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Short Description

PSReadLine provides an improved command-line editing experience in the PowerShell console.

Long Description

PowerShell 7.3 ships with PSReadLine 2.2.6. The current version is PSReadLine 2.3.4. The current version of PSReadLine can be installed and used on Windows PowerShell 5.1 and newer. For some features, you need to be running PowerShell 7.2 or higher.

This article documents the functions provided by PSReadLine 2.3.4. These functions can be bound to keystrokes for easy access and invocation.

Using the Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine class

The following functions are available in the class Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine.

Basic editing functions

Abort

Abort current action, for example: incremental history search.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+g
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+g
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+g>

AcceptAndGetNext

Attempt to execute the current input. If it can be executed (like AcceptLine), then recall the next item from history the next time ReadLine is called.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+o

AcceptLine

Attempt to execute the current input. If the current input is incomplete (for example there's a missing closing parenthesis, bracket, or quote) then the continuation prompt is displayed on the next line and PSReadLine waits for keys to edit the current input.

  • Windows mode: Enter
  • Emacs mode: Enter
  • Vi insert mode: Enter

AddLine

The continuation prompt is displayed on the next line and PSReadLine waits for keys to edit the current input. This is useful to enter multi-line input as a single command even when a single line is complete input by itself.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Enter
  • Emacs mode: Shift+Enter
  • Vi insert mode: Shift+Enter
  • Vi command mode: <Shift+Enter>

BackwardDeleteChar

Delete the character before the cursor.

  • Windows mode: Backspace, Ctrl+h
  • Emacs mode: Backspace, Ctrl+Backspace, Ctrl+h
  • Vi insert mode: Backspace
  • Vi command mode: <X>, <d,h>

BackwardDeleteInput

Like BackwardKillInput - deletes text from the point to the start of the input, but doesn't put the deleted text in the kill-ring.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+Home
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+u, Ctrl+Home
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+u>, <Ctrl+Home>

BackwardDeleteLine

Like BackwardKillLine - deletes text from the point to the start of the line, but doesn't put the deleted text in the kill-ring.

  • Vi command mode: <d,0>

BackwardDeleteWord

Deletes the previous word.

  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+w>, <d,b>

BackwardKillInput

Clear the text from the start of the input to the cursor. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+u, Ctrl+x,Backspace

BackwardKillLine

Clear the text from the start of the current logical line to the cursor. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Function is unbound.

BackwardKillWord

Clear the input from the start of the current word to the cursor. If the cursor is between words, the input is cleared from the start of the previous word to the cursor. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+Backspace, Ctrl+w
  • Emacs mode: Alt+Backspace, Escape,Backspace
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+Backspace
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+Backspace>

BackwardReplaceChar

Replaces the character in front of the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <c,h>

CancelLine

Cancel the current input, leaving the input on the screen, but returns back to the host so the prompt is evaluated again.

  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+c
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+c>

CapitalizeWord

Added in PSReadLine 2.3.0

Convert the first character of the next word to upper case and the remaining characters to lower case.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+c, Escape,c

Copy

Copy selected region to the system clipboard. If no region is selected, copy the whole line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+C

CopyOrCancelLine

If text is selected, copy to the clipboard, otherwise cancel the line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+c
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+c

Cut

Delete selected region placing deleted text in the system clipboard.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+x

DeleteChar

Delete the character under the cursor.

  • Windows mode: Delete
  • Emacs mode: Delete
  • Vi insert mode: Delete
  • Vi command mode: <Delete>, <x>, <d,l>, <d,Spacebar>

DeleteCharOrExit

Delete the character under the cursor, or if the line is empty, exit the process.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+d

DeleteEndOfBuffer

Deletes to the end of the multiline buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <d,G>

DeleteEndOfWord

Delete to the end of the word.

  • Vi command mode: <d,e>

DeleteLine

Deletes the current logical line of a multiline buffer, enabling undo.

