zsh/Doc/Zsh/mod_complist.yo

COMMENT(!MOD!zsh/complist
Completion listing extensions.
!MOD!)
cindex(completion, listing)
cindex(completion, coloured listings)
cindex(completion, scroll listings)
The tt(zsh/complist) module offers three extensions to completion listings:
the ability to highlight matches in such a list, the ability to
scroll through long lists and a different style of menu completion.

subsect(Colored completion listings)
Whenever one of the parameters tt(ZLS_COLORS) or tt(ZLS_COLOURS) is set 
and the tt(zsh/complist) module is loaded or linked into the shell,
completion lists will be colored.  Note, however, that tt(complist) will
not automatically be loaded if it is not linked in:  on systems with
dynamic loading, `tt(zmodload zsh/complist)' is required.

vindex(ZLS_COLORS)
vindex(ZLS_COLOURS)
The parameters tt(ZLS_COLORS) and tt(ZLS_COLOURS) describe how matches
are highlighted.  To turn on highlighting an empty value suffices, in
which case all the default values given below will be used.  The format of
the value of these parameters is the same as used by the GNU version of the
tt(ls) command: a colon-separated list of specifications of the form
`var(name)tt(=)var(value)'.  The var(name) may be one of the following strings,
most of which specify file types for which the var(value) will be used.
The strings and their default values are:

startitem()
item(tt(no 0))(
for normal text (i.e. when displaying something other than a matched file)
)
item(tt(fi 0))(
for regular files
)
item(tt(di 32))(
for directories
)
item(tt(ln 36))(
for symbolic links.  If this has the special value tt(target),
symbolic links are dereferenced and the target file used to
determine the display format.
)
item(tt(pi 31))(
for named pipes (FIFOs)
)
item(tt(so 33))(
for sockets
)
item(tt(bd 44;37))(
for block devices
)
item(tt(cd 44;37))(
for character devices
)
item(tt(or) var(none))(
for a symlink to nonexistent file (default is the value defined for tt(ln))
)
item(tt(mi) var(none))(
for a non-existent file (default is the value defined for tt(fi)); this code
is currently not used
)
item(tt(su 37;41))(
for files with setuid bit set
)
item(tt(sg 30;43))(
for files with setgid bit set
)
item(tt(tw 30;42))(
for world writable directories with sticky bit set
)
item(tt(ow 34;43))(
for world writable directories without sticky bit set
)
item(tt(sa) var(none))(
for files with an associated suffix alias; this is only tested
after specific suffixes, as described below
)
item(tt(st 37;44))(
for directories with sticky bit set but not world writable
)
item(tt(ex 35))(
for executable files
)
item(tt(lc \e[))(
for the left code (see below)
)
item(tt(rc m))(
for the right code
)
item(tt(tc 0))(
for the character indicating the file type  printed after filenames if
the tt(LIST_TYPES) option is set
)
item(tt(sp 0))(
for the spaces printed after matches to align the next column
)
item(tt(ec) var(none))(
for the end code
)
enditem()

Apart from these strings, the var(name) may also be an asterisk
(`tt(*)') followed by any string. The var(value) given for such a
string will be used for all files whose name ends with the string.
The var(name) may also be an equals sign (`tt(=)') followed by a
pattern; the tt(EXTENDED_GLOB) option will be turned on for evaluation
of the pattern.  The var(value) given for this pattern will be used for all
matches (not just filenames) whose display string are matched by
the pattern.  Definitions for the form with the leading equal sign take
precedence over the values defined for file types, which in turn take
precedence over the form with the leading asterisk (file extensions).

The leading-equals form also allows different parts of the displayed
strings to be colored differently.  For this, the pattern has to use the
`tt((#b))' globbing flag and pairs of parentheses surrounding the
parts of the strings that are to be colored differently.  In this case 
the var(value) may consist of more than one color code separated by
equal signs.  The first code will be used for all parts for which no
explicit code is specified and the following codes will be used for
the parts matched by the sub-patterns in parentheses.  For example,
the specification `tt(=(#b)(?)*(?)=0=3=7)' will be used for all
matches which are at least two characters long and will use
the code `tt(3)' for the first character, `tt(7)' for the last
character and `tt(0)' for the rest.

