Term::ReadLine::Gnu - Perl extension for the GNU Readline/History Library use Term::ReadLine; $term = new Term::ReadLine 'ProgramName'; while ( defined ($_ = $term->readline('prompt>')) ) { ... }

Overview
This is an implementation of Term::ReadLine using the GNU Readline/History Library. For basic functions object oriented interface is provided. These are described in the section "Standard Methods" and ""Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Functions". This package also has the interface with the almost all functions and variables which are documented in the GNU Readline/History Library Manual. They are documented in the section ""Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Functions" and ""Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Variables" briefly. For more detail of the GNU Readline/History Library, see 'GNU Readline Library Manual' and 'GNU History Library Manual'. The sample programs under "eg/" directory and test programs under "t/" directory in the "Term::ReadLine::Gnu" distribution include many example of this module.

Standard Methods
These methods are standard methods defined by Term::ReadLine. returns the actual package that executes the commands. If you have installed this package, possible value is "Term::ReadLine::Gnu". returns the handle for subsequent calls to following functions. Argument is the name of the application. Optionally can be followed by two arguments for "IN" and "OUT" file handles. These arguments should be globs. gets an input line, with actual "GNU Readline" support. Trailing newline is removed. Returns "undef" on "EOF". "PREPUT" is an optional argument meaning the initial value of input. The optional argument "PREPUT" is granted only if the value "preput" is in "Features". "PROMPT" may include some escape sequences. Use "RL_PROMPT_START_IGNORE" to begin a sequence of non-printing characters, and "RL_PROMPT_END_IGNORE" to end of such a sequence. adds the lines to the history of input, from where it can be used if the actual "readline" is present. return the file handles for input and output or "undef" if "readline" input and output cannot be used for Perl. If argument "MAX" is specified, it is an advice on minimal size of line to be included into history. "undef" means do not include anything into history. Returns the old value. returns an array with two strings that give most appropriate names for files for input and output using conventions "<$in", ">$out". returns a reference to a hash which describes internal configuration (variables) of the package. Names of keys in this hash conform to standard conventions with the leading "rl_" stripped. See section "Variables" for supported variables. Returns a reference to a hash with keys being features present in current implementation. Several optional features are used in the minimal interface: "appname" should be present if the first argument to "new" is recognized, and "minline" should be present if "MinLine" method is not dummy. "autohistory" should be present if lines are put into history automatically (maybe subject to "MinLine"), and "addHistory" if "AddHistory" method is not dummy. "preput" means the second argument to "readline" method is processed. "getHistory" and "setHistory" denote that the corresponding methods are present. "tkRunning" denotes that a Tk application may run while ReadLine is getting input.

"Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Functions
All these GNU Readline/History Library functions are callable via method interface and have names which conform to standard conventions with the leading "rl_" stripped. Almost methods have lower level functions in "Term::ReadLine::Gnu::XS" package. To use them full qualified name is required. Using method interface is preferred. Add name to the Perl function "FUNC". If optional argument "KEY" is specified, bind it to the "FUNC". Returns reference to "FunctionPtr". Example: # name name `reverse-line' to a function reverse_line(), # and bind it to "\C-t" $term->add_defun('reverse-line', \&reverse_line, ord "\ct"); Keymap rl_make_bare_keymap() Keymap rl_copy_keymap(Keymap|str map) Keymap rl_make_keymap() Keymap rl_discard_keymap(Keymap|str map) Keymap rl_get_keymap() Keymap rl_set_keymap(Keymap|str map) Keymap rl_get_keymap_by_name(str name) str