This article is from a FAQ concerning SCO operating systems. While some of the information may be applicable to any OS, or any Unix or Linux OS, it may be specific to SCO Xenix, Open Desktop or Openserver.

There is lots of Linux, Mac OS X and general Unix info elsewhere on this site: Search this site is the best way to find anything.

Unix, Xenix and ODT General FAQ

How can I have a 'command line history & editing' shell under SCO Unix/OS5?

The simplest way is to use the korn shell (ksh); you can change your login shell from the 'Scoadmin -> Account Manager' interface. Once you're done, insert the 'set -o vi' line in your $HOME.profile file; thus enabling the vi(C) compatibile command line history and editing. Previously typed command can be retrieved by using vi(C)-like commands such as "ESC k" (scroll the list of typed command backwards), "ESC j" (scroll forwards) and so on (see the ksh(C) man pages).

Alternatively you can enable emacs-like command, as Richard Howlett suggested in the following excerpt:

  set -o emacs
  alias __A=$(print '\0020')    # ^P = up    = previous command
  alias __B=$(print '\0016')    # ^N = down  = next command
  alias __C=$(print '\0006')    # ^F = right = forward a character
  alias __D=$(print '\0002')    # ^B = left  = back a character
  alias __H=$(print '\0001')    # ^A = home  = beginning of line
 

Other shells such as bash, zsh and so on have a command line hustory & editing which is very similar to the one used under DOS with 'setkey'; check your Skunkware CD-ROM for additional info.

Roberto Zini

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