin command.

    insert
          This controls the manner in which a match is inserted into
          the command line.  On entry to the widget function, if it is
          unset the command line is not to be changed; if set to
          unambiguous, any prefix common to all matches is to be
          inserted; if set to automenu-unambiguous, the common prefix
          is to be inserted and the next invocation of the completion
          code may start menu completion (due to the AUTO_MENU option
          being set); if set to menu or automenu menu completion will
          be started for the matches currently generated (in the latter
          case this will happen because the AUTO_MENU is set). The
          value may also contain the string `tab' when the completion
          code would normally not really do completion, but only insert
          the TAB character.

          On exit it may be set to any of the values above (where
          setting it to the empty string is the same as unsetting it),
          or to a number, in which case the match whose number is given
          will be inserted into the command line.  Negative numbers
          count backward from the last match (with `-1' selecting the
          last match) and out-of-range values are wrapped around, so
          that a value of zero selects the last match and a value one
          more than the maximum selects the first. Unless the value of
          this key ends in a space, the match is inserted as in a menu
          completion, i.e. without automatically appending a space.

          Both menu and automenu may also specify the the number of the
          match to insert, given after a colon.  For example, `menu:2'
          says to start menu completion, beginning with the second
          match.

          Note that a value containing the substring `tab' makes the
          matches generated be ignored and only the TAB be inserted.

          Finally, it may also be set to all, which makes all matches
          generated be inserted into the line.

    insert_positions
          When the completion system inserts an unambiguous string into
          the line, there may be multiple places where characters are
          missing or where the character inserted differs from at least
          one match.  The value of this key contains a colon separated
          list of all these positions, as indexes into the command line.

    last_prompt
          If this is set to a non-empty string for every match added,
          the completion code will move the cursor back to the previous
          prompt after the list of completions has been displayed.
          Initially this is set or unset according to the
          ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT option.

    list
          This controls whether or how the list of matches will be
          displayed.  If it is unset or empty they will never be
          listed; if its value begins with list, they will always be
          listed; if it begins with autolist or ambiguous, they will be
          listed when the AUTO_LIST or LIST_AMBIGUOUS options
          respectively would normally cause them to be.

          If the substring force appears in the value, this makes the
          list be shown even if there is only one match. Normally, the
          list would be shown only if there are at least two matches.

          The value contains the substring packed if the LIST_PACKED
          option is set. If this substring is given for all matches
          added to a group, this group will show the LIST_PACKED
          behavior. The same is done for the LIST_ROWS_FIRST option
          with the substring rows.

          Finally, if the value contains the string explanations, only
          the explanation strings, if any, will be listed and if it
          contains messages, only the messages (added with the -x
          option of compadd) will be listed.  If it contains both
          explanations and messages both kinds of explanation strings
          will be listed.  It will be set appropriately on entry to a
          completion widget and may be changed there.

    list_lines
          This gives the number of lines that are needed to display the
          full list of completions.  Note that to calculate the total
          number of lines to display you need to add the number of
          lines needed for the command line to this value, this is
          available as the value of the BUFFERLINES special parameter.

    list_max
          Initially this is set to the value of the LISTMAX parameter.
          It may be set to any other value; when the widget exits this
          value will be used in the same way as the value of LISTMAX.

    nmatches
          The number of matches generated and accepted by the
          completion code so far.

    old_insert
          On entry to the widget this will be set to the number of the
          match of an old list of completions that is currently
          inserted into the command line. If no match has been
          inserted, this is unset.

          As with old_list, the value of this key will only be used if
          it is the string keep. If it was set to this value by the
          widget and there was an old match inserted into the command
          line, this match will be kept and if the value of the insert
          key specifies that another match should be inserted, this
          will be inserted after the old one.

    old_list
          This is set to yes if there is still a valid list of
          completions from a previous completion at the time the widget
          is invoked.  This will usually be the case if and only if the
          previous editing operation was a completion widget or one of
          the builtin completion functions.  If there is a valid list
          and it is also currently shown on the screen, the value of
          this key is shown.

          After the widget has exited the value of this key is only
          used if it was set to keep.  In this case the completion code
          will continue to use this old list.  If the widget generated
          new matches, they will not be used.

    parameter
          The name of the parameter when completing in a subscript or
          in the value of a parameter assignment.

    pattern_insert
          Normally this is set to menu, which specifies that menu
          completion will be used whenever a set of matches was
          generated using pattern matching.  If it is set to any other
          non-empty string by the user and menu completion is not
          selected by other option settings, the code will instead
          insert any common prefix for the generated matches as with
          normal completion.

    pattern_match
          Locally controls the behaviour given by the GLOB_COMPLETE
          option.  Initially it is set to `*' if and only if the option
          is set.  The completion widget may set it to this value, to
          an empty string (which has the same effect as unsetting it),
          or to any other non-empty string.  If it is non-empty,
          unquoted metacharacters on the command line will be treated
          as patterns; if it is `*', then additionally a wildcard `*'
          is assumed at the cursor position; if it is empty or unset,
          metacharacters will be treated literally.

          Note that the matcher specifications given to the compadd
          builtin command are not used if this is set to a non-empty
          string.

    quote
          When completing inside quotes, this contains the quotation
          character (i.e. either a single quote, a double quote, or a
          backtick).  Otherwise it is unset.

    quoting
          When completing inside single quotes, this is set to the
          string single; inside double quotes, the string double;
          inside backticks, the string backtick.  Otherwise it is unset.

    redirect
          The redirection operator when completing in a redirection
          position, i.e. one of <, >, etc.

    restore
          This is set to auto before a function is entered, which
          forces the special parameters mentioned above (words,
          CURRENT, PREFIX, IPREFIX, SUFFIX, and ISUFFIX) to be restored
          to their previous values when the function exits.   If a
          function unsets it or sets it to any other string, they will
          not be restored.

    to_end
          Specifies the occasions on which the cursor is moved to the
          end of a string when a match is inserted.  On entry to a
          widget function, it may be single if this will happen when a
          single unambiguous match was inserted or match if it will
          happen any time a match is inserted (for example, by menu
          completion; this is likely to be the effect of the
          ALWAYS_TO_END option).

          On exit, it may be set to single as above.  It may also be
          set to always, or to the empty string or unset; in those
          cases the cursor will be moved to the end of the string
          always or never respectively.  Any other string is treated as
          match.

    unambiguous
          This key is read-only and will always be set to the common
          (unambiguous) prefix the completion code has generated for
          all matches added so far.

    unambiguous_cursor
          This gives the position the cursor would be placed at if the
          common prefix in the unambiguous key were inserted, relative
          to the value of that key. The cursor would be placed before
          the character whose index is given by this key.

    unambiguous_positions
          This contains all positions where characters in the
          unambiguous string are missing or where the character
          inserted differs from at least one of the matches.  The
          positions are given as indexes into the string given by the
          value of the unambiguous key.

    vared
          If completion is called while editing a line using the vared
          builtin, the value of this key is set to the name of the
          parameter given as an argument to vared.  This key is only
          set while a vared command is active.


words
     This array contains the words present on the command line
     currently being edited.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Builtin Commands,  Next: Condition Codes,  Prev: Special Parameters,  Up: Completion Widgets

Builtin Commands
================

compadd [ -akqQfenUl12C ] [ -F ARRAY ]
[ -P PREFIX ] [ -S SUFFIX ]
[ -p HIDDEN-PREFIX ] [ -s HIDDEN-SUFFIX ]
[ -i IGNORED-PREFIX ] [ -I IGNORED-SUFFIX ]
[ -W FILE-PREFIX ] [ -d ARRAY ]
[ -J NAME ] [ -V NAME ] [ -X EXPLANATION ] [ -x MESSAGE ]
[ -r REMOVE-CHARS ] [ -R REMOVE-FUNC ]
[ -D ARRAY ] [ -O ARRAY ] [ -A ARRAY ]
[ -M MATCH-SPEC ] [ - ] [ WORDS ... ]
     This builtin command can be used to add matches directly and
     control all the information the completion code stores with each
     possible match. The return value is zero if at least one match was
     added and non-zero if no matches were added.

     The completion code breaks the string to complete into seven
     fields in the order:

          <IPRE><APRE><HPRE><WORD><HSUF><ASUF><ISUF>

     The first field is an ignored prefix taken from the command line,
     the contents of the IPREFIX parameter plus the string given with
     the -i option. With the -U option, only the string from the -i
     option is used. The field <APRE> is an optional prefix string
     given with the -P option.  The <HPRE> field is a string that is
     considered part of the match but that should not be shown when
     listing completions, given with the -p option; for example,
     functions that do filename generation might specify a common path
     prefix this way.  <WORD> is the part of the match that should
     appear in the list of completions, i.e. one of the WORDS given at
     the end of the compadd command line. The suffixes <HSUF>, <ASUF>
     and <ISUF> correspond to the prefixes <HPRE>, <APRE> and <IPRE>
     and are given by the options -s, -S and -I, respectively.

     The supported flags are:

    -P PREFIX
          This gives a string to be inserted before the given WORDS.
          The string given is not considered as part of the match and
          any shell metacharacters in it will not be quoted when the
          string is inserted.

    -S SUFFIX
          Like -P, but gives a string to be inserted after the match.

    -p HIDDEN-PREFIX
          This gives a string that should be inserted into the command
          line before the match but that should not appear in the list
          of matches. Unless the -U option is given, this string must
          be matched as part of the string on the command line.

    -s HIDDEN-SUFFIX
          Like `-p', but gives a string to insert after the match.

    -i IGNORED-PREFIX
          This gives a string to insert into the command line just
          before any string given with the `-P' option.  Without `-P'
          the string is inserted before the string given with `-p' or
          directly before the match.

    -I IGNORED-SUFFIX
          Like -i, but gives an ignored suffix.

    -a
          With this flag the WORDS are taken as names of arrays and the
          possible matches are their values.  If only some elements of
          the arrays are needed, the WORDS may also contain subscripts,
          as in `foo[2,-1]'.

    -k
          With this flag the WORDS are taken as names of associative
          arrays and the possible matches are their keys.  As for -a,
          the WORDS may also contain subscripts, as in `foo[(R)*bar*]'.

    -d ARRAY
          This adds per-match display strings. The ARRAY should contain
          one element per WORD given. The completion code will then
          display the first element instead of the first WORD, and so
          on. The ARRAY may be given as the name of an array parameter
          or directly as a space-separated list of words in parentheses.

          If there are fewer display strings than WORDS, the leftover
          WORDS will be displayed unchanged and if there are more
          display strings than WORDS, the leftover display strings will
          be silently ignored.

    -l
          This option only has an effect if used together with the -d
          option. If it is given, the display strings are listed one
          per line, not arrayed in columns.

    -J NAME
          Gives the name of the group of matches the words should be
          stored in.

    -V NAME
          Like -J but naming a unsorted group. These are in a different
          name space than groups created with the -J flag.

    -1
          If given together with the -V option, makes only consecutive
          duplicates in the group be removed. If combined with the -J
          option, this has no visible effect. Note that groups with and
          without this flag are in different name spaces.

    -2
          If given together with the -J or -V option, makes all
          duplicates be kept. Again, groups with and without this flag
          are in different name spaces.

    -X EXPLANATION
          The EXPLANATION string will be printed with the list of
          matches, above the group currently selected.

    -x MESSAGE
          Like -X, but the MESSAGE will be printed even if there are no
          matches in the group.

    -q
          The suffix given with -S will be automatically removed if the
          next character typed is a blank or does not insert anything,
          or if the suffix consists of only one character and the next
          character typed is the same character.

    -r REMOVE-CHARS
          This is a more versatile form of the -q option.  The suffix
          given with -S or the slash automatically added after
          completing directories will be automatically removed if the
          next character typed inserts one of the characters given in
          the REMOVE-CHARS.  This string is parsed as a characters
          class and understands the backslash sequences used by the
          print command.  For example, `-r "a-z\t"' removes the suffix
          if the next character typed inserts a lowercase character or
          a TAB, and `-r "^0-9"' removes the suffix if the next
          character typed inserts anything but a digit. One extra
          backslash sequence is understood in this string: `\-' stands
          for all characters that insert nothing. Thus `-S "=" -q' is
          the same as `-S "=" -r "= \t\n\-"'.

    -R REMOVE-FUNC
          This is another form of the -r option. When a suffix has been
          inserted and the completion accepted, the function
          REMOVE-FUNC will be called after the next character typed.
          It is passed the length of the suffix as an argument and can
          use the special parameters available in ordinary
          (non-completion) zle widgets (see *Note Zsh Line Editor::) to
          analyse and modify the command line.

    -f
          If this flag is given, all of the matches built from WORDS are
          marked as being the names of files.  They are not required to
          be actual filenames, but if they are, and the option
          LIST_TYPES is set, the characters describing the types of the
          files in the completion lists will be shown. This also forces
          a slash to be added when the name of a directory is completed.

    -e
          This flag can be used to tell the completion code that the
          matches added are parameter names for a parameter expansion.
          This will make the AUTO_PARAM_SLASH and AUTO_PARAM_KEYS
          options be used for the matches.

    -W FILE-PREFIX
          This string is a pathname that will be prepended to each of
          the matches formed by the given WORDS together with any
          prefix specified by the -p option to form a complete filename
          for testing.  Hence it is only useful if combined with the -f
          flag, as the tests will not otherwise be performed.

    -F ARRAY
          Specifies an array containing patterns. Words matching one of
          these patterns are ignored, i.e. not considered to be
          possible matches.

          The ARRAY may be the name of an array parameter or a list of
          literal patterns enclosed in parentheses and quoted, as in
          `-F "(*?.o *?.h)"'. If the name of an array is given, the
          elements of the array are taken as the patterns.

    -Q
          This flag instructs the completion code not to quote any
          metacharacters in the words when inserting them into the
          command line.

    -M MATCH-SPEC
          This gives local match specifications as described below in
          *Note Matching Control::. This option may be given more than
          once. In this case all MATCH-SPECs given are concatenated
          with spaces between them to form the specification string to
          use.  Note that they will only be used if the -U option is
          not given.

    -n
          Specifies that the words added are to be used as possible
          matches, but are not to appear in the completion listing.

    -U
          If this flag is given, all words given will be accepted and
          no matching will be done by the completion code. Normally
          this is used in functions that do the matching themselves.

    -O ARRAY
          If this option is given, the WORDS are _not_ added to the set
          of possible completions.  Instead, matching is done as usual
          and all of the WORDS given as arguments that match the string
          on the command line will be stored in the array parameter
          whose name is given as ARRAY.

    -A ARRAY
          As the -O option, except that instead of those of the WORDS
          which match being stored in ARRAY, the strings generated
          internally by the completion code are stored. For example,
          with a matching specification of `-M "L:|no="', the string
          `nof' on the command line and the string `foo' as one of the
          WORDS, this option stores the string `nofoo' in the array,
          whereas the -O option stores the `foo' originally given.

    -D ARRAY
          As with -O, the WORDS are not added to the set of possible
          completions.  Instead, the completion code tests whether each
          WORD in turn matches what is on the line.  If the N'th WORD
          does not match, the N'th element of the ARRAY is removed.
          Elements for which the corresponding WORD is matched are
          retained.

    -C
          This option adds a special match which expands to all other
          matches when inserted into the line, even those that are
          added after this option is used.  Together with the -d option
          it is possible to specify a string that should be displayed
          in the list for this special match.  If no string is given,
          it will be shown as a string containing the strings that
          would be inserted for the other matches, truncated to the
          width of the screen.

    -
    --
          This flag ends the list of flags and options. All arguments
          after it will be taken as the words to use as matches even if
          they begin with hyphens.


     Except for the -M flag, if any of these flags is given more than
     once, the first one (and its argument) will be used.

compset -p NUMBER
compset -P [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
compset -s NUMBER
compset -S [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
compset -n BEGIN [ END ]
compset -N BEG-PAT [ END-PAT ]
compset -q
     This command simplifies modification of the special parameters,
     while its return value allows tests on them to be carried out.

     The options are:

    -p NUMBER
          If the contents of the PREFIX parameter is longer than NUMBER
          characters, the first NUMBER characters are removed from it
          and appended to the contents of the IPREFIX parameter.

    -P [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
          If the value of the PREFIX parameter begins with anything that
          matches the PATTERN, the matched portion is removed from
          PREFIX and appended to IPREFIX.

          Without the optional NUMBER, the longest match is taken, but
          if NUMBER is given, anything up to the NUMBER'th match is
          moved.  If the NUMBER is negative, the NUMBER'th longest
          match is moved. For example, if PREFIX contains the string
          `a=b=c', then compset -P '*\=' will move the string `a=b='
          into the IPREFIX parameter, but compset -P 1 '*\=' will move
          only the string `a='.

    -s NUMBER
          As -p, but transfer the last NUMBER characters from the value
          of SUFFIX to the front of the value of ISUFFIX.

    -S [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
          As -P, but match the last portion of SUFFIX and transfer the
          matched portion to the front of the value of ISUFFIX.

    -n BEGIN [ END ]
          If the current word position as specified by the parameter
          CURRENT is greater than or equal to BEGIN, anything up to the
          BEGIN'th word is removed from the words array and the value
          of the parameter CURRENT is decremented by BEGIN.

          If the optional END is given, the modification is done only if
          the current word position is also less than or equal to END.
          In this case, the words from position END onwards are also
          removed from the words array.

          Both BEGIN and END may be negative to count backwards from
          the last element of the words array.

    -N BEG-PAT [ END-PAT ]
          If one of the elements of the words array before the one at
          the index given by the value of the parameter CURRENT matches
          the pattern BEG-PAT, all elements up to and including the
          matching one are removed from the words array and the value
          of CURRENT is changed to point to the same word in the
          changed array.

          If the optional pattern END-PAT is also given, and there is an
          element in the words array matching this pattern, the
          parameters are modified only if the index of this word is
          higher than the one given by the CURRENT parameter (so that
          the matching word has to be after the cursor). In this case,
          the words starting with the one matching end-pat are also
          removed from the words array. If words contains no word
          matching END-PAT, the testing and modification is performed
          as if it were not given.

    -q
          The word currently being completed is split on spaces into
          separate words, respecting the usual shell quoting
          conventions.  The resulting words are stored in the words
          array, and CURRENT, PREFIX, SUFFIX, QIPREFIX, and QISUFFIX
          are modified to reflect the word part that is completed.


     In all the above cases the return value is zero if the test
     succeeded and the parameters were modified and non-zero otherwise.
     This allows one to use this builtin in tests such as:

          if compset -P '*\='; then ...

     This forces anything up to and including the last equal sign to be
     ignored by the completion code.

compcall [ -TD ]
     This allows the use of completions defined with the compctl builtin
     from within completion widgets.  The list of matches will be
     generated as if one of the non-widget completion function
     (complete-word, etc.)  had been called, except that only compctls
     given for specific commands are used. To force the code to try
     completions defined with the -T option of compctl and/or the
     default completion (whether defined by compctl -D or the builtin
     default) in the appropriate places, the -T and/or -D flags can be
     passed to compcall.

     The return value can be used to test if a matching compctl
     definition was found. It is non-zero if a compctl was found and
     zero otherwise.

     Note that this builtin is defined by the zsh/compctl module.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Condition Codes,  Next: Matching Control,  Prev: Builtin Commands,  Up: Completion Widgets

Condition Codes
===============

The following additional condition codes for use within the [[ ... ]]
construct are available in completion widgets.  These work on the
special parameters.  All of these tests can also be performed by the
compset builtin, but in the case of the condition codes the contents of
the special parameters are not modified.

-prefix [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
     true if the test for the -P option of compset would succeed.

-suffix [ NUMBER ] PATTERN
     true if the test for the -S option of compset would succeed.

-after BEG-PAT
     true if the test of the -N option with only the BEG-PAT given
     would succeed.

-between BEG-PAT END-PAT
     true if the test for the -N option with both patterns would
     succeed.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Matching Control,  Next: Completion Widget Example,  Prev: Condition Codes,  Up: Completion Widgets

Matching Control
================

It is possible by use of the -M option of the compadd builtin command
to specify how the characters in the string to be completed (referred
to here as the command line) map onto the characters in the list of
matches produced by the completion code (referred to here as the trial
completions). Note that this is not used if the command line contains a
glob pattern and the GLOB_COMPLETE option is set or the pattern_match
of the compstate special association is set to a non-empty string.

The MATCH-SPEC given as the argument to the -M option (see *Note
Builtin Commands::) consists of one or more matching descriptions
separated by whitespace.  Each description consists of a letter
followed by a colon and then the patterns describing which character
sequences on the line match which character sequences in the trial
completion.  Any sequence of characters not handled in this fashion
must match exactly, as usual.

The forms of MATCH-SPEC understood are as follows. In each case, the
form with an uppercase initial character retains the string already
typed on the command line as the final result of completion, while with
a lowercase initial character the string on the command line is changed
into the corresponding part of the trial completion.

m:LPAT=TPAT
M:LPAT=TPAT
     Here, LPAT is a pattern that matches on the command line,
     corresponding to TPAT which matches in the trial completion.

l:LANCHOR|LPAT=TPAT
L:LANCHOR|LPAT=TPAT
l:LANCHOR||RANCHOR=TPAT
L:LANCHOR||RANCHOR=TPAT
b:LPAT=TPAT
B:LPAT=TPAT
     These letters are for patterns that are anchored by another
     pattern on the left side. Matching for LPAT and TPAT is as for m
     and M, but the pattern LPAT matched on the command line must be
     preceded by the pattern LANCHOR.  The LANCHOR can be blank to
     anchor the match to the start of the command line string;
     otherwise the anchor can occur anywhere, but must match in both
     the command line and trial completion strings.

     If no LPAT is given but a RANCHOR is, this matches the gap between
     substrings matched by LANCHOR and RANCHOR. Unlike LANCHOR, the
     RANCHOR only needs to match the trial completion string.

     The b and B forms are similar to l and L with an empty anchor, but
     need to match only the beginning of the trial completion or the
     word on the command line, respectively.

r:LPAT|RANCHOR=TPAT
R:LPAT|RANCHOR=TPAT
r:LANCHOR||RANCHOR=TPAT
R:LANCHOR||RANCHOR=TPAT
e:LPAT=TPAT
E:LPAT=TPAT
     As l, L, b and B, with the difference that the command line and
     trial completion patterns are anchored on the right side.  Here an
     empty RANCHOR and the e and E forms force the match to the end of
     the trial completion or command line string.


Each LPAT, TPAT or ANCHOR is either an empty string or consists of a
sequence of literal characters (which may be quoted with a backslash),
question marks, character classes, and correspondence classes; ordinary
shell patterns are not used.  Literal characters match only themselves,
question marks match any character, and character classes are formed as
for globbing and match any character in the given set.

Correspondence classes are defined like character classes, but with two
differences: they are delimited by a pair of braces, and negated classes
are not allowed, so the characters ! and ^ have no special meaning
directly after the opening brace.  They indicate that a range of
characters on the line match a range of characters in the trial
completion, but (unlike ordinary character classes) paired according to
the corresponding position in the sequence. For example, to make any
lowercase letter on the line match the corresponding uppercase letter in
the trial completion, you can use `m:{a-z}={A-Z}'.  More than one pair
of classes can occur, in which case the first class before the =
corresponds to the first after it, and so on.  If one side has more
such classes than the other side, the superfluous classes behave like
normal character classes.  In anchor patterns correspondence classes
also behave like normal character classes.

The pattern TPAT may also be one or two stars, `*' or `**'. This means
that the pattern on the command line can match any number of characters
in the trial completion. In this case the pattern must be anchored (on
either side); in the case of a single star, the ANCHOR then determines
how much of the trial completion is to be included -- only the
characters up to the next appearance of the anchor will be matched.
With two stars, substrings matched by the anchor can be matched, too.

Examples:

The keys of the options association defined by the parameter module are
the option names in all-lowercase form, without underscores, and
without the optional no at the beginning even though the builtins
setopt and unsetopt understand option names with uppercase letters,
underscores, and the optional no.  The following alters the matching
rules so that the prefix no and any underscore are ignored when trying
to match the trial completions generated and uppercase letters on the
line match the corresponding lowercase letters in the words:

     compadd -M 'L:|[nN][oO]= M:_= M:{A-Z}={a-z}' - \
       ${(k)options}

The first part says that the pattern `[nN][oO]' at the beginning (the
empty anchor before the pipe symbol) of the string on the line matches
the empty string in the list of words generated by completion, so it
will be ignored if present. The second part does the same for an
underscore anywhere in the command line string, and the third part uses
correspondence classes so that any uppercase letter on the line matches
the corresponding lowercase letter in the word. The use of the
uppercase forms of the specification characters (L and M) guarantees
that what has already been typed on the command line (in particular the
prefix no) will not be deleted.

Note that the use of L in the first part means that it matches only
when at the beginning of both the command line string and the trial
completion. I.e., the string `_NO_f' would not be completed to
`_NO_foo', nor would `NONO_f' be completed to `NONO_foo' because of the
leading underscore or the second `NO' on the line which makes the
pattern fail even though they are otherwise ignored. To fix this, one
would use `B:[nN][oO]=' instead of the first part. As described above,
this matches at the beginning of the trial completion, independent of
other characters or substrings at the beginning of the command line
word which are ignored by the same or other MATCH-SPECs.

The second example makes completion case insensitive.  This is just the
same as in the option example, except here we wish to retain the
characters in the list of completions:

     compadd -M 'm:{a-z}={A-Z}' ...

This makes lowercase letters match their uppercase counterparts.  To
make uppercase letters match the lowercase forms as well:

     compadd -M 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}' ...

A nice example for the use of * patterns is partial word completion.
Sometimes you would like to make strings like `c.s.u' complete to
strings like `comp.source.unix', i.e. the word on the command line
consists of multiple parts, separated by a dot in this example, where
each part should be completed separately -- note, however, that the
case where each part of the word, i.e. `comp', `source' and `unix' in
this example, is to be completed from separate sets of matches is a
different problem to be solved by the implementation of the completion
widget.  The example can be handled by:

     compadd -M 'r:|.=* r:|=*' \
       - comp.sources.unix comp.sources.misc ...

The first specification says that LPAT is the empty string, while
ANCHOR is a dot; TPAT is *, so this can match anything except for the
`.' from the anchor in the trial completion word.  So in `c.s.u', the
matcher sees `c', followed by the empty string, followed by the anchor
`.', and likewise for the second dot, and replaces the empty strings
before the anchors, giving `c[omp].s[ources].u[nix]', where the last
part of the completion is just as normal.

With the pattern shown above, the string `c.u' could not be completed
to `comp.sources.unix' because the single star means that no dot
(matched by the anchor) can be skipped. By using two stars as in
`r:|.=**', however, `c.u' could be completed to `comp.sources.unix'.
This also shows that in some cases, especially if the anchor is a real
pattern, like a character class, the form with two stars may result in
more matches than one would like.

The second specification is needed to make this work when the cursor is
in the middle of the string on the command line and the option
COMPLETE_IN_WORD is set. In this case the completion code would
normally try to match trial completions that end with the string as
typed so far, i.e. it will only insert new characters at the cursor
position rather then at the end.  However in our example we would like
the code to recognise matches which contain extra characters after the
string on the line (the `nix' in the example).  Hence we say that the
empty string at the end of the string on the line matches any characters
at the end of the trial completion.

More generally, the specification

     compadd -M 'r:|[.,_-]=* r:|=*' ...

allows one to complete words with abbreviations before any of the
characters in the square brackets.  For example, to complete
veryverylongfile.c rather than veryverylongheader.h with the above in
effect, you can just type very.c before attempting completion.

The specifications with both a left and a right anchor are useful to
complete partial words whose parts are not separated by some special
character. For example, in some places strings have to be completed
that are formed `LikeThis' (i.e. the separate parts are determined by a
leading uppercase letter) or maybe one has to complete strings with
trailing numbers. Here one could use the simple form with only one
anchor as in:

     compadd -M 'r:|[A-Z0-9]=* r:|=*' LikeTHIS FooHoo 5foo123 5bar234

But with this, the string `H' would neither complete to `FooHoo' nor to
`LikeTHIS' because in each case there is an uppercase letter before the
`H' and that is matched by the anchor. Likewise, a `2' would not be
completed. In both cases this could be changed by using
`r:|[A-Z0-9]=**', but then `H' completes to both `LikeTHIS' and
`FooHoo' and a `2' matches the other strings because characters can be
inserted before every uppercase letter and digit. To avoid this one
would use:

     compadd -M 'r:[^A-Z0-9]||[A-Z0-9]=** r:|=*' \
         LikeTHIS FooHoo foo123 bar234

By using these two anchors, a `H' matches only uppercase `H's that are
immediately preceded by something matching the left anchor `[^A-Z0-9]'.
The effect is, of course, that `H' matches only the string `FooHoo', a
`2' matches only `bar234' and so on.

When using the completion system (see *Note Completion System::), users
can define match specifications that are to be used for specific
contexts by using the matcher and matcher-list styles. The values for
the latter will be used everywhere.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion Widget Example,  Prev: Matching Control,  Up: Completion Widgets

Completion Widget Example
=========================

The first step is to define the widget:

     zle -C complete complete-word complete-files

Then the widget can be bound to a key using the bindkey builtin command:

     bindkey '^X\t' complete

After that the shell function complete-files will be invoked after
typing control-X and TAB. The function should then generate the
matches, e.g.:

     complete-files () { compadd - * }

This function will complete files in the current directory matching the
current word.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion System,  Next: Completion Using compctl,  Prev: Completion Widgets,  Up: Top

Completion System
*****************

Description
===========

This describes the shell code for the new completion system.  It
consists of various shell functions; those beginning `comp' are to be
called directly by the user, while those beginning `_' are called by the
completion code.  The shell functions of the second set which implement
completion behaviour and which may be bound to keystrokes, are referred
to as `widgets'.

* Menu:

* Initialization::
* Completion System Configuration::
* Control Functions::
* Bindable Commands::
* Completion Functions::
* Completion Directories::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Initialization,  Next: Completion System Configuration,  Up: Completion System

Initialization
==============

If the system was installed completely, it should be enough to call the
shell function compinit from your initialization file; see the next
section.  However, the function compinstall can be run by a user to
configure various aspects of the completion system.

Usually, compinstall will insert code into .zshrc, although if that is
not writable it will save it in another file and tell you that file's
location.  Note that it is up to you to make sure that the lines added
to .zshrc are actually run; you may, for example, need to move them to
an earlier place in the file if .zshrc usually returns early.  So long
as you keep them all together (including the comment lines at the start
and finish), you can rerun compinstall and it will correctly locate and
modify these lines.  Note, however, that any code you add to this
section by hand is likely to be lost if you rerun compinstall, although
lines using the command `zstyle' should be gracefully handled.

The new code will take effect next time you start the shell, or run
.zshrc by hand; there is also an option to make them take effect
immediately.  However, if compinstall has removed definitions, you will
need to restart the shell to see the changes.

To run compinstall you will need to make sure it is in a directory
mentioned in your fpath parameter, which should already be the case if
zsh was properly configured as long as your startup files do not remove
the appropriate directories from fpath.  Then it must be autoloaded
(`autoload -U compinstall' is recommended).  You can abort the
installation any time you are being prompted for information, and your
.zshrc will not be altered at all; changes only take place right at the
end, where you are specifically asked for confirmation.

Use of compinit
---------------

This section describes the use of compinit to initialize completion for
the current session when run directly by the user; if you have run
compinstall it will be called automatically from your .zshrc.

To initialize the system, the function compinit should be in a
directory mentioned in the fpath parameter, and should be autoloaded
(`autoload -U compinit' is recommended), and then run simply as
`compinit'.  This will define a few utility functions, arrange for all
the necessary shell functions to be autoloaded, and will then re-define
all widgets that do completion to use the new system.  If you use the
menu-select widget, which is part of the zsh/complist module, you
should make sure that that module is loaded before the call to compinit
so that that widget is also re-defined.  If completion styles (see
below) are set up to perform expansion as well as completion by
default, and the TAB key is bound to expand-or-complete, compinit will
rebind it to complete-word; this is necessary to use the correct form
of expansion.

Should you need to use the original completion commands, you can still
bind keys to the old widgets by putting a `.' in front of the widget
name, e.g. `.expand-or-complete'.

To speed up the running of compinit, it can be made to produce a dumped
configuration which will be read in on future invocations; this is the
default, although it can be turned off by calling compinit with the
option -D.  The dumped file is .zcompdump in the same directory as the
startup files (i.e. $ZDOTDIR or $HOME); alternatively, an explicit file
name can be given by `compinit -d DUMPFILE'.  On the next call to
compinit, it will read the dumped file instead of performing a full
initialization.

If the number of completion files changes, compinit will recognise this
and produce a new dump file.  However, if the name of a function or the
arguments in the first line of a #compdef function (as described below)
change, it is easiest to delete the dump file by hand so that compinit
will re-create it the next time it is run.  The check performed to see
if there are new functions can be omitted by giving the option -C.  In
this case the dump file will only be created if there isn't one already.

The dumping is actually done by another function, compdump, but you
will only need to run this yourself if you change the configuration
(e.g. using compdef) and then want to dump the new one.  The name of
the old dumped file will be remembered for this purpose.

If the parameter _compdir is set, compinit uses it as a directory where
completion functions can be found; this is only necessary if they are
not already in the function search path.

For security reasons compinit also checks if the completion system
would use files not owned by root or by the current user, or files in
directories that are world- or group-writable or that are not owned by
root or by the current user.  If such files or directories are found,
compinit will ask if the completion system should really be used.  To
avoid these tests and make all files found be used without asking, use
the option -u, and to make compinit silently ignore all insecure files
and directories use the option -i.  This security check is skipped
entirely when the -C option is given.

The security check can be retried at any time by running the function
compaudit.  This is the same check used by compinit, but when it is
executed directly any changes to fpath are made local to the function
so they do not persist.  The directories to be checked may be passed as
arguments; if none are given, compaudit uses fpath and _compdir to find
completion system directories, adding missing ones to fpath as
necessary.  To force a check of exactly the directories currently named
in fpath, set _compdir to an empty string before calling compaudit or
compinit.

Autoloaded files
----------------

The convention for autoloaded functions used in completion is that they
start with an underscore; as already mentioned, the fpath/FPATH
parameter must contain the directory in which they are stored.  If zsh
was properly installed on your system, then fpath/FPATH automatically
contains the required directories for the standard functions.

For incomplete installations, if compinit does not find enough files
beginning with an underscore (fewer than twenty) in the search path, it
will try to find more by adding the directory _compdir to the search
path.  If that directory has a subdirectory named Base, all
subdirectories will be added to the path.  Furthermore, if the
subdirectory Base has a subdirectory named Core, compinit will add all
subdirectories of the subdirectories is to the path: this allows the
functions to be in the same format as in the zsh source distribution.

When compinit is run, it searches all such files accessible via
fpath/FPATH and reads the first line of each of them.  This line should
contain one of the tags described below.  Files whose first line does
not start with one of these tags are not considered to be part of the
completion system and will not be treated specially.

The tags are:

#compdef NAMES...
     The file will be made autoloadable and the function defined in it
     will be called when completing NAMES, each of which is either the
     name of a command whose arguments are to be completed or one of a
     number of special contexts in the form -CONTEXT- described below
     for the _complete function.

     Each NAME may also be of the form `CMD=SERVICE'.  This is used by
     functions that offer multiple services, i.e. different completion
     behaviour for multiple commands.  Such a string makes the
     completion system call the function when completing arguments for
     the command `cmd', setting the parameter $service to the string
     `service'.  The function can then use that parameter to decide
     what to complete.

#compdef -p PATTERN
     The file will be made autoloadable and the function defined in it
     will be called when completing for a command whose name matches
     the given PATTERN (a standard globbing pattern).  Note that only
     one PATTERN may be given.

#compdef -P PATTERN
     Like the previous one, but the function will be called only if no
     completion function for the command on the line could be found.

#compdef -k STYLE KEY-SEQUENCES...
     This can be used to bind special completion functions to the
     KEY-SEQUENCES specified.  It creates a widget behaving like the
     builtin widget STYLE, which must be one of those that perform
     completion, namely complete-word, delete-char-or-list,
     expand-or-complete, expand-or-complete-prefix, list-choices,
     menu-complete, menu-expand-or-complete, or reverse-menu-complete.
     If the zsh/complist module is loaded (see *Note The zsh/complist
     Module::), the same happens to the menu-select widget.

     The widget is then bound to all the KEY-SEQUENCES given, if any:
     when one of the KEY-SEQUENCES is typed, the function in the file
     will be invoked to generate the matches.  Note that a key will not
     be re-bound if if it already was (that is, was bound to something
     other than undefined-key).  The widget created has the same name
     as the file and can be bound to any other keys using bindkey as
     usual.

#compdef -K WIDGET-NAME STYLE KEY-SEQUENCES ...
     This is similar to -k, with the same STYLE and KEY-SEQUENCES
     arguments, preceded by a string giving the name of a widget.  In
     this case only one KEY-SEQUENCES argument may be given, but the
     entire set of three arguments may be repeated with a different set
     of arguments.  In particular, the WIDGET-NAME must be distinct in
     each set.  It should begin with `_', else one will be added, and
     should not clash with the name of any existing widget: names based
     on the name of the function are most useful.  For example,

          #compdef -K _foo_complete complete-word "^X^C" \
            _foo_list list-choices "^X^D"

     (all on one line) defines a widget _foo_complete for completion,
     bound to `^X^C', and a widget _foo_list for listing, bound to
     `^X^D'.

#autoload [ OPTIONS ]
     This is used for files defining utility functions that are not to
     be called directly as completion functions but should be loaded
     automatically when invoked.  Typically they are to be called from
     within one of the completion functions.

     The OPTIONS will be given to the autoload builtin command when
     making the function autoloaded.  Most often, this will be +X to
     force the function to be loaded immediately.  Note that the -U
     flag is always implicitly added.


The # is part of the tag name and no white space is allowed after it.
The #compdef tags use the compdef function described below; the main
difference is that the name of the function is supplied implicitly.

Note also that the functions for the completion system assume that the
KSH_AUTOLOAD option is not set and cannot be loaded when it is set.  To
avoid having to unset KSH_AUTOLOAD, you can instead use one or more zwc
file(s) which have been created with the command zcompile -z to load
the functions for the completion system; see *Note Shell Builtin
Commands::.  This forces the functions to be autoloaded the way zsh
normally loads functions.

Functions
---------

The compinit file defines the following function, which may also be
called directly by the user.

compdef [ -an ] FUNCTION NAMES...
compdef -d NAMES...
compdef -p [ -a ] FUNCTION PATTERN
compdef -P [ -a ] FUNCTION PATTERN
compdef -k [ -an ] FUNCTION STYLE KEY-SEQUENCES...
compdef -K [ -an ] FUNCTION NAME STYLE KEY-SEQUENCES ...
     The first form tells the completion system to call the given
     FUNCTION when completing for the contexts or commands whose NAMES
     are given:  this is like the #compdef tag unless the first word
     contains an equal sign.  In this case all words have to be of the
     form `CMD=SERVICE' where SERVICE is the name of a command or of a
     service defined by an autoloaded function with the #compdef tag
     and an argument of the form `CMD=SERVICE'.  This kind of use makes
     the arguments of the CMDs be completed as those for the SERVICES.

     If the -n option is given, any existing completion behaviour for
     particular contexts or commands will not be altered.  These
     definitions can be deleted by giving the -d option as in the
     second form.

     The form with -p is similar to the first, but FUNCTION will be
     called for all commands whose name matches the PATTERN; this is
     like the #compdef -p function tag.

     The form with -P is like the third, but the FUNCTION will be
     called only if no function for the command itself was found or if
     one was found and it set the _compskip parameter to a value _not_
     containing the substring patterns.

     The form with -k defines a widget with the same name as the
     FUNCTION which will be called for each of the KEY-SEQUENCES; this
     is like the #compdef -k tag.  The function should generate the
     completions needed and will otherwise behave like the builtin
     widget whose name is given as the STYLE argument. The widgets
     usable for this are: complete-word, delete-char-or-list,
     expand-or-complete, expand-or-complete-prefix, list-choices,
     menu-complete, menu-expand-or-complete, and reverse-menu-complete,
     as well as menu-select if the zsh/complist module is loaded.  The
     option -n prevents the key being bound if it is already to bound
     to something other than undefined-key.

     The form with -K is similar and defines multiple widgets based on
     the same FUNCTION, each of which requires the set of three
     arguments NAME, STYLE and KEY-SEQUENCES, where the latter two are
     as for -k and the first must be a unique widget name beginning
     with an underscore.

     In each of the forms supporting it the -a option makes the
     FUNCTION autoloadable (exactly equivalent to autoload -U FUNCTION).


The compdef function is the place to turn to when one wants to define
what the completion system should complete for a certain command.  The
function named can of course be one of the functions supplied or one
written by the user.  For example, if one has a command foo that gets
process identifiers as arguments, one could do:

     compdef _pids foo

using the _pids function from the distribution to generate the process
identifiers.  Not also the _gnu_generic function described below, which
can be used to complete options for commands that understand the
`--help' option.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion System Configuration,  Next: Control Functions,  Prev: Initialization,  Up: Completion System

Completion System Configuration
===============================

This section gives a short overview of how the completion system works,
and then more detail on how users can configure how and when matches are
generated.

Overview
--------

When completion is attempted somewhere on a command line the completion
system first tries to find out the context where completion was tried.
The context depends on such things as the name of the command when
completing an argument, and possibly also the name of an option when
completing an argument to that option.

The `context' of a completion is a string consisting of multiple
fields. This is used to look up styles that can be used to configure the
completion system.  Since it is not possible to build the whole context
string in advance, completion functions may modify some of the fields
and hence the context used for lookup may vary during the same call to
the completion system.

The context string always consists of the following fields, separated
by colons and with a leading colon before the first:

   * The literal string completion, saying that this style is used by
     the completion system.

   * The FUNCTION; in many cases this field will be blank, but when the
     completion system is called from other functions, like predict-on
     or one of the functions in the Command directory of the
     distribution, this field contains the name of that function, often
     in an abbreviated form.

   * The COMPLETER currently active, which is the name of the function
     without the leading underscore.  A `completer' is in overall
     control of how completion is to be performed; `complete' is the
     basic one for ordinary completion, but completers may perform
     various related tasks such as correction, or modify the behaviour
     of a later completer (see *Note Control Functions:: for more
     information).

   * The CONTEXT or COMMAND.  This is either one of the special context
     names such as -condition- as explained for the _complete completer
     below, or the name of the command we are completing arguments for.
     Completion functions for commands that have sub-commands usually
     modify this field to contain the name of the command followed by a
     minus sign and the sub-command (e.g. the completion function for
     the cvs command sets this field to strings such as cvs-add when
     completing for the add sub-command).

   * The ARGUMENT, describing which argument we are completing.
     Normally this is either a string of the form argument-N, where N
     is the number of the argument or it is a string of the form
     option-OPT-N when completing the N'th argument of the option OPT.

   * The TAG.  Tags are used to discriminate between the types of
     matches a completion function can generate in a certain context.


As an example, the context name

     :completion::complete:dvips:option-o-1:files

says that normal completion was attempted on an argument of the dvips
command (more precisely: completion was attempted on the first argument
after the -o option) and the completion function will generate
filenames for this context.

In many of the possible contexts the completion system can generate
matches, often multiple types of matches.  These types are represented
as simple names called `tags'.  The completion system will decide
internally what sort of tags are allowed; a list of the standard
possibilities is given below.  To determine in which order the tags are
to be used by the completion function, the `tag-order' style for the
appropriate context may be set, as described in the list of standard
styles below.  Only those types of matches whose tags were selected by
this style will be produced, and in the order given, although the
default is to try all relevant tags in an order determined by the
particular completion in use.

The _complete_help bindable command described in *Note Bindable
Commands:: can be invoked to find out the context and tag names and
styles used at a particular point in completion.  It shows the list of
contexts and tags that would be used in if completion were tried at the
current cursor position.  Hence one can easily find out all the
information needed to change the behaviour of the tag-order style for a
particular context.

Completion behaviour can be modified by various other styles defined
with the zstyle builtin command (*Note The zsh/zutil Module::).  When
looking up styles the completion system uses full context names,
including the tag.

Styles determine such things as how the matches are generated; some of
them correspond to shell options (for example, the use of menu
completion), but styles provide more specific control.  They can have
any number of strings as their value.  Looking up the value of a style
therefore consists of two things:  the context, which may be matched as
a pattern, and the name of the style itself, which must be given
exactly.

For example, many completion functions can generate matches in a simple
and a verbose form and use the verbose style to decide which form
should be used.  To make all such functions use the verbose form, put

     zstyle ':completion:*' verbose yes

in one of the startup files like .zshrc; this sort of style can also be
configured with the compinstall function.  This definition simply means
that the verbose style has yes as its value in every context inside the
completion system.  If the context pattern were `*', the verbose style
would have this value anywhere the style mechanism is used, not just in
completion.

As a more specific example, the completion function for the kill
builtin command uses the verbose style to decide if jobs and processes
are listed only as job numbers and process identifiers or if they are
listed with the full job texts and the command lines of the processes
(the latter is achieved by calling the ps command).  To make this
builtin list the matches only as numbers one could call:

     zstyle ':completion:*:*:kill:*' verbose no

Furthermore, if one wanted to see the command lines for processes but
not the job texts one could use the fact that the context name contains
the tag name when styles are looked up.  As the function for the kill
builtin command uses the tags jobs and processes, we can use:

     zstyle ':completion:*:*:kill:*:jobs' verbose no

To have more control over when certain values for styles are used one
can use the special parameters available in completion widgets (see
*Note Completion Widgets::)) and the -e option to zstyle that makes the
value be evaluated when looked up.  For example, to make the completer
style have a different value when completing for the cvs command, one
could use the words special array:

     zstyle -e ':completion:*' completer '
         if [[ $words[1] = cvs ]]; then
           reply=(_complete)
         else
           reply=(_complete _approximate)
         fi'

One should be careful not to use too complicated code with this option,
at least for the styles that are looked up quite often.  These are
basically those that define some global completion behaviour but allow
that to be different for all matches or groups of matches (such as the
menu and list-rows-first styles).  Alternatively one can always use a
less general pattern for the context than in the example above and use
a second call to zstyle with a generic pattern and without using the -e
option to define the default behaviour.