rl_get_keymap_name(Keymap map) int rl_bind_key(int key, FunctionPtr|str function, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) Bind "KEY" to the "FUNCTION". "FUNCTION" is the name added by the "add_defun" method. If optional argument "MAP" is specified, binds in "MAP". Returns non-zero in case of error. int rl_unbind_key(int key, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) Bind "KEY" to the null function. Returns non-zero in case of error. int rl_unbind_function(FunctionPtr|str function, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) int rl_unbind_command(str command, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) int rl_set_key(str keyseq, FunctionPtr|str function, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) int rl_generic_bind(int type, str keyseq, FunctionPtr|Keymap|str data, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) void rl_parse_and_bind(str line) Parse "LINE" as if it had been read from the ~/.inputrc file and perform any key bindings and variable assignments found. For more detail see 'GNU Readline Library Manual'. int rl_read_init_file(str filename = '~/.inputrc') FunctionPtr rl_named_function(str name) str rl_get_function_name(FunctionPtr function) (FunctionPtr|Keymap|str data, int type) rl_function_of_keyseq(str keyseq, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) (@str) rl_invoking_keyseqs(FunctionPtr|str function, Keymap|str map = rl_get_keymap()) void rl_function_dumper(int readable = 0) void rl_list_funmap_names() (@str) rl_funmap_names() int rl_add_funmap_entry(char *name, FunctionPtr|str function) int rl_begin_undo_group() int rl_end_undo_group() int rl_add_undo(int what, int start, int end, str text) void rl_free_undo_list() int rl_do_undo() int rl_modifying(int start = 0, int end = rl_end) void rl_redisplay() int rl_forced_update_display() int rl_on_new_line() int rl_on_new_line_with_prompt() # GRL 4.1 int rl_reset_line_state() int rl_show_char(int c) int rl_message(str fmt, ...) int rl_crlf() # GRL 4.2 int rl_clear_message() void rl_save_prompt() void rl_restore_prompt() int rl_expand_prompt(str prompt) # GRL 4.2 int rl_set_prompt(const str prompt) # GRL 4.2 int rl_insert_text(str text) int rl_delete_text(int start = 0, int end = rl_end) str rl_copy_text(int start = 0, int end = rl_end) int rl_kill_text(int start = 0, int end = rl_end) int rl_push_macro_input(str macro) int rl_read_key() int rl_getc(FILE *STREAM) int rl_stuff_char(int c) int rl_execute_next(int c) # GRL 4.2 int rl_clear_pending_input() # GRL 4.2 int rl_set_keyboard_input_timeout(int usec) # GRL 4.2 void rl_prep_terminal(int META_FLAG) # GRL 4.2 void rl_deprep_terminal() # GRL 4.2 void rl_tty_set_default_bindings([Keymap KMAP]) # GRL 4.2 int rl_reset_terminal(str terminal_name = getenv($TERM)) # GRL 4.2 int rl_replace_line(str text, int clear_undo) # GRL 4.3 int rl_initialize() int rl_ding() int rl_alphabetic(int C) void rl_display_match_list(\@matches, len = $#maches, max) # GRL 4.0 Since the first element of an array @matches as treated as a possible completion, it is not displayed. See the descriptions of "completion_matches()". When "MAX" is ommited, the max length of an item in @matches is used. int rl_macro_bind(const str keyseq, const str macro, Keymap map) int rl_macro_dumper(int readline) int rl_variable_bind(const str variable, const str value) int rl_variable_dumper(int readline) int rl_set_paren_blink_timeout(usec) # GRL 4.2 str rl_get_termcap(cap) void rl_callback_handler_install(str prompt, pfunc lhandler) void rl_callback_read_char() void rl_callback_handler_remove() void rl_cleanup_after_signal() # GRL 4.0 void rl_free_line_state() # GRL 4.0 void rl_reset_after_signal() # GRL 4.0 void rl_resize_terminal() # GRL 4.0 void rl_set_screen_size(int ROWS, int COLS) # GRL 4.2 (int rows, int cols) rl_get_screen_size() # GRL 4.2 int rl_set_signals() # GRL 4.0 int rl_clear_signals() # GRL 4.0 int rl_complete_internal(int what_to_do = TAB) int rl_completion_mode(FunctionPtr|str function) (@str) rl_completion_matches(str text, pfunc func = filename_completion_function) str rl_filename_completion_function(str text, int state) str rl_username_completion_function(str text, int state) str list_completion_function(str text, int state) void using_history() void add_history(str string) int