<blockquote><p>To use multiple file buffers, you must not have configured nano with <b>--disable-multibuffer</b> nor with <b>--enable-tiny</b> (use <b>nano -V</b> to check the compilation options). Then when you want to insert a file into its own buffer instead of into the current file, just hit <b>Meta-F</b> after typing <b>^R</b>. If you always want files to be loaded into their own buffers, use the <b>--multibuffer</b> or <b>-F</b> flag when you invoke nano.</p>
<p>You can move between the buffers you have open with the <b>Meta-<</b> and <b>Meta-></b> keys, or more easily without holding Shift: <b>Meta-,</b> and <b>Meta-.</b> (clear as mud, right? =-). When you have more than one file buffer open, the ^X shortcut will say "Close", instead of the normal "Exit" when only one buffer is open.</p></blockquote>
<h2><aname="3.8"></a>3.8. Tell me more about this verbatim input stuff!</h2>
<blockquote><p>When you want to insert a literal character into the file you're editing, such as a control character that nano usually treats as a command, first press <b>Meta-V</b> (if you're not at a prompt, you'll get the message "Verbatim Input" on the statusbar), then press the key(s) that generate the character you want.</p>
<blockquote><p>When you want to insert a literal character into the file you're editing, such as a control character that nano usually treats as a command, first press <b>Meta-V</b> (if you're not at a prompt, you'll get the message "Verbatim Input" on the statusbar), then press the key(s) that generate the character you want.</p>
<p>Alternatively, if you've enabled Unicode support (see section <ahref="#5.3">5.3</a>), you can press <b>Meta-V</b> and then type a six-digit hexadecimal code (from 000000 to 10FFFF, case-insensitive), and the character with the corresponding value will be inserted. The statubar will change to "Unicode Input: ......" when you do this.</p></blockquote>
<h2><aname="3.9a"></a>3.9a. How do I make a .nanorc file that will be read when I start nano?</h2>
<blockquote><p>It's not hard at all! But, your nano must <b>not</b> have been compiled with <b>--disable-nanorc</b>. Then simply copy the <b>sample.nanorc</b> that came with the nano source or your nano package (most likely in /usr/doc/nano) to .nanorc in your home directory. If you didn't get one, the syntax of the file is simple. Flags are turned on and off by using the words <b>set</b> and <b>unset</b> plus the long option name for the feature. For example, "set nowrap" or "set smarthome".</p></blockquote>