F8 for command history in bash

titanandrews · 10-15-2004, 11:53 AM

Hi all,

In Windows command prompt, I can type a word and hit F8 to iterate the history of that word. For example, if I type "java ThisProgram" and then later type "java "ThatProgram" I can just enter "java" and hit F8 and it will cycle through those 2 entries and complete the statements on the command line.

I was wondering if there is anything like this in the bash shell on Linux. I know about up/down arrow keys and this is useful, but I am very used to F8.

many thanks,

Barry

320mb · 10-15-2004, 12:45 PM

in the ~/home directory is a hidden file..........

~/.bash_history

you can create your own keyboard shortcut to it............

titanandrews · 10-15-2004, 01:56 PM

But how will creating a keyboard shortcut to a file help?

homey · 10-15-2004, 03:10 PM

I think Ctrl r might be what you have in mind.

For example....
If I run these commands.
cd /home/stuff
ls -al
cd /root
ls -l
cd /mnt/tech
ls -r

then I can use the command: Ctrl r
and if I type l it comes up with the last command which started with l
pressing the Ctrl r again finds the previous command which started with l
.....

titanandrews · 10-15-2004, 03:56 PM

Hmmmm... Well that functionality is what I am looking for, but when I do CTRL-R I get a message, "(reverse-i-search)" What am I missing? Do I need a key mapping or something?

thanks,

Barry

homey · 10-15-2004, 04:09 PM

After you do Ctrl r then you type in the search word or even just part of it and the reverse search will find the last instance of that word or letter. Pressing Ctrl r again finds the next previous instance of that word or letter.

titanandrews · 10-15-2004, 04:23 PM

Got it! Cool! Thanks a lot homey!

homey · 10-15-2004, 04:25 PM

You're welcome.