Note that the order in which styles are _defined_ does not matter; the
style mechanism uses the most specific possible match for a particular
style to determine the set of values.  More precisely, strings are
preferred over patterns (for example, `:completion::complete:foo' is
more specific than `:completion::complete:*'), and longer patterns are
preferred over shorter patterns.

As with tags, completion functions can use any style they choose, so
there can't be a complete list.  However, the following two sections
list those tags and styles that are used in many places of the
completion system.

Standard Tags
-------------

Here are the tags currently used by the completion system.  Some of them
are only used when looking up styles and do not refer to a particular
type of match.

accounts
     used to look up the users-hosts style

all-expansions
     used by the _expand completer when adding the single string
     containing all possible expansions

all-files
     for the names of all files (as distinct from a particular subset,
     see the globbed-files tag).

arguments
     when an argument of a command may be completed

arrays
     for names of array parameters

association-keys
     for keys of associative arrays; used when completing inside a
     subscript of a parameter of this type

bookmarks
     when completing bookmarks (e.g. for URLs and the zftp function
     suite)

builtins
     for names of builtin commands

characters
     used for commands like stty when completing characters; also used
     when completing character classes after an opening bracket

colormapids
     for X colormap ids

colors
     for color names

commands
     for names of external commands and names of sub-commands (used by
     some commands like cvs)

contexts
     for contexts used by the zstyle builtin command

corrections
     used by the _approximate and _correct completers for the possible
     corrections

cursors
     for cursor names used by X programs

default
     used to look up default values for various styles that may also be
     set for tags that are used when generating matches; note that this
     tag is used when only the FUNCTION field of the context name is
     set up

descriptions
     used when looking up the value of the format style for descriptions

devices
     for names of device special files

directories
     for names of directories

directory-stack
     for entries in the directory stack

displays
     for X display names

domains
     for network domains

expansions
     used by the _expand completer for individual possibilities
     resulting from expansion of a word

extensions
     for X server extensions

file-descriptors
     for the numbers of open file descriptors

files
     the generic file-matching tag used by completion functions that can
     complete the names of some kind of file

fonts
     used for X font names

functions
     names of functions, normally shell functions although certain
     commands may understand other kinds of function

globbed-files
     for names of files matching the glob pattern used by completion
     functions that expect a certain type of file

groups
     used when completing names of user groups

history-words
     for words from the history

hosts
     for hostnames

indexes
     used for array indexes

jobs
     used for jobs

keymaps
     for names of zsh keymaps

keysyms
     for names of X keysyms

libraries
     for names of system libraries

limits
     for system limits

local-directories
     for names of directories which are subdirectories of the current
     working directory when completing for the cd and related builtin
     commands

manuals
     for names of manual pages

maps
     for map names (e.g. NIS maps)

messages
     used to look up the format style for messages

modifiers
     for names of X modifiers

modules
     for modules (e.g. zsh modules)

my-accounts
     used to look up the users-hosts style

named-directories
     for named directories (you wouldn't have guessed that, would you?)

names
     for all kinds of names

nicknames
     for nicknames of NIS maps

options
     for command options

original
     used by the _approximate, _correct and _expand completers when
     adding the original string

other-accounts
     used to look up the users-hosts style

packages
     for packages (e.g. rpm or installed Debian packages)

parameters
     for names of parameters

path-directories
     for names of directories found by searching the cdpath array when
     completing for the cd and related builtin commands

paths
     used to look up the values of the expand, ambiguous and
     special-dirs styles

pods
     for perl pods (documentation files)

ports
     for communication ports

prefixes
     for prefixes (like those of a URL)

printers
     for printer names

processes
     for process identifiers

processes-names
     used to look up the command style when generating the names of
     processes for killall

sequences
     for sequences (e.g. mh sequences)

sessions
     for sessions in the zftp function suite

signals
     for signal names

strings
     for strings (e.g. the replacement strings for the cd builtin
     command)

styles
     for styles used by the zstyle builtin command

tags
     for tags (e.g. rpm tags)

targets
     for makefile targets

types
     for types of whatever (e.g. address types for the xhost command)

urls
     used to look up the urls and local styles when completing URLs

users
     for usernames

values
     when completing a value out of a set of values (or a list of such
     values)

version
     used by _call_program to look up the command to run to determine
     the installed version of various other commands (such as diff and
     make).

warnings
     used to look up the format style for warnings

widgets
     for zsh widget names

windows
     for IDs of X windows

zsh-options
     for shell options


Standard Styles
---------------

Here are the names of the styles used by the completion system.  Note
that the values of several of these styles represent boolean values;
here, any of the strings `true', `on', `yes', and `1' can be used for
the truth value `true' and the strings `false', `off', `no', and `0' are
interpreted as `false'.  The behavior for any other value is undefined
unless the description for the particular style mentions other possible
values; in particular, the default value may be either on or off if the
style is not set.

Some of these styles are tested for every tag used to add possible
matches and for the default tag (most notably menu, list-colors and the
styles controlling the completion listing like list-packed and
last-prompt). When tested for the default tag, only the FUNCTION field
of the context will be set up, so the default value will normally be
set like:

     zstyle ':completion:*:default' menu ...

accept-exact
     This is tested for the default tag and the tags used when
     generating matches.  If it is set to `true' for at least one match
     which is the same as the string on the line, this match will
     immediately be accepted.

     When completing pathnames (where it is looked up for the paths
     tag), this style also accepts any number of patterns as the value.
     If this is used, pathnames matching one of these patterns will be
     accepted immediately even if the command line contains some more
     partially typed pathname components and these match no file under
     the directory accepted.

     Note that this is also used by the _expand completer to decide if
     words beginning with a tilde or parameter expansion should be
     expanded. This means that if, for example, there are parameters
     foo and foobar, the string `$foo' will only be expanded if
     accept-exact is set to `true'.

add-space
     This style is used by the _expand completer.  If it is `true' (the
     default), a space will be inserted after all words resulting from
     the expansion (except for directory names which get a slash).  The
     value may also be the string `file' to make the completer add a
     space only to names of existing files.  Finally, the `true' values
     and `file' may be combined with `subst' to keep the completer from
     adding a space when the resulting words were generated by
     expanding a substitution of the form `$(...)' or `${...}'.

     It is also used by the _prefix completer as a simple boolean value
     to decide if a space should be inserted before the suffix.

ambiguous
     This applies when completing non-final components of filename
     paths.  If it is set, the cursor is left after the first ambiguous
     component, even if menu completion is in use.  It is tested with
     the paths tag.

assign-list
     When completing after an equals sign, the completion system
     normally completes only one filename.  In some cases, particularly
     for certain parameters such as PATH, a list of filenames separated
     by colons is required.  This style can be set to a list of
     patterns matching the names of such parameters.

     The default is to complete lists when the word on the line already
     contains a colon.

auto-description
     If set, this style's value will be used as the description for
     options which are not described by the completion functions, but
     that have exactly one argument.  The sequence `%d' in the value
     will be replaced by the description for this argument.  Depending
     on personal preferences, it may be useful to set this style to
     something like `specify: %d'.  Note that this may not work for
     some commands.

avoid-completer
     This is used by the _all_matches completer to decide if the string
     consisting of all matches should be added to the list currently
     being generated.  Its value is a list of names of completers.  If
     any of these is the name of the completer that generated the
     matches in this completion, the string will not be added.

     The default value for this style is `_expand _old_list _correct
     _approximate', i.e. it contains the completers for which a string
     with all matches will almost never be wanted.

cache-path
     This style defines the path where any cache files containing dumped
     completion data are stored.  Defaults to `$ZDOTDIR/.zcompcache', or
     `$HOME/.zcompcache' if $ZDOTDIR is not defined.  The completion
     layer will not be used unless the use-cache style is set.

call-command
     Currently this is only used by the function completing make
     targets.  If it is set to `true' and the installed version of the
     make command allows it, make is called in a way to generate all
     possible targets.  The default value of this style is `false'
     because calling make can potentially take a very long time and in
     some cases may even cause actions from the makefile be executed
     despite the options given to make.

command
     In many places, completion functions need to call external
     commands to generate the list of completions.  This style can be
     used to override the command which is called in some such cases.
     The elements of the value are joined with spaces to form a command
     line to execute.  The value can also start with a hyphen, in which
     case the usual command will be added to the end; this is most
     useful for putting `builtin' or `command' in front to make sure
     the appropriate version of a command is called, for example to
     avoid calling a shell function with the same name as an external
     command.

     As an example, the function generating process IDs as matches uses
     this style with the processes tag to generate the IDs to complete
     and the list of processes to display (if the verbose style is
     `true').  The list produced by the command should look like the
     output of the ps command.  The first line is not displayed, but is
     searched for the string `PID' (or `pid') to find the position of
     the process IDs in the following lines.  If the line does not
     contain `PID', the first numbers in each of the other lines are
     taken as the process IDs to complete.

     Note that the completion function generally has to call the command
     every time it is called.  Because of that care should be taken to
     specify only commands that take a short time to run (and that will
     eventually stop at all).

commands
     This is used by the function completing sub-commands for the system
     initialisation scripts (residing in /etc/init.d or somewhere not
     too far away from that).  It's values give the default commands to
     complete for those commands for which the completion function isn't
     able to find them out automatically.  The default for this style
     are the two strings `start' and `stop'.

complete
     This is used by the _expand_alias function when invoked as a
     bindable command.  If it set to `true' and the word on the command
     line is not the name of an alias, matching alias names will be
     completed.

completer
     The strings given as the value of this style provide the names of
     the completer functions to use. The available completer functions
     are described in *Note Control Functions::.

     Each string may be the name of a completer function or a string of
     the form `FUNCTION:NAME'. In the first case the COMPLETER field of
     the context will contain the name of the completer without the
     leading underscore and with all other underscores replaced by
     hyphens.  In the second case the FUNCTION is the name of the
     completer to call, but the context will contain the NAME in the
     COMPLETER field of the context.  If the NAME starts with a hyphen,
     the string for the context will be build from the name of the
     completer function as in the first case with the NAME appended to
     it.  For example:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete _complete:-foo

     Here, completion will call the _complete completer twice, once
     using `complete' and once using `complete-foo' in the COMPLETER
     field of the context.  Normally, using the same completer more
     than once makes only sense when used with the `FUNCTIONS:NAME'
     form, because otherwise the context name will be the same in all
     calls to the completer; possible exceptions to this rule are the
     _ignored and _prefix completers.

     The default value for this style is _complete _ignored, i.e.
     normally only completion will be done, first using the
     ignored-patterns style and the $fignore array and then without
     ignoring matches.

condition
     This style is used by the _list completer function to decide if
     insertion of matches should be delayed unconditionally. The
     default is `true'.

disabled
     If this is set to `true', the _expand_alias completer and bindable
     command will try to expand disabled aliases, too.  The default is
     `false'.

disable-stat
     This is used with an empty tag by the function completing for the
     cvs command to decide if the zsh/stat module should be used to
     generate names of modified files in the appropriate places (this
     is its only use).  If set, completion will use the ls command.

domains
     If set, gives the names of network domains that should be
     completed.  If this is not set by the user domain names will be
     taken from the file /etc/resolv.conf.

expand
     This style is used when completing strings consisting of multiple
     parts, such as path names.  If one of its values is the string
     `prefix', the partially typed word from the line will be expanded
     as far as possible even if trailing parts cannot be completed.  If
     one of its values is the string `suffix', matching names for
     components after the first ambiguous one will also be added.  This
     means that the resulting string is the longest unambiguous string
     possible, but if menu completion is started on the list of matches
     generated this way, this will also cycle through the names of the
     files in pathname components after the first ambiguous one.

fake-files
     This style is used when completing files and looked up without a
     tag.  Its values are of the form `DIR:NAMES...'.  This will add
     the NAMES (strings separated by spaces) as possible matches when
     completing in the directory DIR, even if no such files really
     exist.

     This can be useful on systems that support special filesystems
     whose top-level pathnames can not be listed or generated with glob
     patterns.  It can also be used for directories for which one does
     not have read permission.

fake-parameters
     This is used by the completion function generating parameter names
     as matches.  Its values are names of parameters which might not
     yet be set, but which should be completed nonetheless.  Each name
     may also be followed by a colon and a string specifying the type
     of the parameter (like `scalar', `array' or `integer').  If such a
     type is given, the name will only be completed if parameters of
     that type are requested in the particular context.  Names for
     which no type is specified will always be completed.

file-patterns
     In most places where filenames are completed, the function _files
     is used which can be configured with this style.  If the style is
     unset, _files offers, one after another, up to three tags:
     `globbed-files', `directories' and `all-files', depending on the
     types of files expected by the caller of _files.

     If the file-patterns style is set, the default tags are not used.
     Instead, the value of the style says which tags and which patterns
     are to be offered.  The strings in the value contain
     specifications of the form `PATTERN:TAG'; each string may contain
     any number of such specifications.  The PATTERN gives a glob
     pattern that is to be used to generate filenames.  If it contains
     the sequence `%p', that is replaced by the pattern(s) given by the
     calling function.  Colons in the pattern must be preceded by a
     backslash to make them distinguishable from the colon before the
     TAG.  If more than one pattern is needed, the patterns can be
     given inside braces, separated by commas.  The TAGs of all strings
     in the value will be offered by _files (again, one after another)
     and used when looking up other styles.  For strings containing
     more than one specification, the filenames for all specifications
     will be generated at the same try.  If no `:TAG' is given the
     `files' tag will be used.  The TAG may also be followed by an
     optional second colon and a description.  If that is given, this
     description will be used for the `%d' in the value of the format
     style (if that is set) instead of the default description supplied
     by the completion function.  If the description given here
     contains itself a `%d', that is replaced with the description
     supplied by the completion function.

     For example, to make the rm command first complete only names of
     object files and the names of all files if no object file matches
     the string on the line, one would do:

          zstyle ':completion:*:*:rm:*' file-patterns \
              '*.o:object-files' '%p:all-files'

     Another interesting example is to change the default behaviour that
     makes completion first offer files matching the patterns given by
     the calling function, then directories and then all files.  Many
     people prefer to get both the files matching the given patterns
     and the directories in the first try and all files at the second
     try.  To achieve this, one could do:

          zstyle ':completion:*' file-patterns \
              '%p:globbed-files *(-/):directories' '*:all-files'

     This works even for contexts in which all files would be completed,
     because _files will not try a pattern more than once and it stops
     when the pattern `*' was tried.

     Note also that during the execution of completion functions, the
     EXTENDED_GLOB option is in effect, so the characters `#', `~' and
     `^' have special meanings in the patterns.

file-sort
     The completion function that generates filenames as possible
     matches uses this style without a tag to determine in which order
     the names should be listed and completed when using menu
     completion.  The value may be one of `size' to sort them by the
     size of the file, `links' to sort them by the number of links to
     the file, `modification' (or `time' or `date') to sort them by the
     last modification time, `access' to sort them by the last access
     time, or `inode' (or `change') to sort them by the last inode
     change time.  If the style is set to any other value, or is unset,
     files will be sorted alphabetically by name.  If the value
     contains the string `reverse', sorting is done in decreasing order.

force-list
     This forces a list of completions to be shown at any point where
     listing is done, even in cases where the list would usually be
     suppressed.  For example, normally the list is only shown if there
     are at least two different matches.  By setting this style to
     `always', the list will always be shown, even if there is only a
     single match which is immediately accepted.  The style may also be
     set to a number.  In this case the list will be shown if there are
     at least that many matches, even if they would all insert the same
     string.

     This style is tested for the default tag and all tags used when
     generating matches. This allows one to turn unconditional listing
     on for certain types of matches.

format
     If this is set for the descriptions tag, its value is used as a
     string to display above matches in completion lists.  The sequence
     `%d' in this string will be replaced with a short description of
     what these matches are.  This string may also contain the
     sequences to specify output attributes, such as `%B', `%S' and
     `%{...%}'.

     For the same purpose, this style is also tested with the tags used
     when matches are generated before it is tested for the descriptions
     tag.  This provides the possibility of defining different format
     strings for different types of matches.

     Note also that some completer functions define additional
     `%'-sequences.  These are described for the completer functions
     that make use of them.

     For the messages tag, this style defines a string used by some
     completion functions to display messages.  Here, the `%d' is
     replaced with a message given by the completion function.

     Finally, when set with the warnings tag, the format string is
     printed when no matches could be generated at all.  In this case
     the `%d' is replaced with the descriptions for the matches that
     were expected separated by spaces and the sequence `%D' is
     replaced with those descriptions separated by newlines.

     The `%' for the sequences that are replaced by strings provided by
     the completion functions like the `%d' may be followed by field
     width specifications as  described for the zformat builtin command
     from the zsh/zutil module, see *Note The zsh/zutil Module::.

glob
     This is used by the _expand completer.  If it is set to `true'
     (the default), globbing will be attempted on the words resulting
     from substitution (see the substitute style) or the original
     string from the line.

global
     If this is set to `true' (the default), the _expand_alias
     completer and bindable command will try to expand global aliases.

group-name
     The completion system can put different types of matches in
     different groups which are then displayed separately in the list
     of possible completions.  This style can be used to give the names
     for these groups for particular tags.  For example, in command
     position the completion system generates names of builtin and
     external commands, names of aliases, shell functions and
     parameters and reserved words as possible completions.  To have
     the external commands and shell functions listed separately, one
     can set:

          zstyle ':completion:*:*:-command-:*:commands' group-name commands
          zstyle ':completion:*:*:-command-:*:functions' group-name functions

     This also means that if the same name is used for different types
     of matches, then those matches will be displayed together in the
     same group.

     If the name given is the empty string, then the name of the tag for
     the matches will be used as the name of the group. So, to have all
     different types of matches displayed separately, one can just set:

          zstyle ':completion:*' group-name ''

     All matches for which no group name is defined will be put in a
     group named -default-.

group-order
     This style is to be used together with the group-name style.  Once
     different types of matches are put into different groups, this
     style can be used to define in which order these groups should
     appear when listing (compare tag-order, which determines which
     completions appear at all).  The strings in the value are taken as
     group names and the named groups will be shown in the order in
     which their names appear in the value.  All groups whose names are
     not given in the value of this style will appear in the order
     defined by the function generating the matches.

     For example, to have names of builtin commands, shell functions and
     external commands appear in this order when completing in command
     position one would set:

          zstyle ':completion:*:*:-command-:*' group-order \
                 builtins functions commands

groups
     A style holding the names of the groups that should be completed.
     If this is not set by the user, the group names from the YP
     database or the file `/etc/group' will be used.

hidden
     If this is set to one of the `true' values, the matches for the
     tags for which this is set will not appear in the list; only the
     description for the matches as set with the format style will be
     shown.  If this is set to `all', not even the description will be
     displayed.

     Note that the matches will still be completed; they are just not
     shown in the list.  To avoid having matches considered as possible
     completions at all, the tag-order style can be modified as
     described below.

hosts
     A style holding the names of hosts that should be completed. If
     this is not set by the user the hostnames in `/etc/hosts' will be
     used.

hosts-ports
     This style is used by commands that need or accept hostnames and
     ports.  The strings in the value should be of the form
     `HOST:PORT'.  These hostnames and ports are completed depending on
     the information already on the line, so that if, for example, the
     hostname is already typed, only those ports specified for that
     host will be completed.  Multiple ports for the same host may
     appear.

ignore-line
     This style is tested for the tags used when generating matches.
     If it is set to `true', then none of the words that are already on
     the line will be considered possible completions.  If it is set to
     `current', the word the cursor is on will not be considered a
     possible completion.  The same happens if the value is
     `current-shown', but only if the list of completions is currently
     shown on the screen.  Finally, if it is set to `other' all words
     except the current one will not be considered to be a possible
     completion.

     The values `current' and `current-shown' are a bit like the
     opposite of accept-exact. They mean that only strings with missing
     characters will be completed.

     Note that you almost certainly don't want to set this to `true' or
     `other' for a general context such as `:completion:*'.  This is
     because it would disallow completion of, for example, options
     multiple times even if the command in question accepts the option
     more than once.

ignore-parents
     The style is tested by the function completing pathnames without a
     tag to determine whether to ignore the names of directories
     already mentioned in the current word, or the name of the current
     working directory.  The value must include one or both of the
     following strings:

    parent
          The name of any directory whose path is already contained in
          the word on the line is ignored.  For example, when
          completing after foo/../, the directory foo will not be
          considered a valid completion.

    pwd
          The name of the current working directory will not be
          completed, so that, for example, completion after ../ will
          not use the name of the current directory.


     In addition, the value may include one or both of:

    ..
          Ignore the specified directories only when the word on the
          line contains the substring `../'.

    directory
          Ignore only when names of directories are completed, not when
          completing names of files.


     Note that names of directories ignored because of one of the tests
     will be ignored in the same way as the matches ignored because of
     the ignored-patterns style.  I.e., by using the _ignored completer
     it is possible to complete these directories nonetheless.

ignored-patterns
     This style can be used to specify a list of patterns which are
     tested against against the trial completions in a given context;
     any matching completions will be removed from the list of
     possibilities.  The _ignored completer can appear in the list of
     completers to produce a list which includes these matches once
     more.  This is a more configurable version of the shell parameter
     $fignore.

     Note that during the execution of completion functions, the
     EXTENDED_GLOB option is in effect, so the characters `#', `~' and
     `^' have special meanings in the patterns.

insert-ids
     When completing process IDs, for example as arguments to the kill
     and wait builtins, completion allows the user to type the name of a
     command, which will be converted to the appropriate process ID.  A
     problem arises when the process name typed is not unique.  By
     default (or if this style is set explicitly to `menu') the name
     will be converted immediately to a set of possible IDs, and menu
     completion will be started to cycle through them.  If the value of
     the style is `single', however, the shell will wait until the user
     has typed enough to make the command unique before converting the
     name to an ID; the user must type any additional characters
     required.  If the value is any other string, menu completion will
     be started when the string typed by the user is longer than the
     common prefix of the corresponding IDs.

insert-tab
     If this has one of the `true' values, the completion system will
     insert a TAB character (assuming it was used to start completion)
     instead of performing completion when there is no non-blank
     character to the left of the cursor.  If set to `false',
     completion will be done even there.

     The value may also contain the substrings `pending' or
     `pending=VAL' to make the character typed to start completion be
     inserted instead of completion being tried when there is input
     pending which has not yet been processed by the shell. If a VAL is
     given, completion will not be done if there are at least that many
     characters of unprocessed input. This is often useful to have set
     when pasting characters into a terminal. Note however, that it
     relies on the $PENDING special parameter from the zsh/zle module
     being set properly which is not guaranteed on all platforms.

     The default value of this style is `true' unless when completing
     inside the vared builtin command, where it defaults to `false'.

insert-unambiguous
     This is used by the _match and _approximate completer functions,
     where the possible completions may not have a common prefix so
     that menu completion is often the most useful may of choosing
     completions.  If the style is set to `true', the completer will
     start menu completion only if no unambiguous string could be
     generated that is at least as long as the original string typed by
     the user.  Note that the _approximate completer uses it after
     setting the completer field in the context name to one of
     correct-NUM or approximate-NUM, where NUM is the number of errors
     that were accepted.

     When used for the _match completer, the style may also be set to
     the string `pattern'.  This makes the pattern on the line be left
     unchanged if it didn't match unambiguously.

keep-prefix
     This style is used by the _expand completer.  If it is `true', the
     completer will try to keep a prefix containing a tilde or parameter
     expansion.  I.e., the string `~/f*' would be expanded to `~/foo'
     instead of `/home/user/foo'.  If the style is set to `changed'
     (the default), the prefix will only be left unchanged if there
     were other changes between the expanded words and the original
     word from the command line.  Any other value makes the prefix be
     expanded unconditionally.

     Note that with one of the `true' values, the _expand completer
     returns if there is only one expansion and that is, after restoring
     the original prefix, the same as the original word.  This means
     that other completers will be called immediately after _expand.

last-prompt
     This is used to determine if the completion code should try to put
     the cursor back onto the previous command line after showing a
     completion listing (as for the ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT option).  As
     with several other styles, it is tested for the default tag as
     well as all the possible tags when generating matches.  The cursor
     will be moved back to the previous line if this style is `true'
     for all types of matches added.  Note also that this is
     independent of the numeric argument, unlike the ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT
     option.

list
     This style is used by the _history_complete_word bindable command.
     If it is set to `true' it has no effect, but if it is set to
     `false' the matches will not be listed, overriding the setting of
     the options that control listing behaviour, especially AUTO_LIST.
     Use the context prefix `:completion:history-words'.

list-colors
     If the zsh/complist module is used, this style can be used to set
     color specifications as with the ZLS_COLORS and ZLS_COLOURS
     parameters, which will not be honored under this completion system
     (see *Note The zsh/complist Module::).

     If this style is set for the default tag, the strings in the value
     are taken as specifications that are to be used everywhere.  If it
     is set for other tags, the specifications are used only for
     matches of the type described by the tag.  For this to work best,
     the group-name style must be set to an empty string.  If the
     group-name tag specifies other names for the groups the matches in
     these groups can be colored by using these names together with the
     `(group)...'  syntax described for the ZLS_COLORS and ZLS_COLOURS
     parameters and adding the specifications to the value for this
     style with the default tag (although in most cases it should work
     by setting this style for the appropriate tags).

     It is possible to use the same specifications set up for the GNU
     version of the ls command:

          zstyle ':completion:*:default' list-colors ${(s.:.)LS_COLORS}

     The default colors are the same as for the GNU ls command and can
     be obtained by setting the style to an empty string (i.e. '').

list-packed
     Like the list-colors style, this is tested with the default tag
     and all tags used when generating matches.  If it is set to `true'
     for a tag, the matches added for it will be listed as if the
     LIST_PACKED option were set.  If it is set to `false', they are
     listed normally.

list-prompt
     If this style is set for the default tag, completion lists that
     don't fit on the screen can be scrolled (see *Note The
     zsh/complist Module::).  The value, if not the empty string, will
     be displayed after every screenful and the shell will prompt for a
     key press; if the style is set to the empty string, a default
     prompt will be used.  The value may contain the escape sequences
     `%l' or `%L', which will be replaced by the number of the last line
     displayed and the total number of lines; `%m' or `%M', which will
     be replaced by the number of the  last match shown and the total
     number of matches; and `%p' and `%P', which will be replaced by
     `Top' when at the beginning of the list, `Bottom' when at the end
     and the position shown in percent of the total length otherwise.
     In each of these cases the form with the uppercase letter is
     replaced by a string of fixed width, padded to the  right with
     spaces.  As in other prompt strings, the escape sequences `%S',
     `%s', `%B', `%b', `%U', `%u', and `%{...%}' for entering and
     leaving the display modes standout, bold and underline are also
     available.

list-rows-first
     This style is tested in the same way as the list-packed style and
     determines if matches are to be listed in a rows-first fashion, as
     for the LIST_ROWS_FIRST option.

list-suffixes
     This style is used by the function used to complete filenames.  If
     completion is attempted on a string containing multiple partially
     typed pathname components and this style is set to `true', all
     components starting with the first one for which more than one
     match could be generated will be shown.

local
     This style is used by completion functions which generate URLs as
     possible matches to add suitable matches when a URL points to a
     local web server, that is, one whose files are available directly
     on the local file system.  Its value should consist of three
     strings: a hostname, the path to the default web pages for the
     server and the directory name used by a user placing web pages
     within their home area.  For example, completion after
     `http://toast/~yousir/' will attempt to match the name `toast'
     against the first argument to the style, and if successful will
     look in the directory under ~yousir given by the third argument to
     the style for possible completions.

match-original
     This is used by the _match completer.  If it is set to only,
     _match will try to generate matches without inserting a `*' at the
     cursor position.  If set to any other non-empty value, it will
     first try to generate matches without inserting the `*' and if
     that yields no matches, it will try again with the `*' inserted.
     If it is unset or set to the empty string, matching will only be
     done with the `*' inserted.

matcher
     This style is tested for tags used when generating matches.  Its
     value is used as an match specification additional to any given by
     the matcher-list style which should be in the form described in
     *Note Matching Control::.

matcher-list
     This style is used by the main completion function to retrieve
     match specifications that are to be used everywhere.  Its value
     should be a list of such specifications.  The completion system
     will try them one after another for each completer selected. For
     example, to first try simple completion and, if that generates no
     matches, case-insensitive completion one would do:

          zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list '' 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'

     By default every specification replaces previous ones. If
     specification is prefixed with +, it is added to the existing
     list. This allows testing more general patterns without repeating
     the whole list every time, as in:

          zstyle ':completion:*' matcher-list '' '+m{a-Z}={A-Z}' '+m{A-Z}={a-z}'

     The style allows even finer control by specifying a particular
     completer, without the leading underscore, in the third field of
     the completion context.  For example, if one uses the completers
     _complete and _prefix but wants to try case-insensitive completion
     only when using the _complete completer, one would do:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete _prefix
          zstyle ':completion:*:complete:*' matcher-list \
                 '' 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'

     Note that the completer style allows user-defined names to be used
     in the context instead of the name of the completer.  This is
     useful if, for example, one wants to try normal completion without
     a match specification and with case-insensitive matching first,
     correction if that doesn't generate any matches and partial-word
     completion if that doesn't yield any matches either.  In this case
     one can give the _complete completer more than once in the
     completer style and define different match specifications for each
     occurrence, as in:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete _correct _complete:foo
          zstyle ':completion:*:complete:*' matcher-list \
              '' 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'
          zstyle ':completion:*:foo:*' matcher-list \
              'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z} r:|[-_./]=* r:|=*'

     If the style is unset in any context no match specification is
     applied; further, some completers such as _correct and
     _approximate do not use the match specifications at all.  However,
     it is always safe to use the simple form for this style (as in the
     first example above), since any completers which do not use match
     specifications will only ever be called once, rather than once per
     specification.

     Since the specification-strings in this style have to be tried one
     after another, it is a good idea to keep their number low.  In
     most cases one to three strings (each of which may, without to
     large a performance hit, consist of more than one single match
     specification) will give acceptable performance.

max-errors
     This is used by the _approximate and _correct completer functions
     to determine the maximum number of errors to allow.  The completer
     will try to generate completions by first allowing one error, then
     two errors, and so on, until either a match or matches were found
     or the maximum number of errors given by this style has been
     reached.

     If the value for this style contains the string `numeric', the
     completer function will take any numeric argument as the maximum
     number of errors allowed. For example, with

          zstyle ':completion:*:approximate:::' max-errors 2 numeric

     two errors are allowed if no numeric argument is given, but with a
     numeric argument of six (as in `ESC-6 TAB'), up to six errors are
     accepted.  Hence with a value of `0 numeric', no correcting
     completion will be attempted unless a numeric argument is given.

     If the value contains the string `not-numeric', the completer will
     _not_ try to generate corrected completions when given a numeric
     argument, so in this case the number given should be greater than
     zero.  For example, `2 not-numeric' specifies that correcting
     completion with two errors will usually be performed, but if a
     numeric argument is given, correcting completion will not be
     performed.

     The default value for this style is `2 numeric'.

menu
     If this is set to true in a given context, using any of the tags
     defined for a given completion, menu completion will be used.  The
     tag `default' can be used to set the default value, but a specific
     tag will take precedence.  If none of the values found in this way
     is true but at least one is set to `auto' the behaviour will be as
     for the AUTO_MENU option.  Finally, if one of the values is
     explicitly set to false, menu completion will be turned off even
     if it would otherwise be active (for example, with the
     MENU_COMPLETE option).

     Using the form `yes=NUM', where `yes' may be any of the true
     values (`yes', `true', `on' and `1') turns on menu completion if
     there at least NUM matches.  Using this for one of the `false'
     values (as in `no=10') makes menu completion _not_ be used if
     there are NUM or more matches.  Of course, this is only useful
     when menu completion is normally used, e.g. by setting the
     MENU_COMPLETE option.  The `true' values may also be used in the
     form `yes=long' to turn on menu completion if the list does not
     fit onto the screen.  This will start menu completion only if
     normal completion was attempted, not when only the list of
     possible completions was requested.  To start menu completion even
     then, the value `yes=long-list' can be used.

     In addition to (or instead of) the above possibilities, the value
     may contain the string `select', optionally followed by an equals
     sign and a number.  In this case menu selection (as defined by the
     zsh/complist module) will be started.  Without the optional
     number, it will be started unconditionally and with a number it
     will be started only if at least that many matches are generated;
     if the values for more than one tag provide a number, the smallest
     number is taken.  Menu selection can be turned off explicitly by
     defining a value containing the string `no-select'.

     It is also possible to start menu selection only if the list of
     matches does not fit on the screen by using the value
     `select=long'.  This will only start menu selection if the widget
     invoked does completion, not simply listing as done by
     delete-char-or-list; to start menu selection even here, use the
     value `select=long-list'.

     To turn on menu completion or menu selection when a certain number
     of matches is generated _or_ the list of matches does not fit onto
     the screen, both of `yes=' and `select=' can be given twice, once
     with a number and once with `long' or `long-list'.

numbers
     This is used with the jobs tag.  If it is `true', the shell will
     complete the job numbers instead of the shortest unambiguous
     strings of the jobs' command lines.  If the value is a number, job
     numbers will only be used if that many words from the job
     descriptions are required to resolve ambiguities.  For example, if
     the value is `1', strings will only be used if all jobs differ in
     the first word on their command lines.

old-list
     This is used by the _oldlist completer.  If it is set to `always',
     then standard widgets which perform listing will retain the
     current list of matches, however they were generated; this can be
     turned off explicitly with the value `never', giving the behaviour
     without the _oldlist completer.  If the style is unset, or any
     other value, then the existing list of completions is displayed if
     it is not already; otherwise, the standard completion list is
     generated; this is the default behaviour of _oldlist.  However, if
     there is an old list and this style contains the name of the
     completer function that generated the list, then the old list will
     be used even if it was generated by a widget which does not do
     listing.

     For example, suppose you type ^Xc to use the _correct_word widget,
     which generates a list of corrections for the word under the
     cursor.  Usually, typing ^D would generate a standard list of
     completions for the word on the command line, and show that.  With
     _oldlist, it will instead show the list of corrections already
     generated.

     As another example consider the _match completer: with the
     insert-unambiguous style set to `true' it inserts only a common
     prefix string, if there is any.  However, this may remove parts of
     the original pattern, so that further completion could produce
     more matches than on the first attempt.  By using the _oldlist
     completer and setting this style to _match, the list of matches
     generated on the first attempt will be used again.

old-matches
     This is used by the _all_matches completer to decide if an old
     list of matches should be used if one exists.  It may be set to
     one of the `true' values or to the string `only' to use such a
     list.  If it is set to `only', _all_matches will only use an old
     list and won't have any effect on the list of matches currently
     being generated.

old-menu
     This is used by the _oldlist completer.  It controls how menu
     completion behaves when a completion has already been inserted and
     the user types a standard completion key type such as TAB.  The
     default behaviour of _oldlist is that menu completion always
     continues with the existing list of completions.  If this style is
     set to `false', however, a new completion is started if the old
     list was generated by a different completion command; this is the
     behaviour without the  _oldlist completer.

     For example, suppose you type ^Xc to generate a list of
     corrections, and menu completion is started in one of the usual
     ways.  Usually, or with this style set to false, typing TAB at
     this point would start trying to complete the line as it now
     appears.  With _oldlist, it instead continues to cycle through the
     list of corrections.

original
     This is used by the _approximate and _correct completers to decide
     if the original string should be added as one possible completion.
     Normally, this is done only if there are at least two possible
     corrections, but if this style is set to `true', it is always
     added.  Note that these completers use this style after setting
     the completer field in the context name to correct-NUM or
     approximate-NUM, where NUM is the number of errors that were
     accepted.

packageset
     This style is used when completing arguments of the Debian `dpkg'
     program.  It contains an override for the default package set for
     a given context.  For example,

          zstyle ':completion:*:complete:dpkg:option--status-1:*' \
                         packageset avail

     causes available packages, rather than only installed packages, to
     be completed for `dpkg -status'.

path
     The function that completes color names uses this style with the
     colors tag.  The value should be the pathname of a file containing
     color names in the format of an X11 rgb.txt file.  If the style is
     not set but this file is found in one of various standard
     locations it will be used as the default.

ports
     A style holding the service names of ports to complete.  If this is
     not set by the user, the service names from `/etc/services' will
     be used.

prefix-hidden
     This is used when matches with a common prefix are added (e.g.
     option names).  If it is `true', this prefix will not be shown in
     the list of matches.

     The default value for this style is `false'.

prefix-needed
     This, too, is used for matches with a common prefix.  If it is set
     to `true' this common prefix has to be typed by the user to
     generate the matches.  E.g. for options this means that the `-',
     `+', or `--' has to be on the line to make option names be
     completed at all.

     The default value for this style is `true'.

preserve-prefix
     This style is used when completing path names.  Its value should
     be a pattern matching an initial prefix of the word to complete
     that should be left unchanged under all circumstances.  For
     example, on some Unices an initial `//' (double slash) has a
     special meaning and hence should be kept.  For that one could set
     this style to the string `//'.  As another example, setting this
     style to `?:/' under Cygwin would allow completion after `a:/...'
     and the like.

range
     This is used by the _history completer and the
     _history_complete_word bindable command to decide which words
     should be completed.  It may be set to a number, N, to say that
     only the last N words from the history should be completed.  The
     value may also be of the form `MAX:SLICE'.  This means that first
     the last SLICE words will be completed.  If that yields no
     matches, the SLICE words before those will be tried and so on,
     until either at least one match is generated or MAX words have
     been tried.  The default is to complete all words from the history
     at once.

regular
     This style is used by the _expand_alias completer and bindable
     command.  If set to `true' (the default), regular aliases will be
     expanded but only in command position.  If it is set to `false',
     regular aliases will never be expanded and if it is set to the
     string `always', regular aliases will be expanded even if not in
     command position.

remove-all-dups
     The _history_complete_word bindable command and the _history
     completer use this to decide if all duplicate matches should be
     removed, rather than just consecutive duplicates.

select-prompt
     If this is set for the default tag, its value will be displayed
     during menu selection (see the menu style above) when the
     completion list does not fit on the screen as a whole.  The same
     escapes as for the list-prompt style are understood, but give the
     number of the match or line the mark is on.  A default prompt is
     used when the value is the empty string.

select-scroll
     This style is tested for the default tag and determines how a
     completion list is scrolled during a menu selection (see the menu
     style above) when the completion list does not fit on the screen
     as a whole.  Its value should be `0' (zero) to scroll by
     half-screenfuls, a positive integer to scroll by that many lines
     and a negative number to scroll by the number of lines of the
     screen minus that number (or plus the number, since it is
     negative).  The default is to scroll by single lines.

separate-sections
     This style is used with the manuals tag when completing names of
     manual pages.  If it is `true', entries for different sections are
     added separately using tag names of the form `manual.X', where X
     is the section number.  This means that it is possible to make
     pages from different sections be listed separately by setting the
     group-name style.  The default for this style is `false'.

single-ignored
     This is used by the _ignored completer.  It specifies what should
     be done if it can generate only one match, which is often a
     special case.  If its value is `show', the single match will be
     displayed but not inserted.  If the value is `menu', then the
     single match and the original string are both added as matches and
     menu completion is started so that one can easily select either of
     them.

sort
     If set to `true', completion functions that generate words from the
     history as possible matches sort these words alphabetically
     instead of keeping them in the order in which they appear in the
     history (from youngest to oldest).

     This is also used by the _expand completer.  Here, if it is set to
     `true', the expansions generated will always be sorted.  If it is
     set to `menu', then the expansions are only sorted when they are
     offered as single strings (not in the string containing all
     possible expansions).

special-dirs
     Normally, the completion code will not produce the directory names
     `.' and `..' as possible completions.  If this style is set to
     `true', it will add both `.' and `..' as possible completions; if
     it is set to `..', only `..' will be added.

squeeze-slashes
     If set to `true', sequences of slashes (as in `foo//bar') will be
     treated as if they were only one slash when completing pathnames.
     This is the usual behaviour of UNIX paths.  However, by default
     the file completion function behaves as if there were a `*' between
     the slashes.

stop
     If set to `true', the _history_complete_word bindable command will
     stop once when reaching the beginning or end of the history.
     Invoking _history_complete_word will then wrap around to the
     opposite end of the history.  If this style is set to `false' (the
     default), _history_complete_word will loop immediately as in a
     menu completion.

subst-globs-only
     This is used by the _expand completer.  If it is set to `true',
     the expansion will only be used if it resulted from globbing;
     hence, if expansions resulted from the use of the substitute style
     described below, but these were not further changed by globbing,
     the expansions will be rejected.

     The default for this style is `false'.

substitute
     This boolean style controls whether the _expand completer will
     first try to expand all substitutions in the string (such as
     `$(...)' and `${...}').

     The default is `true'.

suffix
     This is used by the _expand completer if the word starts with a
     tilde or contains a parameter expansion. If it is set to `true',
     the word will only be expanded if it doesn't have a suffix, i.e.
     if it is something like `~foo' or `$foo', but not if it is `~foo/'
     or `$foo/bar', unless that suffix itself contains characters
     eligible for expansion.  The default for this style is `true'.

tag-order
     This provides a mechanism for sorting how the tags available in a
     particular context will be used.

     The values for the style are sets of space-separated lists of tags.
     The tags in each value will be tried at the same time; if no match
     is found, the next value is used.  (See the file-patterns style for
     an exception to this behavior.)

     For example:

          zstyle ':completion:*:complete:-command-:*' tag-order \
              'commands functions'

     specifies that completion in command position should offer only
     completions for external commands and shell functions immediately.

     In addition to tag names, each string in the value may take one of
     the following forms:

    -
          If any string in the value consists of only a hyphen, then
          _only_ the tags specified by the other strings in the value
          are generated.  Normally all tags not explicitly selected are
          tried last if the specified tags fail to generate any
          matches.  This means that a value consisting only of a single
          hyphen turns off completion.

    ! TAGS...
          A string starting with an exclamation mark specifies names of
          tags that are _not_ to be used.  The effect is the same as if
          all other possible tags for the context had been listed.

    TAG:LABEL ...
          In strings not starting with an exclamation mark, it is also
          possible to specify tag labels instead of only tags, where
          TAG is one of the tags offered by the completion function for
          the current context and LABEL is a name.  For this, the
          completion function will generate matches in the same way as
          for the TAG but it will use the LABEL in place of the tag in
          the context names used to look up styles.  If the LABEL
          starts with a hyphen, the TAG is prepended to the LABEL to
          form the name used for lookup.  This can be used to make the
          completion system try a certain tag more than once, supplying
          different style settings for each attempt, see below for an
          example.

          The LABEL may optionally be followed by a second colon and a
          description.  This description will then be used for the `%d'
          in the value of the format style instead of the default
          description supplied by the completion function.  Spaces in
          the description have to be quoted by preceding them with a
          backslash and a `%d' appearing in the description is replaced
          with the description given by the completion function.


     In each of the cases above, the tag may also be a pattern or more
     than one pattern inside braces and separated by commas.  In this
     case all of the offered tags matching the pattern(s) will be used
     except for those that are given explicitly in the same string.
     There are probably two main uses of this.  One is the case where
     one wants to try one of the tags more than once, setting other
     styles differently for each try, but still wants to use all the
     other tags without having to repeat them all.  For example, to
     make completion of function names in command position ignore all
     the completion functions starting with an underscore the first
     time completion is tried, one could do:

          zstyle ':completion:*:*:-command-:*' tag-order \
              'functions:-non-comp *' functions
          zstyle ':completion:*:functions-non-comp' ignored-patterns '_*'

     Here, the completion system will first try all tags offered, but
     will use the tag label functions-non-comp when looking up styles
     for the function names completed.  For this, the ignored-patterns
     style is set to exclude functions starting with an underscore from
     the set of possible matches.  If none of the generated matches
     match the string on the line, the completion system will use the
     second value of the tag-order style and complete functions names
     again, but this time using the name functions to look up styles,
     so that the ignored-patterns style is not used and all function
     names are considered.

     Of course, this can also be used to split the matches for one tag
     into different groups. For example:

          zstyle ':completion:*' tag-order \
              'options:-long:long\ options
               options:-short:short\ options
               options:-single-letter:single\ letter\ options'
          
          
          zstyle ':completion:*:options-long' ignored-patterns '[-+](|-|[^-]*)'
          zstyle ':completion:*:options-short' ignored-patterns '--*' '[-+]?'
          zstyle ':completion:*:options-single-letter' ignored-patterns '???*'

     With the group-names style set, this makes options beginning with
     `--', options beginning with a single `-' or `+' but containing
     multiple characters, and single-letter options be displayed in
     separate groups with different descriptions.

     The second interesting use of patterns is the case where one wants
     to try multiple match specifications one after another.  The
     matcher-list style offers something similar, but it is tested very
     early in the completion system and hence can't be set for single
     commands nor for more specific contexts.  Here is how to try
     normal completion without any match specification and, if that
     generates no matches, try again with case-insensitive matching,
     restricting the effect to arguments of the command foo:
          zstyle ':completion:*:*:foo:*' tag-order '*' '*:-case'
          zstyle ':completion:*-case' matcher 'm:{a-z}={A-Z}'

     First, all the tags offered when completing after foo are tried
     using the normal tag name.  If that generates no matches, the
     second value of tag-order is used, which tries all tags again
     except that this time each has -case appended to its name for
     lookup of styles.  Hence this time the value for the matcher style
     from the second call to zstyle in the example is used to make
     completion case-insensitive.

