Python Library Reference
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7.16 readline -- GNU readline interface

Availability: Unix.

The readline module defines a number of functions used either directly or from the rlcompleter module to facilitate completion and history file read and write from the Python interpreter.

The readline module defines the following functions:

parse_and_bind(string)

Parse and execute single line of a readline init file.

get_line_buffer()

Return the current contents of the line buffer.

insert_text(string)

Insert text into the command line.

read_init_file([filename])

Parse a readline initialization file. The default filename is the last filename used.

read_history_file([filename])

Load a readline history file. The default filename is ~/.history.

write_history_file([filename])

Save a readline history file. The default filename is ~/.history.

get_history_length()

Return the desired length of the history file. Negative values imply unlimited history file size.

set_history_length(length)

Set the number of lines to save in the history file. write_history_file() uses this value to truncate the history file when saving. Negative values imply unlimited history file size.

set_startup_hook([function])

Set or remove the startup_hook function. If function is specified, it will be used as the new startup_hook function; if omitted or None, any hook function already installed is removed. The startup_hook function is called with no arguments just before readline prints the first prompt.

set_pre_input_hook([function])

Set or remove the pre_input_hook function. If function is specified, it will be used as the new pre_input_hook function; if omitted or None, any hook function already installed is removed. The pre_input_hook function is called with no arguments after the first prompt has been printed and just before readline starts reading input characters.

set_completer([function])

Set or remove the completer function. If function is specified, it will be used as the new completer function; if omitted or None, any completer function already installed is removed. The completer function is called as function(text, state), for state in 0, 1, 2, ..., until it returns a non-string value. It should return the next possible completion starting with text.

get_begidx()

Get the beginning index of the readline tab-completion scope.

get_endidx()

Get the ending index of the readline tab-completion scope.

set_completer_delims(string)

Set the readline word delimiters for tab-completion.

get_completer_delims()

Get the readline word delimiters for tab-completion.

add_history(line)

Append a line to the history buffer, as if it was the last line typed.

• 7.16.1 Example