Unix in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Name

nano

Synopsis

    nano [+line] [options] [file]

Replacement program for the non-free Pico editor supplied with the Pine email reader. Mac OS X provides pico as a symbolic link to nano.

URL: http://www.nano-editor.org/.

Options

The options -a, -b, -e, -f, -g, and -j are accepted but ignored for compatibility with pico.

+ line

Go to line number line at startup.

-B, --backup

Upon saving a file, keep the previous version in a file with the same name and a ~ character at the end.

-c, --const

Always (constantly) show the cursor position.

-D, --dos

Write files in MS-DOS format (CR-LF line terminators).

-F, --multibuffer

Use multiple file buffers.

-h, --help

Print a command-line option summary.

-H, --historylog

If support for startup files is configured, log search and replace stings in ~/.nano_history.

-i, --autoindent

Enable auto-indentation. Useful for source code.

-I, --ignorercfiles

If support for startup files is configured, do not read the $SYSCONFDIR/nanorc or ~/.nanorc files.

-k, --cut

Enable cut from cursor to end of line with ^K.

-K, --keypad

Use the ncurses keypad() function only if necessary. Try this option if the arrow keys on the numeric keypad do not work for you.

-l, --nofollow

If editing a symbolic link, replace the link with a regular file, instead of following the link.

-m, --mouse

Enable mouse support.

-M --mac

Write files in Macintosh (presumably Mac OS 9) format (CR line terminators).

-N --noconvert

Disable the automatic conversion of files from MS-DOS or Macintosh formats.

-odir, --operatingdir= ...