Pico Command#

The pico command is a simple and user-friendly text editing program designed primarily for display-based operation, with the style of the pine email composer. On modern Linux systems, nano, the GNU version of pico, is installed by default, and its usage is identical to that of pico.

Syntax#

Parameters#

• +LINE[,COLUMN]: Places the cursor at line LINE and column COLUMN when starting up, rather than the default at line 1 and column 1.
• -?: Same as -h.
• -A, --smarthome: Makes the Home key more intelligent; if pressed anywhere on a line other than at the very beginning of non-whitespace characters, the cursor will jump to that beginning (forward or backward); if the cursor is already there, it will jump to the true beginning of the line.
• -B, --backup: When saving files, it backs up the previous version of the file to the current filename with a ~ suffix.
• -C dir, --backupdir=dir: Set the directory where nano places unique backup files if file backups are enabled.
• -D, --boldtext: Uses bold text instead of reverse video text.
• -E, --tabstospaces: Converts typed tabs to spaces.
• -F, --multibuffer: Enables multiple file buffers if available.
• -H, --historylog: Logs searches and replacements to ~/.nano_history from which, if there is nanorc support, they can be retrieved in later sessions.
• -I, --ignorercfiles: If there is nanorc support, do not retrieve SYSCONFDIR/nanorc or ~/.nanorc.
• -K, --rebindkeypad: Interprets the keys of the numeric keypad so that they all work properly. This option is unnecessary unless needed, as enabling this option will prevent mouse support from functioning properly.
• -L, --nonewlines: Does not add newlines at the end of the file.
• -N, --noconvert: Disables automatic conversion from DOS/Mac format.
• -O, --morespace: Uses the blank line below the title bar as extra editing space.
• -Q str, --quotestr=str: Sets the quoting string used for justification. If there is extended regular expression support, the default value is ^([ \t]*[#:>\|}])+, otherwise it is >. Please note that \t represents Tab.
• -R, --restricted: Restricts mode; does not read or write any files not specified on the command line, read any nanorc files, allow suspending, allow appending a file to another name if there is a filename already, or save under another name, or use backup files or spell checking. Access can also be obtained by calling nano with any name starting with r (e.g., rnano).
• -S, --smooth: Enables smooth scrolling; text will scroll line by line rather than the usual chunk-wise behavior.
• -T cols, --tabsize=cols: Sets the size (width) of the tabs to cols, where cols' value must be greater than 0; default value is 8.
• -U, --quickblank: Quickly clears the status bar; after one keypress rather than 25 keypresses, the status bar message will disappear. Please note that -c will override this content.
• -V, --version: Outputs version information.
• -W, --wordbounds: More accurately detects word boundaries by treating punctuation as part of the word.
• -Y str, --syntax=str: Specifies a specific syntax to be highlighted from the nanorc, if available.
• -c, --const: Constantly display the cursor position. Please note that this will override -U.
• -d, --rebinddelete: Interprets the Delete key differently so that both the backspace key and the Delete key work properly; this option is only needed if the backspace key acts like Delete on the system.
• -h, --help: Outputs help information.
• -i, --autoindent: Indents new lines to the previous line's indentation, useful when editing source code.
• -k, --cut: Enables cutting from the cursor to the end of the line.
• -l --nofollow: If the file being edited is a symbolic link, it replaces that link with the new file instead of following it, perhaps useful when editing files in /tmp.
• -m, --mouse: Enables mouse support (if available for your system); mouse double-click can be used for marking when setting shortcuts, the mouse will work in the X window system and on the console when running gpm.
• -o dir, --operatingdir=dir: Sets the operating directory, making nano behave similar to chroot.
• -p, --preserve: Preserves the XON and XOFF sequences ^Q and ^S so that they are captured by the terminal.
• -r cols, --fill=cols: Wraps at column cols; if this value is equal to or less than 0, wrapping will take place cols columns from the width of the screen; wrapping point will change with the width of the screen if it is adjusted, default value is -8.
• -s prog, --speller=prog: Enables an alternate spell-check program command.
• -t, --tempfile: Always saves the modified buffer without prompting, same as the Pico -t option.
• -v, --view: View file (read-only) mode.
• -w, --nowrap: Disables line wrapping for long lines.
• -x, --nohelp: Disables the help screen at the bottom of the editor.
• -z, --suspend: Enables the suspend feature.
• -a, -b, -e, -f, -g, -j: Ignored for compatibility with Pico.

Example#

Edit a file using nano, and edit the file according to the prompts.

nano file.txt

Daily Question#

References#