Support `Alt+<key>` to act as `ESC <key>` (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

goyalyashpal · 2022-07-23T07:25:17Z

Details

alt + key or say Alt-<key> in insert mode should perform the
... equivalent of esc > key or say Esc <key> i.e. esc to exit, then key
... if alt + key "does not have an insert-mode mapping."

Examples from nvim:

from insert mode
enter command mode	`esc` > colon (`shift` + `semicolon`)	`alt` + colon
move to start of line	`esc` > `0`	`alt` + `0`
move to end of line	`esc` > $ (`shift` + `4`)	`alt` + $

> means then i.e. leave the previous key
+ means keep previous key pressed
note: in nvim, it doesn't return to insert mode, and stays in command mode after this action too

Reference:

Question for achieving this via config: #3162 (comment)

Quoting/citations for this behaviour from other editors

Title and Summaries:

alternate rephrasals of the issue:

Support Alt key-chords to act like ESC (ref: Neovim/Emacs)
Support Alt key-chords to act like Esc
Provide "Meta character" support for the two-character sequences starting with ESC like Nvim/emacs
alt modifier to function as a modifier to escape edit mode similar to neovim

The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered:

the-mikedavis · 2022-07-26T04:59:47Z

I'm not sure we get enough events from crossterm to implement this: alt and shift are both modifiers so I don't think we get a KeyEvent for them being pressed/held in conjunction

sudormrfbin · 2022-07-26T08:08:28Z

I don't think neovim has this shortcut either? It does have ctrl-[ which works because it gets interpreted as Escape, similar to how ctrl-i gets interpreted as Tab.

goyalyashpal · 2022-07-26T08:44:11Z

I don't think neovim has this shortcut either

umh, maybe it just uses alt for that.

anyways, the instance is that: inside nvim, say i am in edit mode, then either i do: esc > ⇑; (i.e. :) or i do alt + ⇑; both have same effect of landing me to the command mode

Update:

i retried nvim today to get a refresher. so:

pressing alt doesn't do anything on its own
rather alt acts as a modifier with other key combinations, i.e. alt + key
what it does when used in insert mode is that it exits edit mode, and performs the action of the key
as compared to the normal procedure of esc to exit, then to press the corresponding key

so, effectively, u can use it with some pretty harmless key like l or h to use it as escape

goyalyashpal · 2022-08-21T12:11:41Z

i have added my clarifications in the description, sorry for the confusion created earlier.

offtopic Prasies:

thanks a lot for making the system clipboard to work out of the box.
and also showing the popup completion lists when in command mode, and minor modes
~~or i guess it shows up in normal mode too (like in the bottom right corner when i press [ or ])~~
nice to know that the bash's emacs styled shortcuts work in the command mode 😆

none but this issue ~~very few issues~~ remains so far:

this above issue
Update: soft wrap Support soft wrap #136 is complicated; reflow operates on selection only
~~no option for soft-wrap?? :reflow doesn't seem to be working~~
Update: Apparently t'was the msys2-runtime issue. 'ts resolved now.
~~it doesn't launch when using via msys2's bash~~

the-mikedavis · 2022-10-22T14:14:15Z

Please don't ping :)

The keys in the description can be bound with config:

# ~/.config/helix/config.toml
[keys.insert]
"A-:" = "command_mode"
"A-0" = "goto_line_start"
"A-$" = "goto_line_end"

geometryolife · 2022-10-23T02:56:34Z

This is the keymap I use most to move the cursor position in edit mode.

goyalyashpal · 2022-11-27T06:58:34Z

Refer/quote:
User Input (GNU Emacs Manual) - list/bulleting is mine:

You can also type Meta characters using two-character sequences starting with ESC (highlighted link).

Thus, you can enter M-a by typing ESC a.

You can enter C-M-a (holding down both Ctrl and Alt, then pressing a) by typing ESC C-a.

Unlike Meta, ESC is entered as a separate character. You don’t hold down ESC while typing the next character; instead, press ESC and release it, then enter the next character.

This feature is useful on certain text terminals where the Meta key does not function reliably.

I found that

the duality behaviour of ESC and Alt key
or say equivalence of ESC <key> (escape then key) and M-<key> (hold alt while key)
i was describing above is actually the norm as quoted below:

notice the space vs hyphen:

space means leave then press,
hyphen means hold while pressing

trail:

Emacs wiki 🔍: User Input
<-- while i have been searching for this today for Set image-minimizer to specify image width ... TeamNewPipe/NewPipe#9471

goyalyashpal · 2022-12-06T16:49:49Z

The keys in the description can be bound with config:
- @ the-mikedavis #3162 (comment)

# ~/.config/helix/config.toml
[keys.insert]
"A-:" = "command_mode"

is there some way for me to set this "Meta character/modifier" scheme as a substitute for all the two-character sequences starting with ESC, or will I have to add the shortcuts in the configuration for every one of them??

goyalyashpal · 2022-12-25T08:31:12Z

self hiding as offtopic

Update: 2023.01.12:
Reference:

Luke Pighetti's "0 to LSP : Helix RC ..." - aiSI6vdZWgE
Helix Keymap

These "3 escapes" refer to:

close [pick dialogs] and prompts i.e. esc
close multicursors i.e. , or keep_primary_selection only
deselect i.e. ; or collapse_selection onto a single cursor/character

Note to self:
Defaults are good; don't follow that suggestion,
precisely as the navigation (say by wb - word/back) causes selection too.
In suggestion, deselection will close multicursors too
so, requires two separate habits: esc and ,/; for same 2/3 behaviour

The suggested combining of three escapes into one.