  • Vi command mode: <d,d>, <d,_>

DeleteLineToFirstChar

Deletes from the first non-blank character of the current logical line in a multiline buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <d,^>

DeleteNextLines

Deletes the current and next n logical lines in a multiline buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <d,j>

DeletePreviousLines

Deletes the previous requested logical lines and the current logical line in a multiline buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <d,k>

DeleteRelativeLines

Deletes from the beginning of the buffer to the current logical line in a multiline buffer.

As most Vi commands, the <d,g,g> command can be prepended with a numeric argument that specifies an absolute line number, which, together with the current line number, make up a range of lines to be deleted. If not specified, the numeric argument defaults to 1, which refers to the first logical line in a multiline buffer.

The actual number of lines to be deleted from the multiline is computed as the difference between the current logical line number and the specified numeric argument, which can thus be negative. Hence the relative part of method name.

  • Vi command mode: <d,g,g>

DeleteToEnd

Delete to the end of the line.

  • Vi command mode: <D>, <d,$>

DeleteWord

Delete the next word.

  • Vi command mode: <d,w>

DowncaseWord

Added in PSReadLine 2.3.0

Convert the next word to lower case.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+l, Escape,l

ForwardDeleteInput

Like KillLine - deletes text from the point to the end of the input, but doesn't put the deleted text in the kill-ring.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+End
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+End
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+End>

ForwardDeleteLine

Deletes text from the point to the end of the current logical line, but doesn't put the deleted text in the kill-ring.

  • Function is unbound

InsertLineAbove

A new empty line is created above the current line regardless of where the cursor is on the current line. The cursor moves to the beginning of the new line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+Enter

InsertLineBelow

A new empty line is created below the current line regardless of where the cursor is on the current line. The cursor moves to the beginning of the new line.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Ctrl+Enter

InvertCase

Invert the case of the current character and move to the next one.

  • Vi command mode: <~>

KillLine

Clear the input from the cursor to the end of the input. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+k

KillRegion

Kill the text between the cursor and the mark.

  • Function is unbound.

KillWord

Clear the input from the cursor to the end of the current word. If the cursor is between words, the input is cleared from the cursor to the end of the next word. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Windows mode: Alt+d, Ctrl+Delete
  • Emacs mode: Alt+d, Escape,d
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+Delete
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+Delete>

Paste

Paste text from the system clipboard.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+v, Shift+Insert
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+v
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+v>

Important

When using the Paste function, the entire contents of the clipboard buffer is pasted into the input buffer of PSReadLine. The input buffer is then passed to the PowerShell parser. Input pasted using the console application's right-click paste method is copied to the input buffer one character at a time. The input buffer is passed to the parser when a newline character is copied. Therefore, the input is parsed one line at a time. The difference between paste methods results in different execution behavior.

PasteAfter

Paste the clipboard after the cursor, moving the cursor to the end of the pasted text.

  • Vi command mode: <p>

PasteBefore

Paste the clipboard before the cursor, moving the cursor to the end of the pasted text.

  • Vi command mode: <P>

PrependAndAccept

Prepend a '#' and accept the line.

  • Vi command mode: <#>

Redo

Undo an undo.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+y
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+y
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+y>

RepeatLastCommand

Repeat the last text modification.

  • Vi command mode: <.>

ReplaceChar

Replace the current character with the next set of characters typed.

  • Vi command mode: <c,l>, <c,Spacebar>

ReplaceCharInPlace

Replace the current character with only one character.

  • Vi command mode: <r>

RevertLine

Reverts all input to the current input.

  • Windows mode: Escape
  • Emacs mode: Alt+r, Escape,r

ShellBackwardKillWord

Clear the input from the start of the current word to the cursor. If the cursor is between words, the input is cleared from the start of the previous word to the cursor. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

Function is unbound.

ShellKillWord

Clear the input from the cursor to the end of the current word. If the cursor is between words, the input is cleared from the cursor to the end of the next word. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

Function is unbound.

SwapCharacters

Swap the current character and the one before it.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+t
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+t
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+t>

Undo

Undo a previous edit.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+z
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+_, Ctrl+x,Ctrl+u
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+z
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+z>, <u>

UndoAll

Undo all previous edits for line.