stifle_history(int max|undef) stifles the history list, remembering only the last "MAX" entries. If "MAX" is undef, remembers all entries. This is a replacement of unstifle_history(). int unstifle_history() This is equivalent with 'stifle_history(undef)'. sets the history of input, from where it can be used if the actual "readline" is present. str remove_history(int which) str replace_history_entry(int which, str line) void clear_history() int history_is_stifled() int where_history() str current_history() str history_get(offset) int history_total_bytes() returns the history of input as a list, if actual "readline" is present. int history_set_pos(int pos) str previous_history() str next_history() int history_search(str string, int direction = -1) int history_search_prefix(str string, int direction = -1) int history_search_pos(str string, int direction = -1, int pos = where_history()) int read_history(str filename = '~/.history', int from = 0, int to = -1) int read_history_range(str filename = '~/.history', int from = 0, int to = -1) adds the contents of "FILENAME" to the history list, a line at a time. If "FILENAME" is false, then read from ~/.history. Start reading at line "FROM" and end at "TO". If "FROM" is omitted or zero, start at the beginning. If "TO" is omitted or less than "FROM", then read until the end of the file. Returns true if successful, or false if not. "read_history()" is an aliase of "read_history_range()". int write_history(str filename = '~/.history') writes the current history to "FILENAME", overwriting "FILENAME" if necessary. If "FILENAME" is false, then write the history list to ~/.history. Returns true if successful, or false if not. int append_history(int nelements, str filename = '~/.history') int history_truncate_file(str filename = '~/.history', int nlines = 0) (int result, str expansion) history_expand(str line) Note that this function returns "expansion" in scalar context. (str text, int cindex) = get_history_event(str string, int cindex, char qchar = '\0') (@str) history_tokenize(str line) str history_arg_extract(str line, int first = 0, int last = '$')

"Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Variables
Following GNU Readline/History Library variables can be accessed from Perl program. See 'GNU Readline Library Manual' and ' GNU History Library Manual' for each variable. You can access them with "Attribs" methods. Names of keys in this hash conform to standard conventions with the leading "rl_" stripped. Examples: $attribs = $term->Attribs; $v = $attribs->{library_version}; # rl_library_version $v = $attribs->{history_base}; # history_base str rl_line_buffer int rl_point int rl_end int rl_mark int rl_done int rl_num_chars_to_read (GRL 4.2) int rl_pending_input int rl_dispatching (GRL 4.2) int rl_erase_empty_line (GRL 4.0) str rl_prompt (read only) int rl_already_prompted (GRL 4.1) str rl_library_version (read only) int rl_readline_version (read only) int rl_gnu_readline_p (GRL 4.2) str rl_terminal_name str rl_readline_name filehandle rl_instream filehandle rl_outstream pfunc rl_startup_hook pfunc rl_pre_input_hook (GRL 4.0) pfunc rl_event_hook pfunc rl_getc_function pfunc rl_redisplay_function pfunc rl_prep_term_function (GRL 4.2) pfunc rl_deprep_term_function (GRL 4.2) pfunc rl_last_func (GRL 4.2) Keymap rl_executing_keymap (read only) Keymap rl_binding_keymap (read only) str rl_executing_macro (GRL 4.2) int rl_readline_state (GRL 4.2) int rl_explicit_arg (GRL 4.2) int rl_numeric_arg (GRL 4.2) int rl_editing_mode (GRL 4.2) int rl_catch_signals (GRL 4.0) int rl_catch_sigwinch (GRL 4.0) pfunc rl_completion_entry_function pfunc rl_attempted_completion_function pfunc rl_filename_quoting_function pfunc rl_filename_dequoting_function pfunc rl_char_is_quoted_p int rl_completion_query_items str rl_basic_word_break_characters str rl_basic_quote_characters str rl_completer_word_break_characters str rl_completer_quote_characters str rl_filename_quote_characters str rl_special_prefixes int rl_completion_append_character int rl_completion_suppress_append (GRL 4.3) int rl_completion_mark_symlink_dirs (GRL 4.3) int rl_ignore_completion_duplicates int rl_filename_completion_desired int rl_filename_quoting_desired int rl_attempted_completion_over (GRL 4.2) int rl_completion_type (GRL 4.2) int rl_inhibit_completion pfunc