All three forms of var(name) may be preceded by a pattern in
parentheses.  If this is given, the var(value) will be used
only for matches in groups whose names are matched by the pattern
given in the parentheses.  For example, `tt((g*)m*=43)' highlights all
matches beginning with `tt(m)' in groups whose names  begin with
`tt(g)' using the color code `tt(43)'.  In case of the `tt(lc)',
`tt(rc)', and `tt(ec)' codes, the group pattern is ignored.

Note also that all patterns are tried in the order in which they
appear in the parameter value until the first one matches which is
then used.  Patterns may be matched against completions, descriptions
(possibly with spaces appended for padding), or lines consisting of a
completion followed by a description.  For consistent coloring it may be
necessary to use more than one pattern or a pattern with backreferences.

When printing a match, the code prints the value of tt(lc), the value
for the file-type or the last matching specification with a `tt(*)',
the value of tt(rc), the string to display for the match itself, and
then the value of tt(ec) if that is defined or the values of tt(lc),
tt(no), and tt(rc) if tt(ec) is not defined.

The default values are ISO 6429 (ANSI) compliant and can be used on
vt100 compatible terminals such as tt(xterm)s.  On monochrome terminals
the default values will have no visible effect.  The tt(colors)
function from the contribution can be used to get associative arrays
containing the codes for ANSI terminals (see
ifzman(the section `Other Functions' in zmanref(zshcontrib))\
ifnzman(noderef(Other Functions))\
).  For example, after loading tt(colors), one could use
`tt($color[red])' to get the code for foreground color red and
`tt($color[bg-green])' for the code for background color green.

If the completion system invoked by compinit is used, these
parameters should not be set directly because the system controls them 
itself.  Instead, the tt(list-colors) style should be used (see
ifzman(the section `Completion System Configuration' in zmanref(zshcompsys))\
ifnzman(noderef(Completion System Configuration))\
).

subsect(Scrolling in completion listings)
To enable scrolling through a completion list, the tt(LISTPROMPT)
parameter must be set.  Its value will be used as the prompt; if it
is the empty string, a default prompt will be used.  The value may
contain escapes of the form `tt(%x)'.  It supports the escapes
`tt(%B)', `tt(%b)', `tt(%S)', `tt(%s)', `tt(%U)', `tt(%u)', `tt(%F)',
`tt(%f)', `tt(%K)', `tt(%k)' and
`tt(%{)var(...)tt(%})' used also in shell prompts as well as three pairs of
additional sequences: a `tt(%l)' or `tt(%L)' is replaced by the number
of the last line shown and the total number of lines in the form
`var(number)tt(/)var(total)'; a `tt(%m)' or `tt(%M)' is replaced with
the number of the last match shown and the total number of matches; and 
`tt(%p)' or `tt(%P)' is replaced with `tt(Top)', `tt(Bottom)' or the
position of the first line shown in percent of the total number of
lines, respectively.  In each of these cases the form with the uppercase
letter will be replaced with a string of fixed width, padded to the
right with spaces, while the lowercase form will not be padded.

If the parameter tt(LISTPROMPT) is set, the completion code will not ask if
the list should be shown.  Instead it immediately starts displaying the
list, stopping after the first screenful, showing the prompt at the bottom,
waiting for a keypress after temporarily switching to the tt(listscroll)
keymap.  Some of the zle functions have a special meaning while scrolling
lists:

startitem()
item(tt(send-break))(
stops listing discarding the key pressed
)
xitem(tt(accept-line), tt(down-history), tt(down-line-or-history))
item(tt(down-line-or-search), tt(vi-down-line-or-history))(
scrolls forward one line
)
xitem(tt(complete-word), tt(menu-complete), tt(expand-or-complete))
item(tt(expand-or-complete-prefix), tt(menu-complete-or-expand))(
scrolls forward one screenful
)
item(tt(accept-search))(
stop listing but take no other action
)
enditem()

Every other character stops listing and immediately processes the key
as usual.  Any key that is not bound in the tt(listscroll) keymap or
that is bound to tt(undefined-key) is looked up in the keymap
currently selected.

