Micro has a plethora of hotkeys that make it easy and powerful to use and all
hotkeys are fully customizable to your liking.
-Custom keybindings are stored internally in micro if changed with the `>bind` command or
-you can also be added in the file `~/.config/micro/bindings.json` as discussed below.
-For a list of the default keybindings in the json format used by micro, please see
-the end of this file. For a more user-friendly list with explanations of what the default
-hotkeys are and what they do, please see `>help defaultkeys`
+
+Custom keybindings are stored internally in micro if changed with the `> bind`
+command or you can also be added in the file `~/.config/micro/bindings.json` as
+discussed below. For a list of the default keybindings in the json format used
+by micro, please see the end of this file. For a more user-friendly list with
+explanations of what the default hotkeys are and what they do, please see
+`>help defaultkeys`
If `~/.config/micro/bindings.json` does not exist, you can simply create it.
Micro will know what to do with it.
-You can use the alt keys + arrows to move word by word.
-Ctrl left and right move the cursor to the start and end of the line, and
-ctrl up and down move the cursor the start and end of the buffer.
+You can use the alt keys + arrows to move word by word. Ctrl left and right move
+the cursor to the start and end of the line, and ctrl up and down move the
+cursor the start and end of the buffer.
You can hold shift with all of these movement actions to select while moving.
-# Rebinding keys
-The bindings may be rebound using the `~/.config/micro/bindings.json`
-file. Each key is bound to an action.
+## Rebinding keys
+
+The bindings may be rebound using the `~/.config/micro/bindings.json` file. Each
+key is bound to an action.
For example, to bind `Ctrl-y` to undo and `Ctrl-z` to redo, you could put the
following in the `bindings.json` file.
In addition to editing your `~/.config/micro/bindings.json`, you can run
`>bind <keycombo> <action>` For a list of bindable actions, see below.
-You can also chain commands when rebinding. For example, if you want Alt-s to save
-and quit you can bind it like so:
+You can also chain commands when rebinding. For example, if you want Alt-s to
+save and quit you can bind it like so:
```json
{
}
```
-# Unbinding keys
+## Binding commands
+
+You can also bind a key to execute a command in command mode (see
+`help commands`). Simply prepend the binding with `command:`. For example:
+
+```json
+{
+ "Alt-p": "command:pwd"
+}
+```
+
+Now when you press `Alt-p` the `pwd` command will be executed which will show
+your working directory in the infobar.
+
+You can also bind an "editable" command with `command-edit:`. This means that
+micro won't immediately execute the command when you press the binding, but
+instead just place the string in the infobar in command mode. For example,
+you could rebind `CtrlG` to `> help`:
+
+```json
+{
+ "CtrlG": "command-edit:help "
+}
+```
+
+Now when you press `CtrlG`, `help` will appear in the command bar and your cursor will
+be placed after it (note the space in the json that controls the cursor placement).
+
+## Binding raw escape sequences
+
+Only read this section if you are interested in binding keys that aren't on the
+list of supported keys for binding.
+
+One of the drawbacks of using a terminal-based editor is that the editor must
+get all of its information about key events through the terminal. The terminal
+sends these events in the form of escape sequences often (but not always)
+starting with `0x1b`.
+
+For example, if micro reads `\x1b[1;5D`, on most terminals this will mean the
+user pressed CtrlLeft.
+
+For many key chords though, the terminal won't send any escape code or will send
+an escape code already in use. For example for `CtrlBackspace`, my terminal
+sends `\u007f` (note this doesn't start with `0x1b`), which it also sends for
+`Backspace` meaning micro can't bind `CtrlBackspace`.
+
+However, some terminals do allow you to bind keys to send specific escape
+sequences you define. Then from micro you can directly bind those escape
+sequences to actions. For example, to bind `CtrlBackspace` you can instruct your
+terminal to send `\x1bctrlback` and then bind it in `bindings.json`:
+
+```json
+{
+ "\u001bctrlback": "DeleteWordLeft"
+}
+```
+
+Here are some instructions for sending raw escapes in different terminals
+
+### iTerm2
+
+In iTerm2, you can do this in `Preferences->Profiles->Keys` then click the `+`,
+input your keybinding, and for the `Action` select `Send Escape Sequence`. For
+the above example your would type `ctrlback` into the box (the `\x1b`) is
+automatically sent by iTerm2.
+
+### Linux using loadkeys
+
+You can do this in linux using the loadkeys program.
+
+Coming soon!
+
+
+## Unbinding keys
It is also possible to disable any of the default key bindings by use of the
`UnbindKey` action in the user's `bindings.json` file.
-# Bindable actions and bindable keys
+
+## Bindable actions and bindable keys
The list of default keybindings contains most of the possible actions and keys
which you can use, but not all of them. Here is a full list of both.
MoveLinesDown
DeleteWordRight
DeleteWordLeft
+SelectLine
SelectToStartOfLine
SelectToEndOfLine
InsertNewline
HalfPageDown
StartOfLine
EndOfLine
+ParagraphPrevious
+ParagraphNext
ToggleHelp
ToggleRuler
JumpLine
PreviousSplit
ToggleMacro
PlayMacro
-Suspend (Linux only)
+Suspend (Unix only)
ScrollUp
ScrollDown
SpawnMultiCursor
RemoveAllMultiCursors
SkipMultiCursor
UnbindKey
+JumpToMatchingBrace
```
You can also bind some mouse actions (these must be bound to mouse buttons)
+
```
MousePress
MouseMultiCursor
Enter
```
-You can also bind some mouse buttons (they may be bound to normal actions or mouse actions)
+You can also bind some mouse buttons (they may be bound to normal actions or
+mouse actions)
```
MouseLeft
"CtrlDown": "CursorEnd",
"CtrlShiftUp": "SelectToStart",
"CtrlShiftDown": "SelectToEnd",
+ "Alt-{": "ParagraphPrevious",
+ "Alt-}": "ParagraphNext",
"Enter": "InsertNewline",
"CtrlH": "Backspace",
"Backspace": "Backspace",
}
```
-# Final notes
-Note: On some old terminal emulators and on Windows machines, `CtrlH` should be used
-for backspace.
+## Final notes
+
+Note: On some old terminal emulators and on Windows machines, `CtrlH` should be
+used for backspace.
-Additionally, alt keys can be bound by using `Alt-key`. For example `Alt-a`
-or `Alt-Up`. Micro supports an optional `-` between modifiers like `Alt` and `Ctrl`
-so `Alt-a` could be rewritten as `Alta` (case matters for alt bindings). This is
-why in the default keybindings you can see `AltShiftLeft` instead of `Alt-ShiftLeft`
-(they are equivalent).
+Additionally, alt keys can be bound by using `Alt-key`. For example `Alt-a` or
+`Alt-Up`. Micro supports an optional `-` between modifiers like `Alt` and
+`Ctrl` so `Alt-a` could be rewritten as `Alta` (case matters for alt bindings).
+This is why in the default keybindings you can see `AltShiftLeft` instead of
+`Alt-ShiftLeft` (they are equivalent).
projects / micro.git / blobdiff