  • Vi command mode: <U>

UnixWordRubout

Clear the input from the start of the current word to the cursor. If the cursor is between words, the input is cleared from the start of the previous word to the cursor. The cleared text is placed in the kill-ring.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+w

UpcaseWord

Added in PSReadLine 2.3.0

Convert the next word to upper case.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+u, Escape,u

ValidateAndAcceptLine

Attempt to execute the current input. If the current input is incomplete (for example there's a missing closing parenthesis, bracket, or quote) then the continuation prompt is displayed on the next line and PSReadLine waits for keys to edit the current input.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+m

ViAcceptLine

Accept the line and switch to Insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <Enter>

ViAcceptLineOrExit

Like DeleteCharOrExit in Emacs mode, but accepts the line instead of deleting a character.

  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+d
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+d>

ViAppendLine

A new line is inserted below the current line.

  • Vi command mode: <o>

ViBackwardDeleteGlob

Deletes the previous word, using only whitespace as the word delimiter.

  • Vi command mode: <d,B>

ViBackwardGlob

Moves the cursor back to the beginning of the previous word, using only whitespace as delimiters.

  • Vi command mode: <B>

ViBackwardReplaceGlob

Delete backward to the beginning of the previous word, as delimited by white space, and enter insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <c,B>

ViBackwardReplaceLine

Replaces the line left of the cursor and all of the way to the beginning.

  • Vi command mode: <c,0>

ViBackwardReplaceLineToFirstChar

Replaces the line left of the cursor and all but one character to the beginning of the line.

  • Vi command mode: <c,^>

ViBackwardReplaceWord

Replace the previous word.

  • Vi command mode: <c,B>

ViDeleteBrace

Find the matching brace, parenthesis, or square bracket and delete all contents within, including the brace.

  • Vi command mode: <d,%>

ViDeleteEndOfGlob

Delete to the end of the word.

  • Vi command mode: <d,E>

ViDeleteGlob

Delete the next glob (whitespace delimited word).

  • Vi command mode: <d,W>

ViDeleteToBeforeChar

Deletes until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <d,t>

ViDeleteToBeforeCharBackward

Deletes until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <d,T>

ViDeleteToChar

Deletes until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <d,f>

ViDeleteToCharBackward

Deletes backwards until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <d,F>

ViInsertAtBegining

Switch to Insert mode and position the cursor at the beginning of the line.

  • Vi command mode: <I>

ViInsertAtEnd

Switch to Insert mode and position the cursor at the end of the line.

  • Vi command mode: <A>

ViInsertLine

A new line is inserted above the current line.

  • Vi command mode: <O>

ViInsertWithAppend

Append from the current line position.

  • Vi command mode: <a>

ViInsertWithDelete

Delete the current character and switch to Insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <s>

ViJoinLines

Joins the current line and the next line.

  • Vi command mode: <J>

ViReplaceBrace

Replace all characters between the current brace character and it's matching partner.

  • Vi command mode: <c,%>

ViReplaceEndOfGlob

Delete to the end of the word, as delimited by white space, and enter insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <c,E>

ViReplaceEndOfWord

Delete to the end of the word, as delimited by white space and common delimiters, and enter insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <c,E>

ViReplaceGlob

Delete to the beginning of the next word, as delimited by white space, and enter insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <c,W>

ViReplaceLine

Erase the entire command line.

  • Vi command mode: <S>, <c,c>

ViReplaceToBeforeChar

Replaces until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <c,t>

ViReplaceToBeforeCharBackward

Replaces until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <c,T>

ViReplaceToChar

Deletes until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <c,f>

ViReplaceToCharBackward

Replaces until given character.

  • Vi command mode: <c,F>

ViReplaceToEnd

Replace the characters from the cursor position to the end of the line.

  • Vi command mode: <c,$>, <C>

ViReplaceUntilEsc

Replace the current character until an escape is entered or the line is accepted.