rl_ignore_some_completion_function pfunc rl_directory_completion_hook pfunc rl_completion_display_matches_hook (GRL 4.0) int history_base int history_length int history_max_entries (called `max_input_history'. read only) char history_expansion_char char history_subst_char char history_comment_char str history_word_delimiters (GRL 4.2) str history_no_expand_chars str history_search_delimiter_chars int history_quotes_inhibit_expansion pfunc history_inhibit_expansion_function rl_getc rl_redisplay rl_callback_read_char rl_display_match_list rl_filename_completion_function rl_username_completion_function list_completion_function shadow_redisplay Tk_getc

Custom Completion
In this section variables and functions for custom completion is described with examples. Most of descriptions in this section is cited from GNU Readline Library manual. This variable holds reference refers to a generator function for "completion_matches()". A generator function is called repeatedly from "completion_matches()", returning a string each time. The arguments to the generator function are "TEXT" and "STATE". "TEXT" is the partial word to be completed. "STATE" is zero the first time the function is called, allowing the generator to perform any necessary initialization, and a positive non-zero integer for each subsequent call. When the generator function returns "undef" this signals "completion_matches()" that there are no more possibilities left. If the value is undef, built-in "filename_completion_function" is used. A sample generator function, "list_completion_function", is defined in Gnu.pm. You can use it as follows; use Term::ReadLine; ... my $term = new Term::ReadLine 'sample'; my $attribs = $term->Attribs; ... $attribs->{completion_entry_function} = $attribs->{list_completion_function}; ... $attribs->{completion_word} = [qw(reference to a list of words which you want to use for completion)]; $term->readline("custom completion>"); See also "completion_matches". A reference to an alternative function to create matches. The function is called with "TEXT", "LINE_BUFFER", "START", and "END". "LINE_BUFFER" is a current input buffer string. "START" and "END" are indices in "LINE_BUFFER" saying what the boundaries of "TEXT" are. If this function exists and returns null list or "undef", or if this variable is set to "undef", then an internal function "rl_complete()" will call the value of $rl_completion_entry_function to generate matches, otherwise the array of strings returned will be used. The default value of this variable is "undef". You can use it as follows; use Term::ReadLine; ... my $term = new Term::ReadLine 'sample'; my $attribs = $term->Attribs; ... sub sample_completion { my ($text, $line, $start, $end) = @_; # If first word then username completion, else filename completion if (substr($line, 0, $start) =~ /^\s*$/) { return $term->completion_matches($text, $attribs->{'username_completion_function'}); } else { return (); } } ... $attribs->{attempted_completion_function} = \&sample_completion; Returns an array of strings which is a list of completions for "TEXT". If there are no completions, returns "undef". The first entry in the returned array is the substitution for "TEXT". The remaining entries are the possible completions. "ENTRY_FUNC" is a generator function which has two arguments, and returns a string. The first argument is "TEXT". The second is a state argument; it is zero on the first call, and non-zero on subsequent calls. "ENTRY_FUNC" returns a "undef" to the caller when there are no more matches. If the value of "ENTRY_FUNC" is undef, built-in "filename_completion_function" is used. "completion_matches" is a Perl wrapper function of an internal function "completion_matches()". See also $rl_completion_entry_function. A variable whose content is a reference to a function which returns a list of candidates to complete. This variable is compatible with "Term::ReadLine::Perl" and very easy to use. use Term::ReadLine; ... my $term = new Term::ReadLine 'sample'; my $attribs = $term->Attribs; ... $attribs->{completion_function} = sub { my ($text, $line, $start) = @_; return qw(a list of candidates to complete); } A sample generator function defined by "Term::ReadLine::Gnu". Example code at "rl_completion_entry_function" shows how to use this function.