As for the tt(ZLS_COLORS) and tt(ZLS_COLOURS) parameters,
tt(LISTPROMPT) should not be set directly when using the shell
function based completion system.  Instead, the tt(list-prompt) style
should be used.

subsect(Menu selection)
cindex(completion, selecting by cursor)
vindex(MENUSELECT)
tindex(menu-select)
The tt(zsh/complist) module also offers an alternative style of selecting
matches from a list, called menu selection, which can be used if the
shell is set up to return to the last prompt after showing a
completion list (see the tt(ALWAYS_LAST_PROMPT) option in
ifzman(zmanref(zshoptions))\
ifnzman(noderef(Options))\
).

Menu selection can be invoked directly by
the widget tt(menu-select) defined by this module.  This is a standard
ZLE widget that can be bound to a key in the usual way as described
in ifzman(zmanref(zshzle))\
ifnzman(noderef(Zsh Line Editor)).

Alternatively,
the parameter tt(MENUSELECT) can be set to an integer, which gives the
minimum number of matches that must be present before menu selection is
automatically turned on.  This second method requires that menu completion
be started, either directly from a widget such as tt(menu-complete), or due
to one of the options tt(MENU_COMPLETE) or tt(AUTO_MENU) being set.  If
tt(MENUSELECT) is set, but is 0, 1 or empty, menu selection will always be
started during an ambiguous menu completion.

When using the completion system based on shell functions, the
tt(MENUSELECT) parameter should not be used (like the tt(ZLS_COLORS)
and tt(ZLS_COLOURS) parameters described above).  Instead, the tt(menu) 
style should be used with the tt(select=)var(...) keyword.

After menu selection is started, the matches will be listed. If there
are more matches than fit on the screen, only the first screenful is
shown.  The
matches to insert into the command line can be selected from this
list.  In the list one match is highlighted using the value for tt(ma)
from the tt(ZLS_COLORS) or tt(ZLS_COLOURS) parameter.  The default
value for this is `tt(7)' which forces the selected match to be
highlighted using standout mode on a vt100-compatible terminal.  If
neither tt(ZLS_COLORS) nor tt(ZLS_COLOURS) is set, the same terminal
control sequence as for the `tt(%S)' escape in prompts is used.

If there are more matches than fit on the screen and the parameter
tt(MENUPROMPT) is set, its value will be shown below the matches.  It
supports the same escape sequences as tt(LISTPROMPT), but the number
of the match or line shown will be that of the one where the mark is
placed.  If its value is the empty string, a default prompt will be
used.

The tt(MENUSCROLL) parameter can be used to specify how the list is
scrolled.  If the parameter is unset, this is done line by line, if it
is set to `tt(0)' (zero), the list will scroll half the number of
lines of the screen.  If the value is positive, it gives the number of
lines to scroll and if it is negative, the list will be scrolled
the number of lines of the screen minus the (absolute) value.

As for the tt(ZLS_COLORS), tt(ZLS_COLOURS) and tt(LISTPROMPT)
parameters, neither tt(MENUPROMPT) nor tt(MENUSCROLL) should be
set directly when using the shell function based completion
system.  Instead, the tt(select-prompt) and tt(select-scroll) styles
should be used.

The completion code sometimes decides not to show all of the matches
in the list.  These hidden matches are either matches for which the
completion function which added them explicitly requested that they
not appear in the list (using the tt(-n) option of the tt(compadd)
builtin command) or they are matches which duplicate a string already
in the list (because they differ only in things like prefixes or
suffixes that are not displayed).  In the list used for menu selection,
however, even these matches are shown so that it is possible to select
them.  To highlight such matches the tt(hi) and tt(du) capabilities in
the tt(ZLS_COLORS) and tt(ZLS_COLOURS) parameters are supported for
hidden matches of the first and second kind, respectively.