  • Vi command mode: <r>

ViReplaceWord

Replace the current word.

  • Vi command mode: <c,W>

ViYankBeginningOfLine

Yank from the beginning of the buffer to the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,0>

ViYankEndOfGlob

Yank from the cursor to the end of the WORD(s).

  • Vi command mode: <y,E>

ViYankEndOfWord

Yank from the cursor to the end of the word(s).

  • Vi command mode: <y,e>

ViYankLeft

Yank character(s) to the left of the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,h>

ViYankLine

Yank the entire buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <y,y>

ViYankNextGlob

Yank from cursor to the start of the next WORD(s).

  • Vi command mode: <y,W>

ViYankNextWord

Yank the word(s) after the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,w>

ViYankPercent

Yank to/from matching brace.

  • Vi command mode: <y,%>

ViYankPreviousGlob

Yank from beginning of the WORD(s) to cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,B>

ViYankPreviousWord

Yank the word(s) before the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,b>

ViYankRight

Yank character(s) under and to the right of the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,l>, <y,Spacebar>

ViYankToEndOfLine

Yank from the cursor to the end of the buffer.

  • Vi command mode: <y,$>

ViYankToFirstChar

Yank from the first non-whitespace character to the cursor.

  • Vi command mode: <y,^>

Yank

Add the most recently killed text to the input.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+y

YankLastArg

Yank the last argument from the previous history line. With an argument, the first time it's invoked, behaves just like YankNthArg. If invoked multiple times, instead it iterates through history and arg sets the direction (negative reverses the direction.)

  • Windows mode: Alt+.
  • Emacs mode: Alt+., Alt+_, Escape,., Escape,_

YankNthArg

Yank the first argument (after the command) from the previous history line. With an argument, yank the nth argument (starting from 0), if the argument is negative, start from the last argument.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+Alt+y, Escape,Ctrl+y

YankPop

If the previous operation was Yank or YankPop, replace the previously yanked text with the next killed text from the kill-ring.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+y, Escape,y

Completion functions

Complete

Attempt to perform completion on the text surrounding the cursor. If there are multiple possible completions, the longest unambiguous prefix is used for completion. If trying to complete the longest unambiguous completion, a list of possible completions is displayed.

  • Emacs mode: Tab

Attempt to perform completion on the text surrounding the cursor. If there are multiple possible completions, the longest unambiguous prefix is used for completion. If trying to complete the longest unambiguous completion, a list of possible completions is displayed.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+@, Ctrl+Spacebar
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+Spacebar

PossibleCompletions

Display the list of possible completions.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+=
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+Spacebar
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+Spacebar>

TabCompleteNext

Attempt to complete the text surrounding the cursor with the next available completion.

  • Windows mode: Tab
  • Vi command mode: <Tab>

TabCompletePrevious

Attempt to complete the text surrounding the cursor with the previous available completion.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Tab
  • Vi command mode: <Shift+Tab>

ViTabCompleteNext

Ends the current edit group, if needed, and invokes TabCompleteNext.

  • Vi insert mode: Tab

ViTabCompletePrevious

Ends the current edit group, if needed, and invokes TabCompletePrevious.

  • Vi insert mode: Shift+Tab

Cursor movement functions

BackwardChar

Move the cursor one character to the left. This may move the cursor to the previous line of multi-line input.

  • Windows mode: LeftArrow
  • Emacs mode: LeftArrow, Ctrl+b

BackwardWord

Move the cursor back to the start of the current word, or if between words, the start of the previous word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+LeftArrow
  • Emacs mode: Alt+b, Escape,b
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+LeftArrow
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+LeftArrow>

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

BeginningOfLine

If the input has multiple lines, move to the start of the current line, or if already at the start of the line, move to the start of the input. If the input has a single line, move to the start of the input.

  • Windows mode: Home
  • Emacs mode: Home, Ctrl+a
  • Vi insert mode: Home
  • Vi command mode: <Home>

EndOfLine

If the input has multiple lines, move to the end of the current line, or if already at the end of the line, move to the end of the input. If the input has a single line, move to the end of the input.

