zsh/Doc/Zsh/compctl.yo

texinode(Programmable Completion)(Zsh Modules)(Zsh Line Editor)(Top)
chapter(Programmable Completion)
cindex(completion, programmable)
cindex(completion, controlling)
findex(compctl)
sect(Description)
startlist()
list(tt(compctl) [ tt(-CDT) ] var(options) [ var(command) ... ])
list(tt(compctl) [ tt(-CDT) ] var(options) \
  [ tt(-x) var(pattern) var(options) tt(-) ... tt(--) ] \
  [ tt(PLUS()) var(options) [ tt(-x) ... tt(--) ] ... [tt(PLUS())] ] \
  [ var(command) ... ])
list(tt(compctl) tt(-L) [ tt(-CDT) ] [ var(command) ... ])
list(tt(compctl) tt(PLUS()) var(command) ...)
endlist()

Control the editor's completion behavior according to the supplied set
of var(options).  Various editing commands, notably
tt(expand-or-complete-word), usually bound to tab, will
attempt to complete a word typed by the user, while others, notably
tt(delete-char-or-list), usually bound to ^D in EMACS editing
mode, list the possibilities; tt(compctl) controls what those
possibilities are.  They may for example be filenames (the most common
case, and hence the default), shell variables, or words from a
user-specified list.
startmenu()
menu(Command Flags)
menu(Option Flags)
menu(Alternative Completion)
menu(Extended Completion)
menu(Example)
endmenu()
texinode(Command Flags)(Option Flags)()(Programmable Completion)
sect(Command Flags)
Completion of the arguments of a command may be different for each
command or may use the default.  The behavior when completing the
command word itself may also be separately specified.  These
correspond to the following flags and arguments, all of which (except
for tt(-L)) may be combined with any combination of the
var(options) described subsequently in noderef(Option Flags):

startitem()
item(var(command) ...)(
controls completion for the named commands, which must be listed last
on the command line.  If completion is attempted for a command with a
pathname containing slashes and no completion definition is found, the
search is retried with the last pathname component.  Note that aliases
are expanded before the command name is determined unless the
tt(COMPLETE_ALIASES) option is set.  Commands should not be combined
with the tt(-C), tt(-D) or tt(-T) flags.
)
item(tt(-C))(
controls completion when the command word itself is being completed.
If no tt(compctl -C) command has been issued,  the names of any
executable command (whether in the path or specific to the shell, such
as aliases or functions) are completed.
)
item(tt(-D))(
controls default completion behavior for the arguments of commands not
assigned any special behavior.  If no tt(compctl -D) command has
been issued, filenames are completed.
)
item(tt(-T))(
supplies completion flags to be used before any other processing is
done, even those given to specific commands with other compctl
definitions.  This is only useful when combined with extended
completion (the tt(-x) flag, see noderef(Extended Completion) below).
Using this flag you can define default behavior
which will apply to all commands without exception, or you can alter
the standard behavior for all commands.  For example, if your access
to the user database is too slow and/or it contains too many users (so
that completion after `tt(~)' is too slow to be usable), you can use

nofill(tt(compctl -Tx  'C[0,*/*]' -f - 's[~]' -k friends -S/))

to complete the strings in the array tt(friends) after a `tt(~)'.
The first argument is necessary so that this form of ~-completion is
not tried after the directory name is finished.
)
item(tt(-L))(
lists the existing completion behavior in a manner suitable for
putting into a start-up script; the existing behavior is not changed.
Any combination of the above forms may be specified, otherwise all
defined completions are listed.  Any other flags supplied
are ignored.
)
item(em(no argument))(
If no argument is given, tt(compctl) lists all defined completions
in an abbreviated form;  with a list of var(options), all completions
with those flags set (not counting extended completion) are listed.
)
endlist()