"Term::ReadLine::Gnu" Specific Features
This method provides the function "rl_callback_handler_install()" with the following addtional feature compatible with "readline" method; ornament feature, "Term::ReadLine::Perl" compatible completion function, histroy expansion, and addition to history buffer. int rl_call_function(FunctionPtr|str function, count = 1, key = -1) Returns a list of all function names. A redisplay function for password input. You can use it as follows; $attribs->{redisplay_function} = $attribs->{shadow_redisplay}; $line = $term->readline("password> "); Returns candidates of filename to complete. This function can be used with "completion_function" and is implemented for the compatibility with "Term::ReadLine::Perl". See the description of section "Custom Completion". When true, the history expansion is enabled. By default false. See the description of section "Custom Completion". A reference to a list of candidates to complete for "list_completion_function". The equivalent of the Bash "history-expand-line" editing command. The equivalent of the Korn shell "operate-and-get-next-history-line" editing command and the Bash "operate-and-get-next". This command is bound to "\C-o" by default for the compatibility with the Bash and "Term::ReadLine::Perl". Shows the version of "Term::ReadLine::Gnu" and the one of the GNU Readline Library. Change ornaments interactively. Readline init file. Using this file it is possible that you would like to use a different set of key bindings. When a program which uses the Readline library starts up, the init file is read, and the key bindings are set. Conditional key binding is also available. The program name which is specified by the first argument of "new" method is used as the application construct. For example, when your program call "new" method like this; ... $term = new Term::ReadLine 'PerlSh'; ... your ~/.inputrc can define key bindings only for it as follows; ... $if PerlSh Meta-Rubout: backward-kill-word "\C-x\C-r": re-read-init-file "\e[11~": "Function Key 1" $endif ... None. http://www.usenix.org/publications/login/2000-7/features/effective.html This article demonstrates how to integrate Term::ReadLine::Gnu into an interactive command line program. http://bulknews.net/lib/columns/02_eijiro/column.html A command line interface to Eijiro, Japanese-English dictionary service on WWW. perl -d http://www.focusresearch.com/gregor/psh/ The Perl Shell is a shell that combines the interactive nature of a Unix shell with the power of Perl. A programmable completion feature compatible with bash is implemented. http://www.stanford.edu/~jsolomon/SPP/ SPP (Synopsys Plus Perl) is a Perl module that wraps around Synopsys' shell programs. SPP is inspired by the original dc_perl written by Steve Golson, but it's an entirely new implementation. Why is it called SPP and not dc_perl? Well, SPP was written to wrap around any of Synopsys' shells. http://p-f-m.sourceforge.net/ Pfm is a terminal-based file manager written in Perl, based on PFM.COM for MS-DOS (originally by Paul Culley and Henk de Heer). http://rawrec.sourceforge.net/soundgrab/soundgrab.html soundgrab is designed to help you slice up a big long raw audio file (by default 44.1 kHz 2 channel signed sixteen bit little endian) and save your favorite sections to other files. It does this by providing you with a cassette player like command line interface. http://pdl.perl.org/index_en.html PDL (``Perl Data Language'') gives standard Perl the ability to compactly store and speedily manipulate the large N-dimensional data arrays which are the bread and butter of scientific computing. http://piqt.sourceforge.net/ PIQT is an interactive query tool using the Perl DBI database interface. It supports ReadLine, provides a built in scripting language with a Lisp like syntax, an online help system, and uses wrappers to interface to the DBD modules. http://www.panix.com/~jdf/gshell/ It provides a friendly way to play with the Ghostscript interpreter, including command history and auto-completion of Postscript font names and reserved words. If you know any other works which can be listed here, please let me know. Hiroo Hayashi "<hiroo.hayashi@computer.org>" "http://www.perl.org/CPAN/authors/Hiroo_HAYASHI/" GTK+ support in addition to Tk. "rl_add_defun()" can define up to 16 functions. Ornament feature works only on prompt strings. It requires very hard hacking of "display.c:rl_redisplay()" in GNU Readline library to ornament input line. "newTTY()" is not tested yet.