I am writing a text file through the terminal using nano; everytime I need to select a position of a certain line of my text I can't help but scrolling all the lines moving the blinking cursor using the keyboard arrows; is there a way to avoid this and just use the mouse to directly select where I want the cursor to be?
asked Dec 13, 2014 at 0:39
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Reminder: if I want to use gedit I need to type: ssh -X -l root name@ip– Federico GentileCommented Dec 13, 2014 at 0:57
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4 Answers
You can start nano with the -m (--mouse) option. From man nano
-m (--mouse)
Enable mouse support, if available for your system. When
enabled, mouse clicks can be used to place the cursor, set the
mark (with a double click), and execute shortcuts. The mouse
will work in the X Window System, and on the console when gpm
is running.
answered Dec 13, 2014 at 1:49
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1That's what I was looking for! thank you very much!!! Commented Dec 13, 2014 at 2:15
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4Ok I just wasted 15 years hitting the arrows to navigate. This the most useful "hidden" feature ever. It should be by default. Commented May 4, 2019 at 21:10
Add this to your ~/.nanorc file
set mouse
This will cause the mouse to work every time you open nano
(source The GNU nanorc documentation)
See The GNU nano text editor - Feature Toggles:
[...] the Meta key (Alt or Cmd, shown as
M-) [...][...]
Mouse Support
M-Mtoggles the-m(--mouse) command-line option.
Esc+M (always after releasing both) might work, too.
Esc, M (after each other) might work, too.
I think I understand that you want to go to a specific line and a specific character in that line, yes? Without moving the cursor manually through the entire file.
In nano:
If you hit Ctrl+_ (that's Control Shift -, on my keyboard), it will prompt you to enter a line and column number.
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2That's good to know but in the question i was wandering if i can do what you just said with the mouse Commented Dec 13, 2014 at 0:48
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This works but, dude, it is cumbersome to get the line and column to edit. Commented Nov 1, 2016 at 14:54