Key Bindings
Key bindings in IntelliShell are a mix of high-level customizable actions and built-in standard controls. This approach provides flexibility for core actions while maintaining a consistent, hardcoded set of keys for navigation and text editing, many of which follow common terminal and Emacs-like conventions.
⚠️ Terminal Compatibility
Your ability to use certain key combinations depends entirely on your terminal emulator. Some terminals may capture specific hotkeys (like
ctrl-spaceorctrl-enter) for their own features and will not forward them to IntelliShell. This is particularly common on Windows with terminals like Cmder or older versions of Windows Terminal. If a key binding doesn't work, try a different combination or consult your terminal's documentation.
Customizable Actions
These are the primary actions you can configure in the [keybindings] section of your config.toml file. They handle
the main functions of the TUI, like confirming a selection or deleting a command.
The format and a list of available actions are detailed below. Note that if a default binding for a customizable action
(like ctrl-d for delete) conflicts with a standard control, the customizable action always takes precedence.
| Action | Description | Default Binding(s) |
|---|---|---|
quit | Exits the TUI gracefully without making a selection | esc |
update | Enters edit mode for the highlighted item (e.g., to edit a command) | ctrl-u, ctrl-e, F2 |
delete | Deletes the currently highlighted item (e.g., a bookmarked command) | ctrl-d |
confirm | Confirms a selection or moves to the next step (e.g., variable entry) | tab, enter |
execute | Executes the highlighted command instead of just selecting it | ctrl-enter, ctrl-r |
search_mode | Cycles through the available search modes (auto, fuzzy, regex, etc.) | ctrl-s |
search_user_only | Toggles whether to filter user commands only in the search results | ctrl-o |
Default Configuration
You can change these bindings by modifying the [keybindings] block in your configuration file.
# Configuration for the key bindings used to interact with the Terminal User Interface (TUI).
# Key bindings map an action within the application to one or more key press combinations.
#
# Each action can be bound to a single key event string or a list of key event strings.
# If a list is provided, pressing any of the listed combinations will trigger the action.
#
# Key event strings are parsed from a simple format:
# - Modifiers (optional, separated by `-` or `+`): `ctrl`, `shift`, `alt`
# - Followed by the key name or character
[keybindings]
# Exit the TUI gracefully
quit = "esc"
# Update the currently highlighted record or item (e.g., edit a command)
update = ["ctrl-u", "ctrl-e", "F2"]
# Delete the currently highlighted record or item
delete = "ctrl-d"
# Confirm a selection or action related to the highlighted record
confirm = ["tab", "enter"]
# Execute the action associated with the highlighted record or item (e.g., run a command)
execute = ["ctrl-enter", "ctrl-r"]
# Toggle the search mode
search_mode = "ctrl-s"
# Toggle whether to search for user commands only or include workspace and tldr's
search_user_only = "ctrl-o"
Standard Controls
These key bindings are not configurable and provide a standard way to navigate lists and edit text. They are always active unless overridden by a customizable action.
List & Tab Navigation
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Move selection up | Up, ctrl-p |
| Move selection down | Down, ctrl-n |
| Navigate to previous item | ctrl-k |
| Navigate to next item | ctrl-j |
Text Cursor Movement
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Move to start of line | Home, ctrl-a |
| Move to end of line | End, ctrl-e |
| Move left one character | Left, ctrl-b |
| Move right one character | Right, ctrl-f |
| Move left one word | alt-b, ctrl-Left |
| Move right one word | alt-f, ctrl-Right |
Text Editing
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Delete char before cursor | Backspace, ctrl-h |
| Delete word before cursor | ctrl-Backspace, ctrl-w |
| Delete char at cursor | Delete, ctrl-d |
| Delete word at cursor | alt-d, ctrl-Delete |
| Insert a newline | shift-Enter, alt-Enter, ctrl-m |
| Undo | ctrl-z, ctrl-u |
| Redo | ctrl-y, ctrl-r |
With your keybindings configured, you can now personalize the application's appearance. Let's dive into Theming.