     Using the -e option of the zstyle builtin command, it is possible
     to specify conditions saying when certain tags are to be used. For
     example:

          zstyle -e '*:-command-:*' tag-order '
              if [[ -n $PREFIX ]]; then
                reply=( )
              else
                reply=( - )
              fi'

     Makes completion in command position happen only if the string on
     the line is not empty.  This is tested using the PREFIX parameter
     which is special in completion widgets; see *Note Completion
     Widgets:: for a description of these special parameters.  Setting
     reply to an empty array ensures that only the default behaviour of
     trying all tags at once is used and setting it to an array
     containing only a hyphen disables that default behaviour - thus
     keeping all tags from being tried.

     If no style has been defined for a context, the strings
     `(|*-)argument-* (|*-)option-* values' and `options' plus all tags
     offered by the completion function will be used to provide a
     sensible default behavior that causes arguments (whether normal
     command arguments or arguments of options) to be completed before
     option names for most commands.

urls
     This is used together with the the urls tag by completion
     functions that generate URLs as possible matches.  If the value
     consists of more than one string or if the only string does not
     name a file or directory, the strings are used as the URLs to
     complete.

     If the value contains only one string and that is the name of a
     normal file, the URLs are taken from that file (where the URLs may
     be separated by white space or newlines).

     Finally, if the only string in the value names a directory, that
     should contain sub-directories named after the retrieval methods
     which occur as the first part of a URL, i.e.  `http', `ftp',
     `bookmark', and so on.  These sub-directories should contain files
     and other sub-directories whose pathnames are possible completions
     after the initial `http://', `ftp://', etc. See the description in
     the file _urls in the User sub-directory of the completion system
     for more information.

use-cache
     If this is set, the completion caching layer is activated for any
     completions which use it (via the _store_cache, _retrieve_cache,
     and _cache_invalid functions).  The directory containing the cache
     files can be changed with the cache-path style.

use-compctl
     If this style is set to a string _not_ equal to false, 0, no, and
     off, the completion system may use any completion specifications
     defined with the compctl builtin command.  If the style is unset,
     this is done only if the zsh/compctl module is loaded.  The string
     may also contain the substring `first' to make the definition for
     `compctl -T' be used, and the substring `default' to make the one
     for `compctl -D' be used.

     Note that this is only intended to smooth the transition from
     compctl to the new completion system and may disappear in the
     future.

     Note also that the definitions from compctl will only be used if
     there is no specific completion function for the command in
     question.  For example, while completing arguments to the command
     foo, if this was handled by a command function _foo, compctl would
     never be tried, while if it was handled by _default, compctl would
     be tried.

users
     This may be set to a list of names that should be completed
     whenever a username is needed. If it is not set or the string on
     the line doesn't match any of the strings in this list, all
     usernames will be completed.

users-hosts
     The values of this style should be of the form `USER@HOST' or
     `USER:HOST'. It is used for commands that need pairs of user- and
     hostnames.  For such commands, only the pairs from this style are
     used and if, for example, the username is already typed, then only
     the hostnames for which there is a pair with that username is
     defined.

     If set for the my-accounts tag, this is used for commands such as
     rlogin and ssh; in this case the style should contain the names of
     the user's own accounts on remote hosts.  If set for the
     other-accounts tag, it is used for commands such as talk and
     finger and should contain other people's accounts.  Finally, it
     may also be used by some commands with the accounts tag.

users-hosts-ports
     Like users-hosts but used for commands like telnet and containing
     strings of the form `USER@HOST:PORT'.

verbose
     This is used in several contexts to decide if only a simple or a
     verbose list of matches should be generated. For example some
     commands show descriptions for option names if this style is
     `true'.

     The default value for this style is `true'.

word
     This is used by the _list completer, which prevents the insertion
     of completions until a second completion attempt when the line has
     not changed.  The normal way of finding out if the line has
     changed is to compare its entire contents between the two
     occasions.  If this style is true, the comparison is instead
     performed only on the current word.  Hence if completion is
     performed on another word with the same contents, completion will
     not be delayed.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Control Functions,  Next: Bindable Commands,  Prev: Completion System Configuration,  Up: Completion System

Control Functions
=================

The initialization script compinit redefines all the widgets which
perform completion to call the supplied widget function _main_complete.
This function acts as a wrapper calling the so-called `completer'
functions that generate matches.  If _main_complete is called with
arguments, these are taken as the names of completer functions to be
called in the order given.  If no arguments are given, the set of
functions to try is taken from the completer style.  For example, to
use normal completion and correction if that doesn't generate any
matches:

     zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete _correct

after calling compinit. The default value for this style is `_complete
_ignored', i.e. normally only ordinary completion is tried, first with
the effect of the ignored-patterns style and then without it.  The
_main_complete function uses the return value of the completer
functions to decide if other completers should be called.  If the return
value is zero, no other completers are tried and the _main_complete
function returns.

If the first argument to _main_complete is a single hyphen, the
arguments will not be taken as names of completers. Instead, the second
argument gives a name to use in the COMPLETER field of the context and
the other arguments give a command name and arguments to call to
generate the matches.

The following completer functions are contained in the distribution
(users may write their own):

_all_matches
     This completer can be used to add a string consisting of all other
     matches.  To ensure, that this string is always added, this
     completer has to be used as the first completer in the list.  The
     avoid-completer style is used to decide if the string should be
     added.  This will only be done if the matches were generated by a
     completer not named by one of the values of the style.

     This function also uses the style old-matches.  If it is set to
     `true' or to the string `only' and there is a list of matches from
     a previous completion, those matches will be inserted in the
     command line.  If it is set to the the string `only', it will only
     insert an old list and won't add the string for all matches of the
     list currently being generated.

     With the old-matches style set, this completer should probably not
     be called unconditionally.  Instead one could use the -e option of
     the zstyle builtin command to add a condition to the completer or
     to the old-matches style.  Alternatively, one could use the
     _generic function to bind _all_matches to a separate key binding,
     for example:

          zle -C all-matches complete-word _generic
          bindkey '^Xa' all-matches
          zstyle ':completion:all-matches::::' old-matches only
          zstyle ':completion:all-matches:*' completer _all_matches

_approximate
     This completer function uses the _complete completer to generate a
     list of strings for the context the cursor is currently in,
     allowing you to specify a maximum number of errors:  see the
     description of approximate matching in *Note Filename Generation::
     for how errors are counted.  The resulting list of corrected and
     completed strings is then presented to the user.  The intended use
     of this completer function is to try after the normal _complete
     completer by setting:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete _approximate

     This will give correcting completion if and only if normal
     completion yields no possible completions.  When corrected
     completions are found, the completer will normally start menu
     completion allowing you to cycle through these strings.

     This completer uses the tags corrections and original when
     generating the possible corrections and the original string.  The
     format style for the former may contain the additional sequences
     `%e' and `%o' which will be replaced by the number of errors
     accepted to generate the corrections and the original string,
     respectively.

     As with all completers, _approximate uses its name without the
     underscore in the COMPLETER field of the context name.  Once it
     has started trying to generate matches, it will append a minus sign
     and the number of errors accepted to its name.  _approximate will
     first look for completions with one error, then two, and on so up
     to the limit on the number of errors set by the max-errors style.
     Hence on the first try the completer field of the context contains
     `approximate-1', on the second try `approximate-2', and so on.

     When _approximate is called from another function, the number of
     errors to accept may be given with the -a option.  Its argument
     should be the same as the value of the max-errors style, all in one
     string.

     Note that this completer (and the _correct completer mentioned
     below) can be quite expensive to call, especially when a large
     number of errors are allowed.  One way to avoid this is to set up
     the completer style using the -e option to zstyle so that some
     completers are only used when completion is attempted a second
     time on the same string, e.g.:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer '
            if [[ $_last_try != "$HISTNO$BUFFER$CURSOR" ]]; then
              _last_try="$HISTNO$BUFFER$CURSOR"
              reply=(_complete _match _prefix)
            else
              reply=(_ignored _correct _approximate)
            fi'

     This uses the HISTNO parameter and the BUFFER and CURSOR special
     parameters that are available inside zle and completion widgets to
     find out if the command line hasn't changed since the last time
     completion was tried.  Only then are the _ignored, _correct and
     _approximate completers called.

_complete
     This completer generates all possible completions in a
     context-sensitive manner, i.e. using the settings defined with the
     compdef function explained above and the current settings of all
     special parameters.  This gives the normal completion behaviour.

     To complete arguments of commands, _complete uses the utility
     function _normal, which is in turn responsible for finding the
     particular function; it is described below.  Various contexts of
     the form -CONTEXT-, as mentioned above for the #compdef tag, are
     handled specially.  These are:

    -array-value-
          for completion on the right hand side of an array-assignment
          (`foo=(...)').

    -brace-parameter-
          for completing the name of a parameter expansion within braces
          (`${...}').

    -command-
          for completing in a command position.

    -condition-
          for completion inside conditions (`[[...]]').

    -default-
          for generating completions when no special completion
          function is used.

    -equal-
          for completion of words beginning with an equals sign

    -first-
          for adding completions before any other completion functions
          are tried; if this function sets the _compskip parameter to
          all, no other completion functions will be called, if it is
          set to a string containing the substring patterns, no pattern
          completion functions will be called, and if it is set to a
          string containing default the function for the `-default-'
          context will not be called, but functions defined for
          commands will.

    -math-
          for completion inside mathematical contexts, such as
          `((...))'.

    -parameter-
          for completing the name of a parameter expansion (`$...').

    -redirect-
          for completion after a redirection operator.

    -subscript-
          for completion inside subscripts.

    -tilde-
          for completion after a tilde (`~') character, but before a
          slash.

    -value-
          for completion on the right hand side of an assignment.


     Default implementations are supplied for each of these contexts,
     in most cases named after the context itself (e.g. completion for
     the `-tilde-' context is done by the function named `_tilde').

     Before trying to find a function for a specific context, _complete
     checks if the parameter `compcontext' is set.  If it is set to an
     array, the elements are taken to be the possible matches which
     will be completed using the tag `values' and the description
     `value'.   If it is set to an associative array, the keys are used
     as the possible completions and the values (if non-empty) are used
     as descriptions for the matches.  If `compcontext' is set to a
     string containing colons, it should be of the form
     `TAG:DESCR:ACTION'.  In this case the TAG and DESCR give the tag
     and description to use and the ACTION says what should be
     completed in one of the forms described for the _arguments utility
     function below.

     Finally, if `compcontext' is set to a string without colons, the
     value is taken as the name of the context to use and the function
     defined for that context will be called.  For this purpose, there
     is a special context named -command-line- that completes whole
     command lines (commands and their arguments) and is not used by
     the completion system itself, but has a function handling
     completion for it.

_correct
     Generate corrections, but not completions, for the current word;
     this is similar to _approximate but will not allow any number of
     extra characters at the cursor as that completer does, hence this
     is similar to spell-checking.  It calls _approximate but uses a
     different COMPLETER field in the context name.

     For example, with:

          zstyle ':completion:::::' completer _complete _correct _approximate
          zstyle ':completion:*:correct:::' max-errors 2 not-numeric
          zstyle ':completion:*:approximate:::' max-errors 3 numeric

     correction will accept up to two errors.  If a numeric argument is
     given, correction will not be performed, but correcting completion
     will be, and will accept as many errors as given by the numeric
     argument.  Without a numeric argument, first correction and then
     correcting completion will be tried, with the first one accepting
     two errors and the second one accepting three errors.

     When _correct is called as a function, the number of errors to
     accept may be given following the -a option.  The argument should
     be the same as the value of the accept style, all in one string.

     This completer function is intended to be used without the
     _approximate completer or, as in the example, just before it.
     Using it after the _approximate completer is useless since
     _approximate will at least generate the corrected strings
     generated by the _correct completer - and probably more.

_expand
     This completer function does not really do completion, but instead
     checks if the word on the command line is eligible for expansion
     and, if it is, gives detailed control over how this expansion is
     done.  When using this, one should not use the expand-or-complete
     widget, but instead use complete-word, as expand-or-complete will
     expand the string on the line before the completion widget is
     called.  Also, this completer should be called before the _complete
     completer function.

     The tags used when generating expansions are all-expansions for
     the string containing all possible expansions, expansions when
     adding the possible expansions as single matches and original when
     adding the original string from the line.  In which order these
     strings are generated and which of these strings are generated at
     all can be controlled by using the group-order style and by
     modifying the tag-order style, as usual.

     The format string for all-expansions and for expansions may
     contain the sequence `%o' which will be replaced by the original
     string from the line.

     Which kind of expansion is tried is controlled by the substitute,
     glob and subst-globs-only styles.

     When _expand is called as a function, the different modes may be
     selected with options.  The -s to substitute, -g to glob and -o to
     subst-globs-only.

_expand_alias
     If the word the cursor is on is an alias, it is expanded and no
     other completers are called.  The types of aliases which are to be
     expanded can be controlled with the regular, global and disabled
     styles.

     This function is also a bindable command, see *Note Bindable
     Commands::.

_history
     Complete words from the shell's command  history.  This completer
     uses the remove-all-dups, and sort styles also used by the
     _history_complete_word bindable command, see *Note Bindable
     Commands:: and *Note Completion System Configuration::.

_ignored
     The ignored-patterns style can be set to a list of patterns which
     are compared against possible completions; matching ones are
     removed.  With this completer those matches can be reinstated, as
     if no ignored-patterns style were set.  The completer actually
     generates its own list of matches; which completers are used for
     this is determined in the same way as for the _prefix completer.

     The single-ignored style is used if only one match could be
     generated.  It can be set to show to prevent that match from being
     displayed or inserted into the line, or it can be set to menu, in
     which case the single match and the original string from the line
     will be offered in a menu completion.

_list
     This completer allows one to delay the insertion of matches until
     completion is attempted a second time without the word on the line
     being changed.  On the first attempt, only the list of matches
     will be shown.  It is affected by the styles condition and word,
     see *Note Completion System Configuration::.

_match
     This completer is intended to be used after the _complete
     completer. It allows one to give patterns on the command line and
     to complete all strings matching these patterns from the set of
     possible completions for the context the cursor is in, without
     having to set the GLOB_COMPLETE option.

     Normally this will be done by taking the pattern from the line,
     inserting a `*' at the cursor position and comparing the resulting
     pattern with the possible completions generated.  However, if the
     match-original style has a value of only, no `*' will be inserted.
     If match-original has any other non-empty string as its value,
     this completer will first try to generate matches without, then
     with a `*' inserted at the cursor position.

     The generated matches will be offered in a menu completion unless
     the insert-unambiguous style is set to `true'.  In this case menu
     completion will only be started if no unambiguous string could be
     generated that is at least as long as the original string.  The
     style may also be set to the string `pattern'.  This will keep the
     pattern on the line intact as long as there isn't an unambiguous
     completion with which it could be replaced.

     Note that the matcher specifications defined globally or used by
     the completion functions will not be used.

_menu
     This completer is a simple example function implemented to show how
     menu completion can be done in shell code.  It should be used as
     the first completer and has the effect of making the code perform
     menu completion.  Note that this is independent of the setting of
     the MENU_COMPLETE option and does not work with the other menu
     completion widgets such as reverse-menu-complete, or
     accept-and-menu-complete.

_oldlist
     This completer controls how the standard completion widgets behave
     when there is an existing list of completions which may have been
     generated by a special completion (i.e. a separately-bound
     completion command).  It allows the ordinary completion keys to
     continue to use the list of completions thus generated, instead of
     producing a new list of ordinary contextual completions.  It
     should appear in the list of completers before any of the widgets
     which generate matches.  It uses two styles: old-list and
     old-menu, see *Note Completion System Configuration::.

_prefix
     This completer can be used to try completion with the suffix
     (everything after the cursor) ignored.  In other words, the suffix
     will not be considered to be part of the word to complete and
     hence does not need to be matched.  It uses the completer style to
     decide which other completers to call to try to generate matches.
     If this style is unset, the list of completers set for the current
     context is used - except, of course, the _prefix completer itself.
     Furthermore, if this completer appears more than once in the list
     of completers only those completers not already tried by the last
     invocation of _prefix will be called.

     For example, consider this global completer style:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer \
              _complete _prefix _correct _prefix:foo

     Here, the _prefix completer tries normal completion but ignoring
     the suffix.  If that doesn't generate any matches, and neither does
     the call to the _correct completer after it, _prefix will be
     called a second time and, now only trying correction with the
     suffix ignored.  If you want to use _prefix as the last resort and
     try only normal completion, you can use:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer _complete ... _prefix
          zstyle ':completion::prefix:*' completer _complete

     The add-space style is also used.  If it is set to `true' then
     _prefix will insert a space between the matches generated (if any)
     and the suffix.

     Note that this completer is only useful if the COMPLETE_IN_WORD
     option is set; otherwise, the cursor will be moved to the end of
     the current word before the completion code is called and hence
     there will be no suffix.

bashcompinit
     This function provides compatibility with bash's programmable
     completion system. When run it will define the functions, compgen
     and complete which correspond to the bash builtins with the same
     names. It will then be possible to use completion specifications
     and functions written for bash.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Bindable Commands,  Next: Completion Functions,  Prev: Control Functions,  Up: Completion System

Bindable Commands
=================

In addition to the context-dependent completions provided, which are
expected to work in an intuitively obvious way, there are a few widgets
implementing special behaviour which can be bound separately to keys.
The following is a list of these and their default bindings.

_bash_completions
     This function is used by two widgets, _bash_complete-word and
     _bash_list-choices.  It exists to provide compatibility with
     completion bindings in bash.  The last character of the binding
     determines what is completed: `!', command names; `$', environment
     variables; `@', host names; `/', file names; `~' user names.  In
     bash, the binding preceded by `\e' gives completion, and preceded
     by `^X' lists options.  As some of these bindings clash with
     standard zsh bindings, only `\e~' and `^X~' are bound by default.
     To add the rest, the following should be added to .zshrc after
     compinit has been run:

          for key in '!' '$' '@' '/' '~'; do
            bindkey "\e$key" _bash_complete-word
            bindkey "^X$key" _bash_list-choices
          done

     This includes the bindings for `~' in case they were already bound
     to something else; the completion code does not override user
     bindings.

_correct_filename (^XC)
     Correct the filename path at the cursor position.  Allows up to
     six errors in the name.  Can also be called with an argument to
     correct a filename path, independently of zle; the correction is
     printed on standard output.

_correct_word (^Xc)
     Performs correction of the current argument using the usual
     contextual completions as possible choices. This stores the string
     `correct-word' in the FUNCTION field of the context name and then
     calls the _correct completer.

_expand_alias (^Xa)
     This function can be used as a completer and as a bindable command.
     It expands the word the cursor is on if it is an alias.  The types
     of aliases expanded can be controlled with the regular, global and
     disabled styles.

     When used as a bindable command there is one additional feature
     that can be selected by setting the complete style to `true'.  In
     this case, if the word isn't the name of an alias, _expand_alias
     tries to complete the word to a full alias name without expanding
     it (but leaving the cursor directly after the completed word so
     that invoking _expand_alias once more will expand the now-complete
     alias name).

_expand_word (^Xe)
     Performs expansion on the current word:  equivalent to the standard
     expand-word command, but using the _expand completer.  Before
     calling it, the FUNCTION field is set to `expand-word'.

_generic
     This function is not defined as a widget and not bound by default.
     However, it can be used to define a widget and will then store the
     name of the widget in the FUNCTION field of the context and call
     the completion system. This allows custom completion widgets with
     their own set of style settings to be easily defined. For example,
     to define a widget that does normal completion and starts menu
     selection, one could do:

          zle -C foo complete-word _generic
          bindkey '...' foo
          zstyle ':completion:foo:*' menu yes select=1

_history_complete_word (\e/)
     Complete words from the shell's command history. This uses the
     list, remove-all-dups, sort, and stop styles.

_most_recent_file (^Xm)
     Complete the name of the most recently modified file matching the
     pattern on the command line (which may be blank).  If given a
     numeric argument N, complete the Nth most recently modified file.
     Note the completion, if any, is always unique.

_next_tags (^Xn)
     This command alters the set of matches used to that for the next
     tag, or set of tags, either as given by the tag-order style or as
     set by default; these matches would otherwise not be available.
     Successive invocations of the command cycle through all possible
     sets of tags.

_read_comp (^X^R)
     Prompt the user for a string, and use that to perform completion
     on the current word.  There are two possibilities for the string.
     First, it can be a set of words beginning `_', for example `_files
     -/', in which case the function with any arguments will be called
     to generate the completions.  Unambiguous parts of the function
     name will be completed automatically (normal completion is not
     available at this point) until a space is typed.

     Second, any other string will be passed as a set of arguments to
     compadd and should hence be an expression specifying what should
     be completed.

     A very restricted set of editing commands is available when
     reading the string:  `DEL' and `^H' delete the last character;
     `^U' deletes the line, and `^C' and `^G' abort the function, while
     `RET' accepts the completion.  Note the string is used verbatim as
     a command line, so arguments must be quoted in accordance with
     standard shell rules.

     Once a string has been read, the next call to _read_comp will use
     the existing string instead of reading a new one.  To force a new
     string to be read, call _read_comp with a numeric argument.

_complete_debug (^X?)
     This widget performs ordinary completion, but captures in a
     temporary file a trace of the shell commands executed by the
     completion system.  Each completion attempt gets its own file.  A
     command to view each of these files is pushed onto the editor
     buffer stack.

_complete_help (^Xh)
     This widget displays information about the context names, the
     tags, and the completion functions used when completing at the
     current cursor position. If given a numeric argument other than 1
     (as in `ESC-2 ^Xh'), then the styles used and the contexts for
     which they are used will be shown, too.

     Note that the information about styles may be incomplete; it
     depends on the information available from the completion functions
     called, which in turn is determined by the user's own styles and
     other settings.

_complete_tag (^Xt)
     This widget completes symbol tags created by the etags or ctags
     programmes (note there is no connection with the completion
     system's tags) stored in a file TAGS, in the format used by etags,
     or tags, in the format created by ctags.  It will look back up the
     path hierarchy for the first occurrence of either file; if both
     exist, the file TAGS is preferred.  You can specify the full path
     to a TAGS or tags file by setting the parameter $TAGSFILE or
     $tagsfile respectively.  The corresponding completion tags used
     are etags and vtags, after emacs and vi respectively.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion Functions,  Next: Completion Directories,  Prev: Bindable Commands,  Up: Completion System

Utility Functions
=================

Descriptions follow for utility functions that may be useful when
writing completion functions.  Most of these reside in the Base
subdirectory. Like the example functions for commands in the
distribution, the utility functions generating matches all follow the
convention of returning zero if they generated completions and non-zero
if no matching completions could be added.

When writing completion functions or other ZLE widgets that call
completion, it might be interesting to know about two more features
offered by the _main_complete function. The arrays compprefuncs and
comppostfuncs may be set to contain names of functions that are to be
called immediately before or after completion has been tried. The
functions will only be called once, unless they put themselves into the
arrays again.

_all_labels [ -12VJ ] TAG NAME DESCR [ COMMAND ARGS ... ]
     This is a convenient interface to the _next_label function below,
     implementing the loop shown in the _next_label example.  The
     COMMAND is the one that should be called to generate the matches.
     The options stored in the parameter NAME will automatically be
     inserted into the ARGS given to the COMMAND.  Normally, they are
     put directly after the COMMAND, but if one of the ARGS is a single
     hyphen, they are inserted directly before that. If the hyphen is
     the last argument, that will be removed from the argument list
     before the COMMAND is called. This allows _all_labels to be used
     in almost all cases where the matches can be generated by a single
     call to the compadd builtin command or by a call to one of the
     utility functions.

     For example:

          local expl
          ...
          if _requested foo; then
            ...
            _all_labels foo expl '...' compadd ... - $matches
          fi

     Will complete the strings from the matches parameter, using
     compadd with additional options which will take precedence over
     those generated by _all_labels.

_alternative [ -C NAME ] SPECS ...
     This function is useful in simple cases where multiple tags are
     available.  Essentially, it implements a loop like the one
     described for the _tags function above.

     The tags to use and the action to perform if a tag is requested are
     described using the SPECS which are of the form:
     `TAG:DESCR:ACTION'. The TAGs are offered using _tags and if the
     tag is requested, the ACTION is executed with the given
     description DESCR.  The ACTIONs supported are those used by the
     _arguments function (described below), without the `->STATE' and
     `=...' forms.

     For example, the ACTION may be a simple function call. With that
     one could do:

          _alternative \
              'users:user:_users' \
              'hosts:host:_hosts'

     to offer usernames and hostnames as possible matches (which are
     generated by the _users and _hosts functions respectively).

     Note that, like _arguments this will also use _all_labels to
     execute the actions, so one doesn't need to call that explicitly
     unless another tag is to be used, for example in a function called
     from _alternative.

     Like _tags this function supports the -C option to give a
     different name for the argument context field.

_arguments [ -ACS ] [ -O NAME ] [ -M MATCHSPEC ] SPEC ...
     This function can be used to complete words on the line by
     describing the options and arguments which may be passed to the
     command for which completion is being performed.  The description
     is given as arguments to this function, with each SPEC describing
     one option or normal argument of the command.  The forms of SPEC
     understood are:

    N:MESSAGE:ACTION
    N::MESSAGE:ACTION
          This describes the N'th normal argument.  The MESSAGE will be
          printed above the matches generated and the ACTION says what
          can be completed in this position (see below).  If there are
          two colons before the MESSAGE, this describes an optional
          argument.  If the MESSAGE contains only white space, nothing
          will be printed above the matches unless the action adds an
          explanation string itself.

    :MESSAGE:ACTION
    ::MESSAGE:ACTION
          Like the previous one, but describing the _next_ argument.
          I.e. if you want to describe all arguments a command can get,
          you can leave out the numbers in the description and just use
          this form to describe them one after another in the order
          they have to appear on the line.

    *:MESSAGE:ACTION
    *::MESSAGE:ACTION
    *:::MESSAGE:ACTION
          This describes how arguments (usually non-option arguments,
          those not beginning with - or +) are to be completed when no
          description with one of the first two forms was given. This
          also means that any number of arguments can be completed.

          With two colons before the MESSAGE, the words special array
          and the CURRENT special parameter are modified to refer only
          to the normal arguments when the ACTION is executed or
          evaluated.  With three colons before the MESSAGE they are
          modified to refer only to the normal arguments covered by
          this description.

    OPTSPEC[DESCRIPTION ...]
          This describes an option and (if DESCRIPTION is given) the
          arguments that have to come after the option.  If no
          DESCRIPTION is given, this means to offer only the option
          name as a possible completion in the right places.  (Note
          that the brackets, above, around DESCRIPTION, indicate that
          zero or more DESCRIPTIONs may appear; but the brackets are not
          themselves part of this format.  If brackets are used, they
          are part of the OPTSPEC; see below.)

          In the descriptions below, the option names represented by
          OPTNAME are normally taken to be multi-character names, and a
          word from the line is considered to contain only one option
          (or none).  By giving the -s option to _arguments before the
          first SPEC, each OPTNAME is considered to be a single
          character and each word from the line may contain more than
          one such option letter.  However, words beginning with two
          hyphens (like `--prefix') are still considered to contain only
          one option name.  This allows the use of the `-s' option to
          describe single-letter options together with such long option
          names.

          The -s option may be combined with the option -w to say that
          more option characters are to be expected even after an
          option that takes an argument.  For example, if a command
          takes the options `a' and `b', where `a' takes an argument in
          the next word, _arguments would normally not complete the
          other option directly after `-a', but it would allow that if
          given the -w option.

          Similarly, the option -W may be given together with -s to
          force completion of single-letter options even after options
          that get an argument in the same word.  For example, if a
          command takes the options `a' and `b', where `a' needs an
          argument in the same word, directly after the option
          character, _arguments would normally only execute the action
          for that argument and not offer other single-letter options
          as possible completions.  If given the -W option, it will
          offer other options as possible completions after executing
          the action for the argument.  Note that, depending on the
          action, this may mean that the other options can't really be
          completed, but at least they will be listed.  For more
          control, use an utility function like _guard in the
          argument's action.

          The forms of OPTSPEC are:

         *OPTSPEC
               If the option may be given more than once, a star (`*')
               must be added in front of one of the following forms of
               OPTSPEC.  Otherwise, if the option is already on the
               line and to the left of the cursor, it is not offered as
               a possible completion again.

         -OPTNAME
         +OPTNAME
               In the simplest form the OPTSPEC is just the option name
               beginning with a minus or a plus sign, such as `-foo'.
               The first argument for the option (if any) must follow
               as a _separate_ word directly after the option.

               If the command accepts the option with either a leading
               minus or a leading plus sign, use either `-+OPTNAME' or
               `+-OPTNAME' to define both variants at once.

               In all the following forms, the leading `-' may be
               replaced or paired with `+' in this way.

         -OPTNAME-
               The first argument of the option must come directly
               after the option name _in the same word_, as in
               `-foo-:...'.

         -OPTNAME+
               The first argument may appear immediately after OPTNAME
               in the same word, or may instead appear as a separate
               word after the option.

         -OPTNAME=
               The argument may appear as the next word, or in same
               word as the option name provided that it is separated
               from it by an equals sign.

         -OPTNAME=-
               The argument to the option must appear after an equals
               sign in the same word, and may not be given in the next
               argument.

         OPTSPEC[EXPLANATION]
               An explanation string may be appended to any of the
               preceding forms of OPTSPEC by enclosing it in brackets,
               as in `-q[query operation]'.

               The verbose style is used to decide if these explanation
               strings should be displayed with the option in a
               completion listing.

               If no bracketed explanation string is given but the
               auto-description style is set and only one argument is
               described for this OPTSPEC, the value of the style is
               displayed, with any appearance of the sequence `%d' in
               it replaced by the MESSAGE of the first DESCRIPTION that
               follows the OPTSPEC; see below.


          Note that the special meaning of a leading or trailing - or +
          in OPTSPEC means that when the command to be completed
          accepts options like `-+' or `-=', the second character has
          to be quoted with a backslash, as in `-\+'.

          Each DESCRIPTION following an OPTSPEC must take one of the
          following forms:

         :MESSAGE:ACTION
         ::MESSAGE:ACTION
               Describes a mandatory argument with one colon, or an
               optional argument with two colons.  As in other forms of
               SPEC, the MESSAGE will be printed above the matches
               generated (unless it contains only white space, see
               above) and the ACTION says what can be completed in this
               position.

         :*PATTERN:MESSAGE:ACTION
         :*PATTERN::MESSAGE:ACTION
         :*PATTERN:::MESSAGE:ACTION
               This describes multiple arguments.  Only the _last_
               description may be given in this form.  If the PATTERN
               is empty (i.e., :*:), all following words on the line
               are to be completed as described by the ACTION;
               otherwise, all words up to a word matching the PATTERN
               are to be completed using the ACTION.

               When the MESSAGE is preceded by two colons, the words
               special array and the CURRENT special parameter are
               modified during the execution or evaluation of the
               ACTION to refer only to the words after the option.
               When preceded by three colons, they are modified to
               refer only to the words covered by this description.

               Note that only one such `:*'-specification is useful and
               no other argument specification may be given after it.



     To include a colon in any OPTNAME, MESSAGE, or ACTION anywhere
     above, it has to be preceded by a backslash, as `\:'.

     Each of the six forms of SPEC (yes, there are six, keep track of
     the nestings) may be preceded by a list of option names and
     argument numbers with which the option or argument described is
     mutually exclusive.  This list is given in parentheses, as in
     `(-two -three 1)-one:...' or `(-foo):...'.  In the first example,
     the options `-two' and `-three' and the first argument will not be
     offered as possible completions if the option `-one' is on the
     line before the cursor, and in the second example the option
     `-foo' will not be offered if the argument described by the
     specification is on the line.

     The list may also contain a single star (*) as one of its elements
     to specify that the description for the rest arguments (i.e. a
     specification of the form `*:...') should not be used, a colon (:)
     to specify that the descriptions for all normal (non-option-)
     arguments should not be used and a hyphen (-) to specify that the
     descriptions for all options should not be used.  This paragraph
     desperately needs rewriting.

     To simplify writing writing functions that call _arguments more
     than once, the SPECS may also start with the character `!'
     (exclamation mark) to make the spec _not_ be completed.  However,
     if this is used with one of the forms describing options, the
     option (and its arguments, if it takes any) will be understood and
     skipped if they appear on the command line.  It's just that the
     option itself will not be completed. This is intended to be used
     with an array containing the options used in the first call to
     arguments.  The second call can then use `\!${^global_options}' to
     ignore those options and complete only the ones understood in the
     current context.

     In every case above, the ACTION determines how the possible
     completions should be generated.  In places where no sensible
     matches can be generated, the action should consist of only a
     space. This will make the MESSAGE be displayed but no possible
     completions listed. Note that even in this case the colon at the
     end of the MESSAGE is needed. The only case where it can be left
     is when neither a MESSAGE, nor a ACTION is given.

     Except for the `->STRING' form below, the ACTION will be executed
     by calling the _all_labels function to process all tag labels, so
     one doesn't need to call that explicitly unless another tag is to
     be used, for example in a function called in the ACTION.

     When only one of a fixed set of strings can be completed, the
     ACTION can consist of these strings as a list in parentheses, as
     in:

          :foo:(foo bar baz)

     Such a list in doubled parentheses should contain strings
     consisting of the string to complete followed by `\:' and a
     description, as in:

          :foo:((a\:bar b\:baz))

     The matches will be listed together with their descriptions if the
     description style for the values tag is set.

     An ACTION of the form `->STRING' is used by functions that
     implement a state machine. In this case, the `STRING's (with all
     leading and trailing spaces and tabs removed) of all actions that
     have to be used will be stored in the global array state.  The
     function returns with a non-zero return value if the cursor is not
     in a position where options can be completed or if the current
     word could not be completed to an option.  But if the -R option is
     given to _arguments, the function will instead return with a return
     value of 300 (to make it distinguishable from other return values)
     after setting the global `context', `line' and `opt_args'
     parameters as described below, and without resetting any changes
     made to the special parameters such as PREFIX and words.  This
     enables wrapper functions around _arguments to be able to find out
     if they have to make sure that the special completion parameters
     are not reset when they return.

     Note that this means that a function calling _arguments with at
     least one action containing such a `->STRING' has to declare
     appropriate local parameters as in:

          local context state line
          typeset -A opt_args

     This will ensure that _arguments does not create unused global
     parameters.

     A string in braces is evaluated to generate the matches and if the
     ACTION does not begin with an opening parentheses or brace, it is
     also split into separate words and executed. If the ACTION starts
     with a space, this list of words will be invoked unchanged,
     otherwise it will be invoked with some extra strings placed after
     the first word which can be given as arguments to the compadd
     builtin command and which make sure that the MESSAGE given in the
     description will be shown above the matches. These arguments are
     taken from the array parameter `expl' which will be set up before
     executing the ACTION and hence may be used in it (normally in an
     expansion like `$expl[@]').

     If the ACTION starts with `= ' (an equals sign followed by a
     space), _arguments will insert the contents of the ARGUMENT field
     of the current context as the new first element in the words
     special array and increments the value of the CURRENT special
     parameter. In other words, it inserts a dummy element in the words
     array and makes CURRENT still point to the word in that array
     where the cursor is. This is only really useful when used with one
     of the forms that make _arguments modify the words array to
     contain only some of the words from the line, i.e. one of the
     argument description forms where the MESSAGE is preceded by two or
     three colons. For example, when the function called in the action
     for such an argument itself uses _arguments, the dummy element is
     needed to make that second call to _arguments use all words from
     the restricted range for argument parsing. Without the inserted
     dummy element, the first word in the range would be taken (by the
     second _arguments) to be the command name and hence ignored.

     During the evaluation or execution of the action the array `line'
     will be set to the command name and normal arguments from the
     command line, i.e. to the words from the command line excluding
     all options and their arguments. These are stored in the
     associative array `opt_args', using the option names as keys and
     their arguments as the values. For options that have more than one
     argument these are given as one string, separated by colons. All
     colons in the original arguments are preceded with backslashes.

     The parameter `context' (set only in the calling function when
     using an action of the form `->STRING', not during the evaluation
     of other ACTIONs) is set to the automatically created context
     names. These are either strings of the form `option-OPT-N' for the
     N'th argument of the option -OPT, or strings of the form
     `argument-N' for the N'th argument (for rest arguments the N is
     the string `rest'). For example, when completing the argument of
     the -o option, the name is `option-o-1' and for the second normal
     (non-option-) argument it is `argument-2'.

     Also, during the evaluation of the ACTION, the context name in the
     curcontext parameter is changed by appending the same string that
     is stored in the context parameter.

     It is also possible to specify multiple sets of options and
     arguments with the sets separated by single hyphens.  The
     specifications before the first hyphen are shared by all sets
     given after the first hyphen.  The first word in every other set
     gives the name of the set. This name may appear in exclusion lists
     in the specifications, either alone or before one of the possible
     values described above (with a `-' between the name and the rest).

     For example:

          _arguments \
              -a \
            - set1 \
              -c \
            - set2 \
              -d \
              ':arg:(x2 y2)'

     This defines two sets. When the command line contains the option
     `-c', the `-d' option and the argument will not be considered
     possible completions. When it contains `-d' or an argument, the
     option `-c' will not be completed any more, but if `-a' is given,
     both sets will still be considered valid, because it appears
     before the first hyphen, so both sets contain this option.

     If the name-string is of the form `(NAME)' then all specifications
     in the set have an implicit exclusion list containing the name of
     the set, i.e. all specifications are mutual exclusive with all
     other specifications in the same set. This is useful for defining
     multiple sets of options which are mutually exclusive and in which
     the options are aliases for each other. E.g.:

          _arguments \
              -a -b \
            - '(compress)' \
              {-c,--compress}'[compress]' \
            - '(uncompress)' \
              {-d,--decompress}'[decompress]'

     Note that using multiple sets will be slower than using only one
     set because the completion code has to parse the command line once
     for every set. So more than one set should only be used if the
     command syntax is too complicated. Note also that an option
     specification with rest-arguments (as in `-foo:*:...') often
     allows the use of multiple sets to be avoided.

     To simplify the specifications for commands with standard option
     parsing, the options -S and -A may be given.  With -S, no option
     will be completed after a `--' on the line and this argument will
     otherwise be ignored. With -A, no options will be completed after
     the first non-option argument on the line.  The -A has to be
     followed by a pattern matching all strings which are not to be
     taken as arguments. For example, to make _arguments stop
     completing options after the first normal argument, but ignoring
     all strings starting with a hyphen even if they are not described
     by one of the OPTSPECs, one would use: `-A "-*"'.

     Another option supported is `-O NAME'. The NAME will be taken as
     the name of an array and its elements will be given to functions
     called to generate matches when executing the ACTIONS. For
     example, this allows one to give options for the compadd builtin
     that should be used for all ACTIONs.

     Also, the -M option followed by a string may be given before the
     first description. The string will be used as the match
     specification when completing option names and values instead of
     the default `r:|[_-]=* r:|=*'.

     Finally, the option -C can be given to make _arguments modify the
     curcontext parameter when an action of the form `->STATE' is used.
     This parameter is used to keep track of the current context and in
     this case it (and not the parameter context as explained above)
     has to be made local to make sure that calling functions don't use
     the modified value. Also, the local version of curcontext has to
     be initialised with the old value as in:

          local curcontext="$curcontext"

     The function can also be made to automatically complete long
     options for commands that support the `--help' option as, for
     example, most of the GNU commands do. For this, the string `--'
     must be given as one argument and if it is, the command from the
     line is invoked with the `--help' option and its output is parsed
     to find possible option names. Note that this means that you
     should be careful to make sure that this feature is not used for a
     command that does not support this option.

     For such automatically found options that get an argument after an
     `=', the function also tries to automatically find out what should
     be completed as the argument.  The possible completions for
     option-arguments can be described with the arguments after the
     `--' (which are not used as described above). Each argument
     contains one description of the form `PATTERN:MESSAGE:ACTION'. The
     MESSAGE and the ACTION have the same format as for the normal
     option descriptions described above. The ACTION will be executed to
     complete arguments of options whose description in the output of
     the command from the line with the `--help' option matches the
     PATTERN. For example:

          _arguments -- '*\*:toggle:(yes no)' \
                        '*=FILE*:file:_files' \
                        '*=DIR*:directory:_files -/'

     Here, `yes' and `no' will be completed as the argument of options
     whose description ends in a star, file names for options that
     contain the substring `=FILE' in the description, and paths for
     options whose description contains `=DIR'. In fact, the last two
     patterns are not needed since this function always completes files
     for option descriptions containing `=FILE' and paths for option
     descriptions that contain `=DIR' or `=PATH'. These builtin
     patterns can be overridden by patterns given as arguments, however.

     Note also that _arguments tries to find out automatically if the
     argument for an option is optional. If it fails to automatically
     detect this, the colon before the MESSAGE can be doubled to tell
     it about this as described for the normal option descriptions
     above.

     If the PATTERN ends in `(-)', this will removed from the pattern
     and the ACTION will be used only directly after the `=', not in
     the next word. I.e., this is like a normal specification as
     described above using `=-'.

     The option `-i PATTERNS' (which must be given after the `--') can
     be used to give patterns for options which should not be
     completed. The patterns can be given as the name of an array
     parameter or as a literal list in parentheses. E.g. `-i
     "(--(en|dis)able-FEATURE*)"' will make the options
     `--enable-FEATURE' and `--disable-FEATURE' be ignored. The option
     `-s PAIRS' (again, after the `--') can be used to describe option
     aliases. Each PAIR consists of a pattern and a replacement. E.g.
     some configure-scripts describe options only as `--enable-foo',
     but also accept `--disable-foo'. To allow completion of the second
     form, one would use `-s "(#--enable- --disable-)"'.

     Example:

          _arguments '-l+:left border:' \
                     '-format:paper size:(letter A4)' \
                     '*-copy:output file:_files::resolution:(300 600)' \
                     ':postscript file:_files -g \*.\(ps\|eps\)' \
                     '*:page number:'

     This describes three options: `-l', `-format', and `-copy'. The
     first one gets one argument described as `LEFT BORDER' for which
     no completion will be offered because of the empty action. The
     argument may come directly after the `-l' or it may be given as
     the next word on the line. The `-format' option gets one argument
     (in the next word) described as `PAPER SIZE' for which only the
     strings `letter' and `A4' will be completed. The `-copy' option
     differs from the first two in that it may appear more than once on
     the command line and in that it accepts two arguments. The first
     one is mandatory and will be completed as a filename. The second
     one is optional (because of the second colon before the
     description `RESOLUTION') and will be completed from the strings
     `300' and `600'.

     The last two descriptions say what should be completed as
     arguments. The first one describes the first argument as a
     `POSTSCRIPT FILE' and makes files ending in `ps' or `eps' be
     completed. The last description says that all other arguments are
     `PAGE NUMBERS' but does not give possible completions.

_cache_invalid CACHE_IDENTIFIER
     This function returns 0 if the completions cache corresponding to
     the given cache identifier needs rebuilding.  It determines this by
     looking up the cache-policy style for the current context, and if
     it exists, runs the function of the same name, supplying the full
     path to the relevant cache file as the only argument.

     Example:

          _example_caching_policy () {
              # rebuild if cache is more than a week old
              oldp=( "$1"(Nmw+1) )
              (( $#oldp ))
          }

_call_function RETURN NAME [ ARGS ... ]
     If a function NAME exists, it is called with the arguments ARGS.
     Unless it is the empty string or a single hyphen, RETURN is taken
     as the name of a parameter and the return status from the called
     function is stored in it.  The return value of _call_function
     itself is zero if the function NAME exists and was called and
     non-zero otherwise.

_call_program TAG STRING ...
     This function is used in places where a command is called, making
     it possible for the user to override the default command call.  It
     looks up the command style with the supplied TAG.  If the style is
     set, its value is used as the command to execute.

     In any case, the STRINGs from the call to _call_program or from the
     style are concatenated with spaces between them and the resulting
     string is evaluated.  The return value is the return value of the
     command called.

_combination [ -s PATTERN ] TAG STYLE SPECS ... FIELD OPTS ...
     This function is used to complete combinations of values such as
     pairs of hostnames and usernames.  The possible values will be
     taken from the STYLE whose name is given as the second argument.
     The first argument is the TAG to use to do the lookup.

     The style name should consist of multiple parts separated by
     hyphens which are then used as field names.  Known values for such
     fields can be given after the second argument in arguments of the
     form `FIELD=PATTERN'.  The first argument without an equals sign
     is taken as the name of the field for which completions should be
     generated.

     The matches generated will be taken from the value of the style.
     These values should contain the possible values for the
     combinations where the values for the different fields are
     separated by colons or characters matching the pattern given after
     the -s option to _combination; normally this is used to define
     character classes like the `-s "[:@]"' used for the users-hosts
     style.

     Only the values for the requested fields for which the patterns
     given in the `FIELD=PATTERN' match the respective fields in the
     strings from the style value are generated as possible matches.

     If no style with the given name is defined for the given tag but a
     function named with the name of the requested field preceded by an
     underscore is defined, that function will be called to generate the
     matches.  This is also done if none of the strings in the value of
     the style match all the patterns given as arguments.

     If the same name is used for more than one field, in both the
     `FIELD=PATTERN' and the argument that gives the field name to
     complete for, the number of the field (starting with one) may be
     given after the fieldname, separated from it by a colon.