If the tt(PLUS()) flag is alone and followed immediately by the var(command)
list, the completion behavior for all the commands in the list is reset to
the default.  In other words, completion will subsequently use the
options specified by the tt(-D) flag.
texinode(Option Flags)(Alternative Completion)(Command Flags)(Programmable Completion)
sect(Option Flags)
startlist()
list([ tt(-fcFBdeaRGovNAIOPZEnbjrzu/) ])
list([ tt(-k) var(array) ] [ tt(-g) var(globstring) ] \
  [ tt(-s) var(subststring) ])
list([ tt(-K) var(function) ] [ tt(-H) var(num pattern) ])
list([ tt(-Q) ] [ tt(-P) var(prefix) ] [ tt(-S) var(suffix) ])
list([ tt(-W) var(file-prefix) ])
list([ tt(-q) ] [ tt(-X) var(explanation) ] [ tt(-Y) var(explanation) ])
list([ tt(-y) var(func-or-var) ] [ tt(-l) var(cmd) ] [ tt(-U) ])
endlist()

The remaining var(options) specify the type of command arguments
to look for during completion.  Any combination of these flags may be
specified; the result is a sorted list of all the possibilities.  The
options are as follows.
startmenu()
menu(Simple Flags)
menu(Flags with Arguments)
menu(Control Flags)
endmenu()
texinode(Simple Flags)(Flags with Arguments)()(Option Flags)
subsect(Simple Flags)
These produce completion lists made up by the shell itself:

startitem()
item(tt(-f))(
Filenames and filesystem paths.
)
item(tt(-/))(
Just filesystem paths.
)
item(tt(-c))(
Command names, including aliases, shell functions, builtins
and reserved words.
)
item(tt(-F))(
Function names.
)
item(tt(-B))(
Names of builtin commands.
)
item(tt(-m))(
Names of external commands.
)
item(tt(-w))(
Reserved words.
)
item(tt(-a))(
Alias names.
)
item(tt(-R))(
Names of regular (non-global) aliases.
)
item(tt(-G))(
Names of global aliases.
)
item(tt(-d))(
This can be combined with tt(-F), tt(-B), tt(-w),
tt(-a), tt(-R) and tt(-G) to get names of disabled
functions, builtins, reserved words or aliases.
)
item(tt(-e))(
This option (to show enabled commands) is in effect by default, but
may be combined with tt(-d); tt(-de) in combination with
tt(-F), tt(-B), tt(-w), tt(-a), tt(-R) and tt(-G)
will complete names of functions, builtins, reserved words or aliases
whether or not they are disabled.
)
item(tt(-o))(
Names of shell options (see
ifzman(zmanref(zshoptions))\
ifnzman(noderef(Options))\
).
)
item(tt(-v))(
Names of any variable defined in the shell.
)
item(tt(-N))(
Names of scalar (non-array) parameters.
)
item(tt(-A))(
Array names.
)
item(tt(-I))(
Names of integer variables.
)
item(tt(-O))(
Names of read-only variables.
)
item(tt(-p))(
Names of parameters used by the shell (including special parameters).
)
item(tt(-Z))(
Names of shell special parameters.
)
item(tt(-E))(
Names of environment variables.
)
item(tt(-n))(
Named directories.
)
item(tt(-b))(
Key binding names.
)
item(tt(-j))(
Job names:  the first word of the job leader's command line.  This is useful
with the tt(kill) builtin.
)
item(tt(-r))(
Names of running jobs.
)
item(tt(-z))(
Names of suspended jobs.
)
item(tt(-u))(
User names.
)
enditem()
texinode(Flags with Arguments)(Control Flags)(Simple Flags)(Option Flags)
subsect(Flags with Arguments)
These have user supplied arguments to determine how the list of
completions is to be made up:

startitem()
item(tt(-k) var(array))(
Names taken from the elements of tt($)var(array) (note that the `tt($)'
does not appear on the command line).
Alternatively, the argument var(array) itself may be a set
of space- or comma-separated values in parentheses, in which any
delimiter may be escaped with a backslash; in this case the argument
should be quoted.  For example,

