Customizing keybindings

Customizing keybindings
	Customizing aptitude

The keys used to activate commands in aptitude can be customized in the configuration file. Every command has an associated configuration variable under Aptitude::UI::Keybindings; to change the keystroke bound to a command, just set the corresponding variable to the keystroke. For instance, to make the key s perform a search, set Aptitude::UI::Keybindings::Search to “s”. You can require the Control key to be pressed by placing “C-” in front of the key: for instance, using “C-s” instead of “s” would bind Search to Control+s instead of s. Finally, you can bind a command to several keys at once using a comma-separated list: for instance, using “s,C-s” would cause both s and Control+s to perform a search.

The following commands can be bound to keys by setting the variable Aptitude::UI::Keybindings::command, where command is the name of the command to be bound:

Command	Default	Description
`ApplySolution`	`!`	If packages are broken and aptitude has suggested a solution to the problem, immediately apply the solution.
`Begin`	`home,C-a`	Move to the beginning of the current display: to the top of a list, or to the left of a text entry field.
`BugReport`	`B`	Reports a bug in the currently selected package, using reportbug.
`Cancel`	`C-g,escape,C-[`	Cancels the current interaction: for instance, discards a dialog box or deactivates the menu.
`Changelog`	`C`	Displays the `changelog.Debian` of the currently selected package or package version.
`ChangePkgTreeGrouping`	`G`	Changes the grouping policy of the currently active package list.
`ChangePkgTreeLimit`	`l`	Changes the limit of the currently active package list.
`ChangePkgTreeSorting`	`S`	Changes the sorting policy of the currently active package list.
`ClearAuto`	`m`	Marks the currently selected package as having been manually installed.
`CollapseAll`	`]`	Collapses the selected tree and all its children in a hierarchical list.
`CollapseTree`	No binding	Collapses the selected tree in a hierarchical list.
`Commit`	`N`	In the hierarchy editor, stores the hierarchy location of the current package and proceeds to the next package.
`Confirm`	`enter`	In dialog boxes, this is equivalent to pressing “Ok”; when interacting with a status-line multiple choice question, it chooses the default option.
`Cycle`	`tab`	Switches the keyboard focus to the next “widget”.
`CycleNext`	`f6`	Switches to the next active view.
`CycleOrder`	`o`	Cycles through predefined arrangements of the display.
`CyclePrev`	`f7`	Switches to the previous active view.
`DelBOL`	`C-u`	Deletes all text between the cursor and the beginning of the line.
`DelBack`	`backspace,C-h`	Deletes the previous character when entering text.
`DelEOL`	`C-k`	Deletes all text from the cursor to the end of the line.
`DelForward`	`delete,C-d`	Deletes the character under the cursor when entering text.
`Dependencies`	`d`	Displays the dependencies of the currently selected package.
`DescriptionCycle`	`i`	When browsing the package list, cycles through the available views in the information area.
`DescriptionDown`	`z`	When browsing the package list, scrolls the information area down one line.
`DescriptionUp`	`a`	When browsing the package list, scrolls the information area up one line.
`DoInstallRun`	`g`	If not in a preview screen, display the preview screen ^[a]; if in a preview screen, perform an install run.
`Down`	`down,j`	Moves down: for instance, scrolls a text display down or selects the next item in a list.
`DpkgReconfigure`	`R`	Runs “dpkg-reconfigure” on the currently selected package.
`DumpResolver`	`*`	If packages are broken, writes the current state of the problem-resolver to a file (for debugging purposes).
`EditHier`	`E`	Opens the hierarchy editor.
`End`	`end,C-e`	Move to the end of the current display: to the bottom of a list, or to the right of a text entry field.
`ExamineSolution`	`e`	If some packages are broken and aptitude has suggested a solution, display a dialog box with a detailed description of the proposed solution.
`ExpandAll`	`[`	Expands the selected tree and all its children in a hierarchical list.
`ExpandTree`	No binding	Expands the selected tree in a hierarchical list.
`FirstSolution`	`<`	Select the first solution produced by the problem resolver.
`ForbidUpgrade`	`F`	Forbids a package from being upgraded to the currently available version (or a particular version).
`ForgetNewPackages`	`f`	Discards all information about which packages are “new” (causes the list of “new” packages to become empty).
