Start *top* command with memory sort? (or any other available field)

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 08:29 AM

Top is a program that I have used for years, even with a few "deep" uses of its features: kill, renice, sort by other fields.

Now I want to start top with other sorting field, not CPU usage. One of the memory related fields is what want.

Even before looking at its documentation, I was planning a natural thing to many other *nix programs: to make an alias for it setting the wanted sort field. Something like:

Code:

alias topmem='top -sortfield n'  # %MEM
alias topswp='top -sortfield p'  # swapped size
alias topvrt='top -sortfield o'  # virtual image

But reading 'man top' did not show anything to do this. Or I missed it.

I do not want to change the behavior of top, it should continue existing. I want to call the normal top in one terminal and "topswp" or others in another one, at (possibly) the same time.

I also do not want to do what I do now:
- start top
- type F
- type the letter for another sort field
- type space to get back to main screen

Is it possible? How?

273 · 01-02-2017, 09:08 AM

I just had a look in man top and it looks like the "-o" option does what you want, and the column names can be found with the "-O" option -- does htat help?

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 09:14 AM

No. There is no "-o" or "-O" option for the top I use. :(

All options I have, copied from the manpage, are:

Code:

-hv | -bcHisS -d delay -n iterations -p pid [,pid...]

(...)

Code:

$ top --version
	top: procps version 3.2.8
usage:	top -hv | -bcisSH -d delay -n iterations
             [-u user | -U user] -p pid [,pid ...]

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 09:51 AM

Do you know where would I find the source code for top? Or which package is it part of? (which would help me to find the source code in the app repository)

This computer is with Ubuntu 10.04.

Code:

# partial output of
$ man top
# [...]
7. BUGS
       Send bug reports to:
          Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@...........>

8. HISTORY Former top
       The original top was written  by  Roger  Binns,  based  on  Branko
       Lankester's <lankeste@.................> ps program.

       Robert  Nation <nation@.................> adapted it for
       the proc file system.

       Helmut Geyer  <Helmut.Geyer@...................>  added  support
       for configurable fields.

       Plus many other individuals contributed over the years.

9. AUTHOR
       This entirely new and enhanced replacement was written by:
          Jim / James C. Warner, <warnerjc@................>

       With invaluable help from:
          Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@..............>
          Craig Small, <csmall@....................>

# [...]

No clue to where the project is... :(

Timothy Miller · 01-02-2017, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedec0

Do you know where would I find the source code for top? Or which package is it part of? (which would help me to find the source code in the app repository)

This computer is with Ubuntu 10.04.

Code:

# partial output of
$ man top
# [...]
7. BUGS
       Send bug reports to:
          Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@...........>

8. HISTORY Former top
       The original top was written  by  Roger  Binns,  based  on  Branko
       Lankester's <lankeste@.................> ps program.

       Robert  Nation <nation@.................> adapted it for
       the proc file system.

       Helmut Geyer  <Helmut.Geyer@...................>  added  support
       for configurable fields.

       Plus many other individuals contributed over the years.

9. AUTHOR
       This entirely new and enhanced replacement was written by:
          Jim / James C. Warner, <warnerjc@................>

       With invaluable help from:
          Albert D. Cahalan, <albert@..............>
          Craig Small, <csmall@....................>

# [...]

No clue to where the project is...

Wow, you're out of date...10.04 was EOL over a year and a half ago. That's why you're missing the -o option in newer versions.

While you could probably compile the newer version, I'd STRONGLY suggest just backing up all your information, and reinstalling with a newer, supported version like 14.04 or 16.04.

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

Wow, you're out of date...10.04 was EOL over a year and a half ago. That's why you're missing the -o option in newer versions.

While you could probably compile the newer version, I'd STRONGLY suggest just backing up all your information, and reinstalling with a newer, supported version like 14.04 or 16.04.

That will not happen. And if I ever reinstall the system for this machine, it will be a Mint, not an ugly and much worse to use Ubuntu with Unity Desktop or Gnome 3.

At least, Mate Desktop was born...

Do you know which are the best places to find source code for top? I am guessing that this should be the path I will take here.

Timothy Miller · 01-02-2017, 10:29 AM

NO, that shouldn't be the path. You're running an outdated OS with no more security patches or updates. Unless you're going to start compiling every program from source to keep up with security updates, then you should update to an OS that gets security updates. Regardless if it's Ubuntu, Mint, Arch, OpenBSD, Haiku, Windows, MacOS, or what.

Now, CAN you just update that one program, sure. But running an outdated OS is never a good thing, just ask everyone who's still using Windows XP...

Habitual · 01-02-2017, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedec0

Do you know which are the best places to find source code for top?

How about using a ~/.toprc to order what you want?
Here's mine,

Code:

RCfile for "top with windows"		# shameless braggin'
Id:a, Mode_altscr=0, Mode_irixps=1, Delay_time=3.000, Curwin=0
Def	fieldscur=AEHIOQTWKNMbcdfgjplrsuvyzX
	winflags=30137, sortindx=13, maxtasks=20
	summclr=1, msgsclr=1, headclr=3, taskclr=1
Job	fieldscur=ABcefgjlrstuvyzMKNHIWOPQDX
	winflags=62777, sortindx=0, maxtasks=0
	summclr=6, msgsclr=6, headclr=7, taskclr=6
Mem	fieldscur=ANOPQRSTUVbcdefgjlmyzWHIKX
	winflags=62777, sortindx=13, maxtasks=0
	summclr=5, msgsclr=5, headclr=4, taskclr=5
Usr	fieldscur=ABDECGfhijlopqrstuvyzMKNWX
	winflags=62777, sortindx=4, maxtasks=0
	summclr=3, msgsclr=3, headclr=2, taskclr=3

I stole it. You can too!
I don't understand it except it shows me c-line all my Cores

Hope This "helps" http://unix.stackexchange.com/questi...icular-sorting

TheEzekielProject · 01-02-2017, 12:10 PM

To sort by memory % usage, I believe you can just press shift+m after top is running

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The EzekielProject

To sort by memory % usage, I believe you can just press shift+m after top is running

Yes, shift+m works too, I tested now. How did you find this? It is not written in the manpage... !

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habitual

How about using a ~/.toprc to order what you want?
Here's mine,

[...]

This is not an option unless I can have two different files with two different settings. It seems that there is not a command line option fot that, as some programs have. As I said above, I want to have the normal top too.

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

NO, that shouldn't be the path. You're running an outdated OS with no more security patches or updates. Unless you're going to start compiling every program from source to keep up with security updates, then you should update to an OS that gets security updates. Regardless if it's Ubuntu, Mint, Arch, OpenBSD, Haiku, Windows, MacOS, or what.

Now, CAN you just update that one program, sure. But running an outdated OS is never a good thing, just ask everyone who's still using Windows XP...

I have seen Win XP running in several companies in the last months. But you will also complain about their security, about many other details. They still have it and will keep it for, at least, a few more years.

And I am not planning to change my OS so soon either.

Please, can anyone point me to which package or site top is in? Or show me a path to know for sure?

TheEzekielProject · 01-02-2017, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedec0

Yes, shift+m works too, I tested now. How did you find this? It is not written in the manpage... !

I saw it in a forum a long time ago! I can't remember where exactly

dedec0 · 01-02-2017, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The EzekielProject

I saw it in a forum a long time ago! I can't remember where exactly :)

I thought you were talking about top source code... sad that this is not in the documentation. It is a good shortcut!

TheEzekielProject · 01-02-2017, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedec0

I thought you were talking about top source code... sad that this is not in the documentation. It is a good shortcut!

Check here for source code