Pico is designed to be a simple, easy-to-use text editor with a layout very similar to the pine mailer. The status line at the top of the display shows pico's version, the current file being edited and whether or not there are outstanding modifications that have not been saved. The third line from the bottom is used to report informational messages and for additional command input. The bottom two lines list the available editing commands.
Each character typed is automatically inserted into the buffer at the current cursor position. Editing commands and cursor movement (besides arrow keys) are given to pico by typing special control-key sequences.
A caret, '^', is used to denote the control
key, sometimes marked "CTRL", so the CTRL-q key combination is written as ^Q.
(Source UW Pico Help: ^G)
The following functions are available in pico:
|
Command |
Function |
| ^A | move to the beginning of the current line |
| ^B | move Backward a character |
| ^C | report current cursor position |
| ^D | delete the character at the cursor position |
| ^E | move to the End of the current line |
| ^F | move Forward a character |
| ^G | display this help text |
| ^I | insert a tab at the current cursor position |
| ^J | format (justify) the current paragraph |
| ^K | cut selected text |
| ^L | refresh the display |
| ^N | move to the Next line |
| ^O | output the current buffer to a file, saving it |
| ^P | move to the Previous line |
| ^R | insert an external file at the current cursor position |
| ^T | to invoke the spelling checker |
| ^U | uncut (paste) last cut text inserting it at the current cursor position |
| ^V | move forward a page of text |
| ^W | search for (where is) text, neglecting case |
| ^X | exit pico, saving buffer |
| ^Y | move backward a page of text |
| ^^ | mark cursor position as beginning of selected text |
| pico | invokes pico editor mode |
Pico is a trademark of the University of Washington. No commercial use of this trademark may be made without prior written permission of the University of Washington.