`Help`	`?`	Displays the on-line help screen.
`HistoryNext`	`down,C-n`	In a line editor with history, moves forwards in the history.
`HistoryPrev`	`up,C-p`	In a line editor with history, moves backwards in the history.
`Hold`	`=`	Places a package on hold.
`Install`	`+`	Flags a package for installation.
`InstallSingle`	`I`	Marks a single package for installation; all other packages are kept at their current version.
`Keep`	`:`	Cancels all installation or removal requests and all holds for a package.
`LastSolution`	`<`	Select the last solution produced by the problem resolver.
`Left`	`left,h`	Moves left: for instance, moves one menu to the left in the menu bar, or moves the cursor to the left when editing text.
`LevelDown`	`J`	In a hierarchical list, selects the next sibling of the currently selected item (the next item at the same level with the same parent).
`LevelUp`	`K`	In a hierarchical list, selects the previous sibling of the currently selected item (the previous item at the same level with the same parent).
`MarkUpgradable`	`U`	Attempts to upgrade all packages which are not held back or forbidden from upgrading.
`MineFlagSquare`	`f`	In Minesweeper, places or removes a flag on a square.
`MineLoadGame`	`L`	Loads a Minesweeper game.
`MineSaveGame`	`S`	Saves a Minesweeper game.
`MineSweepSquare`	No binding	Sweeps around the current square in Minesweeper.
`MineUncoverSquare`	No binding	Uncovers the current square in Minesweeper
`MineUncoverSweepSquare`	`enter`	Uncovers the current square in Minesweeper if it is covered; otherwise, sweeps around it.
`NextPage`	`pagedown,C-f`	Moves the current display one page forward.
`NextSolution`	`.`	Advance the dependency resolver to the next solution.
`No`	`n`^[b]	This key will select the “no” button in yes/no dialog boxes.
`Parent`	`^`	Selects the parent of the selected item in a hierarchical list.
`PrevPage`	`pageup,C-b`	Moves the current display one page backward.
`PrevSolution`	`,`	Return the dependency resolver to the previous solution.
`Purge`	`_`	Flags the currently selected package to be purged.
`PushButton`	`space,enter`	Activates the currently selected button, or toggles a checkbox.
`Quit`	`q`	Close the current view.
`QuitProgram`	`Q`	Quit the entire program.
`RejectBreakHolds`		Reject all resolver actions that would break a hold; equivalent to Resolver → Reject Breaking Holds.
`Refresh`	`C-l`	Redraws the screen from scratch.
`Remove`	`-`	Flags a package for removal.
`ReInstall`	`L`	Flags the currently selected package to be reinstalled.
`RepeatSearchBack`	`N`	Repeats the last search, but searches in the opposite direction.
`ReSearch`	`n`	Repeats the last search.
`ReverseDependencies`	`r`	Displays packages which depend upon the currently selected package.
`Right`	`right,l`	Moves right: for instance, moves one menu to the right in the menu bar, or moves the cursor to the right when editing text.
`SaveHier`	`S`	In the hierarchy editor, saves the current hierarchy.
`Search`	`/`	Activate the “search” function of the currently active interface element.
`SearchBack`	`\`	Activate the “search backwards” function of the currently active interface element.
`SearchBroken`	`b`	In a package tree, search for the next broken package.
`SetAuto`	`M`	Marks the current package as having been automatically installed.
`ShowHideDescription`	`D`	In a package list, toggles whether the information area is visible.
`SolutionActionApprove`	`a`	When viewing a solution, marks the currently selected action as "approved" (it will be included in future solutions whenever possible).
`SolutionActionReject`	`r`	When viewing a solution, marks the currently selected action as "rejected" (future solutions will not contain it).
`ToggleExpanded`	`enter`	Expands or collapses the currently selected tree in a hierarchical list.
`ToggleMenuActive`	`C-m,f10,C-space`	Activates or deactivates the main menu.
`Undo`	`C-_,C-u`	Cancels the last action, up to when aptitude was started OR the last time you update the package lists or installed packages.
`Up`	`up,k`	Moves up: for instance, scrolls a text display up or selects the previous item in a list.
`UpdatePackageList`	`u`	Updates the list of packages by fetching new lists from the Internet if necessary.
`Versions`	`v`	Displays the available versions of the currently selected package.
`Yes`	`y` ^[b]	This key will select the “Yes” button in yes/no dialog boxes.
^[a] unless `Aptitude::Display-Planned-Action` is false. ^[b] This default may be different in different locales.

