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iTerm2

Created on Dec 4, ’22 ・ Last update on Dec 14, ’24

Keyboard shortcuts

Cursor

Key combination Action
Ctrl+A Jump to begining of line.
Ctrl+E Jump to end of line.
Ctrl+XX Jump to begining of line and then back to previous cursor position.

Text

Key combination Action
Ctrl+D Delete character under the cursor.
Ctrl+T Swap the two characters before and after the cursor.
Ctrl+K Cut line from cursor to end of line.
Ctrl+W Cut word from cursor to beginning of word.
Ctrl+U Cut line.
Ctrl+Y Paste what has been cut.
Ctrl+I Insert tab character.
Ctrl+J Insert newline character.

Process

Key combination Action
Ctrl+C Kill running process.
Ctrl+Z Pause running process, restart in background with bg, foreground with fg.

Emulator

Key combination Action
Ctrl+L Clear screen.
Ctrl+_ Undo last key press.
Ctrl+S Forward search in command history.
Ctrl+R Backward search in command history.
Ctrl+O Run command found with search.
Ctrl+G Exit search.

Preferences: Backup & Restore

Note: the "Export all settings and data" in General > Settings seems to work well, so the procedure below should not be needed anymore.

On the machine with a configured iTerm2:

  1. Go to iTerm2's preferences, in General > Settings.
  2. Check "Load settings from a custom folder or URL."
    • A pop-up opens prompting you to choose a folder. Choose the folder in which you want to save your iTerm2 settings.
    • A new pop-up opens asking "Copy local settings to custom folder now?", click "Copy".
  3. In the "Save Changes" dropdown list, select "Manually" and then click on "Save Now".
  4. The settings have been saved in the folder you choose, the file is com.googlecode.iterm2.plist.

On the machine with a default iTerm2:

  1. Go to iTerm2's preferences, in General > Settings.
  2. Check "Load settings from a custom folder or URL."
    • This time, choose the folder in which the saved com.googlecode.iterm2.plist resides.
    • If asked "Copy local settings to custom folder now", click on "Don't copy."
  3. Wait a bit and then restart iTerm2.
  4. iTerm2 should now have the new imported configuration.
  5. Go to the preferences and uncheck "Load settings from a custom folder or URL."

This should restore profiles, custom color themes as well as window arrangements.