  • Windows mode: End
  • Emacs mode: End, Ctrl+e
  • Vi insert mode: End

ForwardChar

Move the cursor one character to the right. This may move the cursor to the next line of multi-line input.

  • Windows mode: RightArrow
  • Emacs mode: RightArrow, Ctrl+f

ForwardWord

Move the cursor forward to the end of the current word, or if between words, to the end of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+f, Escape,f

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

GotoBrace

Go to the matching brace, parenthesis, or square bracket.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+]
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+]
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+]>

GotoColumn

Move to the column indicated by arg.

  • Vi command mode: <|>

GotoFirstNonBlankOfLine

Move the cursor to the first non-blank character in the line.

  • Vi command mode: <^>, <_>

MoveToEndOfLine

Move the cursor to the end of the input.

  • Vi command mode: <End>, <$>

MoveToFirstLine

Go to the first line in a multiline command.

  • Vi command mode: <g,g>

MoveToLastLine

Go to the last line in a multiline command.

  • Vi command mode: <G>

NextLine

Move the cursor to the next line.

  • Function is unbound.

NextWord

Move the cursor forward to the start of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+RightArrow
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+RightArrow
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+RightArrow>

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

NextWordEnd

Move the cursor forward to the end of the current word, or if between words, to the end of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Vi command mode: <e>

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

PreviousLine

Move the cursor to the previous line.

  • Function is unbound.

ShellBackwardWord

Move the cursor back to the start of the current word, or if between words, the start of the previous word. Word boundaries are defined by PowerShell tokens.

  • Function is unbound.

ShellForwardWord

Move the cursor forward to the start of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by PowerShell tokens.

  • Function is unbound.

ShellNextWord

Move the cursor forward to the end of the current word, or if between words, to the end of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by PowerShell tokens.

  • Function is unbound.

ViBackwardChar

Move the cursor one character to the left in the Vi edit mode. This may move the cursor to the previous line of multi-line input.

  • Vi insert mode: LeftArrow
  • Vi command mode: <LeftArrow>, <Backspace>, <h>

ViBackwardWord

Move the cursor back to the start of the current word, or if between words, the start of the previous word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Vi command mode: <b>

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

ViEndOfGlob

Move the cursor to the end this word, as delimited by white space.

  • Vi command mode: <E>

ViEndOfPreviousGlob

Moves to the end of the previous word, using only whitespace as a word delimiter.

  • Function is unbound.

ViForwardChar

Move the cursor one character to the right in the Vi edit mode. This may move the cursor to the next line of multi-line input.

  • Vi insert mode: RightArrow
  • Vi command mode: <RightArrow>, <Spacebar>, <l>

ViGotoBrace

Similar to GotoBrace, but is character based instead of token based.

  • Vi command mode: <%>

ViNextGlob

Moves to the next word, using only whitespace as a word delimiter.

  • Vi command mode: <W>

ViNextWord

Move the cursor forward to the start of the next word. Word boundaries are defined by a configurable set of characters.

  • Vi command mode: <w>

The characters that define word boundaries are configured in the WordDelimiters property of the PSConsoleReadLineOptions object. To view or change the WordDelimiters property, see Get-PSReadLineOption and Set-PSReadLineOption.

History functions

BeginningOfHistory

Move to the first item in the history.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+<

ClearHistory

Clears history in PSReadLine. This doesn't affect PowerShell history.

  • Windows mode: Alt+F7

EndOfHistory

Move to the last item (the current input) in the history.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+>

ForwardSearchHistory

Perform an incremental forward search through history.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+s
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+s
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+s
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+s>

HistorySearchBackward

Replace the current input with the 'previous' item from PSReadLine history that matches the characters between the start and the input and the cursor.

  • Windows mode: F8

HistorySearchForward

Replace the current input with the 'next' item from PSReadLine history that matches the characters between the start and the input and the cursor.

