Very Computer

by **Thomas Ga** » Fri, 13 Dec 2002 06:32:36

H!
today, while working with bash, i pressed the 'alt' button and
also a number while holding the 'alt'-key, and noticed that my
prompt disappeared and instead of it, there was a:
(arg: xxxxx)
'xxxxx' was the number i typed while holding the 'alt'-key.
i couldn't aascertain what it stands for, only that the number's
length is limited to six digits.
does anybody know what it's function is?
ciao::tom

by **Heiner Marx** » Fri, 13 Dec 2002 23:44:06

Quote:>H!
>today, while working with bash, i pressed the 'alt' button and
>also a number while holding the 'alt'-key, and noticed that my
>prompt disappeared and instead of it, there was a:
>(arg: xxxxx)
>'xxxxx' was the number i typed while holding the 'alt'-key.
>i couldn't aascertain what it stands for, only that the number's
>length is limited to six digits.
>does anybody know what it's function is?
>ciao::tom

Obviously it is a numeric repetition prefix.
Press ALT, type 88, release ALT, type t, and look at those 88 t characters.
Funny!
--

by **those who know me have no need of my nam** » Sat, 14 Dec 2002 03:38:42

in comp.unix.shell i read:

Quote:>today, while working with bash, i pressed the 'alt' button and
>also a number while holding the 'alt'-key, and noticed that my
>prompt disappeared and instead of it, there was a:
>(arg: xxxxx)
>'xxxxx' was the number i typed while holding the 'alt'-key.
>i couldn't aascertain what it stands for, only that the number's
>length is limited to six digits.
>does anybody know what it's function is?

i wouldn't be surprised if the bash documentation says something about it.

--
bringing you boring signatures for 17 years

by **Sven Maschec** » Sat, 14 Dec 2002 05:25:46

> [ bash, typing 'alt'-digit]
> [...] prompt disappeared and instead of it, there was a: (arg: xxxxx)

Your "alt-x" (in fact "meta-x" here) is converted to "ESC x",
e.g., by your terminalemulator.

In xterm(1) this is "XTerm.VT100.eightBitInput: false" which is not
default, but often very useful.

Your shell actually reads "<esc>1<esc>2" etc. (and "digit-argument"
is triggered in readline, if you're using emacs command line mode).

You can also use the above for more convenient command line editing,
e.g. "meta-b, meta-f, meta-d" (M-b, etc., in the manual).

Sven

Very Computer

(arg: xxx) ?

(arg: xxx) ?

(arg: xxx) ?

(arg: xxx) ?

(arg: xxx) ?