more
more displays a file one screenful at a time. Where cat prints a whole file at once — and a long file scrolls straight past — more shows the first screen, then waits for you before showing the next.
more [options] file...
$ more long-report.txt
Moving through the file #
While more is paused, it is waiting for a keypress:
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Show the next screenful. |
| Return | Show the next line. |
q | Quit. |
/ | Search forward for a string. |
h | Show the built-in help. |
more moves forward through a file. It is the simple, always-available pager — enough for reading something through once.
Options #
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
-n, --lines=NUM | Show NUM lines per screenful instead of filling the terminal. --number=NUM is the same. |
-F, --from-line=NUM | Begin displaying at line NUM. |
-P, --pattern=STRING | Search for STRING and begin displaying at the first match. |
-e, --exit-on-eof | Exit automatically at the end of the file, rather than waiting. |
-s, --squeeze | Collapse runs of blank lines into one. |
-u, --plain | Suppress underlining in the displayed text. |
-p, --print-over | Clear the screen and print the next page, instead of scrolling. |
-c, --clean-print | Redraw each page in place, cleaning line ends, instead of scrolling. |
-d, --silent | When an unrecognised key is pressed, show a short hint instead of ringing the terminal bell. |
-l, --logical | Do not pause when a line contains a form-feed character. |
-f, --no-pause | Count logical lines rather than screen lines when deciding where to pause. |
Exit status #
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
0 | The file was displayed. |
1 | A file could not be opened. |