  • Windows mode: Shift+F8

NextHistory

Replace the current input with the 'next' item from PSReadLine history.

  • Windows mode: DownArrow
  • Emacs mode: DownArrow, Ctrl+n
  • Vi insert mode: DownArrow
  • Vi command mode: <DownArrow>, <j>, <+>

PreviousHistory

Replace the current input with the 'previous' item from PSReadLine history.

  • Windows mode: UpArrow
  • Emacs mode: UpArrow, Ctrl+p
  • Vi insert mode: UpArrow
  • Vi command mode: <UpArrow>, <k>, <->

ReverseSearchHistory

Perform an incremental backward search through history.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+r
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+r
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+r
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+r>

ViSearchHistoryBackward

Prompts for a search string and initiates search upon AcceptLine.

  • Vi command mode: </>

Miscellaneous functions

CaptureScreen

Start interactive screen capture - up/down arrows select lines, enter copies selected text to clipboard as text and HTML.

  • Function is unbound.

ClearScreen

Clear the screen and draw the current line at the top of the screen.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+l
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+l
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+l
  • Vi command mode: <Ctrl+l>

DigitArgument

Start a new digit argument to pass to other functions. You can use this as a multiplier for the next function that's invoked by a keypress. For example, pressing <Alt+1> <Alt+0> sets the digit-argument value to 10. Then, pressing the # key sends 10 # characters (##########) to the input line. Similarly, you can use this with other operations, like <Delete> or Left-Arrow.

  • Windows mode: Alt+0, Alt+1, Alt+2, Alt+3, Alt+4, Alt+5, Alt+6, Alt+7, Alt+8, Alt+9, Alt+-
  • Emacs mode: Alt+0, Alt+1, Alt+2, Alt+3, Alt+4, Alt+5, Alt+6, Alt+7, Alt+8, Alt+9, Alt+-
  • Vi command mode: <0>, <1>, <2>, <3>, <4>, <5>, <6>, <7>, <8>, <9>

InvokePrompt

Erases the current prompt and calls the prompt function to redisplay the prompt. Useful for custom key handlers that change state. For example, change the current directory.

  • Function is unbound.

ScrollDisplayDown

Scroll the display down one screen.

  • Windows mode: PageDown
  • Emacs mode: PageDown

ScrollDisplayDownLine

Scroll the display down one line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+PageDown
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+PageDown

ScrollDisplayToCursor

Scroll the display to the cursor.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+End

ScrollDisplayTop

Scroll the display to the top.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+Home

ScrollDisplayUp

Scroll the display up one screen.

  • Windows mode: PageUp
  • Emacs mode: PageUp

ScrollDisplayUpLine

Scroll the display up one line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+PageUp
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+PageUp

ShowCommandHelp

Provides a view of full cmdlet help. When the cursor is at the end of a fully expanded parameter, hitting the <F1> key positions the display of help at the location of that parameter.

The help is displayed on an alternate screen buffer using a Pager from Microsoft.PowerShell.Pager. When you exit the pager you are returned to the original cursor position on the original screen. This pager only works in modern terminal applications such as Windows Terminal.

  • Windows mode: F1
  • Emacs mode: F1
  • Vi insert mode: F1
  • Vi command mode: <F1>

ShowKeyBindings

Show all bound keys.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+Alt+?
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+Alt+?
  • Vi insert mode: Ctrl+Alt+?

ShowParameterHelp

Provides dynamic help for parameters by showing it below the current command line like MenuComplete. The cursor must be at the end of the fully expanded parameter name when you press the <Alt+h> key.

  • Windows mode: Alt+h
  • Emacs mode: Alt+h
  • Vi insert mode: Alt+h
  • Vi command mode: <Alt+h>

ViCommandMode

Switch the current operating mode from Vi-Insert to Vi-Command.

  • Vi insert mode: Escape

ViDigitArgumentInChord

Start a new digit argument to pass to other functions while in one of vi's chords.

  • Function is unbound.