In addition to letter keys, number keys, and punctuation, the following “special” keys can be bound:

Key name	Description
`a1`	The A1 key.
`a3`	The A3 key.
`b2`	The B2 key.
`backspace`	The Backspace key.
`backtab`	The back-tab key
`begin`	The Begin key (not Home)
`break`	The “break” key.
`c1`	The C1 key.
`c3`	The C3 key.
`cancel`	The Cancel key.
`create`	The Create key.
`comma`	Comma (,) -- note that because commas are used to list keys, this is the only way to bind to a comma.
`command`	The Command key.
`copy`	The Copy key.
`delete`	The Delete key.
`delete_line`	The “delete line” key.
`down`	The “down” arrow key.
`end`	The End key.
`entry`	The Enter key.
`exit`	The Exit key.
`f1`, `f2`, ..., `f10`	The F1 through F10 keys.
`find`	The Find key.
`home`	The Home key.
`insert`	The Insert key.
`insert_exit`	The “insert exit” key.
`clear`	The “clear” key.
`clear_eol`	The “clear to end of line” key.
`clear_eos`	The “clear to end of screen” key.
`insert_line`	The “insert line” key.
`left`	The “left” arrow key.
`mark`	The Mark key.
`message`	The Message key.
`move`	The Move key.
`next`	The Next key.
`open`	The Open key.
`previous`	The Previous key.
`print`	The Print key.
`redo`	The Redo key.
`reference`	The Reference key.
`refresh`	The Refresh key.
`replace`	The Replace key.
`restart`	The Restart key.
`resume`	The Resume key.
`return`	The Return key.
`right`	The “right” arrow key.
`save`	The Save key.
`scrollf`	The “scroll forward” key.
`scrollr`	The “scroll backwards” key.
`select`	The Select key.
`suspend`	The Suspend key.
`pagedown`	The “Page Down” key.
`pageup`	The “Page Up” key.
`space`	The Space key
`tab`	The Tab key
`undo`	The Undo key.
`up`	The “up” arrow key.

In addition to binding keys globally, it is possible to change key bindings for one particular part (or domain) of aptitude: for instance, to make Tab the equivalent of the right arrow key in menu bars, set Aptitude::UI::Keybindings::Menubar::Right to “tab,right”. The following domains are available:

Domain	Description
`EditLine`	Used by line-editing widgets, such as the entry field in a “search” dialog.
`Menu`	Used by drop-down menus.
`Menubar`	Used by the menu bar at the top of the screen.
`Minesweeper`	Used by the Minesweeper mode.
`MinibufChoice`	Used by the multiple-choice prompts that appear if you have chosen to have some prompts appear in the status line.
`Pager`	Used when displaying a file on disk (for instance, the help text).
`PkgNode`	Used by packages, trees of packages, package versions, and package dependencies when they appear in package lists.
`PkgTree`	Used by package lists.
`Table`	Used by tables of widgets (for instance, dialog boxes).
`TextLayout`	Used by formatted text displays, such as package descriptions.
`Tree`	Used by all tree displays (including package lists, for which it can be overridden by `PkgTree`).


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