nano

Launching Nano

The simplest way to launch Nano is via the command line:

nano myfile.txt

This command creates a new file named myfile.txt or opens it if it already exists. The file will be displayed within the Nano editor window.

Basic Navigation and Editing

Nano uses simple key combinations for navigation and editing. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Cursor Movement: Use the arrow keys (↑, ↓, ←, →) to move the cursor around the document.
• Insertion: Start typing to insert text at the cursor’s current position.
• Deletion: Use the Delete key to delete characters to the right of the cursor, or Ctrl+H (backspace) to delete characters to the left.

Essential Nano Commands

Nano’s power lies in its intuitive command shortcuts, displayed at the bottom of the editor window. Let’s look at some:

• Saving the file: Press Ctrl+O (write out). You’ll be prompted to confirm the filename. Press Enter to save.

• Exiting Nano: Press Ctrl+X (exit). You’ll be prompted to save changes if you haven’t already. Choose ‘Y’ to save or ‘N’ to discard changes.

• Cut, Copy, and Paste:

  • Cut: Select the text you want to cut using the mouse or Shift + arrow keys. Then, press Ctrl+K to cut the selected text.
  • Copy: Select the text you wish to copy. Press Alt+6 to copy the selected text.
  • Paste: Place the cursor where you want to paste the text. Press Ctrl+U to paste the copied or cut text.

• Searching: Press Ctrl+W to open the search dialog. Type the text you’re looking for and press Enter.

Practical Examples

Let’s walk through some common text processing tasks using Nano:

Example 1: Creating and Editing a simple text file

1. Open Nano: nano my_poem.txt
2. Type the following poem:

The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

3. Save the file: Ctrl+O, press Enter.
4. Exit Nano: Ctrl+X

Example 2: Replacing Text

1. Open the file: nano my_poem.txt
2. Let’s replace “fog” with “mist”. You can do this manually by deleting “fog” and typing “mist”, or use the search and replace functionality (this functionality is not directly supported by a single keybinding but through repeated Ctrl+W searches and manual deletion/insertion)

Example 3: Appending Text to an existing file

1. Open the file in nano: nano my_poem.txt
2. Navigate to the end of the file using Ctrl+V (page down) repeatedly.
3. Add a new stanza:

The mist retreats,
revealing a new day.

4. Save and exit.

Example 4: Using line numbers:

Nano doesn’t inherently display line numbers. Many distributions offer a way to enable this within Nano’s configuration file, but this is highly distribution-dependent and outside the scope of a simple guide. However, you can use the cat command with the -n option to view the file with line numbers after you’ve saved it with Nano:

cat -n my_poem.txt

These examples provide a solid foundation for using Nano for various text editing tasks. Experiment with the commands and shortcuts to master this Linux tool. Remember to always save your work using Ctrl+O before exiting with Ctrl+X.