     All arguments after the requested field name are passed to compadd
     when generating matches from the style value, or to the functions
     for the fields if they are called.

_contexts NAMES ...
     This function looks up the definitions for the context and command
     names given as arguments and calls the handler functions for them
     if there is a definition (given with the compdef function).  For
     example, the function completing inside subscripts might use
     `_contexts -math-' to include the completions generated for
     mathematical environments.

_describe [ -o ] DESCR NAME1 [ NAME2 ] OPTS ... -- ...
     This function is useful for preparing a list of command options or
     arguments, together with their descriptions DESCR, as matches.
     Multiple groups separated by -- can be supplied, potentially with
     different completion options OPTS.

     The DESCR is taken as a string to display above the matches if the
     format style for the descriptions tag is set.  After this come one
     or two names of arrays followed by options to pass to compadd.  The
     first array contains the possible completions with their
     descriptions in the form `COMPLETION:DESCRIPTION'.  If a second
     array is given, it should have the same number of elements as the
     first one and the corresponding elements are added as possible
     completions instead of the COMPLETION strings from the first
     array.  The completion list will retain the descriptions from the
     first array.  Finally, a set of completion options can appear.

     If the option `-o' appears before the first argument, the matches
     added will be treated as option names (typically following a `-',
     `--' or `+' on the command line).  This makes _describe use the
     prefix-hidden, prefix-needed and verbose styles to find out if the
     strings should be added at all and if the descriptions should be
     shown.  Without the `-o' option, only the verbose style is used.

     _describe uses the _all_labels function to generate the matches, so
     it does not need to appear inside a loop over tag labels.

_description [ -12VJ ] TAG NAME DESCR [ SPECS ... ]
     This function is called before completions are added (typically by
     a call to compadd); it tests various styles and arranges for any
     necessary options to be passed on to compadd.  The styles are
     tested in the current context using the given TAG; options are put
     into the array called NAME for passing on to compadd; the
     description for the current set of matches is passed in DESCR.
     The styles tested are: format (which is first tested for the given
     TAG and then for the descriptions tag if that isn't defined),
     hidden, matcher, ignored-patterns and group-name (the last are
     tested only for the tag given as the first argument).  This
     function also calls the _setup function which tests some more
     styles.

     The string returned by the format style (if any) will be modified
     so that the sequence `%d' is replaced by the DESCR given as the
     third argument without any leading or trailing white space.  If,
     after removing the white space, the DESCR is the empty string, the
     format style will not be used and the options put into the NAME
     array will not contain an explanation string to be displayed above
     the matches.  If _description is called with more than three
     arguments, the additional SPECS should be of the form `CHAR:STR'
     and every appearance of `%CHAR' in the format string will be
     replaced by STRING.

     The options placed in the array will also make sure that the
     matches are placed in a separate group, depending on the value of
     the group-name style.  Normally a sorted group will be used for
     this (with the `-J' option), but if an option starting with `-V',
     `-J', `-1', or `-2' is given, that option will be included in the
     array, so that it is possible to make the group unsorted by giving
     the option `-V', `-1V', or `-2V'.

     In most cases, the function will be used like this:

          local expl
          _description files expl file
          compadd "$expl[@]" - "$files[@]"

     Note the use of the parameter expl, the hyphen, and the list of
     matches.  Almost all calls to compadd within the completion system
     use a similar format; this ensures that user-specified styles are
     correctly passed down to the builtins which implement the
     internals of completion.

_files
     The function _files uses the file-patterns style and calls
     _path_files with all the arguments it was passed except for -g and
     -/.  These two options are used depending on the setting of the
     file-patterns style.

     See _path_files below for a description of the full set of options
     accepted by _files.

_gnu_generic
     This function is a simple wrapper around the _arguments function
     described above.  It can be used to automatically complete long
     options for commands that understand the `--help' option.  It is
     not intended to be used from completion functions but as a
     top-level completion function in its own right.  For example, to
     enable option completion for the commands foo and bar, one would
     call:

          compdef _gnu_generic foo bar

     in one of the initialization files after the call to compinit.

     The default installation uses this function only to generate
     completions for some GNU-commands because to complete the options,
     the command has to be called and hence it shouldn't be used if one
     can't be sure that the command understands the `--help' option.

_guard [ OPTIONS ] PATTERN [ DESCR ]
     This function is intended to be used in an action of functions like
     _arguments.  It returns immediately with a non-zero return value if
     the string to be completed does not match the PATTERN.  If the
     pattern matches, the DESCR is displayed and the function returns
     zero if the word to complete is not empty and non-zero otherwise.

     The PATTERN may be preceded by those options understood by compadd
     that are passed down from _description, namely -M, -J, -V, -1, -2,
     -n, -F and -X.  All of these options, except -X, will be ignored.
     If the -X option appears, the description following it will be
     used as the string to display if the PATTERN matches, unless the
     option DESCR is given to _guard itself, which will then take
     precedence.

     As an example, consider a command taking the options -n and -none,
     where -n has to be followed by a numeric value in the same word.
     By using either of:

          _argument '-n-:numeric value:_guard "[0-9]#"' '-none'

     or

          _argument '-n-: :_guard "[0-9]#" "numeric value"' '-none'

     _arguments can be made to both display the message `numeric value'
     and complete options after `-n<TAB>'.  If the `-n' is already
     followed by one or more digits (matching the pattern given to
     _guard), only the message will be displayed and if the `-n' is
     followed by another character, only options are completed.

_message [ -r ] DESCR
     The DESCR is used like the third argument to the _description
     function. However, the resulting string will always be shown
     whether or not matches were generated. This is useful to display
     help texts in places where no completions can be generated
     automatically.

     This function also uses the format style for the messages tag in
     preference to the format style for the descriptions tag. The
     latter is used only if the former is unset.

     If the -r option is given, no style is used and the DESCR is used
     literally as the string to display. This is only used in cases
     where that string is taken from some pre-processed argument list
     containing an expanded description.

_multi_parts SEP ARRAY
     This function receives two arguments: a separator character and an
     array.  As usual, the ARRAY may be either the name of an array
     parameter or a literal array in the form `(foo bar)' (i.e. a list
     of words separated by white space in parentheses).  With these
     arguments, this function will complete to strings from the array
     where the parts separated by the separator character are completed
     independently.  For example, the _tar function from the
     distribution caches the pathnames from the tar file in an array,
     and then calls this function to complete these names in the way
     normal filenames are completed by the _path_files function, by
     using `_multi_parts / PATHARRAY'.

     If the -i option is present, then any time there is a unique match
     it will immediately be inserted even if that requires additional
     separators to be inserted as well.  When completing from a fixed
     set of possible completions which are really words, this is often
     the expected behaviour; however, if _multi_parts should behave
     like completing pathnames, the -i option should not be used.

     Like other utility functions, this function accepts the `-V',
     `-J', `-1', `-2', `-n', `-f', `-X', `-M', `-P', `-S', `-r', `-R',
     and `-q' options and passes them to the compadd builtin.

_next_label [ -12VJ ] TAG NAME DESCR [ OPTIONS ... ]
     This function should be called repeatedly to generate the tag
     labels. On each call it will check if another tag label is to be
     used and, if there is at least one, zero is returned. If no more
     tag labels are to be used, a non-zero status is returned.

     The -12JV options and the first three arguments are given to the
     _description function using the tag label instead of the first
     argument as appropriate. The OPTIONS given after the DESCR should
     be other options to be used for compadd or whatever function is to
     be called to add the matches. _next_label will store these OPTIONS
     in the parameter whose NAME is given as the second argument. This
     is done in such a way that the description given by the user to
     the tag-order style is preferred over the one given to _next_label.

     Note that this function must not be called without a previous call
     to _tags or _requested because it uses the tag label for the
     current tag found by these functions.

     A normal use of this function for the tag labels of the tag foo
     looks like this:

          local expl ret=1
          ...
          if _requested foo; then
            ...
            while _next_label foo expl '...'; do
              compadd "$expl[@]" ... && ret=0
            done
            ...
          fi
          return ret

_normal
     This function is used for normal command completion.  It has two
     tasks: completing the first word on the command line as the name
     of a command, and completing the arguments to this command.  In
     the second case, the name of the command is looked up to see if
     special completions exists, including completions defined for
     patterns which match the name.  If none is found, completion is
     performed for the context -default-.

     The function can also be called by other completion functions
     which need to treat a range of words as a command line.  For
     example, the function to complete after the pre-command specifiers
     such as nohup removes the first word from the words array,
     decrements the CURRENT parameter, then calls _normal again, with
     the effect that `nohup CMD ...'  is treated the same way was `CMD
     ...'.

     If the command name matches a pattern, the parameter _compskip is
     checked after the call to the corresponding completion function.
     This has the same effect here as in the -first- context: if it is
     set, no more completion functions are called even if there are no
     matches so far.

_options
     This can be used to complete option names.  It uses a matching
     specification that ignores a leading `no', ignores underscores and
     allows the user to type upper-case letters which will match their
     lower-case counterparts.  All arguments passed to this function are
     propagated unchanged to the compadd builtin.

_options_set and _options_unset
     These functions complete only set or unset options, with the same
     matching specification used in the _options function.

     Note that you need to uncomment a few lines in the _main_complete
     function for these functions to work properly.  The lines in
     question are used to store the option settings in effect before
     the completion widget locally sets the options it needs.  Hence
     these options are not generally used by the completion system.

_parameters
     This should be used to complete parameter names.  _parameters can
     take a -g PATTERN option which specifies that only parameters
     whose type matches the PATTERN should be completed.  Strings of
     the same form as those returned by the t parameter expansion flag
     are used here when matching the type.  All other arguments are
     passed unchanged to the compadd builtin.

_path_files
     The function _path_files is used throughout the completion system
     to complete filenames.  It allows completion of partial paths.  For
     example, the string `/u/i/s/sig' may be completed to
     `/usr/include/sys/signal.h'.

     The options accepted by both _path_files and _files are:

    -f
          Complete all filenames.  This is the default.

    -/
          Specifies that only directories should be completed.

    -g PATTERN
          Specifies that only files matching the PATTERN should be
          completed.

    -W PATHS
          Specifies path prefixes that are to be prepended to the
          string from the line to generate the filenames but that
          should not be inserted in the line or shown in a completion
          listing.  Here, PATHS may be the name of an array parameter,
          a literal list of paths enclosed in parentheses or an
          absolute pathname.

    -F
          This option from the compadd builtin gives direct control
          over which filenames should be ignored.  If the option is not
          present, the ignored-patterns style is used.


     These functions also accept the `-J', `-V', `-1', `-2', `-n',
     `-X', `-M', `-P', `-S', `-q', `-r', and `-R' options from the
     compadd builtin.

     Finally, the _path_files function  uses the styles expand,
     ambiguous, special-dirs, list-suffixes and file-sort.

_regex_arguments NAME SPECS ...
     This function is a compiler to generate a completion function.  The
     first argument specifies the name of the generated function while
     the remaining arguments specify a completion as a set of regular
     expressions with actions.  The generated function has the
     structure of a finite-state machine whose states correspond to the
     state (i.e. the context) of the completion. This state machine
     uses a command line, which comes from the concatenation of the
     words array up to the current cursor position using null
     characters as separators with no extra quotation.  This is
     analysed and at the end the appropriate action is executed.

     Specification arguments take one of following forms, in which
     metacharacters such as `(', `)', `#' and `|' should be quoted.

    /PATTERN/ [%LOOKAHEAD%] [-GUARD] [:TAG:DESCR:ACTION]
          This is a primitive element, corresponding to one state of
          the compiled state machine.  The state is entered if
          `(#b)((#B)PATTERN)(#B)LOOKAHEAD*' matches the command line
          string.  If it matches, `GUARD' is evaluated and its return
          status is examined; if this is successful, the state is
          entered, otherwise the test fails and other candidates are
          tried.  The PATTERN string `[]' is guaranteed never to match.

          If the test succeeds and the state is entered, the left part
          of the command line string matched as PATTERN is removed and
          the next state is tried, proceeding from inside to outside
          and from left to right.

          If no test succeeds and the remaining command line string
          contains no null character, the completion target is
          restricted to the remainder of the command line string and
          ACTIONs for the target are executed.  In this case, nothing
          is actually removed from the command line string so that any
          previous or neighbouring state may also have ACTIONSs.
          ACTIONSs evaluation are ordered by the tag-order style and
          specified TAG by _alternative.  So, the various formats
          supported by _alternative can be used in ACTION.  DESCR is
          used for setting up the array parameter expl.

    /PATTERN/+ [%LOOKAHEAD%] [-GUARD] [:TAG:DESCR:ACTION]
          This is similar to `/PATTERN/ ...' but the left part of the
          command line string is also considered as part of the
          completion target.

    /PATTERN/- [%LOOKAHEAD%] [-GUARD] [:TAG:DESCR:ACTION]
          This is similar to `/PATTERN/ ...' but the ACTIONs of the
          current and previous states are ignored even if the following
          state's `PATTERN' matches the empty string.

    ( SPEC )
          This groups SPECs.

    SPEC #
          This allows any number of repetitions of SPEC.

    SPEC SPEC
          This represents the concatenation of two SPECs.

    SPEC | SPEC
          Either of the two SPECs can be matched.


_requested [ -12VJ ] TAG [ NAME DESCR [ COMMAND ARGS ... ] ]
     This function is called to decide whether a tag already registered
     by a call to _tags (see below) is requested and hence completion
     should be performed for it; it returns status zero if the tag is
     requested and non-zero otherwise.  This will usually be done in a
     loop such as the following:

          _tags foo bar baz
          while _tags; do
            if _requested foo; then
              ... # perform completion for foo
            fi
            ... # test the tags bar and baz in the same way
            ... # exit loop if matches were generated
          done

     Note that the test for whether matches were generated is not
     performed until the end of the _tags loop.  This is so that the
     user can specify a set of tags to be tested at the same time in
     the tag-order parameter.

     If the NAME and the DESCR are given, _requested calls the
     _description function with these arguments, including the options.

     If the COMMAND is given, the _all_labels function will be called
     immediately with the same arguments.  This is often useful to do
     both the testing of the tag, getting the description for the
     matches and adding the matches at once.  For example:

          local expl ret=1
          _tags foo bar baz
          while _tags; do
            _requested foo expl 'description' \
                compadd foobar foobaz && ret=0
            ...
            (( ret )) || break
          done

     Note that this means that the COMMAND has to accept the options
     that have to be passed down to compadd.

_retrieve_cache CACHE_IDENTIFIER
     This function retrieves completion information from the file given
     by CACHE_IDENTIFIER, stored in a directory specified by the
     cache-path style (defaults to ~/.zsh/cache).  The return value is
     zero if retrieval was successful.  It will only attempt retrieval
     if the use-cache style is set, so you can call this function
     without worrying about whether the user wanted to use the caching
     layer.

     See _store_cache below for more details.

_sep_parts
     This function is passed alternating arrays and separators as
     arguments.  The arrays specify completions for parts of strings to
     be separated by the separators.  The arrays may be the names of
     array parameters or a quoted list of words in parentheses.  For
     example, with the array `hosts=(ftp news)' the call `_sep_parts
     '(foo bar)' @ hosts' will complete the string  `f' to `foo' and
     the string `b@n' to `bar@news'.

     This function passes the `-V', `-J', `-1', `-2', `-n', `-X', `-M',
     `-P', `-S', `-r', `-R', and `-q' options and their arguments to
     the compadd builtin used to add the matches.

_setup TAG [ GROUP ]
     This function expects a tag as its argument and sets up the special
     parameters used by the completion system appropriately for the tag,
     using styles such as list-colors and last-prompt.

     The optional GROUP gives the name of the group in which the
     matches will be placed. If it is not given, the TAG is used as the
     group name.

     Note that this function is called automatically from _description
     so that one normally doesn't have to call it explicitly.

_store_cache CACHE_IDENTIFIER VARS ...
     This function, when combined with _retrieve_cache and
     _cache_invalid, makes it easy to implement a caching layer for
     your completion functions.  If a completion function needs to
     perform a costly operation in order to generate data which is used
     to calculate completions, you can store that data in variables,
     and use this function to dump the values of those variables to a
     file.  Then, if they are needed in subsequent shell invocations,
     they can be retrieved quickly from that file via _retrieve_cache,
     avoiding the need for repeating the costly operation.

     The CACHE_IDENTIFIER specifies the file which the data should be
     dumped to, and is stored in a directory specified by the
     cache-path style (defaults to ~/.zsh/cache).  The remaining VARS
     arguments are the variables to dump to the file.

     The return value is zero if storage was successful.  The function
     will only attempt storage if the use-cache style is set, so you can
     call this function without worrying about whether the user wanted
     to use the caching layer.

     If your completion function avoids calling _retrieve_cache when it
     already has the completion data in the environment, it should
     probably at least call _cache_invalid to check whether this data
     and the data cached on disk is still valid.

     See the _perl_modules completion function for a simple example of
     usage of this caching layer.

_tags [ -C NAME [ TAGS ... ] ]
     If called with arguments, these are taken as the names of the tags
     for the types of matches the calling completion function can
     generate in the current context.  These tags are stored internally
     and sorted by using the tag-order style.  Following calls to this
     function without arguments from the same function will then select
     the first, second, etc. set of tags requested by the user.  To
     test if a certain tag should be tried, the _requested function has
     to be called (see above).

     The return value is zero if at least one of the tags is requested
     and non-zero otherwise.

     This function also accepts the -C option followed by a NAME. This
     name is temporarily (i.e. not visible outside _tags) stored in the
     argument field of the context name in the curcontext parameter.
     This allows _tags to be made to use a more specific context name
     without having to change and reset the curcontext parameter (which
     would otherwise have the same effect).

_values SPECS ...
     This is used to complete values (strings) and their arguments or
     lists of such values.  It can be used in two ways.

     If the first argument is the option `-O NAME', this will be used
     in the same way as by the _arguments function, in other words the
     elements of the NAME array will be given to calls to compadd and
     when executing an action.

     Otherwise, if the first argument (or the first argument after the
     `-O NAME' option if that is used) is the option `-s', the next
     argument is used as the character that separates multiple values.
     Thus the values completed appear in the same word on the command
     line, unlike completion using _arguments.

     The first argument (after the options and separator character if
     they are given) is used as a string to print as a description
     before listing the values.

     All other arguments describe the possible values and their
     arguments in the same format used for the description of options by
     the _arguments function (see above).  The only differences are that
     no minus or plus sign is required at the beginning, that values
     can have only one argument and that those forms of actions
     beginning with an equal sign are not supported.

     The character separating a value from its argument can be set
     using the option -S (like -s, followed by the character to use as
     the separator in the next argument).  If this option is not used,
     the equal sign will be used as the separator.

     Example:

          _values -s , 'description' \
                  '*foo[bar]' \
                  '(two)*one[number]:first count:' \
                  'two[another number]::second count:(1 2 3)'

     This describes three possible values: `foo', `one', and `two'.
     The first is described as `bar', takes no argument and may appear
     more than once.  The second is described as `number', may appear
     more than once, and takes one mandatory argument described as
     `first count' for which no action is specified so that it will not
     be completed automatically.  The `(two)' at the beginning says
     that if the value `one' is on the line, the value `two' will not
     be considered to be a possible completion anymore.  Finally, the
     last value (`two') is described as `another number' and takes an
     optional argument described as `second count' which will be
     completed from the strings `1', `2', and `3'. The _values function
     will complete lists of these values separated by commas.

     Like _arguments this function temporarily adds another context
     name component to the current context name while executing the
     ACTION.  Here this name is just the name of the value for which
     the argument is completed.

     To decide if the descriptions for the values (not those for the
     arguments) should be printed, the style verbose is used.

     One last difference from _arguments is that this function uses the
     associative array val_args to report values and their arguments,
     although otherwise this is the same as the opt_args association
     used by _arguments.  This also means that the function calling
     _values should declare the state, line, context and val_args
     parameters as in:

          local context state line
          typeset -A val_args

     when using an action of the form `->STRING'.  With this function
     the context parameter will be set to the name of the value whose
     argument is to be completed.

     Note also that _values normally adds the character used as the
     separator between values as an auto-removable suffix so that users
     don't have to type it themselves.  But when using a `->STRING'
     action _values can't do that because the matches for the argument
     will be generated by the calling function.  To get the usual
     behaviour, the implementor of the calling function has to add the
     suffix directly by passing the options `-qS X' (where X is the
     separator character specified with the -s option of _values) to the
     function generating the matches or to the compadd builtin.

     Like _arguments, _values supports the -C option in which case you
     have to make the parameter curcontext local instead of context (as
     described above).

_wanted [ -C NAME ]  [ -12VJ ] TAG NAME DESCR COMMAND ARGS ...
     In many contexts, completion will generate one particular set of
     matches (usually corresponding to a single tag); however, it is
     still necessary to decide whether the user requires matches of
     this type.  This function is useful in such a case.

     Like _requested, it should be passed arguments as for _description.
     It calls _tags with the given TAG and if that returns zero (so
     that the TAG is requested by the user) it calls _description.
     Hence to offer only one tag and immediately use the description
     generated:

          _wanted tag expl 'description' \
              compadd matches...

     Unlike _requested, however, _wanted cannot be called without the
     COMMAND.  This is because _wanted also implements the loop over
     the tags, not just the one for the labels; conversely, it should
     not be called in the middle of a _tags loop.

     Note that, as for _requested, the COMMAND has to accept the options
     that have to be passed down to compadd.

     Like _tags this function supports the -C option to give a
     different name for the argument context field.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion Directories,  Prev: Completion Functions,  Up: Completion System

Completion Directories
======================

In the source distribution, the files are contained in various
subdirectories of the Completion directory.  They may have been
installed in the same structure, or into one single function directory.
The following is a description of the files found in the original
directory structure.  If you wish to alter an installed file, you will
need to copy it to some directory which appears earlier in your fpath
than the standard directory where it appears.

Base
     The core functions and special completion widgets automatically
     bound to keys.  You will certainly need most of these, though will
     probably not need to alter them.  Many of these are documented
     above.

Zsh
     Functions for completing arguments of shell builtin commands and
     utility functions for this.  Some of these are also used by
     functions from the Unix directory.

Unix
     Functions for completing arguments of external commands and suites
     of commands.  They may need modifying for your system, although in
     many cases some attempt is made to decide which version of a
     command is present.  For example, completion for the mount command
     tries to determine the system it is running on, while completion
     for many other utilities try to decide whether the GNU version of
     the command is in use, and hence whether the -help option is
     supported..

X, AIX, BSD, ...
     Completion and utility function for commands available only on
     some systems.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Completion Using compctl,  Next: Zsh Modules,  Prev: Completion System,  Up: Top

Completion Using compctl
************************

Types of completion
===================

This version of zsh has two ways of performing completion of words on
the command line.  New users of the shell may prefer to use the newer
and more powerful system based on shell functions; this is described in
*Note Completion System::, and the basic shell mechanisms which support
it are described in *Note Completion Widgets::.  This chapter describes
the older compctl command.

Description
===========

compctl [ -CDT ] OPTIONS [ COMMAND ... ]

compctl [ -CDT ] OPTIONS [ -x PATTERN OPTIONS - ... - ] [ + OPTIONS [ -x ... - ] ... [+] ] [ COMMAND ... ]

compctl -M MATCH-SPECS ...

compctl -L [ -CDTM ] [ COMMAND ... ]

compctl + COMMAND ...


Control the editor's completion behavior according to the supplied set
of OPTIONS.  Various editing commands, notably expand-or-complete-word,
usually bound to tab, will attempt to complete a word typed by the
user, while others, notably delete-char-or-list, usually bound to ^D in
EMACS editing mode, list the possibilities; compctl controls what those
possibilities are.  They may for example be filenames (the most common
case, and hence the default), shell variables, or words from a
user-specified list.

* Menu:

* Command Flags::
* Option Flags::
* Alternative Completion::
* Extended Completion::
* Example::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Command Flags,  Next: Option Flags,  Up: Completion Using compctl

Command Flags
=============

Completion of the arguments of a command may be different for each
command or may use the default.  The behavior when completing the
command word itself may also be separately specified.  These correspond
to the following flags and arguments, all of which (except for -L) may
be combined with any combination of the OPTIONS described subsequently
in *Note Option Flags:::

COMMAND ...
     controls completion for the named commands, which must be listed
     last on the command line.  If completion is attempted for a
     command with a pathname containing slashes and no completion
     definition is found, the search is retried with the last pathname
     component. If the command starts with a =, completion is tried
     with the pathname of the command.

     Any of the COMMAND strings may be patterns of the form normally
     used for filename generation.  These should be be quoted to
     protect them from immediate expansion; for example the command
     string 'foo*' arranges for completion of the words of any command
     beginning with foo.  When completion is attempted, all pattern
     completions are tried in the reverse order of their definition
     until one matches.  By default, completion then proceeds as
     normal, i.e. the shell will try to generate more matches for the
     specific command on the command line; this can be overridden by
     including -tn in the flags for the pattern completion.

     Note that aliases are expanded before the command name is
     determined unless the COMPLETE_ALIASES option is set.  Commands
     may not be combined with the -C, -D or -T flags.

-C
     controls completion when the command word itself is being
     completed.  If no compctl -C command has been issued,  the names
     of any executable command (whether in the path or specific to the
     shell, such as aliases or functions) are completed.

-D
     controls default completion behavior for the arguments of commands
     not assigned any special behavior.  If no compctl -D command has
     been issued, filenames are completed.

-T
     supplies completion flags to be used before any other processing is
     done, even before processing for compctls defined for specific
     commands.  This is especially useful when combined with extended
     completion (the -x flag, see *Note Extended Completion:: below).
     Using this flag you can define default behavior which will apply
     to all commands without exception, or you can alter the standard
     behavior for all commands.  For example, if your access to the
     user database is too slow and/or it contains too many users (so
     that completion after `~' is too slow to be usable), you can use

          compctl -T -x 's[~] C[0,[^/]#]' -k friends -S/ -tn

     to complete the strings in the array friends after a `~'.  The
     C[...] argument is necessary so that this form of ~-completion is
     not tried after the directory name is finished.

-L
     lists the existing completion behavior in a manner suitable for
     putting into a start-up script; the existing behavior is not
     changed.  Any combination of the above forms, or the -M flag
     (which must follow the -L flag), may be specified, otherwise all
     defined completions are listed.  Any other flags supplied are
     ignored.

_no argument_
     If no argument is given, compctl lists all defined completions in
     an abbreviated form;  with a list of OPTIONS, all completions with
     those flags set (not counting extended completion) are listed.


If the + flag is alone and followed immediately by the COMMAND list,
the completion behavior for all the commands in the list is reset to
the default.  In other words, completion will subsequently use the
options specified by the -D flag.

The form with -M as the first and only option defines global matching
specifications (see *Note Matching Control::). The match specifications
given will be used for every completion attempt (only when using
compctl, not with the new completion system) and are tried in the order
in which they are defined until one generates at least one match. E.g.:

     compctl -M '' 'm:{a-zA-Z}={A-Za-z}'

This will first try completion without any global match specifications
(the empty string) and, if that generates no matches, will try case
insensitive completion.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Option Flags,  Next: Alternative Completion,  Prev: Command Flags,  Up: Completion Using compctl

Option Flags
============

[ -fcFBdeaRGovNAIOPZEnbjrzu/12 ]

[ -k ARRAY ] [ -g GLOBSTRING ] [ -s SUBSTSTRING ]

[ -K FUNCTION ]

[ -Q ] [ -P PREFIX ] [ -S SUFFIX ]

[ -W FILE-PREFIX ] [ -H NUM PATTERN ]

[ -q ] [ -X EXPLANATION ] [ -Y EXPLANATION ]

[ -y FUNC-OR-VAR ] [ -l CMD ] [ -h CMD ] [ -U ]

[ -t CONTINUE ] [ -J NAME ] [ -V NAME ]

[ -M MATCH-SPEC ]


The remaining OPTIONS specify the type of command arguments to look for
during completion.  Any combination of these flags may be specified;
the result is a sorted list of all the possibilities.  The options are
as follows.

* Menu:

* Simple Flags::
* Flags with Arguments::
* Control Flags::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Simple Flags,  Next: Flags with Arguments,  Up: Option Flags

Simple Flags
------------

These produce completion lists made up by the shell itself:

-f
     Filenames and filesystem paths.

-/
     Just filesystem paths.

-c
     Command names, including aliases, shell functions, builtins and
     reserved words.

-F
     Function names.

-B
     Names of builtin commands.

-m
     Names of external commands.

-w
     Reserved words.

-a
     Alias names.

-R
     Names of regular (non-global) aliases.

-G
     Names of global aliases.

-d
     This can be combined with -F, -B, -w, -a, -R and -G to get names
     of disabled functions, builtins, reserved words or aliases.

-e
     This option (to show enabled commands) is in effect by default, but
     may be combined with -d; -de in combination with -F, -B, -w, -a,
     -R and -G will complete names of functions, builtins, reserved
     words or aliases whether or not they are disabled.

-o
     Names of shell options (see *Note Options::).

-v
     Names of any variable defined in the shell.

-N
     Names of scalar (non-array) parameters.

-A
     Array names.

-I
     Names of integer variables.

-O
     Names of read-only variables.

-p
     Names of parameters used by the shell (including special
     parameters).

-Z
     Names of shell special parameters.

-E
     Names of environment variables.

-n
     Named directories.

-b
     Key binding names.

-j
     Job names:  the first word of the job leader's command line.  This
     is useful with the kill builtin.

-r
     Names of running jobs.

-z
     Names of suspended jobs.

-u
     User names.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Flags with Arguments,  Next: Control Flags,  Prev: Simple Flags,  Up: Option Flags

Flags with Arguments
--------------------

These have user supplied arguments to determine how the list of
completions is to be made up:

-k ARRAY
     Names taken from the elements of $ARRAY (note that the `$' does
     not appear on the command line).  Alternatively, the argument
     ARRAY itself may be a set of space- or comma-separated values in
     parentheses, in which any delimiter may be escaped with a
     backslash; in this case the argument should be quoted.  For
     example,

          compctl -k "(cputime filesize datasize stacksize
          	       coredumpsize resident descriptors)" limit

-g GLOBSTRING
     The GLOBSTRING is expanded using filename globbing; it should be
     quoted to protect it from immediate expansion. The resulting
     filenames are taken as the possible completions.  Use `*(/)'
     instead of `*/' for directories.  The fignore special parameter is
     not applied to the resulting files.  More than one pattern may be
     given separated by blanks. (Note that brace expansion is _not_
     part of globbing.  Use the syntax `(either|or)' to match
     alternatives.)

-s SUBSTSTRING
     The SUBSTSTRING is split into words and these words are than
     expanded using all shell expansion mechanisms (see *Note
     Expansion::).  The resulting words are taken as possible
     completions.  The fignore special parameter is not applied to the
     resulting files.  Note that -g is faster for filenames.

-K FUNCTION
     Call the given function to get the completions.  Unless the name
     starts with an underscore, the function is passed two arguments:
     the prefix and the suffix of the word on which completion is to be
     attempted, in other words those characters before the cursor
     position, and those from the cursor position onwards.  The whole
     command line can be accessed with the -c and -l flags of the read
     builtin. The function should set the variable reply to an array
     containing the completions (one completion per element); note that
     reply should not be made local to the function.  From such a
     function the command line can be accessed with the -c and -l flags
     to the read builtin.  For example,

          function whoson { reply=(`users`); }
          compctl -K whoson talk

     completes only logged-on users after `talk'.  Note that `whoson'
     must return an array, so `reply=`users`' would be incorrect.

-H NUM PATTERN
     The possible completions are taken from the last NUM history
     lines.  Only words matching PATTERN are taken.  If NUM is zero or
     negative the whole history is searched and if PATTERN is the empty
     string all words are taken (as with `*').  A typical use is

          compctl -D -f + -H 0 ''

     which forces completion to look back in the history list for a
     word if no filename matches.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Control Flags,  Prev: Flags with Arguments,  Up: Option Flags

Control Flags
-------------

These do not directly specify types of name to be completed, but
manipulate the options that do:

-Q
     This instructs the shell not to quote any metacharacters in the
     possible completions.  Normally the results of a completion are
     inserted into the command line with any metacharacters quoted so
     that they are interpreted as normal characters.  This is
     appropriate for filenames and ordinary strings.  However, for
     special effects, such as inserting a backquoted expression from a
     completion array (-k) so that the expression will not be evaluated
     until the complete line is executed, this option must be used.

-P PREFIX
     The PREFIX is inserted just before the completed string; any
     initial part already typed will be completed and the whole PREFIX
     ignored for completion purposes.  For example,

          compctl -j -P "%" kill

     inserts a `%' after the kill command and then completes job names.

-S SUFFIX
     When a completion is found the SUFFIX is inserted after the
     completed string.  In the case of menu completion the suffix is
     inserted immediately, but it is still possible to cycle through the
     list of completions by repeatedly hitting the same key.

-W FILE-PREFIX
     With directory FILE-PREFIX:  for command, file, directory and
     globbing completion (options -c, -f, -/, -g), the file prefix is
     implicitly added in front of the completion.  For example,

          compctl -/ -W ~/Mail maildirs

     completes any subdirectories to any depth beneath the directory
     ~/Mail, although that prefix does not appear on the command line.
     The FILE-PREFIX may also be of the form accepted by the -k flag,
     i.e. the name of an array or a literal list in parenthesis. In
     this case all the directories in the list will be searched for
     possible completions.

-q
     If used with a suffix as specified by the -S option, this causes
     the suffix to be removed if the next character typed is a blank or
     does not insert anything or if the suffix consists of only one
     character and the next character typed is the same character; this
     the same rule used for the AUTO_REMOVE_SLASH option.  The option
     is most useful for list separators (comma, colon, etc.).

-l CMD
     This option restricts the range of command line words that are
     considered to be arguments.  If combined with one of the extended
     completion patterns `p[...]', `r[...]', or `R[...]'  (see *Note
     Extended Completion:: below) the range is restricted to the range
     of arguments specified in the brackets.  Completion is then
     performed as if these had been given as arguments to the CMD
     supplied with the option. If the CMD string is empty the first
     word in the range is instead taken as the command name, and
     command name completion performed on the first word in the range.
     For example,

          compctl -x 'r[-exec,;]' -l '' -- find

     completes arguments between `-exec' and the following `;' (or the
     end of the command line if there is no such string) as if they were
     a separate command line.

-h CMD
     Normally zsh completes quoted strings as a whole. With this option,
     completion can be done separately on different parts of such
     strings. It works like the -l option but makes the completion code
     work on the parts of the current word that are separated by
     spaces. These parts are completed as if they were arguments to the
     given CMD. If CMD is the empty string, the first part is completed
     as a command name, as with -l.

-U
     Use the whole list of possible completions, whether or not they
     actually match the word on the command line.  The word typed so far
     will be deleted.  This is most useful with a function (given by the
     -K option) which can examine the word components passed to it (or
     via the read builtin's -c and -l flags) and use its own criteria
     to decide what matches.  If there is no completion, the original
     word is retained.  Since the produced possible completions seldom
     have interesting common prefixes and suffixes, menu completion is
     started immediately if AUTO_MENU is set and this flag is used.

-y FUNC-OR-VAR
     The list provided by FUNC-OR-VAR is displayed instead of the list
     of completions whenever a listing is required; the actual
     completions to be inserted are not affected.  It can be provided
     in two ways. Firstly, if FUNC-OR-VAR begins with a $ it defines a
     variable, or if it begins with a left parenthesis a literal array,
     which contains the list.  A variable may have been set by a call
     to a function using the -K option.  Otherwise it contains the name
     of a function which will be executed to create the list.  The
     function will be passed as an argument list all matching
     completions, including prefixes and suffixes expanded in full, and
     should set the array reply to the result.  In both cases, the
     display list will only be retrieved after a complete list of
     matches has been created.

     Note that the returned list does not have to correspond, even in
     length, to the original set of matches, and may be passed as a
     scalar instead of an array.  No special formatting of characters is
     performed on the output in this case; in particular, newlines are
     printed literally and if they appear output in columns is
     suppressed.

-X EXPLANATION
     Print EXPLANATION when trying completion on the current set of
     options. A `%n' in this string is replaced by the number of
     matches that were added for this explanation string.  The
     explanation only appears if completion was tried and there was no
     unique match, or when listing completions. Explanation strings
     will be listed together with the matches of the group specified
     together with the -X option (using the -J or -V option). If the
     same explanation string is given to multiple -X options, the
     string appears only once (for each group) and the number of
     matches shown for the `%n' is the total number of all matches for
     each of these uses. In any case, the explanation string will only
     be shown if there was at least one match added for the explanation
     string.

     The sequences %B, %b, %S, %s, %U, and %u specify output attributes
     (bold, standout, and underline) and %{...%} can be used to include
     literal escape sequences as in prompts.

-Y EXPLANATION
     Identical to -X, except that the EXPLANATION first undergoes
     expansion following the usual rules for strings in double quotes.
     The expansion will be carried out after any functions are called
     for the -K or -y options, allowing them to set variables.

-t CONTINUE
     The CONTINUE-string contains a character that specifies which set
     of completion flags should be used next.  It is useful:

     (i) With -T, or when trying a list of pattern completions, when
     compctl would usually continue with ordinary processing after
     finding matches; this can be suppressed with `-tn'.

     (ii) With a list of alternatives separated by +, when compctl
     would normally stop when one of the alternatives generates
     matches.  It can be forced to consider the next set of completions
     by adding `-t+' to the flags of the alternative before the `+'.

     (iii) In an extended completion list (see below), when compctl
     would normally continue until a set of conditions succeeded, then
     use only the immediately following flags.  With `-t-', compctl will
     continue trying extended completions after the next `-'; with
     `-tx' it will attempt completion with the default flags, in other
     words those before the `-x'.

-J NAME
     This gives the name of the group the matches should be placed in.
     Groups are listed and sorted separately; likewise, menu completion
     will offer the matches in the groups in the order in which the
     groups were defined. If no group name is explicitly given, the
     matches are stored in a group named DEFAULT. The first time a
     group name is encountered, a group with that name is created.
     After that all matches with the same group name are stored in that
     group.

     This can be useful with non-exclusive alternative completions.  For
     example, in

          compctl -f -J files -t+ + -v -J variables foo

     both files and variables are possible completions, as the -t+
     forces both sets of alternatives before and after the + to be
     considered at once.  Because of the -J options, however, all files
     are listed before all variables.

-V NAME
     Like -J, but matches within the group will not be sorted in
     listings nor in menu completion. These unsorted groups are in a
     different name space from the sorted ones, so groups defined as -J
     files and -V files are distinct.

-1
     If given together with the -V option, makes only consecutive
     duplicates in the group be removed. Note that groups with and
     without this flag are in different name spaces.

-2
     If given together with the -J or -V option, makes all duplicates
     be kept. Again, groups with and without this flag are in different
     name spaces.

-M MATCH-SPEC
     This defines additional matching control specifications that
     should be used only when testing words for the list of flags this
     flag appears in. The format of the MATCH-SPEC string is described
     in *Note Matching Control::.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Alternative Completion,  Next: Extended Completion,  Prev: Option Flags,  Up: Completion Using compctl

Alternative Completion
======================

compctl [ -CDT ] OPTIONS + OPTIONS [ + ... ] [ + ] COMMAND ...


The form with `+' specifies alternative options. Completion is tried
with the options before the first `+'. If this produces no matches
completion is tried with the flags after the `+' and so on. If there
are no flags after the last `+' and a match has not been found up to
that point, default completion is tried.  If the list of flags contains
a -t with a + character, the next list of flags is used even if the
current list produced matches.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Extended Completion,  Next: Example,  Prev: Alternative Completion,  Up: Completion Using compctl

Extended Completion
===================

compctl [ -CDT ] OPTIONS -x PATTERN OPTIONS - ... -
     [ COMMAND ... ]

compctl [ -CDT ] OPTIONS [ -x PATTERN OPTIONS - ... - ]
     [ + OPTIONS [ -x ... - ] ... [+] ] [ COMMAND ... ]



The form with `-x' specifies extended completion for the commands
given; as shown, it may be combined with alternative completion using
`+'.  Each PATTERN is examined in turn; when a match is found, the
corresponding OPTIONS, as described in *Note Option Flags:: above, are
used to generate possible completions.  If no PATTERN matches, the
OPTIONS given before the -x are used.

Note that each pattern should be supplied as a single argument and
should be quoted to prevent expansion of metacharacters by the shell.

A PATTERN is built of sub-patterns separated by commas; it matches if
at least one of these sub-patterns matches (they are `or'ed). These
sub-patterns are in turn composed of other sub-patterns separated by
white spaces which match if all of the sub-patterns match (they are
`and'ed).  An element of the sub-patterns is of the form `C[...][...]',
where the pairs of brackets may be repeated as often as necessary, and
matches if any of the sets of brackets match (an `or').  The example
below makes this clearer.

The elements may be any of the following:

s[STRING]...
     Matches if the current word on the command line starts with one of
     the strings given in brackets.  The STRING is not removed and is
     not part of the completion.

S[STRING]...
     Like s[STRING] except that the STRING is part of the completion.

p[FROM,TO]...
     Matches if the number of the current word is between one of the
     FROM and TO pairs inclusive. The comma and TO are optional; TO
     defaults to the same value as FROM.  The numbers may be negative:
     -N refers to the N'th last word on the line.

c[OFFSET,STRING]...
     Matches if the STRING matches the word offset by OFFSET from the
     current word position.  Usually OFFSET will be negative.

C[OFFSET,PATTERN]...
     Like c but using pattern matching instead.

w[INDEX,STRING]...
     Matches if the word in position INDEX is equal to the
     corresponding STRING.  Note that the word count is made after any
     alias expansion.

W[INDEX,PATTERN]...
     Like w but using pattern matching instead.

n[INDEX,STRING]...
     Matches if the current word contains STRING.  Anything up to and
     including the INDEXth occurrence of this string will not be
     considered part of the completion, but the rest will.  INDEX may
     be negative to count from the end: in most cases, INDEX will be 1
     or -1.  For example,

          compctl -s '`users`' -x 'n[1,@]' -k hosts -- talk

     will usually complete usernames, but if you insert an @ after the
     name, names from the array HOSTS (assumed to contain hostnames,
     though you must make the array yourself) will be completed.  Other
     commands such as rcp can be handled similarly.

N[INDEX,STRING]...
     Like n except that the string will be taken as a character class.
     Anything up to and including the INDEXth occurrence of any of the
     characters in STRING will not be considered part of the completion.

m[MIN,MAX]...
     Matches if the total number of words lies between MIN and MAX
     inclusive.

r[STR1,STR2]...
     Matches if the cursor is after a word with prefix STR1.  If there
     is also a word with prefix STR2 on the command line after the one
     matched by STR1 it matches only if the cursor is before this word.
     If the comma and STR2 are omitted, it matches if the cursor is
     after a word with prefix STR1.

R[STR1,STR2]...
     Like r but using pattern matching instead.

q[STR]...
     Matches the word currently being completed is in single quotes and
     the STR begins with the letter `s', or if completion is done in
     double quotes and STR starts with the letter `d', or if completion
     is done in backticks and STR starts with a `b'.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Example,  Prev: Extended Completion,  Up: Completion Using compctl

Example
=======

     compctl -u -x 's[+] c[-1,-f],s[-f+]' \
       -g '~/Mail/*(:t)' - 's[-f],c[-1,-f]' -f -- mail

This is to be interpreted as follows:

If the current command is mail, then

     if ((the current word begins with + and the previous word is -f)
     or (the current word begins with -f+)), then complete the
     non-directory part (the `:t' glob modifier) of files in the
     directory ~/Mail; else

     if the current word begins with -f or the previous word was -f,
     then complete any file; else

     complete user names.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Zsh Modules,  Next: Zftp Function System,  Prev: Completion Using compctl,  Up: Top

Zsh Modules
***********

Description
===========

Some optional parts of zsh are in modules, separate from the core of
the shell.  Each of these modules may be linked in to the shell at
build time, or can be dynamically linked while the shell is running if
the installation supports this feature.  The modules that are bundled
with the zsh distribution are:

zsh/cap
     Builtins for manipulating POSIX.1e (POSIX.6) capability
     (privilege) sets.

zsh/clone
     A builtin that can clone a running shell onto another terminal.

zsh/compctl
     The compctl builtin for controlling completion.

zsh/complete
     The basic completion code.

zsh/complist
     Completion listing extensions.

zsh/computil
     A module with utility builtins needed for the shell function based
     completion system.

zsh/deltochar
     A ZLE function duplicating EMACS' zap-to-char.

zsh/example
     An example of how to write a module.

zsh/files
     Some basic file manipulation commands as builtins.

zsh/mapfile
     Access to external files via a special associative array.

zsh/mathfunc
     Standard scientific functions for use in mathematical evaluations.

zsh/parameter
     Access to internal hash tables via special associative arrays.

zsh/sched
     A builtin that provides a timed execution facility within the
     shell.

zsh/stat
     A builtin command interface to the stat system call.

zsh/termcap
     Interface to the termcap database.

zsh/terminfo
     Interface to the terminfo database.

zsh/zftp
     A builtin FTP client.

zsh/zle
     The Zsh Line Editor, including the bindkey and vared builtins.

zsh/zleparameter
     Access to internals of the Zsh Line Editor via parameters.

zsh/zprof
     A module allowing profiling for shell functions.

zsh/zpty
     A builtin for starting a command in a pseudo-terminal.

zsh/zutil
     Some utility builtins, e.g. the one for supporting configuration
     via styles.