# ~/.config/helix/config.toml
[keys.normal]
esc = ["collapse_selection", "keep_primary_selection"]

hey, i can't understand this, can someone explain it to me? i was watching a video about helix, and it says the following. i asked back there, but didn't get any response.

What are those three ways? And what does following configuration setting does?

use this esc binding
there are three ways to 'escape' in helix, this makes it one way. it's a great keybinding for beginners
- Helix, by Luke Pighetti

goyalyashpal · 2022-12-27T12:25:38Z

I don't think neovim has this shortcut either?

- @ sudo rm rf bin at #3162 (comment)

aah yes, found it:

1. Special keys						*ins-special-keys*

... MORE ...

char		action	~
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
... MORE ...
						*i_META* *i_ALT*
		ALT (|META|) may act like <Esc> if the chord is not mapped.
		For example <A-x> acts like <Esc>x if <A-x> does not have an
		insert-mode mapping.

ALT (META) key-chords always work in Nvim
 ...
 Nvim 0.3 mimics the Vim behavior while still fully supporting ALT mappings. See `:help i_ALT`.

trail & links:

found via following links from helix's documentation itself 😆

https://github.com/neovim/neovim/blob/4aec442b5af5a1a7c3aa47626fee09452117575e/runtime/doc/insert.txt#L41-L44

<-- help :i_ALT < nvim
<-- Neovim FAQ: esc-in-tmux
<-- Helix Troubleshooting: hitting-escape
<-- helix README.MD

goyalyashpal · 2023-01-23T08:21:23Z

third reference: Iterm2 (again, found from helix documentaion itself)

Ensure that you have mapped the Option key to ESC+ ...
- https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/wiki/FAQ#alt--key-combinations-do-not-work-on-macos-iterm2

Q: How do I make the option/alt key act like Meta or send escape codes?
A: For most users, Esc+ will be the best choice.
- iterm2.com/faq

goyalyashpal · 2023-07-23T22:02:42Z

hey helix team members! can you please add just this one feature?? i humbly request you to please consider this 😢

this is like the only thing stopping me from using helix - rest everything can be overlooked one time or the other; but this - switching mode - is as fundamentally repeating operation as any manual interaction in helix can get;

easing that operation would make a huuge difference

goyalyashpal · 2023-07-30T09:17:12Z

everything is a niche part-1:
Ctrl + [ doesn't function as Escape in helix 23.03 #6551 feat(editor): Allow Ctrl-[ to function as Escape #7519
lol, seems same as Bram Moolenaar with vim

pascalkuthe · 2024-04-03T20:24:42Z

you can map this if you want but we are not going to change the default mapping

goyalyashpal changed the title ~~alt shift to function as escape similar to neovim~~ alt modifier to function as a modifier to escape edit mode similar to neovim Aug 21, 2022

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goyalyashpal closed this as completed Oct 22, 2022

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goyalyashpal changed the title ~~alt modifier to function as a modifier to escape edit mode similar to neovim~~ Provide "Meta character" support for the two-character sequences starting with ESC like Nvim/emacs Dec 6, 2022

goyalyashpal changed the title ~~Provide "Meta character" support for the two-character sequences starting with ESC like Nvim/emacs~~ Support Alt key-chords to act like ESC (ref: Neovim/Emacs) Dec 27, 2022

goyalyashpal closed this as not planned Won't fix, can't repro, duplicate, stale Jan 21, 2023

goyalyashpal reopened this Jan 21, 2023

goyalyashpal changed the title ~~Support Alt key-chords to act like ESC (ref: Neovim/Emacs)~~ Support Alt+<key> to act as ESC <key> (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) Jan 23, 2023

goyalyashpal mentioned this issue Feb 2, 2023

"Normal" mod key in insert mode #1064

Closed

pascalkuthe closed this as not planned Won't fix, can't repro, duplicate, stale Apr 3, 2024

helix-editor locked as resolved and limited conversation to collaborators Apr 3, 2024

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Support `Alt+<key>` to act as `ESC <key>` (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

Support `Alt+<key>` to act as `ESC <key>` (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

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Support Alt+<key> to act as ESC <key> (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

Support Alt+<key> to act as ESC <key> (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

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goyalyashpal commented Jul 23, 2022 • edited Loading

Details

Reference:

Title and Summaries:

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Support `Alt+<key>` to act as `ESC <key>` (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

Support `Alt+<key>` to act as `ESC <key>` (ref: Emacs/Neovim/Iterm2) #3162

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