nofill(tt(compctl -k "(cputime filesize datasize stacksize
    coredumpsize resident descriptors)" limit))
)
item(tt(-g) var(globstring))(
The var(globstring) is expanded using filename globbing; it should be
quoted to protect it from immediate expansion. The resulting
filenames are taken as the possible completions.  Use `tt(*(/))' instead of
`tt(*/)' for directories.  The tt(fignore) special parameter is not
applied to the resulting files.  More than one pattern may be given
separated by blanks. (Note that brace expansion is em(not) part of
globbing.  Use the syntax `tt((either|or))' to match alternatives.)
)
item(tt(-s) var(subststring))(
The var(subststring) is split into words and these words are than
expanded using all shell expansion mechanisms (see
ifzman(zmanref(zshexpn))\
ifnzman(noderef(Expansion))\
).  The resulting words are taken as possible
completions.  The tt(fignore) special parameter is not applied to the
resulting files.  Note that tt(-g) is faster for filenames.
)
item(tt(-K) var(function))(
Call the given function to get the completions.  The function is
passed two arguments: the prefix and the suffix of the word on which
completion is to be attempted, in other words those characters before
the cursor position, and those from the cursor position onwards.  The
whole command line can be accessed with the tt(-c) and tt(-l) flags
of the tt(read) builtin.  The
function should set the variable tt(reply) to an array containing
the completions (one completion per element); note that tt(reply)
should not be made local to the function.  From such a function the
command line can be accessed with the tt(-c) and tt(-l) flags to
the tt(read) builtin.  For example,

nofill(tt(function whoson { reply=(`users`); }
compctl -K whoson talk))

completes only logged-on users after `tt(talk)'.  Note that `tt(whoson)' must
return an array, so `tt(reply=`users`)' would be incorrect.
)
item(tt(-H) var(num pattern))(
The possible completions are taken from the last var(num) history
lines.  Only words matching var(pattern) are taken.  If var(num) is
zero or negative the whole history is searched and if var(pattern) is
the empty string all words are taken (as with `tt(*)').  A typical
use is

nofill(tt(compctl -D -f PLUS() -H 0 ''))

which forces completion to look back in the history list for a word if
no filename matches.
)
enditem()
texinode(Control Flags)()(Flags with Arguments)(Option Flags)
subsect(Control Flags)
These do not directly specify types of name to be completed, but
manipulate the options that do:

startitem()
item(tt(-Q))(
This instructs the shell not to quote any metacharacters in the possible
completions.  Normally the results of a completion are inserted into
the command line with any metacharacters quoted so that they are
interpreted as normal characters.  This is appropriate for filenames
and ordinary strings.  However, for special effects, such as inserting
a backquoted expression from a completion array (tt(-k)) so that
the expression will not be evaluated until the complete line is
executed, this option must be used.
)
item(tt(-P) var(prefix))(
The var(prefix) is inserted just before the completed string; any
initial part already typed will be completed and the whole var(prefix)
ignored for completion purposes.  For example,

nofill(tt(compctl -j -P "%" kill))

inserts a `%' after the kill command and then completes job names.
)
item(tt(-S) var(suffix))(
When a completion is found the var(suffix) is inserted after
the completed string.  In the case of menu completion the suffix is
inserted immediately, but it is still possible to cycle through the
list of completions by repeatedly hitting the same key.
)
item(tt(-W) var(file-prefix))(
With directory var(file-prefix):  for command, file, directory and
globbing completion (options tt(-c), tt(-f), tt(-/), tt(-g)), the file
prefix is implicitly added in front of the completion.  For example,

nofill(tt(compctl -/ -W ~/Mail maildirs))

completes any subdirectories to any depth beneath the directory
tt(~/Mail), although that prefix does not appear on the command line.
)
item(tt(-q))(
If used with a suffix as specified by the tt(-S) option, this
causes the suffix to be removed if the next character typed is a blank
or does not insert anything (the same rule as used for the
tt(AUTO_REMOVE_SLASH) option).  The option is most useful for list
separators (comma, colon, etc.).
)
item(tt(-l) var(cmd))(
This option cannot be combined with any other.  It restricts the range
of command line words that are considered to be arguments.  If
combined with one of the extended completion patterns `tt(p[)...tt(])',
`tt(r[)...tt(])', or `tt(R[)...tt(])'  (see noderef(Extended Completion)
below) the range is restricted to the range of arguments
specified in the brackets.  Completion is then performed as if these
had been given as arguments to the var(cmd) supplied with the
option. If the var(cmd) string is empty the first word in the range
is instead taken as the command name, and command name completion
performed on the first word in the range.  For example,