Selecting matches is done by moving the mark around using the zle movement
functions.  When not all matches can be shown on the screen at the same 
time, the list will scroll up and down when crossing the top or
bottom line.  The following zle functions have special meaning during
menu selection.  Note that the following always
perform the same task within the menu selection map and cannot be
replaced by user defined widgets, nor can the set of functions
be extended:

startitem()
item(tt(accept-line), tt(accept-search))(
accept the current match and leave menu selection (but do
not cause the command line to be accepted)
)
item(tt(send-break))(
leaves menu selection and restores the previous contents of the
command line
)
item(tt(redisplay), tt(clear-screen))(
execute their normal function without leaving menu selection
)
item(tt(accept-and-hold), tt(accept-and-menu-complete))(
accept the currently inserted match and continue selection allowing to 
select the next match to insert into the line
)
item(tt(accept-and-infer-next-history))(
accepts the current match and then tries completion with
menu selection again;  in the case of files this allows one to select
a directory and immediately attempt to complete files in it;  if there 
are no matches, a message is shown and one can use tt(undo) to go back 
to completion on the previous level, every other key leaves menu
selection (including the other zle functions which are otherwise
special during menu selection)
)
item(tt(undo))(
removes matches inserted during the menu selection by one of the three 
functions before
)
xitem(tt(down-history), tt(down-line-or-history))
item(tt(vi-down-line-or-history),  tt(down-line-or-search))(
moves the mark one line down
)
xitem(tt(up-history), tt(up-line-or-history))
item(tt(vi-up-line-or-history), tt(up-line-or-search))(
moves the mark one line up
)
item(tt(forward-char), tt(vi-forward-char))(
moves the mark one column right
)
item(tt(backward-char), tt(vi-backward-char))(
moves the mark one column left
)
xitem(tt(forward-word), tt(vi-forward-word))
item(tt(vi-forward-word-end), tt(emacs-forward-word))(
moves the mark one screenful down
)
item(tt(backward-word), tt(vi-backward-word), tt(emacs-backward-word))(
moves the mark one screenful up
)
item(tt(vi-forward-blank-word), tt(vi-forward-blank-word-end))(
moves the mark to the first line of the next group of matches
)
item(tt(vi-backward-blank-word))(
moves the mark to the last line of the previous group of matches
)
item(tt(beginning-of-history))(
moves the mark to the first line
)
item(tt(end-of-history))(
moves the mark to the last line
)
xitem(tt(beginning-of-buffer-or-history), tt(beginning-of-line))
item(tt(beginning-of-line-hist), tt(vi-beginning-of-line))(
moves the mark to the leftmost column
)
xitem(tt(end-of-buffer-or-history), tt(end-of-line))
item(tt(end-of-line-hist), tt(vi-end-of-line))(
moves the mark to the rightmost column
)
xitem(tt(complete-word), tt(menu-complete), tt(expand-or-complete))
item(tt(expand-or-complete-prefix), tt(menu-expand-or-complete))(
moves the mark to the next match
)
item(tt(reverse-menu-complete))(
moves the mark to the previous match
)
item(tt(vi-insert))(
this toggles between normal and interactive mode; in interactive mode
the keys bound to tt(self-insert) and tt(self-insert-unmeta) insert
into the command line as in normal editing mode but without leaving
menu selection; after each character completion is tried again and the
list changes to contain only the new matches; the completion widgets
make the longest unambiguous string be inserted in the command line
and tt(undo) and tt(backward-delete-char) go back to the previous set
of matches
)
xitem(tt(history-incremental-search-forward))
item(tt(history-incremental-search-backward))(
this starts incremental searches in the list of completions displayed;
in this mode, tt(accept-line) only leaves incremental search, going
back to the normal menu selection mode
)
enditem()

All movement functions wrap around at the edges; any other zle function not
listed leaves menu selection and executes that function.  It is possible to
make widgets in the above list do the same by using the form of the widget
with a `tt(.)' in front.  For example, the widget `tt(.accept-line)' has
the effect of leaving menu selection and accepting the entire command line.

During this selection the widget uses the keymap tt(menuselect).  Any
key that is not defined in this keymap or that is bound to
tt(undefined-key) is looked up in the keymap currently selected.  This
is used to ensure that the most important keys used during selection
(namely the cursor keys, return, and TAB) have sensible defaults.  However,
keys in the tt(menuselect) keymap can be modified directly using the
tt(bindkey) builtin command (see
ifzman(zmanref(zshmodules))\
ifnzman(noderef(The zsh/zle Module))\
). For example, to make the return key leave menu selection without
accepting the match currently selected one could call

example(bindkey -M menuselect '^M' send-break)

after loading the tt(zsh/complist) module.