* Menu:

* The zsh/cap Module::
* The zsh/clone Module::
* The zsh/compctl Module::
* The zsh/complete Module::
* The zsh/complist Module::
* The zsh/computil Module::
* The zsh/deltochar Module::
* The zsh/example Module::
* The zsh/files Module::
* The zsh/mapfile Module::
* The zsh/mathfunc Module::
* The zsh/parameter Module::
* The zsh/sched Module::
* The zsh/stat Module::
* The zsh/termcap Module::
* The zsh/terminfo Module::
* The zsh/zftp Module::
* The zsh/zle Module::
* The zsh/zleparameter Module::
* The zsh/zprof Module::
* The zsh/zpty Module::
* The zsh/zutil Module::


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/cap Module,  Next: The zsh/clone Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/cap Module
==================

The zsh/cap module is used for manipulating POSIX.1e (POSIX.6)
capability sets.  If the operating system does not support this
interface, the builtins defined by this module will do nothing.  The
builtins in this module are:

cap [ CAPABILITIES ]
     Change the shell's process capability sets to the specified
     CAPABILITIES, otherwise display the shell's current capabilities.

getcap FILENAME ...
     This is a built-in implementation of the POSIX standard utility.
     It displays the capability sets on each specified FILENAME.

setcap CAPABILITIES FILENAME ...
     This is a built-in implementation of the POSIX standard utility.
     It sets the capability sets on each specified FILENAME to the
     specified CAPABILITIES.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/clone Module,  Next: The zsh/compctl Module,  Prev: The zsh/cap Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/clone Module
====================

The zsh/clone module makes available one builtin command:

clone TTY
     Creates a forked instance of the current shell, attached to the
     specified TTY.  In the new shell, the PID, PPID and TTY special
     parameters are changed appropriately.  $! is set to zero in the new
     shell, and to the new shell's PID in the original shell.

     The return value of the builtin is zero in both shells if
     successful, and non-zero on error.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/compctl Module,  Next: The zsh/complete Module,  Prev: The zsh/clone Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/compctl Module
======================

The zsh/compctl module makes available two builtin commands. compctl,
is the old, deprecated way to control completions for ZLE.  See *Note
Completion Using compctl::.  The other builtin command, compcall can be
used in user-defined completion widgets, see *Note Completion Widgets::.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/complete Module,  Next: The zsh/complist Module,  Prev: The zsh/compctl Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/complete Module
=======================

The zsh/complete module makes available several builtin commands which
can be used in user-defined completion widgets, see *Note Completion
Widgets::.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/complist Module,  Next: The zsh/computil Module,  Prev: The zsh/complete Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/complist Module
=======================

The zsh/complist module offers three extensions to completion listings:
the ability to highlight matches in such a list, the ability to scroll
through long lists and a different style of menu completion.

Colored completion listings
---------------------------

Whenever one of the parameters ZLS_COLORS or ZLS_COLOURS is set and the
zsh/complist module is loaded or linked into the shell, completion
lists will be colored.  Note, however, that complist will not
automatically be loaded if it is not linked in:  on systems with
dynamic loading, `zmodload zsh/complist' is required.

The parameters ZLS_COLORS and ZLS_COLOURS describe how matches are
highlighted.  To turn on highlighting an empty value suffices, in which
case all the default values given below will be used.  The format of
the value of these parameters is the same as used by the GNU version of
the ls command: a colon-separated list of specifications of the form
`NAME=VALUE'.  The NAME may be one of the following strings, most of
which specify file types for which the VALUE will be used.  The strings
and their default values are:

no 0
     for normal text (i.e. when displaying something other than a
     matched file)

fi 0
     for regular files

di 32
     for directories

ln 36
     for symbolic links

pi 31
     for named pipes (FIFOs)

so 33
     for sockets

bd 44;37
     for block devices

cd 44;37
     for character devices

ex 35
     for executable files

mi NONE
     for a non-existent file (default is the value defined for fi)

lc \e[
     for the left code (see below)

rc m
     for the right code

tc 0
     for the character indicating the file type  printed after
     filenames if the LIST_TYPES option is set

sp 0
     for the spaces printed after matches to align the next column

ec NONE
     for the end code


Apart from these strings, the NAME may also be an asterisk (`*')
followed by any string. The VALUE given for such a string will be used
for all files whose name ends with the string.  The NAME may also be an
equals sign (`=') followed by a pattern.  The VALUE given for this
pattern will be used for all matches (not just filenames) whose display
string are matched by the pattern.  Definitions for both of these take
precedence over the values defined for file types and the form with the
leading asterisk takes precedence over the form with the leading equal
sign.

The last form also allows different parts of the displayed strings to
be colored differently.  For this, the pattern has to use the `(#b)'
globbing flag and pairs of parentheses surrounding the parts of the
strings that are to be colored differently.  In this case the VALUE may
consist of more than one color code separated by equal signs.  The
first code will be used for all parts for which no explicit code is
specified and the following codes will be used for the parts matched by
the sub-patterns in parentheses.  For example, the specification
`=(#b)(?)*(?)=0=3=7' will be used for all matches which are at least
two characters long and will use the code `3' for the first character,
`7' for the last character and `0' for the rest.

All three forms of NAME may be preceded by a pattern in parentheses.
If this is given, the VALUE will be used only for matches in groups
whose names are matched by the pattern given in the parentheses.  For
example, `(g*)m*=43' highlights all matches beginning with `m' in
groups whose names  begin with `g' using the color code `43'.  In case
of the `lc', `rc', and `ec' codes, the group pattern is ignored.

Note also that all patterns are tried in the order in which they appear
in the parameter value until the first one matches which is then used.

When printing a match, the code prints the value of lc, the value for
the file-type or the last matching specification with a `*', the value
of rc, the string to display for the match itself, and then the value
of ec if that is defined or the values of lc, no, and rc if ec is not
defined.

The default values are ISO 6429 (ANSI) compliant and can be used on
vt100 compatible terminals such as xterms.  On monochrome terminals the
default values will have no visible effect.  The colors function from
the contribution can be used to get associative arrays containing the
codes for ANSI terminals (see *Note Other Functions::).  For example,
after loading colors, one could use `$colors[red]' to get the code for
foreground color red and `$colors[bg-green]' for the code for
background color green.

If the completion system invoked by compinit is used, these parameters
should not be set directly because the system controls them itself.
Instead, the list-colors style should be used (see *Note Completion
System Configuration::).

Scrolling in completion listings
--------------------------------

To enable scrolling through a completion list, the LISTPROMPT parameter
must be set.  Its value will be used as the prompt; if it is the empty
string, a default prompt will be used.  The value may contain escapes
of the form `%x'.  It supports the escapes `%B', `%b', `%S', `%s',
`%U', `%u' and `%{...%}' used also in shell prompts as well as three
pairs of additional sequences: a `%l' or `%L' is replaced by the number
of the last line shown and the total number of lines in the form
`NUMBER/TOTAL'; a `%m' or `%M' is replaced with the number of the last
match shown and the total number of matches; and `%p' or `%P' is
replaced with `Top', `Bottom' or the position of the first line shown
in percent of the total number of lines, respectively.  In each of
these cases the form with the uppercase letter will be replaced with a
string of fixed width, padded to the right with spaces, while the
lowercase form will not be padded.

If the parameter LISTPROMPT is set, the completion code will not ask if
the list should be shown.  Instead it immediately starts displaying the
list, stopping after the first screenful, showing the prompt at the
bottom, waiting for a keypress after temporarily switching to the
listscroll keymap.  Some of the zle functions have a special meaning
while scrolling lists:

send-break
     stops listing discarding the key pressed

accept-line, down-history, down-line-or-history
down-line-or-search, vi-down-line-or-history
     scrolls forward one line

complete-word, menu-complete, expand-or-complete
expand-or-complete-prefix, menu-complete-or-expand
     scrolls forward one screenful


Every other character stops listing and immediately processes the key
as usual.  Any key that is not bound in the listscroll keymap or that
is bound to undefined-key is looked up in the keymap currently selected.

As for the ZLS_COLORS and ZLS_COLOURS parameters, LISTPROMPT should not
be set directly when using the shell function based completion system.
Instead, the list-prompt style should be used.

Menu selection
--------------

The zsh/complist module also offers an alternative style of selecting
matches from a list, called menu selection, which can be used if the
shell is set up to return to the last prompt after showing a completion
list (see the ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT option in *Note Options::).  It can be
invoked directly by the widget menu-select defined by the module.
Alternatively, the parameter MENUSELECT can be set to an integer, which
gives the minimum number of matches that must be present before menu
selection is automatically turned on.  This second method requires that
menu completion be started, either directly from a widget such as
menu-complete, or due to one of the options MENU_COMPLETE or AUTO_MENU
being set.  If MENUSELECT is set, but is 0, 1 or empty, menu selection
will always be started during an ambiguous menu completion.

When using the completion system based on shell functions, the
MENUSELECT parameter should not be used (like the ZLS_COLORS and
ZLS_COLOURS parameters described above).  Instead, the menu style
should be used with the select=... keyword.

After menu selection is started, the matches will be listed. If there
are more matches than fit on the screen, only the first screenful is
shown.  The matches to insert into the command line can be selected
from this list.  In the list one match is highlighted using the value
for ma from the ZLS_COLORS or ZLS_COLOURS parameter.  The default value
for this is `7' which forces the selected match to be highlighted using
standout mode on a vt100-compatible terminal.  If neither ZLS_COLORS
nor ZLS_COLOURS is set, the same terminal control sequence as for the
`%S' escape in prompts is used.

If there are more matches than fit on the screen and the parameter
MENUPROMPT is set, its value will be shown below the matches.  It
supports the same escape sequences as LISTPROMPT, but the number of the
match or line shown will be that of the one where the mark is placed.
If its value is the empty string, a default prompt will be used.

The MENUSCROLL parameter can be used to specify how the list is
scrolled.  If the parameter is unset, this is done line by line, if it
is set to `0' (zero), the list will scroll half the number of lines of
the screen.  If the value is positive, it gives the number of lines to
scroll and if it is negative, the list will be scrolled the number of
lines of the screen minus the (absolute) value.

As for the ZLS_COLORS, ZLS_COLOURS and LISTPROMPT parameters, neither
MENUPROMPT nor MENUSCROLL should be set directly when using the shell
function based completion system.  Instead, the select-prompt and
select-scroll styles should be used.

The completion code sometimes decides not to show all of the matches in
the list.  These hidden matches are either matches for which the
completion function which added them explicitly requested that they not
appear in the list (using the -n option of the compadd builtin command)
or they are matches which duplicate a string already in the list
(because they differ only in things like prefixes or suffixes that are
not displayed).  In the list used for menu selection, however, even
these matches are shown so that it is possible to select them.  To
highlight such matches the hi and du capabilities in the ZLS_COLORS and
ZLS_COLOURS parameters are supported for hidden matches of the first
and second kind, respectively.

Selecting matches is done by moving the mark around using the zle
movement functions.  When not all matches can be shown on the screen at
the same time, the list will scroll up and down when crossing the top or
bottom line.  The following zle functions have special meaning during
menu selection:

accept-line
     accepts the current match and leaves menu selection

send-break
     leaves menu selection and restores the previous contents of the
     command line

redisplay, clear-screen
     execute their normal function without leaving menu selection

accept-and-hold, accept-and-menu-complete
     accept the currently inserted match and continue selection
     allowing to select the next match to insert into the line

accept-and-infer-next-history
     accepts the current match and then tries completion with menu
     selection again;  in the case of files this allows one to select a
     directory and immediately attempt to complete files in it;  if
     there are no matches, a message is shown and one can use undo to
     go back to completion on the previous level, every other key
     leaves menu selection (including the other zle functions which are
     otherwise special during menu selection)

undo
     removes matches inserted during the menu selection by one of the
     three functions before

down-history, down-line-or-history
vi-down-line-or-history,  down-line-or-search
     moves the mark one line down

up-history, up-line-or-history
vi-up-line-or-history, up-line-or-search
     moves the mark one line up

forward-char, vi-forward-char
     moves the mark one column right

backward-char, vi-backward-char
     moves the mark one column left

forward-word, vi-forward-word
vi-forward-word-end, emacs-forward-word
     moves the mark one screenful down

backward-word, vi-backward-word, emacs-backward-word
     moves the mark one screenful up

vi-forward-blank-word, vi-forward-blank-word-end
     moves the mark to the first line of the next group of matches

vi-backward-blank-word
     moves the mark to the last line of the previous group of matches

beginning-of-history
     moves the mark to the first line

end-of-history
     moves the mark to the last line

beginning-of-buffer-or-history, beginning-of-line
beginning-of-line-hist, vi-beginning-of-line
     moves the mark to the leftmost column

end-of-buffer-or-history, end-of-line
end-of-line-hist, vi-end-of-line
     moves the mark to the rightmost column

complete-word, menu-complete, expand-or-complete
expand-or-complete-prefix, menu-expand-or-complete
     moves the mark to the next match

reverse-menu-complete
     moves the mark to the previous match


All movement functions wrap around at the edges; any other zle function
not listed leaves menu selection and executes that function.  It is
possible to make widgets in the above list do the same by using the
form of the widget with a `.' in front.  For example, the widget
`.accept-line' has the effect of leaving menu selection and accepting
the entire command line.

During this selection the widget uses the keymap menuselect.  Any key
that is not defined in this keymap or that is bound to undefined-key is
looked up in the keymap currently selected.  This is used to ensure
that the most important keys used during selection (namely the cursor
keys, return, and TAB) have sensible defaults.  However, keys in the
menuselect keymap can be modified directly using the bindkey builtin
command (see *Note The zsh/zle Module::). For example, to make the
return key leave menu selection without accepting the match currently
selected one could call

     bindkey -M menuselect '^M' send-break

after loading the zsh/complist module.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/computil Module,  Next: The zsh/deltochar Module,  Prev: The zsh/complist Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/computil Module
=======================

The zsh/computil module adds several builtin commands that are used by
some of the completion functions in the completion system based on shell
functions (see *Note Completion System:: ).  Except for compquote these
builtin commands are very specialised and thus not very interesting
when writing your own completion functions.  In summary, these builtin
commands are:

comparguments
     This is used by the _arguments function to do the argument and
     command line parsing.  Like compdescribe it has an option -i to do
     the parsing and initialize some internal state and various options
     to access the state information to decide what should be completed.

compdescribe
     This is used by the _describe function to build the displays for
     the matches and to get the strings to add as matches with their
     options.  On the first call one of the options -i or -I should be
     supplied as the first argument.  In the first case, display
     strings without the descriptions will be generated, in the second
     case, the string used to separate the matches from their
     descriptions must be given as the second argument and the
     descriptions (if any) will be shown.  All other arguments are like
     the definition arguments to _describe itself.

     Once compdescribe has been called with either the -i or the -I
     option, it can be repeatedly called with the -g option and the
     names of five arrays as its arguments.  This will step through the
     different sets of matches and store the options in the first array,
     the strings with descriptions in the second, the matches for these
     in the third, the strings without descriptions in the fourth, and
     the matches for them in the fifth array.  These are then directly
     given to compadd to register the matches with the completion code.

compfiles
     Used by the _path_files function to optimize complex recursive
     filename generation (globbing).  It does three things.  With the
     -p and -P options it builds the glob patterns to use, including
     the paths already handled and trying to optimize the patterns with
     respect to the prefix and suffix from the line and the match
     specification currently used.  The -i option does the directory
     tests for the ignore-parents style and the -r option tests if a
     component for some of the matches are equal to the string on the
     line and removes all other matches if that is true.

compgroups
     Used by the _tags function to implement the internals of the
     group-order style.  This only takes its arguments as names of
     completion groups and creates the groups for it (all six types:
     sorted and unsorted, both without removing duplicates, with
     removing all duplicates and with removing consecutive duplicates).

compquote [ -p ] NAMES ...
     There may be reasons to write completion functions that have to add
     the matches using the -Q option to compadd and perform quoting
     themselves.  Instead of interpreting the first character of the
     all_quotes key of the compstate special association and using the
     q flag for parameter expansions, one can use this builtin command.
     The arguments are the names of scalar or array parameters and the
     values of these parameters are quoted as needed for the innermost
     quoting level.  If the -p option is given, quoting is done as if
     there is some prefix before the values of the parameters, so that
     a leading equal sign will not be quoted.

     The return value is non-zero in case of an error and zero
     otherwise.

comptags
comptry
     These implement the internals of the tags mechanism.

compvalues
     Like comparguments, but for the _values function.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/deltochar Module,  Next: The zsh/example Module,  Prev: The zsh/computil Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/deltochar Module
========================

The zsh/deltochar module makes available two ZLE functions:

delete-to-char
     Read a character from the keyboard, and delete from the cursor
     position up to and including the next (or, with repeat count N,
     the Nth) instance of that character.  Negative repeat counts mean
     delete backwards.

zap-to-char
     This behaves like delete-to-char, except that the final occurrence
     of the character itself is not deleted.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/example Module,  Next: The zsh/files Module,  Prev: The zsh/deltochar Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/example Module
======================

The zsh/example module makes available one builtin command:

example [ -flags ] [ ARGS ... ]
     Displays the flags and arguments it is invoked with.


The purpose of the module is to serve as an example of how to write a
module.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/files Module,  Next: The zsh/mapfile Module,  Prev: The zsh/example Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/files Module
====================

The zsh/files module makes some standard commands available as builtins:

chgrp [ -Rs ] GROUP FILENAME ...
     Changes group of files specified.  This is equivalent to chown with
     a USER-SPEC argument of `:GROUP'.

chown [ -Rs ] USER-SPEC FILENAME ...
     Changes ownership and group of files specified.

     The USER-SPEC can be in four forms:

    USER
          change owner to USER; do not change group

    USER::
          change owner to USER; do not change group

    USER:
          change owner to USER; change group to USER's primary group

    USER:GROUP
          change owner to USER; change group to GROUP

    :GROUP
          do not change owner; change group to GROUP

     In each case, the `:' may instead be a `.'.  The rule is that if
     there is a `:' then the separator is `:', otherwise if there is a
     `.' then the separator is `.', otherwise there is no separator.

     Each of USER and GROUP may be either a username (or group name, as
     appropriate) or a decimal user ID (group ID).  Interpretation as a
     name takes precedence, if there is an all-numeric username (or
     group name).

     The -R option causes chown to recursively descend into directories,
     changing the ownership of all files in the directory after
     changing the ownership of the directory itself.

     The -s option is a zsh extension to chown functionality.  It
     enables paranoid behaviour, intended to avoid security problems
     involving a chown being tricked into affecting files other than
     the ones intended.  It will refuse to follow symbolic links, so
     that (for example) ``chown luser /tmp/foo/passwd'' can't
     accidentally chown /etc/passwd if /tmp/foo happens to be a link to
     /etc.  It will also check where it is after leaving directories,
     so that a recursive chown of a deep directory tree can't end up
     recursively chowning /usr as a result of directories being moved
     up the tree.

ln [ -dfis ] FILENAME DEST
ln [ -dfis ] FILENAME ... DIR
     Creates hard (or, with -s, symbolic) links.  In the first form, the
     specified DESTination is created, as a link to the specified
     FILENAME.  In the second form, each of the FILENAMEs is taken in
     turn, and linked to a pathname in the specified DIRectory that has
     the same last pathname component.

     Normally, ln will not attempt to create hard links to directories.
     This check can be overridden using the -d option.  Typically only
     the super-user can actually succeed in creating hard links to
     directories.  This does not apply to symbolic links in any case.

     By default, existing files cannot be replaced by links.  The -i
     option causes the user to be queried about replacing existing
     files.  The -f option causes existing files to be silently
     deleted, without querying.  -f takes precedence.

mkdir [ -p ] [ -m MODE ] DIR ...
     Creates directories.  With the -p option, non-existing parent
     directories are first created if necessary, and there will be no
     complaint if the directory already exists.  The -m option can be
     used to specify (in octal) a set of file permissions for the
     created directories, otherwise mode 777 modified by the current
     umask (see man page umask(2)) is used.

mv [ -fi ] FILENAME DEST
mv [ -fi ] FILENAME ... DIR
     Moves files.  In the first form, the specified FILENAME is moved
     to the specified DESTination.  In the second form, each of the
     FILENAMEs is taken in turn, and moved to a pathname in the
     specified DIRectory that has the same last pathname component.

     By default, the user will be queried before replacing any file
     that the user cannot write to, but writable files will be silently
     removed.  The -i option causes the user to be queried about
     replacing any existing files.  The -f option causes any existing
     files to be silently deleted, without querying.  -f takes
     precedence.

     Note that this mv will not move files across devices.  Historical
     versions of mv, when actual renaming is impossible, fall back on
     copying and removing files; if this behaviour is desired, use cp
     and rm manually.  This may change in a future version.

rm [ -dfirs ] FILENAME ...
     Removes files and directories specified.

     Normally, rm will not remove directories (except with the -r
     option).  The -d option causes rm to try removing directories with
     unlink (see man page unlink(2)), the same method used for files.
     Typically only the super-user can actually succeed in unlinking
     directories in this way.  -d takes precedence over -r.

     By default, the user will be queried before removing any file that
     the user cannot write to, but writable files will be silently
     removed.  The -i option causes the user to be queried about
     removing any files.  The -f option causes files to be silently
     deleted, without querying, and suppresses all error indications.
     -f takes precedence.

     The -r option causes rm to recursively descend into directories,
     deleting all files in the directory before removing the directory
     with the rmdir system call (see man page rmdir(2)).

     The -s option is a zsh extension to rm functionality.  It enables
     paranoid behaviour, intended to avoid common security problems
     involving a root-run rm being tricked into removing files other
     than the ones intended.  It will refuse to follow symbolic links,
     so that (for example) ``rm /tmp/foo/passwd'' can't accidentally
     remove /etc/passwd if /tmp/foo happens to be a link to /etc.  It
     will also check where it is after leaving directories, so that a
     recursive removal of a deep directory tree can't end up
     recursively removing /usr as a result of directories being moved
     up the tree.

rmdir DIR ...
     Removes empty directories specified.

sync
     Calls the system call of the same name (see man page sync(2)),
     which flushes dirty buffers to disk.  It might return before the
     I/O has actually been completed.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/mapfile Module,  Next: The zsh/mathfunc Module,  Prev: The zsh/files Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/mapfile Module
======================

The zsh/mapfile module provides one special associative array parameter
of the same name.

mapfile
     This associative array takes as keys the names of files; the
     resulting value is the content of the file.  The value is treated
     identically to any other text coming from a parameter.  The value
     may also be assigned to, in which case the file in question is
     written (whether or not it originally existed); or an element may
     be unset, which will delete the file in question.  For example,
     `vared mapfile[myfile]' works as expected, editing the file
     `myfile'.

     When the array is accessed as a whole, the keys are the names of
     files in the current directory, and the values are empty (to save
     a huge overhead in memory).  Thus ${(k)mapfile} has the same
     affect as the glob operator *(D), since files beginning with a dot
     are not special.  Care must be taken with expressions such as rm
     ${(k)mapfile}, which will delete every file in the current
     directory without the usual `rm *' test.

     The parameter mapfile may be made read-only; in that case, files
     referenced may not be written or deleted.


Limitations
-----------

Although reading and writing of the file in question is efficiently
handled, zsh's internal memory management may be arbitrarily baroque.
Thus it should not automatically be assumed that use of mapfile
represents a gain in efficiency over use of other mechanisms.  Note in
particular that the whole contents of the file will always reside
physically in memory when accessed (possibly multiple times, due to
standard parameter substitution operations).  In particular, this means
handling of sufficiently long files (greater than the machine's swap
space, or than the range of the pointer type) will be incorrect.

No errors are printed or flagged for non-existent, unreadable, or
unwritable files, as the parameter mechanism is too low in the shell
execution hierarchy to make this convenient.

It is unfortunate that the mechanism for loading modules does not yet
allow the user to specify the name of the shell parameter to be given
the special behaviour.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/mathfunc Module,  Next: The zsh/parameter Module,  Prev: The zsh/mapfile Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/mathfunc Module
=======================

The zsh/mathfunc module provides standard mathematical functions for
use when evaluating mathematical formulae.  The syntax agrees with
normal C and FORTRAN conventions, for example,

     (( f = sin(0.3) ))

assigns the sine of 0.3 to the parameter f.

Most functions take floating point arguments and return a floating point
value.  However, any necessary conversions from or to integer type will
be performed automatically by the shell.  Apart from atan with a second
argument and the abs, int and float functions, all functions behave as
noted in the manual page for the corresponding C function, except that
any arguments out of range for the function in question will be
detected by the shell and an error reported.

The following functions take a single floating point argument: acos,
acosh, asin, asinh, atan, atanh, cbrt, ceil, cos, cosh, erf, erfc, exp,
expm1, fabs, floor, gamma, j0, j1, lgamma, log, log10, log1p, logb,
sin, sinh, sqrt, tan, tanh, y0, y1.  The atan function can optionally
take a second argument, in which case it behaves like the C function
atan2.  The ilogb function takes a single floating point argument, but
returns an integer.

The function signgam takes no arguments, and returns an integer, which
is the C variable of the same name, as described in man page gamma(3).
Note that it is therefore only useful immediately after a call to gamma
or lgamma.  Note also that `signgam()' and `signgam' are distinct
expressions.

The following functions take two floating point arguments: copysign,
fmod, hypot, nextafter.

The following take an integer first argument and a floating point second
argument: jn, yn.

The following take a floating point first argument and an integer second
argument: ldexp, scalb.

The function abs does not convert the type of its single argument; it
returns the absolute value of either a floating point number or an
integer.  The functions float and int convert their arguments into a
floating point or integer value (by truncation) respectively.

Note that the C pow function is available in ordinary math evaluation
as the `**' operator and is not provided here.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/parameter Module,  Next: The zsh/sched Module,  Prev: The zsh/mathfunc Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/parameter Module
========================

The zsh/parameter module gives access to some of the internal hash
tables used by the shell by defining some special parameters.

options
     The keys for this associative array are the names of the options
     that can be set and unset using the setopt and unsetopt builtins.
     The value of each key is either the string on if the option is
     currently set, or the string off if the option is unset.  Setting
     a key to one of these strings is like setting or unsetting the
     option, respectively. Unsetting a key in this array is like
     setting it to the value off.

commands
     This array gives access to the command hash table. The keys are the
     names of external commands, the values are the pathnames of the
     files that would be executed when the command would be invoked.
     Setting a key in this array defines a new entry in this table in
     the same way as with the hash builtin. Unsetting a key as in `unset
     "commands[foo]"' removes the entry for the given key from the
     command hash table.

functions
     This associative array maps names of enabled functions to their
     definitions. Setting a key in it is like defining a function with
     the name given by the key and the body given by the value.
     Unsetting a key removes the definition for the function named by
     the key.

dis_functions
     Like functions but for disabled functions.

builtins
     This associative array gives information about the builtin commands
     currently enabled. The keys are the names of the builtin commands
     and the values are either `undefined' for builtin commands that
     will automatically be loaded from a module if invoked or `defined'
     for builtin commands that are already loaded.

dis_builtins
     Like builtins but for disabled builtin commands.

reswords
     This array contains the enabled reserved words.

dis_reswords
     Like reswords but for disabled reserved words.

aliases
     This maps the names of the regular aliases currently enabled to
     their expansions.

dis_aliases
     Like raliases but for disabled regular aliases.

galiases
     Like raliases, but for global aliases.

dis_galiases
     Like galiases but for disabled global aliases.

parameters
     The keys in this associative array are the names of the parameters
     currently defined. The values are strings describing the type of
     the parameter, in the same format used by the t parameter flag, see
     *Note Parameter Expansion:: .  Setting or unsetting keys in this
     array is not possible.

modules
     An associative array giving information about modules. The keys
     are the names of the modules loaded, registered to be autoloaded,
     or aliased. The value says which state the named module is in and
     is one of the strings `loaded', `autoloaded', or `alias:NAME',
     where NAME is the name the module is aliased to.

     Setting or unsetting keys in this array is not possible.

dirstack
     A normal array holding the elements of the directory stack. Note
     that the output of the dirs builtin command includes one more
     directory, the current working directory.

history
     This associative array maps history event numbers to the full
     history lines.

historywords
     A special array containing the words stored in the history.

jobdirs
     This associative array maps job numbers to the directories from
     which the job was started (which may not be the current directory
     of the job).

jobtexts
     This associative array maps job numbers to the texts of the
     command lines that were used to start the jobs.

jobstates
     This associative array gives information about the states of the
     jobs currently known. The keys are the job numbers and the values
     are strings of the form `JOB-STATE:MARK:PID=STATE...'. The
     JOB-STATE gives the state the whole job is currently in, one of
     `running', `suspended', or `done'. The MARK is `+' for the current
     job, `-' for the previous job and empty otherwise. This is
     followed by one `PID=STATE' for every process in the job. The PIDs
     are, of course, the process IDs and the STATE describes the state
     of that process.

nameddirs
     This associative array maps the names of named directories to the
     pathnames they stand for.

userdirs
     This associative array maps user names to the pathnames of their
     home directories.

funcstack
     This array contains the names of the functions currently being
     executed. The first element is the name of the function using the
     parameter.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/sched Module,  Next: The zsh/stat Module,  Prev: The zsh/parameter Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/sched Module
====================

The zsh/sched module makes available one builtin command:

sched [+]HH:MM COMMAND ...
sched [ -ITEM ]
     Make an entry in the scheduled list of commands to execute.  The
     time may be specified in either absolute or relative time.  With
     no arguments, prints the list of scheduled commands.  With the
     argument `-ITEM', removes the given item from the list.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/stat Module,  Next: The zsh/termcap Module,  Prev: The zsh/sched Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/stat Module
===================

The zsh/stat module makes available one builtin command:

stat [ -gnNolLtTrs ] [ -f FD ] [ -H HASH ] [ -A ARRAY ] [ -F FMT ] [ +ELEMENT ] [ FILE ... ]
     The command acts as a front end to the stat system call (see man
     page stat(2)).  If the stat call fails, the appropriate system
     error message printed and status 1 is returned.  The fields of
     struct stat give information about the files provided as arguments
     to the command.  In addition to those available from the stat
     call, an extra element `link' is provided.  These elements are:

    device
          The number of the device on which the file resides.

    inode
          The unique number of the file on this device (`_inode_'
          number).

    mode
          The mode of the file; that is, the file's type and access
          permissions.  With the -s option, this will be returned as a
          string corresponding to the first column in the display of
          the ls -l command.

    nlink
          The number of hard links to the file.

    uid
          The user ID of the owner of the file.  With the -s option,
          this is displayed as a user name.

    gid
          The group ID of the file.  With the -s option, this is
          displayed as a group name.

    rdev
          The raw device number.  This is only useful for special
          devices.

    size
          The size of the file in bytes.

    atime
    mtime
    ctime
          The last access, modification and inode change times of the
          file, respectively, as the number of seconds since midnight
          GMT on 1st January, 1970.  With the -s option, these are
          printed as strings for the local time zone; the format can be
          altered with the -F option, and with the -g option the times
          are in GMT.

    blksize
          The number of bytes in one allocation block on the device on
          which the file resides.

    block
          The number of disk blocks used by the file.

    link
          If the file is a link and the -L option is in effect, this
          contains the name of the file linked to, otherwise it is
          empty.  Note that if this element is selected (``stat +link'')
          then the -L option is automatically used.


     A particular element may be selected by including its name
     preceded by a `+' in the option list; only one element is allowed.
     The element may be shortened to any unique set of leading
     characters.  Otherwise, all elements will be shown for all files.

     Options:

    -A ARRAY
          Instead of displaying the results on standard output, assign
          them to an ARRAY, one struct stat element per array element
          for each file in order.  In this case neither the name of the
          element nor the name of the files appears in ARRAY unless the
          -t or -n options were given, respectively.  If -t is given,
          the element name appears as a prefix to the appropriate array
          element; if -n is given, the file name appears as a separate
          array element preceding all the others.  Other formatting
          options are respected.

    -H HASH
          Similar to -A, but instead assign the values to HASH.  The
          keys are the elements listed above.  If the -n option is
          provided then the name of the file is included in the hash
          with key name.

    -f FD
          Use the file on file descriptor FD instead of named files; no
          list of file names is allowed in this case.

    -F FMT
          Supplies a strftime (see man page strftime(3)) string for the
          formatting of the time elements.  The -s option is implied.

    -g
          Show the time elements in the GMT time zone.  The -s option
          is implied.

    -l
          List the names of the type elements (to standard output or an
          array as appropriate) and return immediately; options other
          than -A and arguments are ignored.

    -L
          Perform an lstat (see man page lstat(2)) rather than a stat
          system call.  In this case, if the file is a link, information
          about the link itself rather than the target file is returned.
          This option is required to make the link element useful.

    -n
          Always show the names of files.  Usually these are only shown
          when output is to standard output and there is more than one
          file in the list.

    -N
          Never show the names of files.

    -o
          If a raw file mode is printed, show it in octal, which is
          more useful for human consumption than the default of
          decimal.  A leading zero will be printed in this case.  Note
          that this does not affect whether a raw or formatted file
          mode is shown, which is controlled by the -r and -s options,
          nor whether a mode is shown at all.

    -r
          Print raw data (the default format) alongside string data
          (the -s format); the string data appears in parentheses after
          the raw data.

    -s
          Print mode, uid, gid and the three time elements as strings
          instead of numbers.  In each case the format is like that of
          ls -l.

    -t
          Always show the type names for the elements of struct stat.
          Usually these are only shown when output is to standard
          output and no individual element has been selected.

    -T
          Never show the type names of the struct stat elements.




File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/termcap Module,  Next: The zsh/terminfo Module,  Prev: The zsh/stat Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/termcap Module
======================

The zsh/termcap module makes available one builtin command:

echotc CAP [ ARG ... ]
     Output the termcap value corresponding to the capability CAP, with
     optional arguments.


The zsh/termcap module makes available one parameter:

termcap
     An associative array that maps termcap capability codes to their
     values.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/terminfo Module,  Next: The zsh/zftp Module,  Prev: The zsh/termcap Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/terminfo Module
=======================

The zsh/terminfo module makes available one builtin command:

echoti CAP
     Output the terminfo value corresponding to the capability CAP.


The zsh/terminfo module makes available one parameter:

terminfo
     An associative array that maps terminfo capability names to their
     values.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zftp Module,  Next: The zsh/zle Module,  Prev: The zsh/terminfo Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zftp Module
===================

The zsh/zftp module makes available one builtin command:

zftp SUBCOMMAND [ ARGS ]
     The zsh/zftp module is a client for FTP (file transfer protocol).
     It is implemented as a builtin to allow full use of shell command
     line editing, file I/O, and job control mechanisms.  Often, users
     will access it via shell functions providing a more powerful
     interface; a set is provided with the zsh distribution and is
     described in *Note Zftp Function System::.  However, the zftp
     command is entirely usable in its own right.

     All commands consist of the command name zftp followed by the name
     of a subcommand.  These are listed below.  The return status of
     each subcommand is supposed to reflect the success or failure of
     the remote operation.  See a description of the variable
     ZFTP_VERBOSE for more information on how responses from the server
     may be printed.


Subcommands
-----------

open HOST [ USER [ PASSWORD [ ACCOUNT ] ] ]
     Open a new FTP session to HOST, which may be the name of a TCP/IP
     connected host or an IP number in the standard dot notation.
     Remaining arguments are passed to the login subcommand.  Note that
     if no arguments beyond HOST are supplied, open will _not_
     automatically call login.  If no arguments at all are supplied,
     open will use the parameters set by the params subcommand.

     After a successful open, the shell variables ZFTP_HOST, ZFTP_IP
     and ZFTP_SYSTEM are available; see `Variables' below.

login [ NAME [ PASSWORD [ ACCOUNT ] ] ]
user [ NAME [ PASSWORD [ ACCOUNT ] ] ]
     Login the user NAME with parameters PASSWORD and ACCOUNT.  Any of
     the parameters can be omitted, and will be read from standard
     input if needed (NAME is always needed).  If standard input is a
     terminal, a prompt for each one will be printed on standard error
     and PASSWORD will not be echoed.  If any of the parameters are not
     used, a warning message is printed.

     After a successful login, the shell variables ZFTP_USER,
     ZFTP_ACCOUNT and ZFTP_PWD are available; see `Variables' below.

     This command may be re-issued when a user is already logged in, and
     the server will first be reinitialized for a new user.

params [ HOST [ USER [ PASSWORD [ ACCOUNT ] ] ] ]
params -
     Store the given parameters for a later open command with no
     arguments.  Only those given on the command line will be
     remembered.  If no arguments are given, the parameters currently
     set are printed, although the password will appear as a line of
     stars; the return value is one if no parameters were set, zero
     otherwise.

     Any of the parameters may be specified as a `?', which may need to
     be quoted to protect it from shell expansion.  In this case, the
     appropriate parameter will be read from stdin as with the login
     subcommand, including special handling of PASSWORD.  If the `?' is
     followed by a string, that is used as the prompt for reading the
     parameter instead of the default message (any necessary
     punctuation and whitespace should be included at the end of the
     prompt).  The first letter of the parameter (only) may be quoted
     with a `\'; hence an argument "\\$word" guarantees that the string
     from the shell parameter $word will be treated literally, whether
     or not it begins with a `?'.

     If instead a single `-' is given, the existing parameters, if any,
     are deleted.  In that case, calling open with no arguments will
     cause an error.

     The list of parameters is not deleted after a close, however it
     will be deleted if the zsh/zftp module is unloaded.

     For example,

          zftp params ftp.elsewhere.xx juser '?Password for juser: '

     will store the host ftp.elsewhere.xx and the user juser and then
     prompt the user for the corresponding password with the given
     prompt.

test
     Test the connection; if the server has reported that it has closed
     the connection (maybe due to a timeout), return status 2; if no
     connection was open anyway, return status 1; else return status 0.
     The test subcommand is silent, apart from messages printed by the
     $ZFTP_VERBOSE mechanism, or error messages if the connection
     closes.  There is no network overhead for this test.

     The test is only supported on systems with either the select(2) or
     poll(2) system calls; otherwise the message `not supported on this
     system' is printed instead.

     The test subcommand will automatically be called at the start of
     any other subcommand for the current session when a connection is
     open.

cd DIRECTORY
     Change the remote directory to DIRECTORY.  Also alters the shell
     variable ZFTP_PWD.

cdup
     Change the remote directory to the one higher in the directory
     tree.  Note that cd .. will also work correctly on non-UNIX
     systems.

dir [ ARGS... ]
     Give a (verbose) listing of the remote directory.  The ARGS are
     passed directly to the server. The command's behaviour is
     implementation dependent, but a UNIX server will typically
     interpret ARGS as arguments to the ls command and with no
     arguments return the result of `ls -l'. The directory is listed to
     standard output.

ls [ ARGS ]
     Give a (short) listing of the remote directory.  With no ARGS,
     produces a raw list of the files in the directory, one per line.
     Otherwise, up to vagaries of the server implementation, behaves
     similar to dir.

type [ TYPE ]
     Change the type for the transfer to TYPE, or print the current type
     if TYPE is absent.  The allowed values are `A' (ASCII), `I'
     (Image, i.e. binary), or `B' (a synonym for `I').

     The FTP default for a transfer is ASCII.  However, if zftp finds
     that the remote host is a UNIX machine with 8-bit byes, it will
     automatically switch to using binary for file transfers upon open.
     This can subsequently be overridden.

     The transfer type is only passed to the remote host when a data
     connection is established; this command involves no network
     overhead.

ascii
     The same as type A.

binary
     The same as type I.

mode [ S | B ]
     Set the mode type to stream (S) or block (B).  Stream mode is the
     default; block mode is not widely supported.

remote FILES...
local [ FILES... ]
     Print the size and last modification time of the remote or local
     files.  If there is more than one item on the list, the name of the
     file is printed first.  The first number is the file size, the
     second is the last modification time of the file in the format
     CCYYMMDDhhmmSS consisting of year, month, date, hour, minutes and
     seconds in GMT.  Note that this format, including the length, is
     guaranteed, so that time strings can be directly compared via the
     [[ builtin's < and > operators, even if they are too long to be
     represented as integers.

     Not all servers support the commands for retrieving this
     information.  In that case, the remote command will print nothing
     and return status 2, compared with status 1 for a file not found.

     The local command (but not remote) may be used with no arguments,
     in which case the information comes from examining file descriptor
     zero.  This is the same file as seen by a put command with no
     further redirection.

get FILE [...]
     Retrieve all FILEs from the server, concatenating them and sending
     them to standard output.

put FILE [...]
     For each FILE, read a file from standard input and send that to
     the remote host with the given name.

append FILE [...]
     As put, but if the remote FILE already exists, data is appended to
     it instead of overwriting it.

getat FILE POINT
putat FILE POINT
appendat FILE POINT
     Versions of get, put and append which will start the transfer at
     the given POINT in the remote FILE.  This is useful for appending
     to an incomplete local file.  However, note that this ability is
     not universally supported by servers (and is not quite the
     behaviour specified by the standard).

delete FILE [...]
     Delete the list of files on the server.

mkdir DIRECTORY
     Create a new directory DIRECTORY on the server.

rmdir DIRECTORY
     Delete the directory DIRECTORY  on the server.

rename OLD-NAME NEW-NAME
     Rename file OLD-NAME to NEW-NAME on the server.

site ARGS...
     Send a host-specific command to the server.  You will probably
     only need this if instructed by the server to use it.

quote ARGS...
     Send the raw FTP command sequence to the server.  You should be
     familiar with the FTP command set as defined in RFC959 before doing
     this.  Useful commands may include STAT and HELP.  Note also the
     mechanism for returning messages as described for the variable
     ZFTP_VERBOSE below, in particular that all messages from the
     control connection are sent to standard error.

close
quit
     Close the current data connection.  This unsets the shell
     parameters ZFTP_HOST, ZFTP_IP, ZFTP_SYSTEM, ZFTP_USER,
     ZFTP_ACCOUNT, ZFTP_PWD, ZFTP_TYPE and ZFTP_MODE.

session [ SESSNAME ]
     Allows multiple FTP sessions to be used at once.  The name of the
     session is an arbitrary string of characters; the default session
     is called `default'.  If this command is called without an
     argument, it will list all the current sessions; with an argument,
     it will either switch to the existing session called SESSNAME, or
     create a new session of that name.

     Each session remembers the status of the connection, the set of
     connection-specific shell parameters (the same set as are unset
     when a connection closes, as given in the description of close),
     and any user parameters specified with the params subcommand.
     Changing to a previous session restores those values; changing to
     a new session initialises them in the same way as if zftp had just
     been loaded.  The name of the current session is given by the
     parameter ZFTP_SESSION.

rmsession [ SESSNAME ]
     Delete a session; if a name is not given, the current session is
     deleted.  If the current session is deleted, the earliest existing
     session becomes the new current session, otherwise the current
     session is not changed.  If the session being deleted is the only
     one, a new session called `default' is created and becomes the
     current session; note that this is a new session even if the
     session being deleted is also called `default'. It is recommended
     that sessions not be deleted while background commands which use
     zftp are still active.


Parameters
----------

The following shell parameters are used by zftp.  Currently none of
them are special.

ZFTP_TMOUT
     Integer.  The time in seconds to wait for a network operation to
     complete before returning an error.  If this is not set when the
     module is loaded, it will be given the default value 60.  A value
     of zero turns off timeouts.  If a timeout occurs on the control
     connection it will be closed.  Use a larger value if this occurs
     too frequently.

ZFTP_IP
     Readonly.  The IP address of the current connection in dot
     notation.

ZFTP_HOST
     Readonly.  The hostname of the current remote server.  If the host
     was opened as an IP number, ZFTP_HOST contains that instead; this
     saves the overhead for a name lookup, as IP numbers are most
     commonly used when a nameserver is unavailable.

ZFTP_SYSTEM
     Readonly.  The system type string returned by the server in
     response to an FTP SYST request.  The most interesting case is a
     string beginning "UNIX Type: L8", which ensures maximum
     compatibility with a local UNIX host.

ZFTP_TYPE
     Readonly.  The type to be used for data transfers , either `A' or
     `I'.   Use the type subcommand to change this.

ZFTP_USER
     Readonly.  The username currently logged in, if any.

ZFTP_ACCOUNT
     Readonly.  The account name of the current user, if any.  Most
     servers do not require an account name.

ZFTP_PWD
     Readonly.  The current directory on the server.

ZFTP_CODE
     Readonly.  The three digit code of the last FTP reply from the
     server as a string.  This can still be read after the connection
     is closed, and is not changed when the current session changes.

ZFTP_REPLY
     Readonly.  The last line of the last reply sent by the server.
     This can still be read after the connection is closed, and is not
     changed when the current session changes.

ZFTP_SESSION
     Readonly.  The name of the current FTP session; see the
     description of the session subcommand.

ZFTP_PREFS
     A string of preferences for altering aspects of zftp's behaviour.
     Each preference is a single character.  The following are defined:

    P
          Passive:  attempt to make the remote server initiate data
          transfers.  This is slightly more efficient than sendport
          mode.  If the letter S occurs later in the string, zftp will
          use sendport mode if passive mode is not available.

    S
          Sendport:  initiate transfers by the FTP PORT command.  If
          this occurs before any P in the string, passive mode will
          never be attempted.

    D
          Dumb:  use only the bare minimum of FTP commands.  This
          prevents the variables ZFTP_SYSTEM and ZFTP_PWD from being
          set, and will mean all connections default to ASCII type.  It
          may prevent ZFTP_SIZE from being set during a transfer if the
          server does not send it anyway (many servers do).


     If ZFTP_PREFS is not set when zftp is loaded, it will be set to a
     default of `PS', i.e. use passive mode if available, otherwise
     fall back to sendport mode.

