lesskey(1)

NAME
     lesskey - specify key bindings for less

SYNOPSIS
     lesskey [-o output] [input]

DESCRIPTION
     Lesskey is used to specify a set of key bindings to be used by less.  The
     input  file  is  a  text  file  which describes the key bindings, and the
     output file is a binary file which is used by less. If no input  file  is
     specified,  standard  input  is  used.   If  no output file is specified,
     $HOME/.less is used.

     The input file consists of lines of the form:

             string <whitespace> action [extra-string] <newline>

     Whitespace is any sequence of  one  or  more  spaces  and/or  tabs.   The
     "string"  is  the command key(s) which invoke the action.  The string may
     be a single command key, or a sequence of up to 15 keys.  The "action" is
     the  name of the less action, from the list below.  The characters in the
     "string" may appear literally, or be prefixed by a carat  to  indicate  a
     control key.  A backslash may be used to cause the following character to
     be taken literally.  Characters  which  must  be  preceded  by  backslash
     include carat, space, tab and the backslash itself.  A backslash followed
     by one to three octal digits may be used to specify a  character  by  its
     octal value.  Blank lines and lines which start with a pound sign (#) are
     ignored.

     An action may be followed by an extra  string.   This  string  is  parsed
     after  the  command is entered, just as if it were entered on the command
     line.   This  feature  can  be  used  in  certain  cases  to  extend  the
     functionality  of  a  command.  For example, these entries would create a
     pair of commands to turn on/off line numbers using vi syntax:

             :set\ nu        toggle-option -N
             :set\ nonu toggle-option +N

     See also the ":ta" command in the example below.


EXAMPLE
     The following input file describes the set of default command  keys  used
     by less:

             r               forw-line
             n               forw-line
             e               forw-line
             j               forw-line
             ^E              forw-line
             ^N              forw-line
             k               back-line
             y               back-line
             ^Y              back-line
             ^K              back-line
             ^P              back-line
             J               forw-line-force
             K               back-line-force
             Y               back-line-force
             d               forw-scroll
             ^D              forw-scroll
             u               back-scroll
             ^U              back-scroll
             '               back-scroll
             \40             forw-screen
             f               forw-screen
             ^F              forw-screen
             ^V              forw-screen
             b               back-screen
             ^B              back-screen
             \33v            back-screen
             z               forw-window
             w               back-window
             F               forw-forever
             R               repaint-flush
             r               repaint
             ^R              repaint
             ^L              repaint
             g               goto-line
             <               goto-line
             \33<            goto-line
             p               percent
             %               percent
             {               forw-bracket {}
             }               back-bracket {}
             (               forw-bracket ()
             )               back-bracket ()
             [               forw-bracket []
             ]               back-bracket []
             \33^F   forw-bracket
             \33^B   back-bracket
             G               goto-end
             \33>            goto-end
             >               goto-end
             P               goto-end
             =               status
             ^G              status
             :f              status
             /               forw-search
             ?               back-search
             \33/            forw-search *
             \33?            back-search *
             n               repeat-search
             \33n            repeat-search-all
             N               reverse-search
             \33N            reverse-search-all
             m               set-mark
             '               goto-mark
             ^X^X            goto-mark
             E               examine
             :e              examine
             ^X^V            examine
             :n              next-file
             :p              prev-file
             :x              index-file
             -               toggle-option
             :t              toggle-option t
             s               toggle-option o
             _               display-option
             |               pipe
             v               visual
             !               shell
             +               firstcmd
             H               help
             h               help
             V               version
             q               quit
             :q              quit
             :Q              quit
             ZZ              quit
             \33\33  quit

     Commands specified by lesskey take precedence over the default  commands.
     A  default  command  key  may be disabled by including it in the key file
     with the action "invalid".


SEE ALSO
     less(1)