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.

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Options #

Exit status #

See also

Moving through the file

Options

Exit status