ZFTP_VERBOSE
     A string of digits between 0 and 5 inclusive, specifying which
     responses from the server should be printed.  All responses go to
     standard error.  If any of the numbers 1 to 5 appear in the string,
     raw responses from the server with reply codes beginning with that
     digit will be printed to standard error.  The first digit of the
     three digit reply code is defined by RFC959 to correspond to:

    1.
          A positive preliminary reply.

    2.
          A positive completion reply.

    3.
          A positive intermediate reply.

    4.
          A transient negative completion reply.

    5.
          A permanent negative completion reply.


     It should be noted that, for unknown reasons, the reply `Service
     not available', which forces termination of a connection, is
     classified as 421, i.e. `transient negative', an interesting
     interpretation of the word `transient'.

     The code 0 is special:  it indicates that all but the last line of
     multiline replies read from the server will be printed to standard
     error in a processed format.  By convention, servers use this
     mechanism for sending information for the user to read.  The
     appropriate reply code, if it matches the same response, takes
     priority.

     If ZFTP_VERBOSE is not set when zftp is loaded, it will be set to
     the default value 450, i.e., messages destined for the user and
     all errors will be printed.  A null string is valid and specifies
     that no messages should be printed.


Functions
---------

zftp_chpwd
     If this function is set by the user, it is called every time the
     directory changes on the server, including when a user is logged
     in, or when a connection is closed.  In the last case, $ZFTP_PWD
     will be unset; otherwise it will reflect the new directory.

zftp_progress
     If this function is set by the user, it will be called during a
     get, put or append operation each time sufficient data has been
     received from the host.  During a get, the data is sent to
     standard output, so it is vital that this function should write to
     standard error or directly to the terminal, _not_ to standard
     output.

     When it is called with a transfer in progress, the following
     additional shell parameters are set:

    ZFTP_FILE
          The name of the remote file being transferred from or to.

    ZFTP_TRANSFER
          A G for a get operation and a P for a put operation.

    ZFTP_SIZE
          The total size of the complete file being transferred: the
          same as the first value provided by the remote and local
          subcommands for a particular file.  If the server cannot
          supply this value for a remote file being retrieved, it will
          not be set.  If input is from a pipe the value may be
          incorrect and correspond simply to a full pipe buffer.

    ZFTP_COUNT
          The amount of data so far transferred; a number between zero
          and $ZFTP_SIZE, if that is set.  This number is always
          available.


     The function is initially called with ZFTP_TRANSFER set
     appropriately and ZFTP_COUNT set to zero.  After the transfer is
     finished, the function will be called one more time with
     ZFTP_TRANSFER set to GF or PF, in case it wishes to tidy up.  It
     is otherwise never called twice with the same value of ZFTP_COUNT.

     Sometimes the progress meter may cause disruption.  It is up to the
     user to decide whether the function should be defined and to use
     unfunction when necessary.


Problems
--------

A connection may not be opened in the left hand side of a pipe as this
occurs in a subshell and the file information is not updated in the main
shell.  In the case of type or mode changes or closing the connection
in a subshell, the information is returned but variables are not
updated until the next call to zftp.  Other status changes in subshells
will not be reflected by changes to the variables (but should be
otherwise harmless).

Deleting sessions while a zftp command is active in the background can
have unexpected effects, even if it does not use the session being
deleted.  This is because all shell subprocesses share information on
the state of all connections, and deleting a session changes the
ordering of that information.

On some operating systems, the control connection is not valid after a
fork(), so that operations in subshells, on the left hand side of a
pipeline, or in the background are not possible, as they should be.
This is presumably a bug in the operating system.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zle Module,  Next: The zsh/zleparameter Module,  Prev: The zsh/zftp Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zle Module
==================

The zsh/zle module contains the Zsh Line Editor.  See *Note Zsh Line
Editor::.


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zleparameter Module,  Next: The zsh/zprof Module,  Prev: The zsh/zle Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zleparameter Module
===========================

The zsh/zleparameter module defines two special parameters that can be
used to access internal information of the Zsh Line Editor (see *Note
Zsh Line Editor::).

keymaps
     This array contains the names of the keymaps currently defined.

widgets
     This associative array contains one entry per widget defined. The
     name of the widget is the key and the value gives information
     about the widget. It is either the string `builtin' for builtin
     widgets, a string of the form `user:NAME' for user-defined widgets,
     where NAME is the name of the shell function implementing the
     widget, or it is a string of the form `completion:TYPE:NAME', for
     completion widgets. In the last case TYPE is the name of the
     builtin widgets the completion widget imitates in its behavior and
     NAME is the name of the shell function implementing the completion
     widget.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zprof Module,  Next: The zsh/zpty Module,  Prev: The zsh/zleparameter Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zprof Module
====================

When loaded, the zsh/zprof causes shell functions to be profiled.  The
profiling results can be obtained with the zprof builtin command made
available by this module.  There is no way to turn profiling off other
than unloading the module.

zprof [ -c ]
     Without the -c option, zprof lists profiling results to standard
     output.  The format is comparable to that of commands like gprof.

     At the top there is a summary listing all functions that were
     called at least once.  This summary is sorted in decreasing order
     of the amount of time spent in each.  The lines contain the number
     of the function in order, which is used in other parts of the list
     in suffixes of the form `[NUM]', then the number of calls made to
     the function.  The next three columns list the time in
     milliseconds spent in the function and its descendents, the average
     time in milliseconds spent in the function and its descendents per
     call and the percentage of time spent in all shell functions used
     in this function and its descendents.  The following three columns
     give the same information, but counting only the time spent in the
     function itself.  The final column shows the name of the function.

     After the summary, detailed information about every function that
     was invoked is listed, sorted in decreasing order of the amount of
     time spent in each function and its descendents.  Each of these
     entries consists of descriptions for the functions that called the
     function described, the function itself, and the functions that
     were called from it.  The description for the function itself has
     the same format as in the summary (and shows the same
     information).  The other lines don't show the number of the
     function at the beginning and have their function named indented to
     make it easier to distinguish the line showing the function
     described in the section from the surrounding lines.

     The information shown in this case is almost the same as in the
     summary, but only refers to the call hierarchy being displayed.
     For example, for a calling function the column showing the total
     running time lists the time spent in the described function and
     its descendents only for the times when it was called from that
     particular calling function.  Likewise, for a called function,
     this columns lists the total time spent in the called function and
     its descendents only for the times when it was called from the
     function described.

     Also in this case, the column showing the number of calls to a
     function also shows a slash and then the total number of
     invocations made to the called function.

     As long as the zsh/zprof module is loaded, profiling will be done
     and multiple invocations of the zprof builtin command will show the
     times and numbers of calls since the module was loaded.  With the
     -c option, the zprof builtin command will reset its internal
     counters and will not show the listing.  )


File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zpty Module,  Next: The zsh/zutil Module,  Prev: The zsh/zprof Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zpty Module
===================

The zsh/zpty module offers one builtin:

zpty [ -e ] [ -b ] NAME [ ARG ... ]
     The arguments following NAME are concatenated with spaces between,
     then executed as a command, as if passed to the eval builtin.  The
     command runs under a newly assigned pseudo-terminal; this is
     useful for running commands non-interactively which expect an
     interactive environment.  The NAME is not part of the command, but
     is used to refer to this command in later calls to zpty.

     With the -e option, the pseudo-terminal is set up so that input
     characters are echoed.

     With the -b option, input to and output from the pseudo-terminal
     are made non-blocking.

zpty -d [ NAMES ... ]
     The second form, with the -d option, is used to delete commands
     previously started, by supplying a list of their NAMEs.  If no
     NAMES are given, all commands are deleted.  Deleting a command
     causes the HUP signal to be sent to the corresponding process.

zpty -w [ -n ] NAME [ STRINGS ... ]
     The -w option can be used to send the to command NAME the given
     STRINGS as input (separated by spaces).  If the -n option is _not_
     given, a newline is added at the end.

     If no STRINGS are provided, the standard input is copied to the
     pseudo-terminal; this may stop before copying the full input if the
     pseudo-terminal is non-blocking.

     Note that the command under the pseudo-terminal sees this input as
     if it were typed, so beware when sending special tty driver
     characters such as word-erase, line-kill, and end-of-file.

zpty -r [ -t ] NAME [ PARAM [ PATTERN ] ]
     The -r option can be used to read the output of the command NAME.
     With only a NAME argument, the output read is copied to the
     standard output.  Unless the pseudo-terminal is non-blocking,
     copying continues until the command under the pseudo-terminal
     exits; when non-blocking, only as much output as is immediately
     available is copied.  The return value is zero if any output is
     copied.

     When also given a PARAM argument, at most one line is read and
     stored in the parameter named PARAM.  Less than a full line may be
     read if the pseudo-terminal is non-blocking.  The return value is
     zero if at least one character is stored in PARAM.

     If a PATTERN is given as well, output is read until the whole
     string read matches the PATTERN, even in the non-blocking case.
     The return value is zero if the string read matches the pattern,
     or if the command has exited but at least one character could
     still be read.  As of this writing, a maximum of one megabyte of
     output can be consumed this way; if a full megabyte is read
     without matching the pattern, the return value is non-zero.

     In all cases, the return value is non-zero if nothing could be
     read, and is 2 if this is because the command has finished.

     If the -r option is combined with the -t option, zpty tests
     whether output is available before trying to read.  If no output is
     available, zpty immediately returns the value 1.

zpty -t NAME
     The -t option without the -r option can be used to test whether
     the command NAME is still running.  It returns a zero value if the
     command is running and a non-zero value otherwise.

zpty [ -L ]
     The last form, without any arguments, is used to list the commands
     currently defined.  If the -L option is given, this is done in the
     form of calls to the zpty builtin.



File: zsh.info,  Node: The zsh/zutil Module,  Prev: The zsh/zpty Module,  Up: Zsh Modules

The zsh/zutil Module
====================

The zsh/zutil module only adds some builtins:

zstyle [ -L ]
zstyle [ -e | - | -- ] PATTERN STYLE STRINGS ...
zstyle -d [ PATTERN [ STYLES ... ] ]
zstyle -g NAME [ PATTERN [ STYLE ] ]
zstyle -abs CONTEXT STYLE NAME [ SEP ]
zstyle -Tt CONTEXT STYLE [ STRINGS ...]
zstyle -m CONTEXT STYLE PATTERN
     This builtin command is used to define and lookup styles.  Styles
     are pairs of names and values, where the values consist of any
     number of strings.  They are stored together with patterns and
     lookup is done by giving a string, called the `context', which is
     compared to the patterns.  The definition stored for the first
     matching pattern will be returned.

     For ordering of comparisons, patterns are searched from most
     specific to least specific, and patterns that are equally specific
     keep the order in which they were defined.  A pattern is
     considered to be more specific than another if it contains more
     components (substrings separated by colons) or if the patterns for
     the components are more specific, where simple strings are
     considered to be more specific than patterns and complex patterns
     are considered to be more specific than the pattern `*'.

     The first form (without arguments) lists the definitions in the
     order zstyle will test them. If the -L option is given, listing is
     done in the form of calls to zstyle.  Forms with arguments:

    zstyle [ - | -- | -e ] PATTERN STYLE STRINGS ...
          Defines the given STYLE for the PATTERN with the STRINGS as
          the value.  If the -e option is given, the STRINGS will be
          concatenated (separated by spaces) and the resulting string
          will be evaluated (in the same way as it is done by the eval
          builtin command) when the style is looked up.  In this case
          the parameter `reply' must be assigned to set the strings
          returned after the evaluation.  Before evaluating the value,
          reply is unset, and if it is still unset after the
          evaluation, the style is treated as if it were not set.

    zstyle -d [ PATTERN [ STYLES ... ] ]
          Delete style definitions. Without arguments all definitions
          are deleted, with a PATTERN all definitions for that pattern
          are deleted and if any STYLES are given, then only those
          styles are deleted for the PATTERN.

    zstyle -g NAME [ PATTERN [ STYLE ] ]
          Retrieve a style definition. The NAME is used as the name of
          an array in which the results are stored. Without any further
          arguments, all PATTERNS defined are returned. With a PATTERN
          the styles defined for that pattern are returned and with
          both a PATTERN and a STYLE, the value strings of that
          combination is returned.


     The other forms can be used to look up or test patterns.

    zstyle -s CONTEXT STYLE NAME [ SEP ]
          The parameter NAME is set to the value of the style
          interpreted as a string.  If the value contains several
          strings they are concatenated with spaces (or with the SEP
          string if that is given) between them.

    zstyle -b CONTEXT STYLE NAME
          The value is stored in NAME as a boolean, i.e. as the string
          `yes' if the value has only one string and that string is
          equal to one of `yes', `true', `on', or `1'. If the value is
          any other string or has more than one string, the parameter
          is set to `no'.

    zstyle -a CONTEXT STYLE NAME
          The value is stored in NAME as an array. If NAME is declared
          as an associative array,  the first, third, etc. strings are
          used as the keys and the other strings are used as the values.

    zstyle -t CONTEXT STYLE [ STRINGS ...]
    zstyle -T CONTEXT STYLE [ STRINGS ...]
          Test the value of a style, i.e. the -t option only returns a
          status (sets $?).  Without any STRINGS the return status is
          zero if the style is defined for at least one matching
          pattern, has only one string in its value, and that is equal
          to one of `true', `yes', `on' or `1'. If any STRINGS are
          given the status is zero if and only if at least one of the
          STRINGS is equal to at least one of the strings in the value.
          If the style is not defined, the status is 2.

          The -T option tests the values of the style like -t, but it
          returns zero (rather than 2) if the style is not defined for
          any matching pattern.

    zstyle -m CONTEXT STYLE PATTERN
          Match a value. Returns status zero if the PATTERN matches at
          least one of the strings in the value.


zformat -f PARAM FORMAT SPECS ...
zformat -a ARRAY SEP SPECS ...
     This builtin provides two different forms of formatting. The first
     form is selected with the -f option. In this case the FORMAT
     string will be modified by replacing sequences starting with a
     percent sign in it with strings from the SPECS.  Each SPEC should
     be of the form `CHAR:STRING' which will cause every appearance of
     the sequence `%CHAR' in FORMAT to be replaced by the STRING.  The
     `%' sequence may also contain optional minimum and maximum field
     width specifications between the `%' and the `CHAR' in the form
     `%MIN.MAXc', i.e. the minimum field width is given first and if
     the maximum field width is used, it has to be preceded by a dot.
     Specifying a minimum field width makes the result be padded with
     spaces to the right if the STRING is shorter than the requested
     width.  Padding to the left can be achieved by giving a negative
     minimum field width.  If a maximum field width is specified, the
     STRING will be truncated after that many characters.  After all
     `%' sequences for the given SPECS have been processed, the
     resulting string is stored in the parameter PARAM.

     The second form, using the -a option, can be used for aligning
     strings.  Here, the SPECS are of the form `LEFT:RIGHT' where
     `LEFT' and `RIGHT' are arbitrary strings.  These strings are
     modified by replacing the colons by the SEP string and padding the
     LEFT strings with spaces to the right so that the SEP strings in
     the result (and hence the RIGHT strings after them) are all
     aligned if the strings are printed below each other.  All strings
     without a colon are left unchanged and all strings with an empty
     RIGHT string have the trailing colon removed.  In both cases the
     lengths of the strings are not used to determine how the other
     strings are to be aligned.  The resulting strings are stored in
     the ARRAY.

zregexparse
     This implements some internals of the _regex_arguments function.

zparseopts [ -D ] [ -K ] [ -E ] [ -a ARRAY ] [ -A ASSOC ] SPECS
     This builtin simplifies the parsing of options in positional
     parameters, i.e. the set of arguments given by $*.  Each SPEC
     describes one option and must be of the form `OPT[=ARRAY]'.  If an
     option described by OPT is found in the positional parameters it
     is copied into the ARRAY specified with the -a option; if the
     optional `=ARRAY' is given, it is instead copied into that array.

     Note that it is an error to give any SPEC without an `=ARRAY'
     unless one of the -a or -A options is used.

     Unless the -E option is given, parsing stops at the first string
     that isn't described by one of the SPECS.  Even with -E, parsing
     always stops at a positional parameter equal to `-' or `--'.

     The OPT description must be one of the following.  Any of the
     special characters can appear in the option name provided it is
     preceded by a backslash.

    NAME
    NAME+
          The NAME is the name of the option without the leading `-'.
          To specify a GNU-style long option, one of the usual two
          leading `-' must be included in NAME; for example, a `-file'
          option is represented by a NAME of `-file'.

          If a `+' appears after NAME, the option is appended to ARRAY
          each time it is found in the positional parameters; without
          the `+' only the _last_ occurrence of the option is preserved.

          If one of these forms is used, the option takes no argument,
          so parsing stops if the next positional parameter does not
          also begin with `-' (unless the -E option is used).

    NAME:
    NAME:-
    NAME::
          If one or two colons are given, the option takes an argument;
          with one colon, the argument is mandatory and with two colons
          it is optional.  The argument is appended to the ARRAY after
          the option itself.

          An optional argument is put into the same array element as
          the option name (note that this makes empty strings as
          arguments indistinguishable).  A mandatory argument is added
          as a separate element unless the `:-' form is used, in which
          case the argument is put into the same element.

          A `+' as described above may appear between the NAME and the
          first colon.


     The options of zparseopts itself are:

    -a ARRAY
          As described above, this names the default array in which to
          store the recognised options.

    -A ASSOC
          If this is given, the options and their values are also put
          into an associative array with the option names as keys and
          the arguments (if any) as the values.

    -D
          If this option is given, all options found are removed from
          the positional parameters of the calling shell or shell
          function, up to but not including any not described by the
          SPECS.  This is similar to using the shift builtin.

    -K
          With this option, the arrays specified with the -a and -A
          options and with the `=ARRAY' forms are kept unchanged when
          none of the SPECS for them is used.  This allows assignment
          of default values to them before calling zparseopts.

    -E
          This changes the parsing rules to _not_ stop at the first
          string that isn't described by one of the SPECs.  It can be
          used to test for or (if used together with -D) extract
          options and their arguments, ignoring all other options and
          arguments that may be in the positional parameters.


     For example,

          set -- -a -bx -c y -cz baz -cend
          zparseopts a=foo b:=bar c+:=bar

     will have the effect of

          foo=(-a)
          bar=(-b x -c y -c z)

     The arguments from `baz' on will not be used.

     As an example for the -E option, consider:

          set -- -a x -b y -c z arg1 arg2
          zparseopts -E -D b:=bar

     will have the effect of

          bar=(-b y)
          set -- -a x -c z arg1 arg2

     I.e., the option -b and its arguments are taken from the
     positional parameters and put into the array bar.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Zftp Function System,  Next: User Contributions,  Prev: Zsh Modules,  Up: Top

Zftp Function System
********************

Description
===========

This describes the set of shell functions supplied with the source
distribution as an interface to the zftp builtin command, allowing you
to perform FTP operations from the shell command line or within
functions or scripts.  The interface is similar to a traditional FTP
client (e.g. the ftp command itself, see man page ftp(1)), but as it is
entirely done within the shell all the familiar completion, editing and
globbing features, and so on, are present, and macros are particularly
simple to write as they are just ordinary shell functions.

The prerequisite is that the zftp command, as described in *Note The
zsh/zftp Module:: , must be available in the version of zsh installed
at your site.  If the shell is configured to load new commands at run
time, it probably is: typing `zmodload zsh/zftp' will make sure (if
that runs silently, it has worked).  If this is not the case, it is
possible zftp was linked into the shell anyway: to test this, type
`which zftp' and if zftp is available you will get the message `zftp:
shell built-in command'.

Commands given directly with zftp builtin may be interspersed between
the functions in this suite; in a few cases, using zftp directly may
cause some of the status information stored in shell parameters to
become invalid.  Note in particular the description of the variables
$ZFTP_TMOUT, $ZFTP_PREFS and $ZFTP_VERBOSE for zftp.

* Menu:

* Installation::
* Zftp Functions::
* Miscellaneous Features::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Installation,  Next: Zftp Functions,  Up: Zftp Function System

Installation
============

You should make sure all the functions from the Functions/Zftp
directory of the source distribution are available; they all begin with
the two letters `zf'.  They may already have been installed on your
system; otherwise, you will need to find them and copy them.  The
directory should appear as one of the elements of the $fpath array
(this should already be the case if they were installed), and at least
the function zfinit should be autoloaded; it will autoload the rest.
Finally, to initialize the use of the system you need to call the
zfinit function.  The following code in your .zshrc will arrange for
this; assume the functions are stored in the directory ~/myfns:

     fpath=(~/myfns $fpath)
     autoload -U zfinit
     zfinit

Note that zfinit assumes you are using the zmodload method to load the
zftp command.  If it is already built into the shell, change zfinit to
zfinit -n.  It is helpful (though not essential) if the call to zfinit
appears after any code to initialize the new completion system, else
unnecessary compctl commands will be given.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Zftp Functions,  Next: Miscellaneous Features,  Prev: Installation,  Up: Zftp Function System

Functions
=========

The sequence of operations in performing a file transfer is essentially
the same as that in a standard FTP client.  Note that, due to a quirk
of the shell's getopts builtin, for those functions that handle options
you must use `--' rather than `-' to ensure the remaining arguments are
treated literally (a single `-' is treated as an argument).

Opening a connection
--------------------

zfparams [ HOST [ USER [ PASSWORD ... ] ] ]
     Set or show the parameters for a future zfopen with no arguments.
     If no arguments are given, the current parameters are displayed
     (the password will be shown as a line of asterisks).  If a host is
     given, and either the USER or PASSWORD is not, they will be
     prompted for; also, any parameter given as `?' will be prompted
     for, and if the `?' is followed by a string, that will be used as
     the prompt.  As zfopen calls zfparams to store the parameters,
     this usually need not be called directly.

     A single argument `-' will delete the stored parameters.  This will
     also cause the memory of the last directory (and so on) on the
     other host to be deleted.

zfopen [ -1 ] [ HOST [ USER [ PASSWORD [ ACCOUNT ] ] ] ]
     If HOST is present, open a connection to that host under username
     USER with password PASSWORD (and, on the rare occasions when it is
     necessary, account ACCOUNT).  If a necessary parameter is missing
     or given as `?' it will be prompted for.  If HOST is not present,
     use a previously stored set of parameters.

     If the command was successful, and the terminal is compatible with
     xterm or is sun-cmd, a summary will appear in the title bar,
     giving the local host:directory and the remote host:directory;
     this is handled by the function zftp_chpwd, described below.

     Normally, the HOST, USER and PASSWORD are internally recorded for
     later re-opening, either by a zfopen with no arguments, or
     automatically (see below).  With the option `-1', no information is
     stored.  Also, if an open command with arguments failed, the
     parameters will not be retained (and any previous parameters will
     also be deleted).  A zfopen on its own, or a zfopen -1, never
     alters the stored parameters.

     Both zfopen and zfanon (but not zfparams) understand URLs of the
     form ftp://HOST/PATH... as meaning to connect to the HOST, then
     change directory to PATH (which must be a directory, not a file).
     The `ftp://' can be omitted; the trailing `/' is enough to trigger
     recognition of the PATH.  Note prefixes other than `ftp:' are not
     recognized, and that all characters after the first slash beyond
     HOST are significant in PATH.

zfanon [ -1 ] HOST
     Open a connection HOST for anonymous FTP.  The username used is
     `anonymous'.  The password (which will be reported the first time)
     is generated as USER@HOST; this is then stored in the shell
     parameter $EMAIL_ADDR which can alternatively be set manually to a
     suitable string.


Directory management
--------------------

zfcd [ DIR ]
zfcd -
zfcd OLD NEW
     Change the current directory on the remote server:  this is
     implemented to have many of the features of the shell builtin cd.

     In the first form with DIR present, change to the directory DIR.
     The command `zfcd ..' is treated specially, so is guaranteed to
     work on non-UNIX servers (note this is handled internally by
     zftp).  If DIR is omitted, has the effect of `zfcd ~'.

     The second form changes to the directory previously current.

     The third form attempts to change the current directory by
     replacing the first occurrence of the string OLD with the string
     NEW in the current directory.

     Note that in this command, and indeed anywhere a remote filename is
     expected, the string which on the local host corresponds to `~' is
     converted back to a `~' before being passed to the remote machine.
     This is convenient because of the way expansion is performed on
     the command line before zfcd receives a string.  For example,
     suppose the command is `zfcd ~/foo'.  The shell will expand this
     to a full path such as `zfcd /home/user2/pws/foo'.  At this stage,
     zfcd recognises the initial path as corresponding to `~' and will
     send the directory to the remote host as ~/foo, so that the `~'
     will be expanded by the server to the correct remote host
     directory.  Other named directories of the form `~name' are not
     treated in this fashion.

zfhere
     Change directory on the remote server to the one corresponding to
     the current local directory, with special handling of `~' as in
     zfcd.  For example, if the current local directory is ~/foo/bar,
     then zfhere performs the effect of `zfcd ~/foo/bar'.

zfdir [ -rfd ] [ - ] [ DIR-OPTIONS ] [ DIR ]
     Produce a long directory listing.  The arguments DIR-OPTIONS and
     DIR are passed directly to the server and their effect is
     implementation dependent, but specifying a particular remote
     directory DIR is usually possible.  The output is passed through a
     pager given by the environment variable $PAGER, or `more' if that
     is not set.

     The directory is usually cached for re-use.  In fact, two caches
     are maintained.  One is for use when there is no DIR-OPTIONS or
     DIR, i.e. a full listing of the current remote directory; it is
     flushed when the current remote directory changes.  The other is
     kept for repeated use of zfdir with the same arguments; for
     example, repeated use of `zfdir /pub/gnu' will only require the
     directory to be retrieved on the first call.  Alternatively, this
     cache can be re-viewed with the -r option.  As relative
     directories will confuse zfdir, the -f option can be used to force
     the cache to be flushed before the directory is listed.  The
     option -d will delete both caches without showing a directory
     listing; it will also delete the cache of file names in the
     current remote directory, if any.

zfls [ LS-OPTIONS ] [ DIR ]
     List files on the remote server.  With no arguments, this will
     produce a simple list of file names for the current remote
     directory.  Any arguments are passed directly to the server.  No
     pager and no caching is used.


Status commands
---------------

zftype [ TYPE ]
     With no arguments, show the type of data to be transferred,
     usually ASCII or binary.  With an argument, change the type: the
     types `A' or `ASCII' for ASCII data and `B' or `BINARY', `I' or
     `IMAGE' for binary data are understood case-insensitively.

zfstat [ -v ]
     Show the status of the current or last connection, as well as the
     status of some of zftp's status variables.  With the -v option, a
     more verbose listing is produced by querying the server for its
     version of events, too.


Retrieving files
----------------

The commands for retrieving files all take at least two options. -G
suppresses remote filename expansion which would otherwise be performed
(see below for a more detailed description of that).  -t attempts to
set the modification time of the local file to that of the remote file:
this requires version 5 of perl, see the description of the function
zfrtime below for more information.

zfget [ -Gtc ] FILE1 ...
     Retrieve all the listed files FILE1 ... one at a time from the
     remote server.  If a file contains a `/', the full name is passed
     to the remote server, but the file is stored locally under the
     name given by the part after the final `/'.  The option -c (cat)
     forces all files to be sent as a single stream to standard output;
     in this case the -t option has no effect.

zfuget [ -Gvst ] FILE1 ...
     As zfget, but only retrieve files where the version on the remote
     server is newer (has a later modification time), or where the
     local file does not exist.  If the remote file is older but the
     files have different sizes, or if the sizes are the same but the
     remote file is newer, the user will usually be queried.  With the
     option -s, the command runs silently and will always retrieve the
     file in either of those two cases.  With the option -v, the
     command prints more information about the files while it is
     working out whether or not to transfer them.

zfcget [ -Gt ] FILE1 ...
     As zfget, but if any of the local files exists, and is shorter than
     the corresponding remote file, the command assumes that it is the
     result of a partially completed transfer and attempts to transfer
     the rest of the file.  This is useful on a poor connection which
     keeps failing.

     Note that this requires a commonly implemented, but non-standard,
     version of the FTP protocol, so is not guaranteed to work on all
     servers.

zfgcp [ -Gt ] REMOTE-FILE LOCAL-FILE
zfgcp [ -Gt ] RFILE1 ... LDIR
     This retrieves files from the remote server with arguments behaving
     similarly to the cp command.

     In the first form, copy REMOTE-FILE from the server to the local
     file LOCAL-FILE.

     In the second form, copy all the remote files RFILE1 ... into the
     local directory LDIR retaining the same basenames.  This assumes
     UNIX directory semantics.


Sending files
-------------

zfput [ -r ] FILE1 ...
     Send all the FILE1 ... given separately to the remote server.  If a
     filename contains a `/', the full filename is used locally to find
     the file, but only the basename is used for the remote file name.

     With the option -r, if any of the FILES are directories they are
     sent recursively with all their subdirectories, including files
     beginning with `.'.  This requires that the remote machine
     understand UNIX file semantics, since `/' is used as a directory
     separator.

zfuput [ -vs ] FILE1 ...
     As zfput, but only send files which are newer than their local
     equivalents, or if the remote file does not exist.  The logic is
     the same as for zfuget, but reversed between local and remote
     files.

zfcput FILE1 ...
     As zfput, but if any remote file already exists and is shorter
     than the local equivalent, assume it is the result of an
     incomplete transfer and send the rest of the file to append to the
     existing part.  As the FTP append command is part of the standard
     set, this is in principle more likely to work than zfcget.

zfpcp LOCAL-FILE REMOTE-FILE
zfpcp LFILE1 ... RDIR
     This sends files to the remote server with arguments behaving
     similarly to the cp command.

     With two arguments, copy LOCAL-FILE to the server as REMOTE-FILE.

     With more than two arguments, copy all the local files LFILE1 ...
     into the existing remote directory RDIR retaining the same
     basenames.  This assumes UNIX directory semantics.

     A problem arises if you attempt to use zfpcp LFILE1 RDIR, i.e. the
     second form of copying but with two arguments, as the command has
     no simple way of knowing if RDIR corresponds to a directory or a
     filename.  It attempts to resolve this in various ways.  First, if
     the RDIR argument is `.' or `..' or ends in a slash, it is assumed
     to be a directory.  Secondly, if the operation of copying to a
     remote file in the first form failed, and the remote server sends
     back the expected failure code 553 and a reply including the
     string `Is a directory', then zfpcp will retry using the second
     form.


Closing the connection
----------------------

zfclose
     Close the connection.


Session management
------------------

zfsession [ -lvod ] [ SESSNAME ]
     Allows you to manage multiple FTP sessions at once.  By default,
     connections take place in a session called `default'; by giving the
     command `zfsession SESSNAME' you can change to a new or existing
     session with a name of your choice.  The new session remembers its
     own connection, as well as associated shell parameters, and also
     the host/user parameters set by zfparams.  Hence you can have
     different sessions set up to connect to different hosts, each
     remembering the appropriate host, user and password.

     With no arguments, zfsession prints the name of the current
     session; with the option -l it lists all sessions which currently
     exist, and with the option -v it gives a verbose list showing the
     host and directory for each session, where the current session is
     marked with an asterisk.  With -o, it will switch to the most
     recent previous session.

     With -d, the given session (or else the current one) is removed;
     everything to do with it is completely forgotten.  If it was the
     only session, a new session called `default' is created and made
     current.  It is safest not to delete sessions while background
     commands using zftp are active.

zftransfer SESS1:FILE1 SESS2:FILE2
     Transfer files between two sessions; no local copy is made.  The
     file is read from the session SESS1 as FILE1 and written to session
     SESS2 as file FILE2; FILE1 and FILE2 may be relative to the
     current directories of the session.  Either SESS1 or SESS2 may be
     omitted (though the colon should be retained if there is a
     possibility of a colon appearing in the file name) and defaults to
     the current session; FILE2 may be omitted or may end with a slash,
     in which case the basename of FILE1 will be added.  The sessions
     SESS1 and SESS2 must be distinct.

     The operation is performed using pipes, so it is required that the
     connections still be valid in a subshell, which is not the case
     under versions of some operating systems, presumably due to a
     system bug.


Bookmarks
---------

The two functions zfmark and zfgoto allow you to `bookmark' the present
location (host, user and directory) of the current FTP connection for
later use.  The file to be used for storing and retrieving bookmarks is
given by the parameter $ZFTP_BMFILE; if not set when one of the two
functions is called, it will be set to the file .zfbkmarks in the
directory where your zsh startup files live (usually ~).

zfmark [ BOOKMARK ]
     If given an argument, mark the current host, user and directory
     under the name BOOKMARK for later use by zfgoto.  If there is no
     connection open, use the values for the last connection
     immediately before it was closed; it is an error if there was
     none.  Any existing bookmark under the same name will be silently
     replaced.

     If not given an argument, list the existing bookmarks and the
     points to which they refer in the form USER@HOST:DIRECTORY; this
     is the format in which they are stored, and the file may be edited
     directly.

zfgoto [ -n ] BOOKMARK
     Return to the location given by BOOKMARK, as previously set by
     zfmark.  If the location has user `ftp' or `anonymous', open the
     connection with zfanon, so that no password is required.  If the
     user and host parameters match those stored for the current
     session, if any, those will be used, and again no password is
     required.  Otherwise a password will be prompted for.

     With the option -n, the bookmark is taken to be a nickname stored
     by the ncftp program in its bookmark file, which is assumed to be
     ~/.ncftp/bookmarks.  The function works identically in other ways.
     Note that there is no mechanism for adding or modifying ncftp
     bookmarks from the zftp functions.


Other functions
---------------

Mostly, these functions will not be called directly (apart from
zfinit), but are described here for completeness.  You may wish to
alter zftp_chpwd and zftp_progress, in particular.

zfinit [ -n ]
     As described above, this is used to initialize the zftp function
     system.  The -n option should be used if the zftp command is
     already built into the shell.

zfautocheck [ -dn ]
     This function is called to implement automatic reopening
     behaviour, as described in more detail below.  The options must
     appear in the first argument; -n prevents the command from
     changing to the old directory, while -d prevents it from setting
     the variable do_close, which it otherwise does as a flag for
     automatically closing the connection after a transfer.  The host
     and directory for the last session are stored in the variable
     $zflastsession, but the internal host/user/password parameters
     must also be correctly set.

zfcd_match PREFIX SUFFIX
     This performs matching for completion of remote directory names.
     If the remote server is UNIX, it will attempt to persuade the
     server to list the remote directory with subdirectories marked,
     which usually works but is not guaranteed.  On other hosts it
     simply calls zfget_match and hence completes all files, not just
     directories.  On some systems, directories may not even look like
     filenames.

zfget_match PREFIX SUFFIX
     This performs matching for completion of remote filenames.  It
     caches files for the current directory (only) in the shell
     parameter $zftp_fcache.  It is in the form to be called by the -K
     option of compctl, but also works when called from a widget-style
     completion function with PREFIX and SUFFIX set appropriately.

zfrglob VARNAME
     Perform remote globbing, as describes in more detail below.
     VARNAME is the name of a variable containing the pattern to be
     expanded; if there were any matches, the same variable will be set
     to the expanded set of filenames on return.

zfrtime LFILE RFILE [ TIME ]
     Set the local file LFILE to have the same modification time as the
     remote file RFILE, or the explicit time TIME in FTP format
     CCYYMMDDhhmmSS for the GMT timezone.

     Currently this requires perl version 5 to perform the conversion
     from GMT to local time.  This is unfortunately difficult to do
     using shell code alone.

zftp_chpwd
     This function is called every time a connection is opened, or
     closed, or the remote directory changes.  This version alters the
     title bar of an xterm-compatible or sun-cmd terminal emulator to
     reflect the local and remote hostnames and current directories.
     It works best when combined with the function chpwd.  In
     particular, a function of the form

          chpwd() {
            if [[ -n $ZFTP_USER ]]; then
              zftp_chpwd
            else
              # usual chpwd e.g put host:directory in title bar
            fi
          }

     fits in well.

zftp_progress
     This function shows the status of the transfer.  It will not write
     anything unless the output is going to a terminal; however, if you
     transfer files in the background, you should turn off progress
     reports by hand using `zstyle ':zftp:*' progress none'.  Note also
     that if you alter it, any output _must_ be to standard error, as
     standard output may be a file being received.  The form of the
     progress meter, or whether it is used at all, can be configured
     without altering the function, as described in the next section.

zffcache
     This is used to implement caching of files in the current
     directory for each session separately.  It is used by zfget_match
     and zfrglob.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Miscellaneous Features,  Prev: Zftp Functions,  Up: Zftp Function System

Miscellaneous Features
======================

Configuration
-------------

Various styles are available using the standard shell style mechanism,
described in *Note The zsh/zutil Module::. Briefly, the command `zstyle
':zftp:*' STYLE VALUE ...'.  defines the STYLE to have value VALUE;
more than one value may be given, although that is not useful in the
cases described here.  These values will then be used throughout the
zftp function system.  For more precise control, the first argument,
which gives a context in which the style applies, can be modified to
include a particular function, as for example `:zftp:zfget': the style
will then have the given value only in the zfget function.  Values for
the same style in different contexts may be set; the most specific
function will be used, where strings are held to be more specific than
patterns, and longer patterns and shorter patterns.  Note that only the
top level function name, as called by the user, is used; calling of
lower level functions is transparent to the user.  Hence modifications
to the title bar in zftp_chpwd use the contexts :zftp:zfopen,
:zftp:zfcd, etc., depending where it was called from.  The following
styles are understood:

progress
     Controls the way that zftp_progress reports on the progress of a
     transfer.  If empty, unset, or `none', no progress report is made;
     if `bar' a growing bar of inverse video is shown; if `percent' (or
     any other string, though this may change in future), the
     percentage of the file transferred is shown.  The bar meter
     requires that the width of the terminal be available via the
     $COLUMNS parameter (normally this is set automatically).  If the
     size of the file being transferred is not available, bar and
     percent meters will simply show the number of bytes transferred so
     far.

     When zfinit is run, if this style is not defined for the context
     :zftp:*, it will be set to `bar'.

update
     Specifies the minimum time interval between updates of the
     progress meter in seconds.  No update is made unless new data has
     been received, so the actual time interval is limited only by
     $ZFTP_TIMEOUT.

     As described for progress, zfinit will force this to default to 1.

remote-glob
     If set to `1', `yes' or `true', filename generation (globbing) is
     performed on the remote machine instead of by zsh itself; see
     below.

titlebar
     If set to `1', `yes' or `true', zftp_chpwd will put the remote
     host and remote directory into the titlebar of terminal emulators
     such as xterm or sun-cmd that allow this.

     As described for progress, zfinit will force this to default to 1.

chpwd
     If set to `1' `yes' or `true', zftp_chpwd will call the function
     chpwd when a connection is closed.  This is useful if the remote
     host details were put into the terminal title bar by zftp_chpwd
     and your usual chpwd also modifies the title bar.

     When zfinit is run, it will determine whether chpwd exists and if
     so it will set the default value for the style to 1 if none exists
     already.


Note that there is also an associative array zfconfig which contains
values used by the function system.  This should not be modified or
overwritten.

Remote globbing
---------------

The commands for retrieving files usually perform filename generation
(globbing) on their arguments; this can be turned off by passing the
option -G to each of the commands.  Normally this operates by
retrieving a complete list of files for the directory in question, then
matching these locally against the pattern supplied.  This has the
advantage that the full range of zsh patterns (respecting the setting
of the option EXTENDED_GLOB) can be used.  However, it means that the
directory part of a filename will not be expanded and must be given
exactly.  If the remote server does not support the UNIX directory
semantics, directory handling is problematic and it is recommended that
globbing only be used within the current directory.  The list of files
in the current directory, if retrieved, will be cached, so that
subsequent globs in the same directory without an intervening zfcd are
much faster.

If the remote-glob style (see above) is set, globbing is instead
performed on the remote host: the server is asked for a list of matching
files.  This is highly dependent on how the server is implemented,
though typically UNIX servers will provide support for basic glob
patterns.  This may in some cases be faster, as it avoids retrieving
the entire list of directory contents.

Automatic and temporary reopening
---------------------------------

As described for the zfopen command, a subsequent zfopen with no
parameters will reopen the connection to the last host (this includes
connections made with the zfanon command).  Opened in this fashion, the
connection starts in the default remote directory and will remain open
until explicitly closed.

Automatic re-opening is also available.  If a connection is not
currently open and a command requiring a connection is given, the last
connection is implicitly reopened.  In this case the directory which
was current when the connection was closed again becomes the current
directory (unless, of course, the command given changes it).  Automatic
reopening will also take place if the connection was close by the
remote server for whatever reason (e.g. a timeout).  It is not
available if the -1 option to zfopen or zfanon was used.

Furthermore, if the command issued is a file transfer, the connection
will be closed after the transfer is finished, hence providing a
one-shot mode for transfers.  This does not apply to directory changing
or listing commands; for example a zfdir may reopen a connection but
will leave it open.  Also, automatic closure will only ever happen in
the same command as automatic opening, i.e a zfdir directly followed by
a zfget will never close the connection automatically.

Information about the previous connection is given by the zfstat
function.  So, for example, if that reports:

     Session:        default
     Not connected.
     Last session:   ftp.bar.com:/pub/textfiles

then the command zfget file.txt will attempt to reopen a connection to
ftp.bar.com, retrieve the file /pub/textfiles/file.txt, and immediately
close the connection again.  On the other hand, zfcd ..  will open the
connection in the directory /pub and leave it open.

Note that all the above is local to each session; if you return to a
previous session, the connection for that session is the one which will
be reopened.

Completion
----------

Completion of local and remote files, directories, sessions and
bookmarks is supported.  The older, compctl-style completion is defined
when zfinit is called; support for the new widget-based completion
system is provided in the function Completion/Zsh/Command/_zftp, which
should be installed with the other functions of the completion system
and hence should automatically be available.


File: zsh.info,  Node: User Contributions,  Prev: Zftp Function System,  Up: Top

User Contributions
******************

Description
===========

The Zsh source distribution includes a number of items contributed by
the user community.  These are not inherently a part of the shell, and
some may not be available in every zsh installation.  The most
significant of these are documented here.  For documentation on other
contributed items such as shell functions, look for comments in the
function source files.

* Menu:

* Utilities::
* Prompt Themes::
* ZLE Functions::
* Other Functions::


File: zsh.info,  Node: Utilities,  Next: Prompt Themes,  Up: User Contributions

Utilities
=========

Accessing On-Line Help
----------------------

The key sequence ESC h is normally bound by ZLE to execute the run-help
widget (see *Note Zsh Line Editor::).  This invokes the run-help
command with the command word from the current input line as its
argument.  By default, run-help is an alias for the man command, so
this often fails when the command word is a shell builtin or a
user-defined function.  By redefining the run-help alias, one can
improve the on-line help provided by the shell.

The helpfiles utility, found in the Util directory of the distribution,
is a Perl program that can be used to process the zsh manual to produce
a separate help file for each shell builtin and for many other shell
features as well.  The autoloadable run-help function, found in
Functions/Misc, searches for these helpfiles and performs several other
tests to produce the most complete help possible for the command.

There may already be a directory of help files on your system; look in
/usr/share/zsh or /usr/local/share/zsh and subdirectories below those,
or ask your system administrator.

To create your own help files with helpfiles, choose or create a
directory where the individual command help files will reside.  For
example, you might choose ~/zsh_help.  If you unpacked the zsh
distribution in your home directory, you would use the commands:

     mkdir ~/zsh_help
     cd ~/zsh_help
     man zshall | colcrt - | \
     perl ~/zsh-4.0.6/Util/helpfiles

Next, to use the run-help function, you need to add lines something
like the following to your .zshrc or equivalent startup file:

     unalias run-help
     autoload run-help
     HELPDIR=~/zsh_help

The HELPDIR parameter tells run-help where to look for the help files.
If your system already has a help file directory installed, set HELPDIR
to the path of that directory instead.

Note that in order for `autoload run-help' to work, the run-help file
must be in one of the directories named in your fpath array (see *Note
Parameters Used By The Shell::).  This should already be the case if
you have a standard zsh installation; if it is not, copy
Functions/Misc/run-help to an appropriate directory.

Recompiling Functions
---------------------

If you frequently edit your zsh functions, or periodically update your
zsh installation to track the latest developments, you may find that
function digests compiled with the zcompile builtin are frequently out
of date with respect to the function source files.  This is not usually
a problem, because zsh always looks for the newest file when loading a
function, but it may cause slower shell startup and function loading.
Also, if a digest file is explicitly used as an element of fpath, zsh
won't check whether any of its source files has changed.

The zrecompile autoloadable function, found in Functions/Misc, can be
used to keep function digests up to date.

zrecompile [ -qt ] [ NAME ... ]
zrecompile [ -qt ] -p ARGS [ -- ARGS ... ]
     This tries to find *.zwc files and automatically re-compile them
     if at least one of the original files is newer than the compiled
     file.  This works only if the names stored in the compiled files
     are full paths or are relative to the directory that contains the
     .zwc file.

     In the first form, each NAME is the name of a compiled file or a
     directory containing *.zwc files that should be checked.  If no
     arguments are given, the directories and *.zwc files in fpath are
     used.

     When -t is given, no compilation is performed, but a return status
     of zero (true) is set if there are files that need to be
     re-compiled and non-zero (false) otherwise.  The -q option quiets
     the chatty output that describes what zrecompile is doing.

     Without the -t option, the return status is zero if all files that
     needed re-compilation could be compiled and non-zero if
     compilation for at least one of the files failed.

     If the -p option is given, the ARGS are interpreted as one or more
     sets of arguments for zcompile, separated by `--'.  For example:

          zrecompile -p \
                     -R ~/.zshrc -- \
                     -M ~/.zcompdump -- \
                     ~/zsh/comp.zwc ~/zsh/Completion/*/_*

     This compiles ~/.zshrc into ~/.zshrc.zwc if that doesn't exist or
     if it is older than ~/.zshrc. The compiled file will be marked for
     reading instead of mapping. The same is done for ~/.zcompdump and
     ~/.zcompdump.zwc, but this compiled file is marked for mapping. The
     last line re-creates the file ~/zsh/comp.zwc if any of the files
     matching the given pattern is newer than it.