ViEditVisually

Edit the command line in a text editor specified by $env:EDITOR or $env:VISUAL.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+x,Ctrl+e
  • Vi command mode: <v>

ViExit

Exits the shell.

  • Function is unbound.

ViInsertMode

Switch to Insert mode.

  • Vi command mode: <i>

WhatIsKey

Read a key and tell me what the key is bound to.

  • Windows mode: Alt+?
  • Emacs mode: Alt+?

Prediction functions

AcceptNextSuggestionWord

Accept the next word of the inline or selected suggestion

  • Function is unbound.

AcceptSuggestion

When using InlineView as the view style for prediction, accept the current inline suggestion.

  • Function is unbound.

NextSuggestion

When using ListView as the view style for prediction, navigate to the next suggestion in the list.

  • Function is unbound.

PreviousSuggestion

When using ListView as the view style for prediction, navigate to the previous suggestion in the list.

  • Function is unbound.

ShowFullPredictionTooltip

Show the tooltip of the currently selected list item in the full view.

  • Windows mode: F4
  • Emacs mode: F4
  • Vi insert mode: F4

SwitchPredictionView

Switch the view style for prediction between InlineView and ListView.

  • Windows mode: F2
  • Emacs mode: F2
  • Vi insert mode: F2

Search functions

CharacterSearch

Read a character and search forward for the next occurrence of that character. If an argument is specified, search forward (or backward if negative) for the nth occurrence.

  • Windows mode: F3
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+]
  • Vi insert mode: F3
  • Vi command mode: <F3>

CharacterSearchBackward

Read a character and search backward for the next occurrence of that character. If an argument is specified, search backward (or forward if negative) for the nth occurrence.

  • Windows mode: Shift+F3
  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+Alt+]
  • Vi insert mode: Shift+F3
  • Vi command mode: <Shift+F3>

RepeatLastCharSearch

Repeat the last recorded character search.

  • Vi command mode: <;>

RepeatLastCharSearchBackwards

Repeat the last recorded character search, but in the opposite direction.

  • Vi command mode: <,>

RepeatSearch

Repeat the last search in the same direction as before.

  • Vi command mode: <n>

RepeatSearchBackward

Repeat the last search in the same direction as before.

  • Vi command mode: <N>

SearchChar

Read the next character and then find it, going forward.

  • Vi command mode: <f>

SearchCharBackward

Read the next character and then find it, going backward.

  • Vi command mode: <F>

SearchCharBackwardWithBackoff

Read the next character and then find it, going backward, and then back off a character.

  • Vi command mode: <T>

SearchCharWithBackoff

Read the next character and then find it, going forward, and then back off a character.

  • Vi command mode: <t>

SearchForward

Prompts for a search string and initiates search upon AcceptLine.

  • Vi command mode: <?>

Selection functions

ExchangePointAndMark

The cursor is placed at the location of the mark and the mark is moved to the location of the cursor.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+x,Ctrl+x

SelectAll

Select the entire line.

  • Windows mode: Ctrl+a

SelectBackwardChar

Adjust the current selection to include the previous character.

  • Windows mode: Shift+LeftArrow
  • Emacs mode: Shift+LeftArrow

SelectBackwardsLine

Adjust the current selection to include from the cursor to the start of the line.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Home
  • Emacs mode: Shift+Home

SelectBackwardWord

Adjust the current selection to include the previous word.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Ctrl+LeftArrow
  • Emacs mode: Alt+B

SelectCommandArgument

Make visual selection of the command arguments. Selection of arguments is scoped within a script block. Based on the cursor position, it searches from the innermost script block to the outmost script block, and stops when it finds any arguments in a script block scope.

This function honors DigitArgument. It treats the positive or negative argument values as the forward or backward offsets from the currently selected argument, or from the current cursor position when no argument is selected.

  • Windows mode: Alt+a
  • Emacs mode: Alt+a

SelectForwardChar

Adjust the current selection to include the next character.

  • Windows mode: Shift+RightArrow
  • Emacs mode: Shift+RightArrow

SelectForwardWord

Adjust the current selection to include the next word using ForwardWord.

