Issuing Commands

You operate in commands-only Prism just as you do when issuing commands on the command line in graphical Prism; output appears below the command you type, instead of in the history region above the command line. You cannot redirect output using the on window syntax. You can, however, redirect output to a file using the @ filename syntax.

Commands-only Prism supports the editing key combinations supported by graphical Prism, plus some additional combinations. Here is the entire list:

• Ctrl-a - Moves to the beginning of the line.

• Ctrl-b (or Ctrl-h) - Moves back one character.

• Ctrl-c - Interrupts execution.

• Ctrl-d - Deletes the character under the cursor.

• Ctrl-e - Moves to the end of the line.

• Ctrl-f - Moves forward one character.

• Ctrl-j - (or Ctrl-m) - Signals done with input (equivalent to pressing the Return key).

• Ctrl-k - Deletes to the end of the line.

• Ctrl-l - Refreshes the screen.

• Ctrl-n - Displays the next command in the commands buffer.

• Ctrl-p - Displays the previous command in the commands buffer.

• Ctrl-u - Deletes to the beginning of the line.

When printing large amounts of output, commands-only Prism displays a more? prompt after every screenful of text. Answer y or simply press the Return key to display another screenful; answer n or q, followed by another Return, to stop the display and return to the (prism) prompt.

You can adjust the number of lines Prism displays before issuing the more? prompt by issuing the set command with the $page_size variable, specifying the number of lines you want displayed. For example, issue this command to display 10 lines at a time:

(prism) set $page_size = 10

Set the $page_size to 0 to turn the feature off; Prism will not display a more? prompt.