     Without the -p option, zrecompile does not create function digests
     that do not already exist, nor does it add new functions to the
     digest.


The following shell loop is an example of a method for creating function
digests for all functions in your fpath, assuming that you have write
permission to the directories:

     for ((i=1; i <= $#fpath; ++i)); do
       dir=$fpath[i]
       zwc=${dir:t}.zwc
       if [[ $dir == (.|..) || $dir == (.|..)/* ]]; then
         continue
       fi
       files=($dir/*(N-.))
       if [[ -w $dir:h && -n $files ]]; then
         files=(${${(M)files%/*/*}#/})
         if ( cd $dir:h &&
              zrecompile -p -U -z $zwc $files ); then
           fpath[i]=$fpath[i].zwc
         fi
       fi
     done

The -U and -z options are appropriate for functions in the default zsh
installation fpath; you may need to use different options for your
personal function directories.

Once the digests have been created and your fpath modified to refer to
them, you can keep them up to date by running zrecompile with no
arguments.

Keyboard Definition
-------------------

The large number of possible combinations of keyboards, workstations,
terminals, emulators, and window systems makes it impossible for zsh to
have built-in key bindings for every situation.  The zkbd utility,
found in Functions/Misc, can help you quickly create key bindings for
your configuration.

Run zkbd either as an autoloaded function, or as a shell script:

     zsh -f ~/zsh-4.0.6/Functions/Misc/zkbd

When you run zkbd, it first asks you to enter your terminal type; if
the default it offers is correct, just press return.  It then asks you
to press a number of different keys to determine characteristics of your
keyboard and terminal; zkbd warns you if it finds anything out of the
ordinary, such as a Delete key that sends neither ^H nor ^?.

The keystrokes read by zkbd are recorded as a definition for an
associative array named key, written to a file in the subdirectory
.zkbd within either your HOME or ZDOTDIR directory.  The name of the
file is composed from the TERM, VENDOR and OSTYPE parameters, joined by
hyphens.

You may read this file into your .zshrc or another startup file with
the "source" or "." commands, then reference the key parameter in
bindkey commands, like this:

     source ${ZDOTDIR:-$HOME}/.zkbd/$TERM-$VENDOR-$OSTYPE
     [[ -n ${key[Left]} ]] && bindkey "${key[Left]}" backward-char
     [[ -n ${key[Right]} ]] && bindkey "${key[Right]}" forward-char
     # etc.

Note that in order for `autoload zkbd' to work, the zkdb file must be
in one of the directories named in your fpath array (see *Note
Parameters Used By The Shell::).  This should already be the case if
you have a standard zsh installation; if it is not, copy
Functions/Misc/zkbd to an appropriate directory.

Dumping Shell State
-------------------

Occasionally you may encounter what appears to be a bug in the shell,
particularly if you are using a beta version of zsh or a development
release.  Usually it is sufficient to send a description of the problem
to one of the zsh mailing lists (see *Note Mailing Lists::), but
sometimes one of the zsh developers will need to recreate your
environment in order to track the problem down.

The script named reporter, found in the Util directory of the
distribution, is provided for this purpose.  (It is also possible to
autoload reporter, but reporter is not installed in fpath by default.)
This script outputs a detailed dump of the shell state, in the form of
another script that can be read with `zsh -f' to recreate that state.

To use reporter, read the script into your shell with the `.'  command
and redirect the output into a file:

     . ~/zsh-4.0.6/Util/reporter > zsh.report

You should check the zsh.report file for any sensitive information such
as passwords and delete them by hand before sending the script to the
developers.  Also, as the output can be voluminous, it's best to wait
for the developers to ask for this information before sending it.

You can also use reporter to dump only a subset of the shell state.
This is sometimes useful for creating startup files for the first time.
Most of the output from reporter is far more detailed than usually is
necessary for a startup file, but the aliases, options, and zstyles
states may be useful because they include only changes from the
defaults.  The bindings state may be useful if you have created any of
your own keymaps, because reporter arranges to dump the keymap creation
commands as well as the bindings for every keymap.

As is usual with automated tools, if you create a startup file with
reporter, you should edit the results to remove unnecessary commands.
Note that if you're using the new completion system, you should _not_
dump the functions state to your startup files with reporter; use the
compdump function instead (see *Note Completion System::).

reporter [ STATE ... ]
     Print to standard output the indicated subset of the current shell
     state.  The STATE arguments may be one or more of:

    all
          Output everything listed below.

    aliases
          Output alias definitions.

    bindings
          Output ZLE key maps and bindings.

    completion
          Output old-style compctl commands.  New completion is covered
          by functions and zstyles.

    functions
          Output autoloads and function definitions.

    limits
          Output limit commands.

    options
          Output setopt commands.

    styles
          Same as zstyles.

    variables
          Output shell parameter assignments, plus export commands for
          any environment variables.

    zstyles
          Output zstyle commands.

     If the STATE is omitted, all is assumed.

     With the exception of `all', every STATE can be abbreviated by any
     prefix, even a single letter; thus a is the same as aliases, z is
     the same as zstyles, etc.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Prompt Themes,  Next: ZLE Functions,  Prev: Utilities,  Up: User Contributions

Prompt Themes
=============

Installation
------------

You should make sure all the functions from the Functions/Prompts
directory of the source distribution are available; they all begin with
the string `prompt_' except for the special function`promptinit'.  You
also need the `colors' function from Functions/Misc.  All of these
functions may already have been installed on your system; if not, you
will need to find them and copy them.  The directory should appear as
one of the elements of the fpath array (this should already be the case
if they were installed), and at least the function promptinit should be
autoloaded; it will autoload the rest.  Finally, to initialize the use
of the system you need to call the promptinit function.  The following
code in your .zshrc will arrange for this; assume the functions are
stored in the directory ~/myfns:

     fpath=(~/myfns $fpath)
     autoload -U promptinit
     promptinit

Theme Selection
---------------

Use the prompt command to select your preferred theme.  This command
may be added to your .zshrc following the call to promptinit in order
to start zsh with a theme already selected.

prompt [ -c | -l ]
prompt [ -p | -h ] [ THEME ... ]
prompt [ -s ] THEME [ ARG ... ]
     Set or examine the prompt theme.  With no options and a THEME
     argument, the theme with that name is set as the current theme.
     The available themes are determined at run time; use the -l option
     to see a list.  The special THEME `random' selects at random one
     of the available themes and sets your prompt to that.

     In some cases the THEME may be modified by one or more arguments,
     which should be given after the theme name.  See the help for each
     theme for descriptions of these arguments.

     Options are:

    -c
          Show the currently selected theme and its parameters, if any.

    -l
          List all available prompt themes.

    -p
          Preview the theme named by THEME, or all themes if no THEME
          is given.

    -h
          Show help for the theme named by THEME, or for the prompt
          function if no THEME is given.

    -s
          Set THEME as the current theme and save state.

prompt_THEME_setup
     Each available THEME has a setup function which is called by the
     prompt function to install that theme.  This function may define
     other functions as necessary to maintain the prompt, including
     functions used to preview the prompt or provide help for its use.
     You should not normally call a theme's setup function directly.



File: zsh.info,  Node: ZLE Functions,  Next: Other Functions,  Prev: Prompt Themes,  Up: User Contributions

ZLE Functions
=============

Widgets
-------

These functions all implement user-defined ZLE widgets (see *Note Zsh
Line Editor::) which can be bound to keystrokes in interactive shells.
To use them, your .zshrc should contain lines of the form

     autoload FUNCTION
     zle -N FUNCTION

followed by an appropriate bindkey command to associate the function
with a key sequence.  Suggested bindings are described below.

bash-forward-word, bash-backward-word
bash-kill-word, bash-backward-kill-word
bash-up-case-word, bash-down-case-word
bash-transpose-words
     These work similarly to the corresponding builtin zle functions
     without the `bash-' prefix, but a word is considered to consist of
     alphanumeric characters only.  If you wish to replace your
     existing bindings with these four widgets, the following is
     sufficient:

          for widget in kill-word backward-kill-word \
          forward-word backward-word \
          up-case-word down-case-word \
          transpose-words; do
            autoload bash-$widget
            zle -N $widget bash-$widget
          done

cycle-completion-positions
     After inserting an unambiguous string into the command line, the
     new function based completion system may know about multiple
     places in this string where characters are missing or differ from
     at least one of the possible matches.  It will then place the
     cursor on the position it considers to be the most interesting
     one, i.e. the one where one can disambiguate between as many
     matches as possible with as little typing as possible.

     This widget allows the cursor to be easily moved to the other
     interesting spots.  It can be invoked repeatedly to cycle between
     all positions reported by the completion system.

edit-command-line
     Edit the command line using your visual editor, as in ksh.

          bindkey -M vicmd v edit-command-line

history-search-end
     This function implements the widgets
     history-beginning-search-backward-end and
     history-beginning-search-forward-end.  These commands work by first
     calling the corresponding builtin widget (see *Note History
     Control::) and then moving the cursor to the end of the line.  The
     original cursor position is remembered and restored before calling
     the builtin widget a second time, so that the same search is
     repeated to look farther through the history.

     Although you autoload only one function, the commands to use it are
     slightly different because it implements two widgets.

          zle -N history-beginning-search-backward-end \
                 history-search-end
          zle -N history-beginning-search-forward-end \
                 history-search-end
          bindkey '\e^P' history-beginning-search-backward-end
          bindkey '\e^N' history-beginning-search-forward-end

incarg
     Typing the keystrokes for this widget with the cursor placed on or
     to the left of an integer causes that integer to be incremented by
     one.  With a numeric prefix argument, the number is incremented by
     the amount of the argument (decremented if the prefix argument is
     negative).  The shell parameter incarg may be set to change the
     default increment something other than one.

          bindkey '^X+' incarg

incremental-complete-word
     This allows incremental completion of a word.  After starting this
     command, a list of completion choices can be shown after every
     character you type, which you can delete with ^H or DEL.  Pressing
     return accepts the completion so far and returns you to normal
     editing (that is, the command line is _not_ immediately executed).
     You can hit TAB to do normal completion, ^G to abort back to the
     state when you started, and ^D to list the matches.

     This works only with the new function based completion system.

          bindkey '^Xi' incremental-complete-word

insert-files
     This function allows you type a file pattern, and see the results
     of the expansion at each step.  When you hit return, all
     expansions are inserted into the command line.

          bindkey '^Xf' insert-files

predict-on
     This set of functions implements predictive typing using history
     search.  After predict-on, typing characters causes the editor to
     look backward in the history for the first line beginning with
     what you have typed so far.  After predict-off, editing returns to
     normal for the line found.  In fact, you often don't even need to
     use predict-off, because if the line doesn't match something in
     the history, adding a key performs standard completion, and then
     inserts itself if no completions were found.  However, editing in
     the middle of a line is liable to confuse prediction; see the
     toggle style below.

     With the function based completion system (which is needed for
     this), you should be able to type TAB at almost any point to
     advance the cursor to the next ``interesting'' character position
     (usually the end of the current word, but sometimes somewhere in
     the middle of the word).  And of course as soon as the entire line
     is what you want, you can accept with return, without needing to
     move the cursor to the end first.

     The first time predict-on is used, it creates several additional
     widget functions:

    delete-backward-and-predict
          Replaces the backward-delete-char widget.  You do not need to
          bind this yourself.

    insert-and-predict
          Implements predictive typing by replacing the self-insert
          widget.  You do not need to bind this yourself.

    predict-off
          Turns off predictive typing.

     Although you autoload only the predict-on function, it is
     necessary to create a keybinding for predict-off as well.

          zle -N predict-on
          zle -N predict-off
          bindkey '^X^Z' predict-on
          bindkey '^Z' predict-off

smart-insert-last-word
     This function may replace the insert-last-word widget, like so:

          zle -N insert-last-word smart-insert-last-word

     With a numeric prefix, it behaves like insert-last-word, except
     that words in comments are ignored when INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS is
     set.

     Otherwise, the rightmost ``interesting'' word from the previous
     command is found and inserted.  The default definition of
     ``interesting'' is that the word contains at least one alphabetic
     character, slash, or backslash.  This definition may be overridden
     by use of the match style.  The context used to look up the style
     is the widget name, so usually the context is :insert-last-word.
     However, you can bind this function to different widgets to use
     different patterns:

          zle -N insert-last-assignment smart-insert-last-word
          zstyle :insert-last-assignment match '[[:alpha:]][][[:alnum:]]#=*'
          bindkey '\e=' insert-last-assignment


Styles
------

The behavior of several of the above widgets can be controlled by the
use of the zstyle mechanism.  In particular, widgets that interact with
the completion system pass along their context to any completions that
they invoke.

break-keys
     This style is used by the incremental-complete-word widget. Its
     value should be a pattern, and all keys matching this pattern will
     cause the widget to stop incremental completion without the key
     having any further effect. Like all styles used directly by
     incremental-complete-word, this style is looked up using the
     context `:incremental'.

completer
     The incremental-complete-word and insert-and-predict widgets set
     up their top-level context name before calling completion.  This
     allows one to define different sets of completer functions for
     normal completion and for these widgets.  For example, to use
     completion, approximation and correction for normal completion,
     completion and correction for incremental completion and only
     completion for prediction one could use:

          zstyle ':completion:*' completer \
                  _complete _correct _approximate
          zstyle ':completion:incremental:*' completer \
                  _complete _correct
          zstyle ':completion:predict:*' completer \
                  _complete

     It is a good idea to restrict the completers used in prediction,
     because they may be automatically invoked as you type.  The _list
     and _menu completers should never be used with prediction.  The
     _approximate, _correct, _expand, and _match completers may be
     used, but be aware that they may change characters anywhere in the
     word behind the cursor, so you need to watch carefully that the
     result is what you intended.

cursor
     The insert-and-predict widget uses this style, in the context
     `:predict', to decide where to place the cursor after completion
     has been tried.  Values are:

    complete
          The cursor is left where it was when completion finished, but
          only if it is after a character equal to the one just
          inserted by the user.  If it is after another character, this
          value is the same as `key'.

    key
          The cursor is left after the Nth occurrence of the character
          just inserted, where N is the number of times that character
          appeared in the word before completion was attempted.  In
          short, this has the effect of leaving the cursor after the
          character just typed even if the completion code found out
          that no other characters need to be inserted at that position.


     Any other value for this style unconditionally leaves the cursor
     at the position where the completion code left it.

list
     When using the incremental-complete-word widget, this style says
     if the matches should be listed on every key press (if they fit on
     the screen).  Use the context prefix `:completion:incremental'.

     The insert-and-predict widget uses this style to decide if the
     completion should be shown even if there is only one possible
     completion.  This is done if the value of this style is the string
     always.  In this case the context is `:predict' (_not_
     `:completion:predict').

match
     This style is used by smart-insert-last-word to provide a pattern
     (using full EXTENDED_GLOB syntax) that matches an interesting word.
     The context is the name of the widget to which
     smart-insert-last-word is bound (see above).  The default behavior
     of smart-insert-last-word is equivalent to:

          zstyle :insert-last-word match '*[[:alpha:]/\\]*'

     However, you might want to include words that contain spaces:

          zstyle :insert-last-word match '*[[:alpha:][:space:]/\\]*'

     Or include numbers as long as the word is at least two characters
     long:

          zstyle :insert-last-word match '*([[:digit:]]?|[[:alpha:]/\\])*'

     The above example causes redirections like "2>" to be included.

prompt
     The incremental-complete-word widget shows the value of this style
     in the status line during incremental completion.  The string
     value may contain any of the following substrings in the manner of
     the PS1 and other prompt parameters:

    %c
          Replaced by the name of the completer function that generated
          the matches (without the leading underscore).

    %l
          When the list style is set, replaced by `...' if the list of
          matches is too long to fit on the screen and with an empty
          string otherwise.  If the list style is `false' or not set,
          `%l' is always removed.

    %n
          Replaced by the number of matches generated.

    %s
          Replaced by `-no match-', `-no prefix-', or an empty string
          if there is no completion matching the word on the line, if
          the matches have no common prefix different from the word on
          the line, or if there is such a common prefix, respectively.

    %u
          Replaced by the unambiguous part of all matches, if there is
          any, and if it is different from the word on the line.


     Like `break-keys', this uses the `:incremental' context.

stop-keys
     This style is used by the incremental-complete-word widget.  Its
     value is treated similarly to the one for the break-keys style
     (and uses the same context: `:incremental').  However, in this
     case all keys matching the pattern given as its value will stop
     incremental completion and will then execute their usual function.

toggle
     This boolean style is used by predict-on and its related widgets in
     the context `:predict'.  If set to one of the standard `true'
     values, predictive typing is automatically toggled off in
     situations where it is unlikely to be useful, such as when editing
     a multi-line buffer or after moving into the middle of a line and
     then deleting a character.  The default is to leave prediction
     turned on until an explicit call to predict-off.

verbose
     This boolean style is used by predict-on and its related widgets in
     the context `:predict'.  If set to one of the standard `true'
     values, these widgets display a message below the prompt when the
     predictive state is toggled.  This is most useful in combination
     with the toggle style.  The default does not display these
     messages.



File: zsh.info,  Node: Other Functions,  Prev: ZLE Functions,  Up: User Contributions

Other Functions
===============

There are a large number of helpful functions in the Functions/Misc
directory of the zsh distribution.  Most are very simple and do not
require documentation here, but a few are worthy of special mention.

Descriptions
------------

colors
     This function initializes several associative arrays to map color
     names to (and from) the ANSI standard eight-color terminal codes.
     These are used by the prompt theme system (*Note Prompt Themes::).
     You seldom should need to run colors more than once.

     The eight base colors are: black, red, green, yellow, blue,
     magenta, cyan, and white.  Each of these has codes for foreground
     and background.  In addition there are eight intensity attributes:
     bold, faint, standout, underline, blink, reverse, and conceal.
     Finally, there are six codes used to negate attributes: none
     (reset all attributes to the defaults), normal (neither bold nor
     faint), no-standout, no-underline, no-blink, and no-reverse.

     Some terminals do not support all combinations of colors and
     intensities.

     The associative arrays are:

    color
    colour
          Map all the color names to their integer codes, and integer
          codes to the color names.  The eight base names map to the
          foreground color codes, as do names prefixed with `fg-', such
          as `fg-red'.  Names prefixed with `bg-', such as `bg-blue',
          refer to the background codes.  The reverse mapping from code
          to color yields base name for foreground codes and the bg-
          form for backgrounds.

          Although it is a misnomer to call them `colors', these arrays
          also map the other fourteen attributes from names to codes
          and codes to names.

    fg
    fg_bold
    fg_no_bold
          Map the eight basic color names to ANSI terminal escape
          sequences that set the corresponding foreground text
          properties.  The fg sequences change the color without
          changing the eight intensity attributes.

    bg
    bg_bold
    bg_no_bold
          Map the eight basic color names to ANSI terminal escape
          sequences that set the corresponding background properties.
          The bg sequences change the color without changing the eight
          intensity attributes.


     In addition, the scalar parameters reset_color and bold_color are
     set to the ANSI terminal escapes that turn off all attributes and
     turn on bold intensity, respectively.

fned NAME
     Same as zed -f.  This function does not appear in the zsh
     distribution, but can be created by linking zed to the name fned
     in some directory in your fpath.

is-at-least NEEDED [ PRESENT ]
     Perform a greater-than-or-equal-to comparison of two strings
     having the format of a zsh version number; that is, a string of
     numbers and text with segments separated by dots or dashes.  If
     the PRESENT string is not provided, $ZSH_VERSION is used.
     Segments are paired left-to-right in the two strings with leading
     non-number parts ignored.  If one string has fewer segments than
     the other, the missing segments are considered zero.

     This is useful in startup files to set options and other state
     that are not available in all versions of zsh.

          is-at-least 3.1.6-15 && setopt NO_GLOBAL_RCS
          is-at-least 3.1.0 && setopt HIST_REDUCE_BLANKS
          is-at-least 2.6-17 || print "You can't use is-at-least here."

nslookup [ ARG ... ]
     This wrapper function for the nslookup command requires the
     zsh/zpty module (see *Note The zsh/zpty Module::).  It behaves
     exactly like the standard nslookup except that it provides
     customizable prompts (including a right-side prompt) and
     completion of nslookup commands, host names, etc. (if you use the
     function-based completion system).  Completion styles may be set
     with the context prefix `:completion:nslookup'.

     See also the pager, prompt and rprompt styles below.

run-help
     See `Accessing On-Line Help' (*Note Utilities::).

zed [ -f ] NAME
     This function uses the ZLE editor to edit a file or function.  It
     rebinds the return key to insert a line break, and adds bindings
     for `^X^W' in the emacs keymap and `ZZ' in the vicmd keymap to
     accept (and therefore write, in the case of a file) the edited
     file or function.  Keybindings are otherwise the standard ones;
     completion is available, and styles may be set with the context
     prefix `:completion:zed'.

     Only one NAME argument is recognized (additional arguments are
     ignored).  If the -f option is given, the name is taken to be that
     of a function; if the function is marked for autoloading, zed
     searches for it in the fpath and loads it.  Note that functions
     edited this way are installed into the current shell, but _not_
     written back to the autoload file.

     Without -f, NAME is the path name of the file to edit, which need
     not exist; it is created on write, if necessary.

zcp [ -finqQvwW ] SRCPAT DEST
zln [ -finqQsvwW ] SRCPAT DEST
     Same as zmv -C and zmv -L, respectively.  These functions do not
     appear in the zsh distribution, but can be created by linking zmv
     to the names zcp and zln in some directory in your fpath.

zkbd
     See `Keyboard Definition' (*Note Utilities::).

zmv [ -finqQsvwW ] [ -C | -L | -M | -p PROGRAM ] [ -o OPTSTRING ] SRCPAT DEST
     Move (usually, rename) files matching the pattern SRCPAT to
     corresponding files having names of the form given by DEST, where
     SRCPAT contains parentheses surrounding patterns which will be
     replaced in turn by $1, $2, ... in DEST.  For example,

          zmv '(*).lis' '$1.txt'

     renames `foo.lis' to `foo.txt', `my.old.stuff.lis' to
     `my.old.stuff.txt', and so on.

     The pattern is always treated as an EXTENDED_GLOB pattern.  Any
     file whose name is not changed by the substitution is simply
     ignored.  Any error (a substitution resulted in an empty string,
     two substitutions gave the same result, the destination was an
     existing regular file and -f was not given) causes the entire
     function to abort without doing anything.

     Options:

    -f
          Force overwriting of destination files.  Not currently passed
          down to the mv/cp/ln command due to vagaries of
          implementations (but you can use -o-f to do that).

    -i
          Interactive: show each line to be executed and ask the user
          whether to execute it.  `Y' or `y' will execute it, anything
          else will skip it.  Note that you just need to type one
          character.

    -n
          No execution: print what would happen, but don't do it.

    -q
          Turn bare glob qualifiers off: now assumed by default, so
          this has no effect.

    -Q
          Force bare glob qualifiers on.  Don't turn this on unless you
          are actually using glob qualifiers in a pattern.

    -s
          Symbolic, passed down to ln; only works with -L.

    -v
          Verbose: print each command as it's being executed.

    -w
          Pick out wildcard parts of the pattern, as described above,
          and implicitly add parentheses for referring to them.

    -W
          Just like -w, with the addition of turning wildcards in the
          replacement pattern into sequential ${1} .. ${N} references.

    -C
    -L
    -M
          Force cp, ln or mv, respectively, regardless of the name of
          the function.

    -p PROGRAM
          Call PROGRAM instead of cp, ln or mv.  Whatever it does, it
          should at least understand the form
               PROGRAM -- OLDNAME NEWNAME
          where OLDNAME and NEWNAME are filenames generated by zmv.

    -o OPTSTRING
          The OPTSTRING is split into words and passed down verbatim to
          the cp, ln or mv command called to perform the work.  It
          should probably begin with a `-'.

     For more complete examples and other implementation details, see
     the zmv source file, usually located in one of the directories
     named in your fpath, or in Functions/Misc/zmv in the zsh
     distribution.

zrecompile
     See `Recompiling Functions' (*Note Utilities::).

zstyle+ CONTEXT STYLE VALUE [ + SUBCONTEXT STYLE VALUE ... ]
     This makes defining styles a bit simpler by using a single `+' as a
     special token that allows you to append a context name to the
     previously used context name.  Like this:

          zstyle+ ':foo:bar' style1 value1 \
                + ':baz'     style2 value2 \
                + ':frob'    style3 value3

     This defines `style1' with `value1' for the context :foo:bar as
     usual, but it also defines `style2' with `value2' for the context
     :foo:bar:baz and `style3' with `value3' for :foo:bar:frob.  Any
     SUBCONTEXT may be the empty string to re-use the first context
     unchanged.


Styles
------

insert-tab
     The zed function _sets_ this style in context `:completion:zed:*'
     to turn off completion when TAB is typed at the beginning of a
     line.  You may override this by setting your own value for this
     context and style.

pager
     The nslookup function looks up this style in the context
     `:nslookup' to determine the program used to display output that
     does not fit on a single screen.

prompt
rprompt
     The nslookup function looks up this style in the context
     `:nslookup' to set the prompt and the right-side prompt,
     respectively.  The usual expansions for the PS1 and RPS1
     parameters may be used (see *Note Prompt Expansion::).



File: zsh.info,  Node: Concept Index,  Next: Variables Index,  Prev: Top,  Up: Top

Concept Index
*************

* Menu:

* $0, setting:                           Description of Options.
* .zwc files, creation:                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* acquiring zsh by FTP:                  Availability.
* aliases, completion of:                Description of Options.
* aliases, defining:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* aliases, expansion:                    Description of Options.
* aliases, global:                       Aliasing.
* aliases, listing:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* aliases, removing:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* aliasing:                              Aliasing.
* alternate forms for complex commands:  Alternate Forms For Complex Commands.
* ambiguous completion:                  Description of Options.
* annoying keyboard, sun:                Description of Options.
* argument splitting, in typeset etc.:   Description of Options.
* arithmetic evaluation:                 Arithmetic Evaluation.
* arithmetic expansion:                  Arithmetic Expansion.
* arithmetic operators:                  Arithmetic Evaluation.
* array assignment:                      Array Parameters.
* array expansion style, rc:             Parameter Expansion.
* array parameters, setting:             Shell Builtin Commands.
* array style, ksh:                      Description of Options.
* arrays, ksh style:                     Description of Options.
* assignment:                            Parameters.
* author:                                Author.
* autoloading functions <1>:             Functions.
* autoloading functions:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* availability of zsh:                   Availability.
* background jobs, I/O:                  Jobs & Signals.
* background jobs, notification:         Description of Options.
* background jobs, priority of:          Description of Options.
* bases, in arithmetic:                  Arithmetic Evaluation.
* bases, output in C format:             Description of Options.
* beep, ambiguous completion:            Description of Options.
* beep, enabling:                        Description of Options.
* beep, history:                         Description of Options.
* binding keys:                          Zle Builtins.
* binding widgets:                       Zle Builtins.
* bindings, key:                         Keymaps.
* brace expansion:                       Brace Expansion.
* brace expansion, disabling:            Description of Options.
* brace expansion, extending:            Description of Options.
* builtin commands:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* builtins, utility:                     The zsh/zutil Module.
* calling widgets:                       Zle Builtins.
* capabilities, getting from files:      The zsh/cap Module.
* capabilities, setting:                 The zsh/cap Module.
* capabilities, setting on files:        The zsh/cap Module.
* case selection:                        Complex Commands.
* cd, automatic:                         Description of Options.
* cd, behaving like pushd:               Description of Options.
* cd, to parameter:                      Description of Options.
* cd, with .. in argument:               Description of Options.
* character classes:                     Filename Generation.
* clobbering, of files:                  Description of Options.
* cloning the shell:                     The zsh/clone Module.
* colon modifiers:                       Modifiers.
* command execution:                     Command Execution.
* command execution, enabling:           Description of Options.
* command hashing:                       Description of Options.
* command substitution:                  Command Substitution.
* commands, alternate forms for complex: Alternate Forms For Complex Commands.
* commands, builtin:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* commands, complex:                     Complex Commands.
* commands, disabling:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* commands, enabling:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* commands, simple:                      Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* commands, tracing:                     Description of Options.
* comments:                              Comments.
* comments, in interactive shells:       Description of Options.
* compatibility:                         Compatibility.
* compatibility, csh:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* compatibility, ksh:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* compatibility, sh:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* compdef, use of by compinit:           Initialization.
* compilation:                           Shell Builtin Commands.
* completion system:                     Completion System.
* completion system, adding definitions: Initialization.
* completion system, autoloaded functions: Initialization.
* completion system, bindable commands:  Bindable Commands.
* completion system, choosing completers: Control Functions.
* completion system, completers:         Control Functions.
* completion system, configuration:      Completion System Configuration.
* completion system, directory structure: Completion Directories.
* completion system, initializing:       Initialization.
* completion system, installing:         Initialization.
* completion system, styles:             Completion System Configuration.
* completion system, tags:               Completion System Configuration.
* completion system, utility functions:  Completion Functions.
* completion widgets, adding specified matches: Builtin Commands.
* completion widgets, condition codes:   Condition Codes.
* completion widgets, creating:          Zle Builtins.
* completion widgets, examining and setting state in: Special Parameters.
* completion widgets, example:           Completion Widget Example.
* completion widgets, modifying special parameters: Builtin Commands.
* completion, ambiguous:                 Description of Options.
* completion, beep on ambiguous:         Description of Options.
* completion, coloured listings:         The zsh/complist Module.
* completion, controlling <1>:           Completion Using compctl.
* completion, controlling <2>:           Completion System.
* completion, controlling:               Completion Widgets.
* completion, exact matches:             Description of Options.
* completion, listing <1>:               Description of Options.
* completion, listing:                   The zsh/complist Module.
* completion, listing choices:           Description of Options.
* completion, listing choices, bash style: Description of Options.
* completion, listing order:             Description of Options.
* completion, menu:                      Description of Options.
* completion, programmable <1>:          Completion System.
* completion, programmable <2>:          Completion Using compctl.
* completion, programmable:              Completion Widgets.
* completion, scroll listings:           The zsh/complist Module.
* completion, selecting by cursor:       The zsh/complist Module.
* completion, utility:                   The zsh/computil Module.
* completion, widgets:                   Completion Widgets.
* complex commands:                      Complex Commands.
* conditional expressions:               Conditional Expressions.
* continuing loops:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* coprocess:                             Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* correction, spelling:                  Description of Options.
* csh, compatibility:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* csh, history style:                    Description of Options.
* csh, loop style:                       Description of Options.
* csh, null command style:               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* csh, null globbing style:              Description of Options.
* csh, quoting style:                    Description of Options.
* csh, redirections with no command:     Description of Options.
* defining widgets:                      Zle Builtins.
* descriptors, file:                     Redirection.
* directories, changing:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* directories, hashing:                  Description of Options.
* directories, marking:                  Description of Options.
* directories, named <1>:                Description of Options.
* directories, named:                    Filename Expansion.
* directory stack, controlling syntax:   Description of Options.
* directory stack, ignoring duplicates:  Description of Options.
* directory stack, printing:             Shell Builtin Commands.
* directory stack, silencing:            Description of Options.
* disabling brace expansion:             Description of Options.
* disabling commands:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* disowning jobs:                        Jobs & Signals.
* doing nothing:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* doing nothing, successfully:           Shell Builtin Commands.
* doing nothing, unsuccessfully:         Shell Builtin Commands.
* echo, BSD compatible:                  Description of Options.
* editing history:                       Shell Builtin Commands.
* editing parameters:                    Zle Builtins.
* editor ksh style:                      Zsh Line Editor.
* editor, enabling:                      Description of Options.
* editor, line:                          Zsh Line Editor.
* editor, overstrike mode:               Description of Options.
* editor, single line mode:              Description of Options.
* eight bit characters, printing:        Description of Options.
* enable globbing qualifiers:            Description of Options.
* enable history substitution:           Description of Options.
* enabling commands:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* enabling globbing:                     Description of Options.
* enabling the beep:                     Description of Options.
* enabling the editor:                   Description of Options.
* environment, and local parameters:     Description of Options.
* EOF, ignoring:                         Description of Options.
* evaluating arguments as commands:      Shell Builtin Commands.
* evaluation, arithmetic:                Arithmetic Evaluation.
* event designators, history:            Event Designators.
* execution, of commands:                Command Execution.
* execution, timed:                      The zsh/sched Module.
* exit status, printing:                 Description of Options.
* exit status, trapping:                 Description of Options.
* exiting loops:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* exiting, checking jobs when:           Description of Options.
* expanding parameters:                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* expansion:                             Expansion.
* expansion style, sh:                   Description of Options.
* expansion, arithmetic:                 Arithmetic Expansion.
* expansion, brace:                      Brace Expansion.
* expansion, brace, disabling:           Description of Options.
* expansion, brace, extending:           Description of Options.
* expansion, filename:                   Filename Expansion.
* expansion, history:                    History Expansion.
* expansion, parameter:                  Parameter Expansion.
* export, automatic:                     Description of Options.
* exporting, and local parameters:       Description of Options.
* expressions, conditional:              Conditional Expressions.
* field splitting, sh style:             Description of Options.
* field splitting, sh style, parameter:  Parameter Expansion.
* file clobbering, allowing:             Description of Options.
* file descriptors:                      Redirection.
* file, history:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* filename expansion:                    Filename Expansion.
* filename expansion, =:                 Description of Options.
* filename generation:                   Filename Generation.
* filename generation, bad pattern:      Description of Options.
* files used:                            Files.
* files, examining:                      The zsh/stat Module.
* files, global startup, inhibiting:     Description of Options.
* files, listing:                        The zsh/stat Module.
* files, manipulating:                   The zsh/files Module.
* files, marking type of:                Description of Options.
* files, shutdown:                       Files.
* files, startup:                        Files.
* files, transferring:                   The zsh/zftp Module.
* flags, parameter expansion:            Parameter Expansion.
* flags, shell:                          Invocation.
* floating point parameters:             Arithmetic Evaluation.
* flow control:                          Description of Options.
* for loops:                             Complex Commands.
* FTP:                                   The zsh/zftp Module.
* FTP sites for zsh:                     Availability.
* FTP, functions for using shell as client: Zftp Function System.
* FTP, starting a session:               The zsh/zftp Module.
* functions:                             Functions.
* functions, autoloading <1>:            Shell Builtin Commands.
* functions, autoloading:                Functions.
* functions, math:                       Arithmetic Evaluation.
* functions, mathematical:               The zsh/mathfunc Module.
* functions, profiling:                  The zsh/zprof Module.
* functions, recompiling:                Utilities.
* functions, removing:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* functions, returning from:             Shell Builtin Commands.
* globbing:                              Expansion.
* globbing modifiers:                    Modifiers.
* globbing qualifiers, enable:           Description of Options.
* globbing style, sh:                    Description of Options.
* globbing, bad pattern:                 Description of Options.
* globbing, enabling:                    Description of Options.
* globbing, extended:                    Description of Options.
* globbing, no matches:                  Description of Options.
* globbing, null, style, csh:            Description of Options.
* globbing, of . files:                  Description of Options.
* globbing, qualifiers:                  Filename Generation.
* globbing, sorting numerically:         Description of Options.
* grammar, shell:                        Shell Grammar.
* hashing, of commands:                  Description of Options.
* hashing, of directories:               Description of Options.
* helpfiles utility:                     Utilities.
* hexadecimal, output in C format:       Description of Options.
* history:                               History Expansion.
* history beeping:                       Description of Options.
* history event designators:             Event Designators.
* history expansion:                     History Expansion.
* history modifiers:                     Modifiers.
* history style, csh:                    Description of Options.
* history word designators:              Word Designators.
* history, appending to a file:          Description of Options.
* history, editing:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* history, enable substitution:          Description of Options.
* history, expiring duplicates:          Description of Options.
* history, file:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* history, ignoring all duplicates:      Description of Options.
* history, ignoring duplicates:          Description of Options.
* history, ignoring duplicates in search: Description of Options.
* history, ignoring spaces:              Description of Options.
* history, incremental appending to a file: Description of Options.
* history, sharing:                      Description of Options.
* history, timestamping:                 Description of Options.
* history, verifying substitution:       Description of Options.
* if construct:                          Complex Commands.
* input, tracing:                        Description of Options.
* integer parameters:                    Arithmetic Evaluation.
* invocation:                            Invocation.
* invoking widgets:                      Zle Builtins.
* job control, allowing:                 Description of Options.
* jobs:                                  Jobs & Signals.
* jobs, background priority:             Description of Options.
* jobs, background, I/O:                 Jobs & Signals.
* jobs, backgrounding:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* jobs, disowning <1>:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* jobs, disowning:                       Jobs & Signals.
* jobs, foregrounding:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* jobs, HUP:                             Description of Options.
* jobs, killing:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* jobs, list format:                     Description of Options.
* jobs, referring to:                    Jobs & Signals.
* jobs, resuming:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* jobs, resuming automatically:          Description of Options.
* jobs, suspending:                      Jobs & Signals.
* jobs, waiting for:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* key bindings:                          Keymaps.
* keyboard definition:                   Utilities.
* keymaps <1>:                           Keymaps.
* keymaps:                               Zle Builtins.
* keys, binding:                         Zle Builtins.
* keys, rebinding:                       Zle Builtins.
* killing jobs:                          Shell Builtin Commands.
* ksh, argument splitting in typeset:    Description of Options.
* ksh, array style:                      Description of Options.
* ksh, compatibility <1>:                Compatibility.
* ksh, compatibility:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* ksh, editor mode:                      Zsh Line Editor.
* ksh, null command style:               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* ksh, option printing style:            Description of Options.
* ksh, redirections with no command:     Description of Options.
* ksh, single letter options style:      Description of Options.
* limits, resource:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* line editor:                           Zsh Line Editor.
* line, reading:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* links, symbolic:                       Description of Options.
* list:                                  Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* loading modules:                       Shell Builtin Commands.
* logging out, checking jobs when:       Description of Options.
* loop style, csh:                       Description of Options.
* loops, continuing:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* loops, exiting:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* loops, for:                            Complex Commands.
* loops, repeat:                         Complex Commands.
* loops, until:                          Complex Commands.
* loops, while:                          Complex Commands.
* mail, warning of reading:              Description of Options.
* mailing lists:                         Mailing Lists.
* marking directories:                   Description of Options.
* marking file types:                    Description of Options.
* math functions:                        Arithmetic Evaluation.
* mathematical functions:                The zsh/mathfunc Module.
* mode, privileged:                      Description of Options.
* modifiers:                             Modifiers.
* modifiers, precommand:                 Precommand Modifiers.
* modules:                               Zsh Modules.
* modules, example:                      The zsh/example Module.
* modules, loading:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* modules, writing:                      The zsh/example Module.
* named directories:                     Filename Expansion.
* notification of background jobs:       Description of Options.
* null command style:                    Parameters Used By The Shell.
* null globbing style, csh:              Description of Options.
* octal, arithmetic expressions:         Description of Options.
* octal, output in C format:             Description of Options.
* operators, arithmetic:                 Arithmetic Evaluation.
* option printing style, ksh:            Description of Options.
* option printing, ksh style:            Description of Options.
* options:                               Options.
* options, aliases:                      Option Aliases.
* options, description:                  Description of Options.
* options, processing:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* options, setting:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* options, single letter:                Single Letter Options.
* options, single letter, ksh style:     Description of Options.
* options, specifying:                   Specifying Options.
* options, unsetting:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* overstrike mode, of editor:            Description of Options.
* parameter expansion:                   Parameter Expansion.
* parameter expansion flags:             Parameter Expansion.
* parameter expansion style, rc:         Description of Options.
* parameter modifiers:                   Modifiers.
* parameter, file access via:            The zsh/mapfile Module.
* parameters:                            Parameters.
* parameters, declaring:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, editing:                   Zle Builtins.
* parameters, editor:                    Zle Widgets.
* parameters, expanding:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, floating point:            Arithmetic Evaluation.
* parameters, integer:                   Arithmetic Evaluation.
* parameters, listing:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, marking readonly:          Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, positional:                Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, setting:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, setting array:             Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, special <1>:               The zsh/zleparameter Module.
* parameters, special:                   The zsh/parameter Module.
* parameters, substituting unset:        Description of Options.
* parameters, unsetting:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* parameters, zle:                       Zle Widgets.
* path search, extended:                 Description of Options.
* pipeline:                              Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* precedence of glob operators:          Filename Generation.
* precommand modifiers:                  Precommand Modifiers.
* priority of background jobs:           Description of Options.
* privileged mode:                       Description of Options.
* process substitution:                  Process Substitution.
* prompt, ! expansion:                   Description of Options.
* prompt, % expansion:                   Description of Options.
* prompt, parameter expansion:           Description of Options.
* prompt, with CR:                       Description of Options.
* pushd, making cd behave like:          Description of Options.
* pushd, to home:                        Description of Options.
* qualifiers, globbing:                  Filename Generation.
* querying before rm *:                  Description of Options.
* quoting:                               Quoting.
* quoting style, csh:                    Description of Options.
* quoting style, rc:                     Description of Options.
* rc, array expansion style:             Parameter Expansion.
* rc, parameter expansion style:         Description of Options.
* rc, quoting style:                     Description of Options.
* reading a line:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* rebinding keys:                        Zle Builtins.
* rebinding widgets:                     Zle Builtins.
* redirection:                           Redirection.
* redirections with no command, csh:     Description of Options.
* redirections with no command, ksh:     Description of Options.
* redirections with no command, sh:      Description of Options.
* referring to jobs:                     Jobs & Signals.
* repeat loops:                          Complex Commands.
* reporter utility:                      Utilities.
* reserved words:                        Reserved Words.
* resource limits:                       Shell Builtin Commands.
* restricted shell <1>:                  Description of Options.
* restricted shell:                      Restricted Shell.
* resuming jobs automatically:           Description of Options.
* rm *, querying before:                 Description of Options.
* rm *, waiting before:                  Description of Options.
* selection, case:                       Complex Commands.
* selection, user:                       Complex Commands.
* sh, compatibility <1>:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* sh, compatibility:                     Compatibility.
* sh, expansion style:                   Description of Options.
* sh, field splitting style:             Description of Options.
* sh, field splitting style, parameter:  Parameter Expansion.
* sh, globbing style:                    Description of Options.
* sh, redirections with no command:      Description of Options.
* sh, single letter options style:       Description of Options.
* share history:                         Description of Options.
* shell flags:                           Invocation.
* shell grammar:                         Shell Grammar.
* shell, cloning:                        The zsh/clone Module.
* shell, suspending:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* shell, timing:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* shutdown files:                        Files.
* signals, trapping <1>:                 Functions.
* signals, trapping:                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* simple commands:                       Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* single command:                        Description of Options.
* single letter options:                 Single Letter Options.
* single letter options, ksh style:      Description of Options.
* slash, removing trailing:              Description of Options.
* spelling correction:                   Description of Options.
* startup files:                         Files.
* startup files, global, inhibiting:     Description of Options.
* startup files, sourcing:               Description of Options.
* styles in zftp functions:              Miscellaneous Features.
* sublist:                               Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* subscript flags:                       Array Parameters.
* subscripts:                            Array Parameters.
* subshells:                             Complex Commands.
* substitution, command:                 Command Substitution.
* substitution, parameter, flags:        Parameter Expansion.
* substitution, process:                 Process Substitution.
* sun keyboard, annoying:                Description of Options.
* suspending jobs:                       Jobs & Signals.
* suspending the shell:                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* symbolic links:                        Description of Options.
* termcap value, printing:               The zsh/termcap Module.
* terminal:                              The zsh/clone Module.
* terminfo value, printing:              The zsh/terminfo Module.
* testing conditional expression:        Complex Commands.
* timed execution:                       The zsh/sched Module.
* timing:                                Complex Commands.
* timing the shell:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* tracing, of commands:                  Description of Options.
* tracing, of input lines:               Description of Options.
* trapping signals <1>:                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* trapping signals:                      Functions.
* tty, freezing:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* umask:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* unset parameters, substituting:        Description of Options.
* until loops:                           Complex Commands.
* user contributions:                    User Contributions.
* user selection:                        Complex Commands.
* users, watching:                       Shell Builtin Commands.
* waiting before rm *:                   Description of Options.
* waiting for jobs:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* watching users:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* while loops:                           Complex Commands.
* widgets:                               Zle Widgets.
* widgets, binding:                      Zle Builtins.
* widgets, calling:                      Zle Builtins.
* widgets, defining:                     Zle Builtins.
* widgets, invoking:                     Zle Builtins.
* widgets, rebinding:                    Zle Builtins.
* widgets, standard:                     Zle Widgets.
* widgets, user-defined:                 Zle Widgets.
* word designators, history:             Word Designators.
* writing modules:                       The zsh/example Module.
* zftp function system:                  Zftp Function System.
* zftp function system, automatic reopening: Miscellaneous Features.
* zftp function system, configuration:   Miscellaneous Features.
* zftp function system, remote globbing: Miscellaneous Features.
* zftp function system, styles:          Miscellaneous Features.
* zftp, functions:                       The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp, parameters:                      The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp, problems:                        The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp, subcommands:                     The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZLE:                                   Zsh Line Editor.
* zle, builtin commands:                 Zle Builtins.
* zrecompile utility:                    Utilities.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Variables Index,  Next: Options Index,  Prev: Concept Index,  Up: Top

Variables Index
***************

* Menu:

* !:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* #:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* $:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* *:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* -:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* 0:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* ?:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* @:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* _:                                     Parameters Set By The Shell.
* aliases:                               The zsh/parameter Module.
* all_quotes, compstate:                 Special Parameters.
* ARGC:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* argv:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* ARGV0:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* BAUD:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* BAUD, use of:                          Zsh Line Editor.
* BUFFER:                                Zle Widgets.
* BUFFERLINES:                           Zle Widgets.
* builtins:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* cdpath:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* CDPATH:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* COLUMNS:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* COLUMNS, use of:                       Zsh Line Editor.
* commands:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* compstate:                             Special Parameters.
* context, compstate:                    Special Parameters.
* context, use of:                       Completion Functions.
* CPUTYPE:                               Parameters Set By The Shell.
* CURRENT:                               Special Parameters.
* CURSOR:                                Zle Widgets.
* dirstack:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* DIRSTACKSIZE:                          Parameters Used By The Shell.
* dis_aliases:                           The zsh/parameter Module.
* dis_builtins:                          The zsh/parameter Module.
* dis_functions:                         The zsh/parameter Module.
* dis_galiases:                          The zsh/parameter Module.
* dis_reswords:                          The zsh/parameter Module.
* EDITOR:                                Keymaps.
* EGID:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* ERRNO:                                 Parameters Set By The Shell.
* EUID:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* exact, compstate:                      Special Parameters.
* exact_string, compstate:               Special Parameters.
* expl, use of:                          Completion Functions.
* FCEDIT:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* FIGNORE:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* fignore:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* fpath:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* FPATH:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* funcstack:                             The zsh/parameter Module.
* functions:                             The zsh/parameter Module.
* galiases:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* GID:                                   Parameters Set By The Shell.
* HELPDIR:                               Utilities.
* HISTCHARS:                             Parameters Used By The Shell.
* histchars:                             Parameters Used By The Shell.
* histchars, use of <1>:                 Comments.
* histchars, use of:                     Overview.
* HISTFILE:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* HISTNO:                                Zle Widgets.
* history:                               The zsh/parameter Module.
* historywords:                          The zsh/parameter Module.
* HISTSIZE:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* HISTSIZE, use of:                      History Expansion.
* HOME:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* HOST:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* IFS:                                   Parameters Used By The Shell.
* IFS, use of <1>:                       Shell Builtin Commands.
* IFS, use of <2>:                       Command Substitution.
* IFS, use of:                           Parameter Expansion.
* ignored, compstate:                    Special Parameters.
* incarg, use of:                        ZLE Functions.
* insert, compstate:                     Special Parameters.
* insert_positions, compstate:           Special Parameters.
* IPREFIX:                               Special Parameters.
* ISUFFIX:                               Special Parameters.
* jobdirs:                               The zsh/parameter Module.
* jobstates:                             The zsh/parameter Module.
* jobtexts:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* keymaps:                               The zsh/zleparameter Module.
* KEYS:                                  Zle Widgets.
* KEYTIMEOUT:                            Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LANG:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* last_prompt, compstate:                Special Parameters.
* LASTWIDGET:                            Zle Widgets.
* LBUFFER:                               Zle Widgets.
* LC_ALL:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LC_COLLATE:                            Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LC_CTYPE:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LC_MESSAGES:                           Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LC_NUMERIC:                            Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LC_TIME:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* line, use of:                          Completion Functions.
* LINENO:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* LINES:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LINES, use of:                         Zsh Line Editor.
* list, compstate:                       Special Parameters.
* list_lines, compstate:                 Special Parameters.
* list_max, compstate:                   Special Parameters.
* LISTMAX:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LOGCHECK:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* LOGNAME:                               Parameters Set By The Shell.
* MACHTYPE:                              Parameters Set By The Shell.
* MAIL:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* MAILCHECK:                             Parameters Used By The Shell.
* mailpath:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* MAILPATH:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* MANPATH:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* manpath:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* mapfile:                               The zsh/mapfile Module.
* MARK:                                  Zle Widgets.
* MENUSELECT:                            The zsh/complist Module.
* module_path:                           Parameters Used By The Shell.
* MODULE_PATH:                           Parameters Used By The Shell.
* modules:                               The zsh/parameter Module.
* nameddirs:                             The zsh/parameter Module.
* nmatches, compstate:                   Special Parameters.
* NULLCMD:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* NULLCMD, ignoring:                     Description of Options.
* NULLCMD, use of:                       Redirection.
* NUMERIC:                               Zle Widgets.
* old_insert, compstate:                 Special Parameters.
* old_list, compstate:                   Special Parameters.
* OLDPWD:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* opt_args, use of:                      Completion Functions.
* OPTARG:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* OPTARG, use of:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* OPTIND:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* OPTIND, use of:                        Shell Builtin Commands.
* options:                               The zsh/parameter Module.
* OSTYPE:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* parameter, compstate:                  Special Parameters.
* parameters:                            The zsh/parameter Module.
* PATH:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* path:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* path, use of:                          Command Execution.
* pattern_insert, compstate:             Special Parameters.
* pattern_match, compstate:              Special Parameters.
* PENDING:                               Zle Widgets.
* PERIOD:                                Functions.
* pipestatus:                            Parameters Set By The Shell.
* POSTEDIT:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PPID:                                  Parameters Set By The Shell.
* PREBUFFER:                             Zle Widgets.
* PREFIX:                                Special Parameters.
* prompt:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PROMPT:                                Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PROMPT2:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PROMPT3:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PROMPT4:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PS1:                                   Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PS2:                                   Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PS3:                                   Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PS4:                                   Parameters Used By The Shell.
* psvar:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* PSVAR:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* psvar, use of:                         Prompt Expansion.
* PWD:                                   Parameters Set By The Shell.
* QIPREFIX:                              Special Parameters.
* QISUFFIX:                              Special Parameters.
* quote, compstate:                      Special Parameters.
* quoting, compstate:                    Special Parameters.
* RANDOM:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* RBUFFER:                               Zle Widgets.
* READNULLCMD:                           Parameters Used By The Shell.
* READNULLCMD, ignoring:                 Description of Options.
* READNULLCMD, use of:                   Redirection.
* redirect, compstate:                   Special Parameters.
* REPLY:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* reply:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* reply, use of <1>:                     Flags with Arguments.
* reply, use of:                         Control Flags.
* REPLY, use of:                         Complex Commands.
* reply, use of:                         The zsh/zutil Module.
* REPLY, use of:                         Filename Generation.
* reply, use of <1>:                     Filename Generation.
* reply, use of:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* REPLY, use of:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* REPORTTIME:                            Parameters Used By The Shell.
* restore, compstate:                    Special Parameters.
* reswords:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* RPROMPT:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* RPS1:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* SAVEHIST:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* SECONDS:                               Parameters Set By The Shell.
* SHLVL:                                 Parameters Set By The Shell.
* signals:                               Parameters Set By The Shell.
* SPROMPT:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* status:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* STTY:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* SUFFIX:                                Special Parameters.
* TERM:                                  Parameters Used By The Shell.
* termcap:                               The zsh/termcap Module.
* terminfo:                              The zsh/terminfo Module.
* TIMEFMT:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* TMOUT:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* TMPPREFIX:                             Parameters Used By The Shell.
* to_end, compstate:                     Special Parameters.
* TTY:                                   Parameters Set By The Shell.
* TTYIDLE:                               Parameters Set By The Shell.
* UID:                                   Parameters Set By The Shell.
* unambiguous, compstate:                Special Parameters.
* unambiguous_cursor, compstate:         Special Parameters.
* unambiguous_positions, compstate:      Special Parameters.
* userdirs:                              The zsh/parameter Module.
* USERNAME:                              Parameters Set By The Shell.
* vared, compstate:                      Special Parameters.
* VENDOR:                                Parameters Set By The Shell.
* VISUAL:                                Keymaps.
* WATCH:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* watch:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* watch, use of:                         Shell Builtin Commands.
* WATCHFMT:                              Parameters Used By The Shell.
* WIDGET:                                Zle Widgets.
* widgets:                               The zsh/zleparameter Module.
* WORDCHARS:                             Parameters Used By The Shell.
* words:                                 Special Parameters.
* ZBEEP:                                 Parameters Used By The Shell.
* ZDOTDIR:                               Parameters Used By The Shell.
* ZFTP_ACCOUNT:                          The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_CODE:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_COUNT:                            The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_FILE:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_HOST:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_IP:                               The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_PREFS:                            The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_PWD:                              The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_REPLY:                            The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_SESSION:                          The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_SIZE:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_SYSTEM:                           The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_TMOUT:                            The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_TRANSFER:                         The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_TYPE:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_USER:                             The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZFTP_VERBOSE:                          The zsh/zftp Module.
* ZLS_COLORS:                            The zsh/complist Module.
* ZLS_COLOURS:                           The zsh/complist Module.
* ZSH_NAME:                              Parameters Set By The Shell.
* ZSH_VERSION:                           Parameters Set By The Shell.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Options Index,  Next: Functions Index,  Prev: Variables Index,  Up: Top

Options Index
*************

* Menu:

* ALIASES:                               Description of Options.
* ALL_EXPORT:                            Description of Options.
* ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT:                    Description of Options.
* ALWAYS_TO_END:                         Description of Options.
* APPEND_HISTORY:                        Description of Options.
* AUTO_CD:                               Description of Options.
* AUTO_LIST:                             Description of Options.
* AUTO_MENU:                             Description of Options.
* AUTO_NAME_DIRS:                        Description of Options.
* AUTO_PARAM_KEYS:                       Description of Options.
* AUTO_PARAM_SLASH:                      Description of Options.
* AUTO_PUSHD:                            Description of Options.
* AUTO_PUSHD, use of:                    Parameters Used By The Shell.
* AUTO_REMOVE_SLASH:                     Description of Options.
* AUTO_RESUME:                           Description of Options.
* BAD_PATTERN:                           Description of Options.
* BANG_HIST:                             Description of Options.
* BARE_GLOB_QUAL:                        Description of Options.
* BARE_GLOB_QUAL, use of:                Filename Generation.
* BASH_AUTO_LIST:                        Description of Options.
* BEEP:                                  Description of Options.
* BG_NICE:                               Description of Options.
* BRACE_CCL:                             Description of Options.
* BRACE_CCL, use of:                     Brace Expansion.
* BRACE_EXPAND:                          Option Aliases.
* BSD_ECHO:                              Description of Options.
* BSD_ECHO, use of:                      Shell Builtin Commands.
* C_BASES:                               Description of Options.
* CDABLE_VARS:                           Description of Options.
* CDABLE_VARS, use of:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* CHASE_DOTS:                            Description of Options.
* CHASE_LINKS:                           Description of Options.
* CHASE_LINKS, use of:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* CHECK_JOBS:                            Description of Options.
* CLOBBER:                               Description of Options.
* COMPLETE_ALIASES:                      Description of Options.
* COMPLETE_IN_WORD:                      Description of Options.
* CORRECT:                               Description of Options.
* CORRECT_ALL:                           Description of Options.
* CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY:                    Description of Options.
* CSH_JUNKIE_HISTORY, use of:            Overview.
* CSH_JUNKIE_LOOPS:                      Description of Options.
* CSH_JUNKIE_QUOTES:                     Description of Options.
* CSH_NULL_GLOB:                         Description of Options.
* CSH_NULLCMD:                           Description of Options.
* CSH_NULLCMD, use of:                   Redirection.
* DOT_GLOB:                              Option Aliases.
* DVORAK:                                Description of Options.
* EQUALS:                                Description of Options.
* ERR_EXIT:                              Description of Options.
* EXEC:                                  Description of Options.
* EXTENDED_GLOB:                         Description of Options.
* EXTENDED_GLOB, use of:                 Filename Generation.
* EXTENDED_HISTORY:                      Description of Options.
* FLOW_CONTROL:                          Description of Options.
* FUNCTION_ARGZERO:                      Description of Options.
* GLOB:                                  Description of Options.
* GLOB, use of:                          Filename Generation.
* GLOB_ASSIGN:                           Description of Options.
* GLOB_COMPLETE:                         Description of Options.
* GLOB_DOTS:                             Description of Options.
* GLOB_DOTS, setting in pattern:         Filename Generation.
* GLOB_DOTS, use of:                     Filename Generation.
* GLOB_SUBST:                            Description of Options.
* GLOB_SUBST, toggle:                    Parameter Expansion.
* GLOBAL_EXPORT:                         Description of Options.
* GLOBAL_RCS:                            Description of Options.
* HASH_ALL:                              Option Aliases.
* HASH_CMDS:                             Description of Options.
* HASH_DIRS:                             Description of Options.
* HASH_LIST_ALL:                         Description of Options.
* HIST_ALLOW_CLOBBER:                    Description of Options.
* HIST_APPEND:                           Option Aliases.
* HIST_BEEP:                             Description of Options.
* HIST_EXPAND:                           Option Aliases.
* HIST_EXPIRE_DUPS_FIRST:                Description of Options.
* HIST_FIND_NO_DUPS:                     Description of Options.
* HIST_IGNORE_ALL_DUPS:                  Description of Options.
* HIST_IGNORE_DUPS:                      Description of Options.
* HIST_IGNORE_SPACE:                     Description of Options.
* HIST_NO_FUNCTIONS:                     Description of Options.
* HIST_NO_STORE:                         Description of Options.
* HIST_REDUCE_BLANKS:                    Description of Options.
* HIST_SAVE_NO_DUPS:                     Description of Options.
* HIST_VERIFY:                           Description of Options.
* HUP:                                   Description of Options.
* HUP, use of:                           Jobs & Signals.
* IGNORE_BRACES:                         Description of Options.
* IGNORE_EOF:                            Description of Options.
* IGNORE_EOF, use of:                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* INC_APPEND_HISTORY:                    Description of Options.
* INTERACTIVE:                           Description of Options.
* INTERACTIVE, use of:                   Description of Options.
* INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS:                  Description of Options.
* INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS, use of:          Comments.
* KSH_ARRAYS:                            Description of Options.
* KSH_ARRAYS, use of:                    Array Parameters.
* KSH_AUTOLOAD:                          Description of Options.
* KSH_AUTOLOAD, use of:                  Functions.
* KSH_GLOB:                              Description of Options.
* KSH_GLOB, use of:                      Filename Generation.
* KSH_OPTION_PRINT:                      Description of Options.
* KSH_TYPESET:                           Description of Options.
* LIST_AMBIGUOUS:                        Description of Options.
* LIST_BEEP:                             Description of Options.
* LIST_PACKED:                           Description of Options.
* LIST_ROWS_FIRST:                       Description of Options.
* LIST_TYPES:                            Description of Options.
* LOCAL_OPTIONS:                         Description of Options.
* LOCAL_TRAPS:                           Description of Options.
* LOG:                                   Option Aliases.
* LOGIN:                                 Description of Options.
* LOGIN, use of:                         Files.
* LONG_LIST_JOBS:                        Description of Options.
* MAGIC_EQUAL_SUBST:                     Description of Options.
* MAIL_WARN:                             Option Aliases.
* MAIL_WARNING:                          Description of Options.
* MARK_DIRS:                             Description of Options.
* MARK_DIRS, setting in pattern:         Filename Generation.
* MENU_COMPLETE:                         Description of Options.
* MENU_COMPLETE, use of:                 Completion.
* MONITOR:                               Description of Options.
* MULTIOS:                               Description of Options.
* MULTIOS, use of:                       Redirection.
* NO_GLOBAL_RCS, use of:                 Files.
* NO_RCS, use of:                        Files.
* NOMATCH:                               Description of Options.
* NOMATCH, use of:                       Filename Generation.
* NOTIFY:                                Description of Options.
* NOTIFY, use of:                        Jobs & Signals.
* NULL_GLOB:                             Description of Options.
* NULL_GLOB, setting in pattern:         Filename Generation.
* NULL_GLOB, use of:                     Filename Generation.
* NUMERIC_GLOB_SORT:                     Description of Options.
* NUMERIC_GLOB_SORT, setting in pattern: Filename Generation.
* OCTAL_ZEROES:                          Description of Options.
* ONE_CMD:                               Option Aliases.
* OVERSTRIKE:                            Description of Options.
* PATH_DIRS:                             Description of Options.
* PHYSICAL:                              Option Aliases.
* POSIX_BUILTINS:                        Description of Options.
* PRINT_EIGHT_BIT:                       Description of Options.
* PRINT_EXIT_VALUE:                      Description of Options.
* PRIVILEGED:                            Description of Options.
* PROMPT_BANG:                           Description of Options.
* PROMPT_BANG, use of:                   Prompt Expansion.
* PROMPT_CR:                             Description of Options.
* PROMPT_PERCENT:                        Description of Options.
* PROMPT_PERCENT, use of:                Prompt Expansion.
* PROMPT_SUBST:                          Description of Options.
* PROMPT_SUBST, use of:                  Prompt Expansion.
* PROMPT_VARS:                           Option Aliases.
* PUSHD_IGNORE_DUPS:                     Description of Options.
* PUSHD_MINUS:                           Description of Options.
* PUSHD_MINUS, use of <1>:               Filename Expansion.
* PUSHD_MINUS, use of:                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* PUSHD_SILENT:                          Description of Options.
* PUSHD_SILENT, use of:                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* PUSHD_TO_HOME:                         Description of Options.
* PUSHD_TO_HOME, use of:                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* RC_EXPAND_PARAM:                       Description of Options.
* RC_EXPAND_PARAM, toggle:               Parameter Expansion.
* RC_QUOTES:                             Description of Options.
* RCS:                                   Description of Options.
* REC_EXACT:                             Description of Options.
* RESTRICTED <1>:                        Restricted Shell.
* RESTRICTED:                            Description of Options.
* RM_STAR_SILENT:                        Description of Options.
* RM_STAR_WAIT:                          Description of Options.
* SH_FILE_EXPANSION:                     Description of Options.
* SH_GLOB:                               Description of Options.
* SH_NULLCMD:                            Description of Options.
* SH_NULLCMD, use of:                    Redirection.
* SH_OPTION_LETTERS:                     Description of Options.
* SH_WORD_SPLIT:                         Description of Options.
* SH_WORD_SPLIT, toggle:                 Parameter Expansion.
* SH_WORD_SPLIT, use of:                 Parameter Expansion.
* SHARE_HISTORY:                         Description of Options.
* SHIN_STDIN:                            Description of Options.
* SHORT_LOOPS:                           Description of Options.
* SINGLE_COMMAND:                        Description of Options.
* SINGLE_LINE_ZLE:                       Description of Options.
* SINGLE_LINE_ZLE, use of:               Zsh Line Editor.
* STDIN:                                 Option Aliases.
* SUN_KEYBOARD_HACK:                     Description of Options.
* TRACK_ALL:                             Option Aliases.
* UNSET:                                 Description of Options.
* VERBOSE:                               Description of Options.
* XTRACE:                                Description of Options.
* ZLE:                                   Description of Options.
* ZLE, use of:                           Zsh Line Editor.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Functions Index,  Next: Editor Functions Index,  Prev: Options Index,  Up: Top

Functions Index
***************

* Menu:

* -:                                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* .:                                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* ::                                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* _all_labels:                           Completion Functions.
* _all_matches:                          Control Functions.
* _alternative:                          Completion Functions.
* _approximate:                          Control Functions.
* _arguments:                            Completion Functions.
* _bash_completions:                     Bindable Commands.
* _cache_invalid:                        Completion Functions.
* _call_function:                        Completion Functions.
* _call_program:                         Completion Functions.
* _combination:                          Completion Functions.
* _complete:                             Control Functions.
* _complete_debug (^X?):                 Bindable Commands.
* _complete_help (^Xh):                  Bindable Commands.
* _complete_tag (^Xt):                   Bindable Commands.
* _contexts:                             Completion Functions.
* _correct:                              Control Functions.
* _correct_filename (^XC):               Bindable Commands.
* _correct_word (^Xc):                   Bindable Commands.
* _describe:                             Completion Functions.
* _description:                          Completion Functions.
* _expand:                               Control Functions.
* _expand_alias:                         Control Functions.
* _expand_alias (^Xa):                   Bindable Commands.
* _expand_word (^Xe):                    Bindable Commands.
* _files:                                Completion Functions.
* _generic:                              Bindable Commands.
* _gnu_generic:                          Completion Functions.
* _guard:                                Completion Functions.
* _history:                              Control Functions.
* _history_complete_word (\e/)):         Bindable Commands.
* _ignored:                              Control Functions.
* _list:                                 Control Functions.
* _match:                                Control Functions.
* _menu:                                 Control Functions.
* _message:                              Completion Functions.
* _most_recent_file (^Xm):               Bindable Commands.
* _multi_parts:                          Completion Functions.
* _next_label:                           Completion Functions.
* _next_tags (^Xn):                      Bindable Commands.
* _normal:                               Completion Functions.
* _oldlist:                              Control Functions.
* _options:                              Completion Functions.
* _options_set:                          Completion Functions.
* _options_unset:                        Completion Functions.
* _parameters:                           Completion Functions.
* _path_files:                           Completion Functions.
* _prefix:                               Control Functions.
* _read_comp (^X^R):                     Bindable Commands.
* _regex_arguments:                      Completion Functions.
* _requested:                            Completion Functions.
* _retrieve_cache:                       Completion Functions.
* _sep_parts:                            Completion Functions.
* _setup:                                Completion Functions.
* _store_cache:                          Completion Functions.
* _tags:                                 Completion Functions.
* _values:                               Completion Functions.
* _wanted:                               Completion Functions.
* alias:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* alias, use of:                         Aliasing.
* autoload:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* autoload, use of:                      Functions.
* bashcompinit:                          Control Functions.
* bg:                                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* bg, use of:                            Jobs & Signals.
* bindkey:                               Zle Builtins.
* bindkey, use of:                       Keymaps.
* break:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* builtin:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* bye:                                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* cap:                                   The zsh/cap Module.
* case:                                  Complex Commands.
* cd:                                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* chdir:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* chgrp:                                 The zsh/files Module.
* chown:                                 The zsh/files Module.
* chpwd:                                 Functions.
* clone:                                 The zsh/clone Module.
* colors:                                Other Functions.
* command:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* compadd:                               Builtin Commands.
* comparguments:                         The zsh/computil Module.
* compaudit:                             Initialization.
* compctl:                               Completion Using compctl.
* compdef:                               Initialization.
* compdescribe:                          The zsh/computil Module.
* compfiles:                             The zsh/computil Module.
* compgroups:                            The zsh/computil Module.
* compinit:                              Initialization.
* compinstall:                           Initialization.
* compquote:                             The zsh/computil Module.
* compset:                               Builtin Commands.
* comptags:                              The zsh/computil Module.
* comptry:                               The zsh/computil Module.
* compvalues:                            The zsh/computil Module.
* continue:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* coproc:                                Simple Commands & Pipelines.
* declare:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* dirs:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* disable:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* disable, use of:                       Reserved Words.
* disown:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* disown, use of:                        Jobs & Signals.
* echo:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* echotc:                                The zsh/termcap Module.
* echoti:                                The zsh/terminfo Module.
* emulate:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* enable:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* eval:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* example:                               The zsh/example Module.
* exec:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* exit:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* export:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* false:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* fc:                                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* fc, use of:                            Overview.
* fg:                                    Shell Builtin Commands.
* fg, use of:                            Jobs & Signals.
* float:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* float, use of:                         Arithmetic Evaluation.
* fned:                                  Other Functions.
* for:                                   Complex Commands.
* function:                              Functions.
* functions:                             Shell Builtin Commands.
* functions, use of:                     Functions.
* getcap:                                The zsh/cap Module.
* getln:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* getopts:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* hash:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* history:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* if:                                    Complex Commands.
* integer:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* integer, use of:                       Arithmetic Evaluation.
* is-at-least:                           Other Functions.
* jobs:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* kill:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* let:                                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* let, use of:                           Arithmetic Evaluation.
* limit:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* ln:                                    The zsh/files Module.
* local:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* log:                                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* logout:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* mkdir:                                 The zsh/files Module.
* mv:                                    The zsh/files Module.
* noglob:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* nslookup:                              Other Functions.
* periodic:                              Functions.
* popd:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* precmd:                                Functions.
* preexec:                               Functions.
* print:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* pushd:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* pushln:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* pwd:                                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* r:                                     Shell Builtin Commands.
* read:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* readonly:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* rehash:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* repeat:                                Complex Commands.
* reporter:                              Utilities.
* return:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* return, use of:                        Functions.
* rm:                                    The zsh/files Module.
* rmdir:                                 The zsh/files Module.
* run-help, use of:                      Utilities.
* sched:                                 The zsh/sched Module.
* select:                                Complex Commands.
* set:                                   Shell Builtin Commands.
* set, use of:                           Array Parameters.
* setcap:                                The zsh/cap Module.
* setopt:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* shift:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* smart-insert-last-word:                ZLE Functions.
* source:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* stat:                                  The zsh/stat Module.
* suspend:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* sync:                                  The zsh/files Module.
* test:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* times:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* trap:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* TRAPDEBUG:                             Functions.
* TRAPEXIT:                              Functions.
* TRAPZERR:                              Functions.
* true:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* ttyctl:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* type:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* typeset:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* typeset, use of <1>:                   Parameters.
* typeset, use of:                       Array Parameters.
* ulimit:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* umask:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* unalias:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* unfunction:                            Shell Builtin Commands.
* unfunction, use of:                    Functions.
* unhash:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* unlimit:                               Shell Builtin Commands.
* unset:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* unsetopt:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* until:                                 Complex Commands.
* vared:                                 Zle Builtins.
* wait:                                  Shell Builtin Commands.
* whence:                                Shell Builtin Commands.
* where:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* which:                                 Shell Builtin Commands.
* while:                                 Complex Commands.
* zcompile:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* zcp:                                   Other Functions.
* zed:                                   Other Functions.
* zfanon:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfautocheck:                           Zftp Functions.
* zfcd:                                  Zftp Functions.
* zfcd_match:                            Zftp Functions.
* zfcget:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfclose:                               Zftp Functions.
* zfcput:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfdir:                                 Zftp Functions.
* zffcache:                              Zftp Functions.
* zfgcp:                                 Zftp Functions.
* zfget:                                 Zftp Functions.
* zfget_match:                           Zftp Functions.
* zfgoto:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfhere:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfinit:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfls:                                  Zftp Functions.
* zfmark:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfopen:                                Zftp Functions.
* zformat:                               The zsh/zutil Module.
* zfparams:                              Zftp Functions.
* zfpcp:                                 Zftp Functions.
* zfput:                                 Zftp Functions.
* zfrglob:                               Zftp Functions.
* zfrtime:                               Zftp Functions.
* zfsession:                             Zftp Functions.
* zfstat:                                Zftp Functions.
* zftp:                                  The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp_chpwd, specification:             The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp_chpwd, supplied version:          Zftp Functions.
* zftp_progress, specification:          The zsh/zftp Module.
* zftp_progress, supplied version:       Zftp Functions.
* zftransfer:                            Zftp Functions.
* zftype:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfuget:                                Zftp Functions.
* zfuput:                                Zftp Functions.
* zkbd:                                  Utilities.
* zle:                                   Zle Builtins.
* zln:                                   Other Functions.
* zmodload:                              Shell Builtin Commands.
* zmv:                                   Other Functions.
* zparseopts:                            The zsh/zutil Module.
* zprof:                                 The zsh/zprof Module.
* zpty:                                  The zsh/zpty Module.
* zrecompile:                            Utilities.
* zregexparse:                           The zsh/zutil Module.
* zstyle:                                The zsh/zutil Module.
* zstyle+:                               Other Functions.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Editor Functions Index,  Next: Style and Tag Index,  Prev: Functions Index,  Up: Top

Editor Functions Index
**********************

* Menu:

* accept-and-hold:                       Miscellaneous.
* accept-and-infer-next-history:         Miscellaneous.
* accept-and-menu-complete:              Completion.
* accept-line:                           Miscellaneous.
* accept-line-and-down-history:          Miscellaneous.
* backward-char:                         Movement.
* backward-delete-char:                  Modifying Text.
* backward-delete-word:                  Modifying Text.
* backward-kill-line:                    Modifying Text.
* backward-kill-word:                    Modifying Text.
* backward-word:                         Movement.
* bash-backward-kill-word:               ZLE Functions.
* bash-backward-word:                    ZLE Functions.
* bash-down-case-word:                   ZLE Functions.
* bash-forward-word:                     ZLE Functions.
* bash-kill-word:                        ZLE Functions.
* bash-transpose-words:                  ZLE Functions.
* bash-up-case-word:                     ZLE Functions.
* beep:                                  Miscellaneous.
* beginning-of-buffer-or-history:        History Control.
* beginning-of-history:                  History Control.
* beginning-of-line:                     Movement.
* beginning-of-line-hist:                History Control.
* capitalize-word:                       Modifying Text.
* clear-screen:                          Miscellaneous.
* complete-word:                         Completion.
* copy-prev-shell-word:                  Modifying Text.
* copy-prev-word:                        Modifying Text.
* copy-region-as-kill:                   Modifying Text.
* cycle-completion-positions:            ZLE Functions.
* delete-char:                           Modifying Text.
* delete-char-or-list:                   Completion.
* delete-to-char:                        The zsh/deltochar Module.
* delete-word:                           Modifying Text.
* describe-key-briefly:                  Miscellaneous.
* digit-argument:                        Arguments.
* down-case-word:                        Modifying Text.
* down-history:                          History Control.
* down-line-or-history:                  History Control.
* down-line-or-search:                   History Control.
* edit-command-line:                     ZLE Functions.
* emacs-backward-word:                   Movement.
* emacs-forward-word:                    Movement.
* end-of-buffer-or-history:              History Control.
* end-of-history:                        History Control.
* end-of-line:                           Movement.
* end-of-line-hist:                      History Control.
* end-of-list:                           Completion.
* exchange-point-and-mark:               Miscellaneous.
* execute-last-named-cmd:                Miscellaneous.
* execute-named-cmd:                     Miscellaneous.
* expand-cmd-path:                       Completion.
* expand-history:                        Completion.
* expand-or-complete:                    Completion.
* expand-or-complete-prefix:             Completion.
* expand-word:                           Completion.
* forward-char:                          Movement.
* forward-word:                          Movement.
* get-line:                              Miscellaneous.
* gosmacs-transpose-chars:               Modifying Text.
* history-beginning-search-backward:     History Control.
* history-beginning-search-backward-end: ZLE Functions.
* history-beginning-search-forward:      History Control.
* history-beginning-search-forward-end:  ZLE Functions.
* history-incremental-search-backward:   History Control.
* history-incremental-search-forward:    History Control.
* history-search-backward:               History Control.
* history-search-forward:                History Control.
* incarg:                                ZLE Functions.
* incremental-complete-word:             ZLE Functions.
* infer-next-history:                    History Control.
* insert-files:                          ZLE Functions.
* insert-last-word:                      History Control.
* kill-buffer:                           Modifying Text.
* kill-line:                             Modifying Text.
* kill-region:                           Modifying Text.
* kill-whole-line:                       Modifying Text.
* kill-word:                             Modifying Text.
* list-choices:                          Completion.
* list-expand:                           Completion.
* magic-space:                           Completion.
* menu-complete:                         Completion.
* menu-expand-or-complete:               Completion.
* menu-select:                           The zsh/complist Module.
* neg-argument:                          Arguments.
* overwrite-mode:                        Modifying Text.
* pound-insert:                          Miscellaneous.
* predict-off:                           ZLE Functions.
* predict-on:                            ZLE Functions.
* push-input:                            Miscellaneous.
* push-line:                             Miscellaneous.
* push-line-or-edit:                     Miscellaneous.
* quote-line:                            Modifying Text.
* quote-region:                          Modifying Text.
* quoted-insert:                         Modifying Text.
* redisplay:                             Miscellaneous.
* redo:                                  Miscellaneous.
* reverse-menu-complete:                 Completion.
* run-help:                              Miscellaneous.
* self-insert:                           Modifying Text.
* self-insert-unmeta:                    Modifying Text.
* send-break:                            Miscellaneous.
* set-mark-command:                      Miscellaneous.
* spell-word:                            Miscellaneous.
* transpose-chars:                       Modifying Text.
* transpose-words:                       Modifying Text.
* undefined-key:                         Miscellaneous.
* undo:                                  Miscellaneous.
* universal-argument:                    Arguments.
* up-case-word:                          Modifying Text.
* up-history:                            History Control.
* up-line-or-history:                    History Control.
* up-line-or-search:                     History Control.
* vi-add-eol:                            Modifying Text.
* vi-add-next:                           Modifying Text.
* vi-backward-blank-word:                Movement.
* vi-backward-char:                      Movement.
* vi-backward-delete-char:               Modifying Text.
* vi-backward-kill-word:                 Modifying Text.
* vi-backward-word:                      Movement.
* vi-beginning-of-line:                  Movement.
* vi-caps-lock-panic:                    Miscellaneous.
* vi-change:                             Modifying Text.
* vi-change-eol:                         Modifying Text.
* vi-change-whole-line:                  Modifying Text.
* vi-cmd-mode:                           Miscellaneous.
* vi-delete:                             Modifying Text.
* vi-delete-char:                        Modifying Text.
* vi-digit-or-beginning-of-line:         Miscellaneous.
* vi-down-line-or-history:               History Control.
* vi-end-of-line:                        Movement.
* vi-fetch-history:                      History Control.
* vi-find-next-char:                     Movement.
* vi-find-next-char-skip:                Movement.
* vi-find-prev-char:                     Movement.
* vi-find-prev-char-skip:                Movement.
* vi-first-non-blank:                    Movement.
* vi-forward-blank-word:                 Movement.
* vi-forward-blank-word-end:             Movement.
* vi-forward-char:                       Movement.
* vi-forward-word:                       Movement.
* vi-forward-word-end:                   Movement.
* vi-goto-column:                        Movement.
* vi-goto-mark:                          Movement.
* vi-goto-mark-line:                     Movement.
* vi-history-search-backward:            History Control.
* vi-history-search-forward:             History Control.
* vi-indent:                             Modifying Text.
* vi-insert:                             Modifying Text.
* vi-insert-bol:                         Modifying Text.
* vi-join:                               Modifying Text.
* vi-kill-eol:                           Modifying Text.
* vi-kill-line:                          Modifying Text.
* vi-match-bracket:                      Modifying Text.
* vi-open-line-above:                    Modifying Text.
* vi-open-line-below:                    Modifying Text.
* vi-oper-swap-case:                     Modifying Text.
* vi-pound-insert:                       Miscellaneous.
* vi-put-after:                          Modifying Text.
* vi-put-before:                         Modifying Text.
* vi-quoted-insert:                      Modifying Text.
* vi-repeat-change:                      Modifying Text.
* vi-repeat-find:                        Movement.
* vi-repeat-search:                      History Control.
* vi-replace:                            Modifying Text.
* vi-replace-chars:                      Modifying Text.
* vi-rev-repeat-find:                    Movement.
* vi-rev-repeat-search:                  History Control.
* vi-set-buffer:                         Miscellaneous.
* vi-set-mark:                           Miscellaneous.
* vi-substitute:                         Modifying Text.
* vi-swap-case:                          Modifying Text.
* vi-undo-change:                        Miscellaneous.
* vi-unindent:                           Modifying Text.
* vi-up-line-or-history:                 History Control.
* vi-yank:                               Modifying Text.
* vi-yank-eol:                           Modifying Text.
* vi-yank-whole-line:                    Modifying Text.
* what-cursor-position:                  Miscellaneous.
* where-is:                              Miscellaneous.
* which-command:                         Miscellaneous.
* yank:                                  Modifying Text.
* yank-pop:                              Modifying Text.
* zap-to-char:                           The zsh/deltochar Module.


File: zsh.info,  Node: Style and Tag Index,  Prev: Editor Functions Index,  Up: Top

Style and Tag Index
*******************

* Menu:

* -array-value-, completion context:     Control Functions.
* -brace-parameter-, completion context: Control Functions.
* -command-, completion context:         Control Functions.
* -condition-, completion context:       Control Functions.
* -default-, completion context:         Control Functions.
* -equal-, completion context:           Control Functions.
* -first-, completion context:           Control Functions.
* -math-, completion context:            Control Functions.
* -parameter-, completion context:       Control Functions.
* -redirect-, completion context:        Control Functions.
* -subscript-, completion context:       Control Functions.
* -tilde-, completion context:           Control Functions.
* -value-, completion context:           Control Functions.
* accept-exact, completion style:        Completion System Configuration.
* accounts, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* add-space, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* all-expansions, completion tag:        Completion System Configuration.
* all-files, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* ambiguous, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* arguments, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* arrays, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* assign-list, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* association-keys, completion tag:      Completion System Configuration.
* auto-description, completion style:    Completion System Configuration.
* avoid-completer, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* bookmarks, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* break-keys, widget style:              ZLE Functions.
* builtins, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* cache-path, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* call-command, completion style:        Completion System Configuration.
* characters, completion tag:            Completion System Configuration.
* chpwd, zftp style:                     Miscellaneous Features.
* colormapids, completion tag:           Completion System Configuration.
* colors, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* command, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* commands, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* commands, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* complete, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* completer, completion style <1>:       Completion System Configuration.
* completer, completion style:           ZLE Functions.
* condition, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* contexts, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* corrections, completion tag:           Completion System Configuration.
* cursor, completion style:              ZLE Functions.
* cursors, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* default, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* descriptions, completion tag:          Completion System Configuration.
* devices, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* directories, completion tag:           Completion System Configuration.
* directory-stack, completion tag:       Completion System Configuration.
* disable-stat, completion style:        Completion System Configuration.
* disabled, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* displays, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* domains, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* domains, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* expand, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* expansions, completion tag:            Completion System Configuration.
* extensions, completion tag:            Completion System Configuration.
* fake-files, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* fake-parameters, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* file-descriptors, completion tag:      Completion System Configuration.
* file-patterns, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* file-sort, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* files, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* fonts, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* force-list, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* format, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* functions, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* glob, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* global, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* globbed-files, completion tag:         Completion System Configuration.
* group-name, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* group-order, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* groups, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* groups, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* hidden, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* history-words, completion tag:         Completion System Configuration.
* hosts, completion style:               Completion System Configuration.
* hosts, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* hosts-ports, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* ignore-line, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* ignore-parents, completion style:      Completion System Configuration.
* ignored-patterns, completion style:    Completion System Configuration.
* indexes, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* insert-ids, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* insert-tab, completion style <1>:      Completion System Configuration.
* insert-tab, completion style:          Other Functions.
* insert-unambiguous, completion style:  Completion System Configuration.
* jobs, completion tag:                  Completion System Configuration.
* keep-prefix, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* keymaps, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* keysyms, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* last-prompt, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* libraries, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* limits, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* list, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* list, widget style:                    ZLE Functions.
* list-colors, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* list-packed, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* list-prompt, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* list-rows-first, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* list-suffixes, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* local, completion style:               Completion System Configuration.
* local-directories, completion tag:     Completion System Configuration.
* manuals, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* maps, completion tag:                  Completion System Configuration.
* match, widget style:                   ZLE Functions.
* match-original, completion style:      Completion System Configuration.
* matcher, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* matcher-list, completion style:        Completion System Configuration.
* max-errors, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* menu, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* messages, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* modifiers, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* modules, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* my-accounts, completion tag:           Completion System Configuration.
* named-directories, completion tag:     Completion System Configuration.
* names, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* nicknames, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* numbers, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* old-list, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* old-matches, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* old-menu, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* options, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* original, completion style:            Completion System Configuration.
* original, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* other-accounts, completion tag:        Completion System Configuration.
* packages, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* packageset, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* pager, nslookup style:                 Other Functions.
* parameters, completion tag:            Completion System Configuration.
* path, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* path-directories, completion tag:      Completion System Configuration.
* paths, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* pods, completion tag:                  Completion System Configuration.
* ports, completion style:               Completion System Configuration.
* ports, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* prefix-hidden, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* prefix-needed, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* prefixes, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* preserve-prefix, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* printers, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* processes, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* processes-names, completion tag:       Completion System Configuration.
* progress, zftp style:                  Miscellaneous Features.
* prompt, nslookup style:                Other Functions.
* prompt, widget style:                  ZLE Functions.
* range, completion style:               Completion System Configuration.
* regular, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* remote-glob, zftp style:               Miscellaneous Features.
* remove-all-dups, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* rprompt, nslookup style:               Other Functions.
* select-prompt, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* select-scroll, completion style:       Completion System Configuration.
* separate-sections, completion style:   Completion System Configuration.
* sequences, completion tag:             Completion System Configuration.
* sessions, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* signals, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* single-ignored, completion style:      Completion System Configuration.
* sort, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* special-dirs, completion style:        Completion System Configuration.
* squeeze-slashes, completion style:     Completion System Configuration.
* stop, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* stop-keys, widget style:               ZLE Functions.
* strings, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* styles, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* subst-globs-only, completion style:    Completion System Configuration.
* substitute, completion style:          Completion System Configuration.
* suffix, completion style:              Completion System Configuration.
* tag-order, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* tags, completion tag:                  Completion System Configuration.
* targets, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* titlebar, zftp style:                  Miscellaneous Features.
* toggle, widget style:                  ZLE Functions.
* types, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* update, zftp style:                    Miscellaneous Features.
* urls, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* urls, completion tag:                  Completion System Configuration.
* use-cache, completion style:           Completion System Configuration.
* use-compctl, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* users, completion style:               Completion System Configuration.
* users, completion tag:                 Completion System Configuration.
* users-hosts, completion style:         Completion System Configuration.
* users-hosts-ports, completion style:   Completion System Configuration.
* values, completion tag:                Completion System Configuration.
* verbose, completion style:             Completion System Configuration.
* verbose, widget style:                 ZLE Functions.
* version, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* warnings, completion tag:              Completion System Configuration.
* widgets, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* windows, completion tag:               Completion System Configuration.
* word, completion style:                Completion System Configuration.
* zsh-options, completion tag:           Completion System Configuration.



Tag Table:
Node: Top189
Node: The Z Shell Manual3380
Node: Introduction4847
Node: Author5488
Node: Availability5941
Node: Mailing Lists7715
Node: The Zsh FAQ9102
Node: The Zsh Web Page9588
Node: The Zsh Userguide9938
Node: See Also10541
Node: Invocation10899
Node: Compatibility14238
Node: Restricted Shell16144
Node: Files17756
Node: Shell Grammar20224
Node: Simple Commands & Pipelines20523
Node: Precommand Modifiers24205
Node: Complex Commands25329
Node: Alternate Forms For Complex Commands29562
Node: Reserved Words31836
Node: Comments32340
Node: Aliasing32715
Node: Quoting33621
Node: Redirection34608
Node: Command Execution41486
Node: Functions42497
Node: Jobs & Signals50672
Node: Arithmetic Evaluation54274
Node: Conditional Expressions61398
Node: Prompt Expansion66006
Node: Expansion74936
Node: History Expansion76287
Node: Overview77174
Node: Event Designators79779
Node: Word Designators81141
Node: Modifiers82214
Node: Process Substitution85555
Node: Parameter Expansion87888
Node: Command Substitution113020
Node: Arithmetic Expansion113675
Node: Brace Expansion114097
Node: Filename Expansion115618
Node: Filename Generation118721
Node: Parameters146191
Node: Array Parameters147611
Node: Positional Parameters160952
Node: Local Parameters162107
Node: Parameters Set By The Shell163689
Node: Parameters Used By The Shell169878
Node: Options187054
Node: Specifying Options187270
Node: Description of Options188872
Node: Option Aliases223463
Node: Single Letter Options224387
Node: Shell Builtin Commands226403
Node: Zsh Line Editor294651
Node: Keymaps295584
Node: Zle Builtins298113
Node: Zle Widgets312913
Node: Movement318144
Node: History Control321574
Node: Modifying Text330462
Node: Arguments338364
Node: Completion339595
Node: Miscellaneous341432
Node: Completion Widgets348291
Node: Special Parameters350279
Node: Builtin Commands366282
Node: Condition Codes382187
Node: Matching Control383053
Node: Completion Widget Example394282
Node: Completion System394907
Node: Initialization395614
Node: Completion System Configuration410159
Node: Control Functions487516
Node: Bindable Commands506285
Node: Completion Functions513246
Node: Completion Directories574412
Node: Completion Using compctl576039
Node: Command Flags577505
Node: Option Flags581974
Node: Simple Flags582752
Node: Flags with Arguments584413
Node: Control Flags587384
Node: Alternative Completion597072
Node: Extended Completion597759
Node: Example601857
Node: Zsh Modules602503
Node: The zsh/cap Module605138
Node: The zsh/clone Module606010
Node: The zsh/compctl Module606624
Node: The zsh/complete Module607085
Node: The zsh/complist Module607417
Node: The zsh/computil Module621503
Node: The zsh/deltochar Module625437
Node: The zsh/example Module626059
Node: The zsh/files Module626467
Node: The zsh/mapfile Module632743
Node: The zsh/mathfunc Module635077
Node: The zsh/parameter Module637386
Node: The zsh/sched Module642164
Node: The zsh/stat Module642706
Node: The zsh/termcap Module648412
Node: The zsh/terminfo Module648917
Node: The zsh/zftp Module649387
Node: The zsh/zle Module668073
Node: The zsh/zleparameter Module668319
Node: The zsh/zprof Module669395
Node: The zsh/zpty Module672640
Node: The zsh/zutil Module676331
Node: Zftp Function System687490
Node: Installation689118
Node: Zftp Functions690302
Node: Miscellaneous Features709818
Node: User Contributions716930
Node: Utilities717524
Node: Prompt Themes728218
Node: ZLE Functions730887
Node: Other Functions744488
Node: Concept Index754274
Node: Variables Index784455
Node: Options Index800345
Node: Functions Index812554
Node: Editor Functions Index828488
Node: Style and Tag Index838908

End Tag Table
