(history.info.gz) Word Designators

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(history.info.gz) Event Designators

(history.info.gz) History Interaction

(history.info.gz) Modifiers

 
 1.1.2 Word Designators
 ----------------------
 
 Word designators are used to select desired words from the event.  A
 `:' separates the event specification from the word designator.  It may
 be omitted if the word designator begins with a `^', `$', `*', `-', or
 `%'.  Words are numbered from the beginning of the line, with the first
 word being denoted by 0 (zero).  Words are inserted into the current
 line separated by single spaces.
 
    For example,
 
 `!!'
      designates the preceding command.  When you type this, the
      preceding command is repeated in toto.
 
 `!!:$'
      designates the last argument of the preceding command.  This may be
      shortened to `!$'.
 
 `!fi:2'
      designates the second argument of the most recent command starting
      with the letters `fi'.
 
    Here are the word designators:
 
 `0 (zero)'
      The `0'th word.  For many applications, this is the command word.
 
 `N'
      The Nth word.
 
 `^'
      The first argument; that is, word 1.
 
 `$'
      The last argument.
 
 `%'
      The word matched by the most recent `?STRING?' search.
 
 `X-Y'
      A range of words; `-Y' abbreviates `0-Y'.
 
 `*'
      All of the words, except the `0'th.  This is a synonym for `1-$'.
      It is not an error to use `*' if there is just one word in the
      event; the empty string is returned in that case.
 
 `X*'
      Abbreviates `X-$'
 
 `X-'
      Abbreviates `X-$' like `X*', but omits the last word.
 
 
    If a word designator is supplied without an event specification, the
 previous command is used as the event.
 

Info Catalog

(history.info.gz) Event Designators

(history.info.gz) History Interaction

(history.info.gz) Modifiers