You can auto complete commands by entering one or more characters and then pressing the Tab key. If there is more than one possible result you can press the Tab key again to scroll through alternative choices. In addition, you can auto complete targets, file paths, map set paths, and track paths just by pressing the Tab key and scrolling through all the possible choices. Using auto completion can save you from typing many keystrokes.

The sections below provide some examples of using auto completion. Please note these examples assume the "Samples" directory with the sample control files is in the same folder as the PersephoneShell application (psh.exe).

Auto Completing Commands

To auto complete a command, enter at least the first character of the command and then press the Tab key. If the first letter is unique (in other words, no other commands begin with that letter) all you need to do is press the first letter of the command and then the Tab key to enter the command.

For example, if you press the "l" key and then the Tab key, the list command will be displayed as shown below.

PS> list

However, if the first character is not unique you can either press the first character of the command and then use the Tab key to scroll through the choices or enter enough characters for PersephoneShell to recognize the command and then press the Tab key to complete the command.

For example, both the edit and export commands begin with the letter "e". You can press the "e" key and then the Tab key to scroll though the possible choices. For example, if you press the "e" key and then press the Tab key twice the export command will be displayed as shown below.

PS> export

Auto Completing Command Parameters

You can auto complete targets, file paths, map set paths, and track paths by pressing the Tab key to scroll through all the possible choices. This feature is particularly helpful for long file and path names.

Tip

If you accidentally scroll pass the parameter you want, keep pressing the Tab key and it will be displayed again.

Auto Completing Targets

To auto complete a target, enter the command followed by a space and then keep pressing the Tab key until the target you want is displayed. For example, if you entered "list " at the prompt, press the Tab key to scroll through all the possible choices. If you pressed the Tab key three times, "chromosomes" will be displayed as shown below.

PS> list chromosomes 

Auto Completing Paths

To auto complete file paths, map set paths, and track paths, press the Tab key to scroll through the possible choices. PersephoneShell will display all the files and sub-folders in the current folder (i.e., the folder where the psh.exe application resides).

For example, you want to add sequences using the "add_SL2.50.ini" control file, which is in the sub-folder "Samples/Sequence". First, enter add sequence -c followed by a space as shown below.

PS> add sequence -c 

Next, type "Sam" and press the Tab key until the "Samples" folder is displayed as shown below.

PS> add sequence -c ./Samples

Since the control file is in a sub-folder, you need to enter a slash (/) and press Tab as shown below until "Sequence" is appended to the file path.

PS> add sequence -c ./Samples/Sequence

Enter a slash and keep pressing Tab until the name of the proper file appears on screen as shown below.

PS> add sequence -c ./Samples/Sequence/add_SL2.50.ini