nofill(tt(compctl -x 'r[-exec,;]' -l '' -- find))

completes arguments between `tt(-exec)' and the following `tt(;)' (or the end
of the command line if there is no such string) as if they were
a separate command line.
)
item(tt(-U))(
Use the whole list of possible completions, whether or not they
actually match the word on the command line.  The word typed so far
will be deleted.  This is most useful with a function (given by the
tt(-K) option) which can examine the word components passed to it
(or via the tt(read) builtin's tt(-c) and tt(-l) flags) and
use its own criteria to decide what matches.  If there is no
completion, the original word is retained.
)
item(tt(-y) var(func-or-var))(
The list provided by var(func-or-var) is displayed instead of the list
of completions whenever a listing is required; the actual completions
to be inserted are not affected.  It can be provided in two
ways. Firstly, if var(func-or-var) begins with a tt($) it defines a
variable, or if it begins with a left parenthesis a literal
array, which contains the list.  A variable may have been set by a
call to a function using the tt(-K) option.  Otherwise it contains the
name of a function which will be executed to create the list.  The
function will be passed as an argument list all matching completions,
including prefixes and suffixes expanded in full, and should set the
array var(reply) to the result.  In both cases, the display list will
only be retrieved after a complete list of matches has been created.

Note that the returned list does not have to correspond, even in
length, to the original set of matches, and may be passed as a scalar
instead of an array.  No special formatting of characters is
performed on the output in this case; in particular, newlines are
printed literally and if they appear output in columns is suppressed.
)
item(tt(-X) var(explanation))(
Print var(explanation) when trying completion on the current set of
options. A `tt(%n)' in this string is replaced by the number of matches.
The explanation only appears if completion was tried and there was
no unique match, or when listing completions.
)
item(tt(-Y) var(explanation))(
Identical to tt(-X), except that the var(explanation) first undergoes
expansion following the usual rules for strings in double quotes.
The expansion will be carried out after any functions are called for
the tt(-K) or tt(-y) options, allowing them to set variables.
)
enditem()
texinode(Alternative Completion)(Extended Completion)(Option Flags)(Programmable Completion)
sect(Alternative Completion)
startlist()
list(tt(compctl) [ tt(-CDT) ] var(options) tt(PLUS()) var(options) [ tt(PLUS()) ... ] \
[ tt(PLUS()) ] var(command) ...)
endlist()

The form with `tt(PLUS())' specifies alternative options. Completion is
tried with the options before the first `tt(PLUS())'. If this produces no
matches completion is tried with the flags after the `tt(PLUS())' and so on. If
there are no flags after the last `tt(PLUS())' and a match has not been found
up to that point, default completion is tried.
texinode(Extended Completion)(Example)(Alternative Completion)(Programmable Completion)
sect(Extended Completion)
startlist()
list(tt(compctl) [ tt(-CDT) ] var(options) \
tt(-x) var(pattern) var(options) tt(-) ... tt(--) \
[ var(command) ... ])
list(tt(compctl) [ tt(-CDT) ] var(options) \
[ tt(-x) var(pattern) var(options) tt(-) ... tt(--) ] \
[ tt(PLUS()) var(options) [ tt(-x) ... tt(--) ] ... [tt(PLUS())] ] \
[ var(command) ... ])
endlist()

The form with `tt(-x)' specifies extended completion for the
commands given; as shown, it may be combined with alternative
completion using `tt(PLUS())'.  Each var(pattern) is examined in turn; when a
match is found, the corresponding var(options), as described in
noderef(Option Flags) above, are used to generate possible
completions.  If no var(pattern) matches, the var(options) given
before the tt(-x) are used.