  • Emacs mode: Alt+F

SelectLine

Adjust the current selection to include from the cursor to the end of the line.

  • Windows mode: Shift+End
  • Emacs mode: Shift+End

SelectNextWord

Adjust the current selection to include the next word.

  • Windows mode: Shift+Ctrl+RightArrow

SelectShellBackwardWord

Adjust the current selection to include the previous word using ShellBackwardWord.

  • Function is unbound.

SelectShellForwardWord

Adjust the current selection to include the next word using ShellForwardWord.

  • Function is unbound.

SelectShellNextWord

Adjust the current selection to include the next word using ShellNextWord.

  • Function is unbound.

SetMark

Mark the current location of the cursor for use in a subsequent editing command.

  • Emacs mode: Ctrl+@

Custom Key Binding Support APIs

The following functions are public in Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine, but can't be directly bound to a key. Most are useful in custom key bindings.

void AddToHistory(string command)

Add a command line to history without executing it.

void ClearKillRing()

Clear the kill-ring. This is mostly used for testing.

void Delete(int start, int length)

Delete length characters from start. This operation supports undo/redo.

void Ding()

Perform the Ding action based on the user's preference.

void GetBufferState([ref] string input, [ref] int cursor)
void GetBufferState([ref] Ast ast, [ref] Token[] tokens,
  [ref] ParseError[] parseErrors, [ref] int cursor)

These two functions retrieve useful information about the current state of the input buffer. The first is more commonly used for simple cases. The second is used if your binding is doing something more advanced with the Ast.

IEnumerable[Microsoft.PowerShell.KeyHandler]
  GetKeyHandlers(bool includeBound, bool includeUnbound)

IEnumerable[Microsoft.PowerShell.KeyHandler]
  GetKeyHandlers(string[] Chord)

These two functions are used by Get-PSReadLineKeyHandler. The first is used to get all key bindings. The second is used to get specific key bindings.

Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLineOptions GetOptions()

This function is used by Get-PSReadLineOption and probably isn't too useful in a custom key binding.

void GetSelectionState([ref] int start, [ref] int length)

If there's no selection on the command line, the function returns -1 in both start and length. If there's a selection on the command line, the start and length of the selection are returned.

void Insert(char c)
void Insert(string s)

Insert a character or string at the cursor. This operation supports undo/redo.

string ReadLine(runspace remoteRunspace,
  System.Management.Automation.EngineIntrinsics engineIntrinsics)

This is the main entry point to PSReadLine. It doesn't support recursion, so isn't useful in a custom key binding.

void RemoveKeyHandler(string[] key)

This function is used by Remove-PSReadLineKeyHandler and probably isn't too useful in a custom key binding.

void Replace(int start, int length, string replacement)

Replace some input. This operation supports undo/redo. This is preferred over Delete followed by Insert because it's treated as a single action for undo.

void SetCursorPosition(int cursor)

Move the cursor to the given offset. Cursor movement isn't tracked for undo.

void SetOptions(Microsoft.PowerShell.SetPSReadLineOption options)

This function is a helper method used by the cmdlet Set-PSReadLineOption, but might be useful to a custom key binding that wants to temporarily change a setting.

bool TryGetArgAsInt(System.Object arg, [ref] int numericArg,
  int defaultNumericArg)

This helper method is used for custom bindings that honor DigitArgument. A typical call looks like

[int]$numericArg = 0
[Microsoft.PowerShell.PSConsoleReadLine]::TryGetArgAsInt($arg,
  [ref]$numericArg, 1)

Notes

Behavior of the OnIdle event

  • When PSReadLine is in use, the OnIdle event is fired when ReadKey() times out (no typing in 300ms). The event could be signaled while the user is in the middle of editing a command line, for example, the user is reading help to decide which parameter to use.

    Beginning in PSReadLine 2.2.0-beta4, OnIdle behavior changed to signal the event only if there's a ReadKey() timeout and the current editing buffer is empty.

See Also