Features requiring only parameter changes

Several aspects of a cmd2 application’s behavior can be controlled simply by setting attributes of App. A parameter can also be changed at runtime by the user if its name is included in the dictionary app.settable. (To define your own user-settable parameters, see parameters)

Case-insensitivity

By default, all cmd2 command names are case-insensitive; sing the blues and SiNg the blues are equivalent. To change this, set App.case_insensitive to False.

Whether or not you set case_insensitive, please do not define command method names with any uppercase letters. cmd2 will probably do something evil if you do.

Shortcuts

Special-character shortcuts for common commands can make life more convenient for your users. Shortcuts are used without a space separating them from their arguments, like !ls. By default, the following shortcuts are defined:

?

help

!

shell: run as OS-level command

@

load script file

@@

load script file; filename is relative to current script location

To define more shortcuts, update the dict App.shortcuts with the {‘shortcut’: ‘command_name’} (omit do_):

class App(Cmd2):
    Cmd2.shortcuts.update({'*': 'sneeze', '~': 'squirm'})

Default to shell

Every cmd2 application can execute operating-system level (shell) commands with shell or a ! shortcut:

(Cmd) shell which python
/usr/bin/python
(Cmd) !which python
/usr/bin/python

However, if the parameter default_to_shell is True, then every command will be attempted on the operating system. Only if that attempt fails (i.e., produces a nonzero return value) will the application’s own default method be called.

(Cmd) which python
/usr/bin/python
(Cmd) my dog has fleas
sh: my: not found
*** Unknown syntax: my dog has fleas

Timing

Setting App.timing to True outputs timing data after every application command is executed. The user can set this parameter during application execution. (See parameters)

Echo

If True, each command the user issues will be repeated to the screen before it is executed. This is particularly useful when running scripts.

Debug

Setting App.debug to True will produce detailed error stacks whenever the application generates an error. The user can set this parameter during application execution. (See parameters)

Other user-settable parameters

A list of all user-settable parameters, with brief comments, is viewable from within a running application with:

(Cmd) set --long
abbrev: True                   # Accept abbreviated commands
case_insensitive: True         # upper- and lower-case both OK
colors: True                   # Colorized output (*nix only)
continuation_prompt: >         # On 2nd+ line of input
debug: False                   # Show full error stack on error
default_file_name: command.txt # for ``save``, ``load``, etc.
echo: False                    # Echo command issued into output
editor: gedit                  # Program used by ``edit``
feedback_to_output: False      # include nonessentials in `|`, `>` results
prompt: (Cmd)                  #
quiet: False                   # Don't print nonessential feedback
timing: False                  # Report execution times