Note that each pattern should be supplied as a single argument and
should be quoted to prevent expansion of metacharacters by the
shell.

A var(pattern) is built of sub-patterns separated by commas; it
matches if at least one of these sub-patterns matches (they are
`or'ed). These sub-patterns are in turn composed of other
sub-patterns separated by white spaces which match if all of the
sub-patterns match (they are `and'ed).  An element of the
sub-patterns is of the form `var(c)tt([)...tt(][)...tt(])', where the pairs of
brackets may be repeated as often as necessary, and matches if any of
the sets of brackets match (an `or').  The example below makes this
clearer.

The elements may be any of the following:

startitem()
item(tt(s[)var(string)tt(])...)(
Matches if the current word on the command line starts with
one of the strings given in brackets.  The var(string) is not removed
and is not part of the completion.
)
item(tt(S[)var(string)tt(])...)(
Like tt(s[)var(string)tt(]) except that the var(string) is part of the
completion.
)
item(tt(p[)var(from)tt(,)var(to)tt(])...)(
Matches if the number of the current word is between one of
the var(from) and var(to) pairs inclusive. The comma and var(to)
are optional; var(to) defaults to the same value as var(from).  The
numbers may be negative: tt(-)var(n) refers to the var(n)'th last word
on the line.
)
item(tt(c[)var(offset)tt(,)var(string)tt(])...)(
Matches if the var(string) matches the word offset by
var(offset) from the current word position.  Usually var(offset)
will be negative.
)
item(tt(C[)var(offset)tt(,)var(pattern)tt(])...)(
Like tt(c) but using pattern matching instead.
)
item(tt(w[)var(index)tt(,)var(string)tt(])...)(
Matches if the word in position var(index) is equal
to the corresponding var(string).  Note that the word count is made
after any alias expansion.
)
item(tt(W[)var(index)tt(,)var(pattern)tt(])...)(
Like tt(w) but using pattern matching instead.
)
item(tt(n[)var(index)tt(,)var(string)tt(])...)(
Matches if the current word contains var(string).  Anything up to and
including the var(index)th occurrence of this string will not be
considered part of the completion, but the rest will.  var(index) may
be negative to count from the end: in most cases, var(index) will be
1 or -1.  For example,

nofill(tt(compctl -s '`users`' -x 'n[1,@]' -k hosts -- talk))

will usually complete usernames, but if you insert an tt(@) after the
name, names from the array var(hosts) (assumed to contain hostnames,
though you must make the array yourself) will be completed.  Other
commands such as tt(rcp) can be handled similarly.
)
item(tt(N[)var(index)tt(,)var(string)tt(])...)(
Like tt(n) except that the string will be
taken as a character class.  Anything up to and including the
var(index)th occurrence of any of the characters in var(string)
will not be considered part of the completion.
)
item(tt(m[)var(min)tt(,)var(max)tt(])...)(
Matches if the total number of words lies between var(min) and
var(max) inclusive.
)
item(tt(r[)var(str1)tt(,)var(str2)tt(])...)(
Matches if the cursor is after a word with prefix var(str1).  If there
is also a word with prefix var(str2) on the command line it matches
only if the cursor is before this word.
)
item(tt(R[)var(str1)tt(,)var(str2)tt(])...)(
Like tt(r) but using pattern matching instead.
)
enditem()
texinode(Example)()(Extended Completion)(Programmable Completion)
sect(Example)
nofill(tt(compctl -u -x 's[tt(PLUS())] c[-1,-f],s[-f+PLUS()]' -g '~/Mail/*(:t)' \ 
    - 's[-f],c[-1,-f]' -f -- mail))

This is to be interpreted as follows:

If the current command is tt(mail), then

indent(
if ((the current word begins with tt(PLUS()) and the previous word is tt(-f))
or (the current word begins with tt(-f+PLUS()))), then complete the
non-directory part (the `tt(:t)' glob modifier) of files in the directory
tt(~/Mail); else

if the current word begins with tt(-f) or the previous word was tt(-f), then
complete any file; else

complete user names.
)