Usage: nano [OPTIONS] [[+LINE[,COLUMN]] FILE]... To place the cursor on a specific line of a file, put the line number with a '+' before the filename. The column number can be added after a comma. When a filename is '-', nano reads data from standard input. Option Long option Meaning -A --smarthome Enable smart home key -D --boldtext Use bold instead of reverse video text -E --tabstospaces Convert typed tabs to spaces -G --locking Use (vim-style) lock files -I --ignorercfiles Don't look at nanorc files -J <number> --guidestripe=<number> Show a guiding bar at this column -K --rawsequences Fix numeric keypad key confusion problem -L --nonewlines Don't add an automatic newline -M --trimblanks Trim tail spaces when hard-wrapping -N --noconvert Don't convert files from DOS format -O --bookstyle Leading whitespace means new paragraph -Q <regex> --quotestr=<regex> Regular expression to match quoting -S --softwrap Display overlong lines on multiple rows -T <number> --tabsize=<number> Make a tab this number of columns wide -U --quickblank Wipe status bar upon next keystroke -V --version Print version information and exit -W --wordbounds Detect word boundaries more accurately -X <string> --wordchars=<string> Which other characters are word parts -Y <name> --syntax=<name> Syntax definition to use for coloring -Z --zap Let Bsp and Del erase a marked region -a --atblanks When soft-wrapping, do it at whitespace -b --breaklonglines Automatically hard-wrap overlong lines -c --constantshow Constantly show cursor position -d --rebinddelete Fix Backspace/Delete confusion problem -e --emptyline Keep the line below the title bar empty -f <file> --rcfile=<file> Use only this file for configuring nano -g --showcursor Show cursor in file browser & help text -h --help Show this help text and exit -i --autoindent Automatically indent new lines -j --jumpyscrolling Scroll per half-screen, not per line -k --cutfromcursor Cut from cursor to end of line -l --linenumbers Show line numbers in front of the text -m --mouse Enable the use of the mouse -n --noread Do not read the file (only write it) -o <dir> --operatingdir=<dir> Set operating directory -p --preserve Preserve XON (^Q) and XOFF (^S) keys -q --indicator Show a position+portion indicator -r <number> --fill=<number> Set width for hard-wrap and justify -t --saveonexit Save changes on exit, don't prompt -u --unix Save a file by default in Unix format -v --view View mode (read-only) -w --nowrap Don't hard-wrap long lines [default] -x --nohelp Don't show the two help lines -y --afterends Make Ctrl+Right stop at word ends -z --listsyntaxes List the names of available syntaxes -@ --colonparsing Accept 'filename:linenumber' notation -% --stateflags Show some states on the title bar -_ --minibar Show a feedback bar at the bottom -0 --zero Hide all bars, use whole terminal -1 --solosidescroll Scroll only the current line sideways -/ --modernbindings Use better-known key bindings
Options (48)
| Option | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
-A | --smarthome Enable smart home key | help |
-D | --boldtext Use bold instead of reverse video text | help |
-E | --tabstospaces Convert typed tabs to spaces | help |
-G | --locking Use (vim-style) lock files | help |
-I | --ignorercfiles Don't look at nanorc files | help |
-J number | --guidestripe=<number> Show a guiding bar at this column | help |
-K | --rawsequences Fix numeric keypad key confusion problem | help |
-L | --nonewlines Don't add an automatic newline | help |
-M | --trimblanks Trim tail spaces when hard-wrapping | help |
-N | --noconvert Don't convert files from DOS format | help |
-O | --bookstyle Leading whitespace means new paragraph | help |
-Q regex | --quotestr=<regex> Regular expression to match quoting | help |
-S | --softwrap Display overlong lines on multiple rows | help |
-T number | --tabsize=<number> Make a tab this number of columns wide | help |
-U | --quickblank Wipe status bar upon next keystroke | help |
-V | --version Print version information and exit | help |
-W | --wordbounds Detect word boundaries more accurately | help |
-X string | --wordchars=<string> Which other characters are word parts | help |
-Y name | --syntax=<name> Syntax definition to use for coloring | help |
-Z | --zap Let Bsp and Del erase a marked region | help |
-a | --atblanks When soft-wrapping, do it at whitespace | help |
-b | --breaklonglines Automatically hard-wrap overlong lines | help |
-c | --constantshow Constantly show cursor position | help |
-d | --rebinddelete Fix Backspace/Delete confusion problem | help |
-e | --emptyline Keep the line below the title bar empty | help |
-f file | --rcfile=<file> Use only this file for configuring nano | help |
-g | --showcursor Show cursor in file browser & help text | help |
-h, --help | Show the available command-line options and exit. | help + man |
-i | --autoindent Automatically indent new lines | help |
-j | --jumpyscrolling Scroll per half-screen, not per line | help |
-k | --cutfromcursor Cut from cursor to end of line | help |
-l | --linenumbers Show line numbers in front of the text | help |
-m | --mouse Enable the use of the mouse | help |
-n | --noread Do not read the file (only write it) | help |
-o dir | --operatingdir=<dir> Set operating directory | help |
-p | --preserve Preserve XON (^Q) and XOFF (^S) keys | help |
-q | --indicator Show a position+portion indicator | help |
-r number | --fill=<number> Set width for hard-wrap and justify | help |
-t | --saveonexit Save changes on exit, don't prompt | help |
-u | --unix Save a file by default in Unix format | help |
-v | --view View mode (read-only) | help |
-w | --nowrap Don't hard-wrap long lines [default] | help |
-x | --nohelp Don't show the two help lines | help |
-y | --afterends Make Ctrl+Right stop at word ends | help |
-z | --listsyntaxes List the names of available syntaxes | help |
-@ | --colonparsing Accept 'filename:linenumber' notation | help |
-0 | --zero Hide all bars, use whole terminal | help |
-1 | --solosidescroll Scroll only the current line sideways | help |