Use ^B as the Leader key

README.md

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ It runs on Linux, OS X, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin, Linux subsystem for Windows and Te
 - [Usage](#usage)
   - [Cmdline options](#cmdline-options)
   - [Keyboard shortcuts](#keyboard-shortcuts)
-  - [Key prompt](#key-prompt)
+  - [Leader key](#leader-key)
   - [Contexts](#contexts)
   - [Filters](#filters)
   - [Navigate-as-you-type mode](#navigate-as-you-type-mode)
@@ -84,7 +84,8 @@ It runs on Linux, OS X, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin, Linux subsystem for Windows and Te
   - Familiar, easy shortcuts (arrows, `~`, `-`, `&`)
   - *Navigate-as-you-type* with auto-select directory
   - Contexts (_aka_ tabs _aka_ workspaces)
-  - Bookmarks, pin and visit directory
+  - Bookmarks
+  - Pin and visit a directory
 - Sorting
   - Directories always listed on top
   - Sort by file name, modification time, size
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ It runs on Linux, OS X, Raspberry Pi, Cygwin, Linux subsystem for Windows and Te
   - Select multiple files; copy, move, delete selection
   - Batch rename/move/delete (needs vidir)
   - Show directories in custom color (default: blue)
-  - Spawn SHELL in the current directory
+  - Spawn a subshell in the current directory
   - Run custom scripts in the current directory
   - Change directory at exit (*easy* shell integration)
   - Edit file in EDITOR or open in PAGER
@@ -217,8 +218,8 @@ Press <kbd>?</kbd> in `nnn` to see the list anytime.
     →, ↵, l, ^M  Open file/enter dir   .  Toggle show hidden
               /  Filter          Ins, ^I  Toggle nav-as-you-type
               b  Pin current dir      ^V  Go to pinned dir
-             ^B  Key prompt           ^L  Redraw, clear prompt
+             ^B  Leader key      LeaderN  Switch to context N
-            Esc  Exit prompt         ^Bn  Switch to context n
+            Esc  Exit prompt          ^L  Redraw, clear prompt
              ^G  Quit and cd           q  Quit context
           Q, ^Q  Quit                  ?  Help, settings
  FILES
@@ -242,9 +243,9 @@ Press <kbd>?</kbd> in `nnn` to see the list anytime.
 
 Help & settings, file details, media info and archive listing are shown in the PAGER. Please use the PAGER-specific keys in these screens.
 
-#### Key prompt
+#### Leader key
 
-The key prompt, invoked by <kbd>^B</kbd>, provides a powerful multi-functional navigation mechanism. It is case-sensitive and understands contexts, bookmarks and handy location shortcuts.
+The Leader key <kbd>^B</kbd> provides a powerful multi-functional navigation mechanism. It is case-sensitive and understands contexts, bookmarks and handy location shortcuts.
 
 | Key | Function |
 |:---:| --- |
@@ -257,8 +258,6 @@ The key prompt, invoked by <kbd>^B</kbd>, provides a powerful multi-functional n
 | <kbd>&</kbd> | Go to start directory |
 | <kbd>q</kbd> | Quit context |
 
-If all the configured bookmark keys are single character, the prompt is not shown and <kbd>Enter</kbd> is not required; just press <kbd>^B</kbd> followed by the key (like the vim Leader key).
-
 #### Contexts
 
 Contexts serve the purpose of exploring multiple directories simultaneously. 4 contexts are available. The status of the contexts are shown in the top left corner:
@@ -349,9 +348,11 @@ To lookup keyboard shortcuts at runtime, press <kbd>?</kbd>.
 
 #### add bookmarks
 
-Set environment variable `NNN_BMS` as a string of `key:location` pairs (max 10) separated by semicolons (`;`):
+Set environment variable `NNN_BMS` as a string of `key_char:location` pairs (max 10) separated by semicolons (`;`):
 
-    export NNN_BMS='doc:~/Documents;u:/home/user/Cam Uploads;D:~/Downloads/'
+    export NNN_BMS='d:~/Documents;u:/home/user/Cam Uploads;D:~/Downloads/'
+
+NOTE: Bookmark keys should be single-character to use them in combination with the Leader key.
 
 #### copy file paths
 

nnn.1

@@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ Pin current directory
 .It Ic ^V
 Visit pinned directory
 .It Ic ^B
-Show key prompt (recognizes bookmark keys, ~, -, & and context IDs)
+Leader key
-.It Ic ^L
+.It Ic LeaderN
-Force a redraw, clear prompt
+Switch to context N
 .It Ic Esc
 Exit prompt
-.It Ic ^Bn
+.It Ic ^L
-Switch to context n
+Force a redraw, clear prompt
 .It Ic q
 Quit the current context
 .It Ic ^G
@@ -261,10 +261,12 @@ To list the file paths copied to memory press \fIy\fR.
 The SHELL, EDITOR (VISUAL, if defined) and PAGER environment variables take precedence
 when dealing with the !, e and p commands respectively.
 .Pp
-\fBNNN_BMS:\fR bookmark string as \fIkey:location\fR pairs (max 10) separated by
+\fBNNN_BMS:\fR bookmark string as \fIkey_char:location\fR pairs (max 10) separated by
 \fI;\fR:
 .Bd -literal
-    export NNN_BMS='doc:~/Documents;u:/home/user/Cam Uploads;D:~/Downloads/'
+    export NNN_BMS='d:~/Documents;u:/home/user/Cam Uploads;D:~/Downloads/'
+
+    NOTE: Bookmark keys should be single-character to use them in combination with the Leader key.
 .Ed
 .Pp
 \fBNNN_USE_EDITOR:\fR use EDITOR (preferably CLI, fallback vi) to handle text
@@ -284,9 +286,9 @@ files.
     IFS=
     echo -n $1 | xsel --clipboard --input
     -------------------------------------
-.Ed
+
-.br
     If it's not set, by default file paths are copied to the tmp file \fBDIR/.nnncp\fR, where 'DIR' (by priority) is: \fI$HOME\fR or, \fI$TMPDIR\fR or, \fI/tmp\fR.
+.Ed
 .Pp
 \fBNNN_QUOTE_ON:\fR wrap copied paths within single quotes. Useful for pasting
 names in the shell. Note that the filename is not escaped. So copying may still fail

src/nnn.c

@@ -257,10 +257,9 @@ typedef struct {
 	uint quote      : 1;  /* Copy paths within quotes */
 	uint color      : 3;  /* Color code for directories */
 	uint ctxactive  : 1;  /* Context active or not */
-	uint reserved   : 12;
+	uint reserved   : 13;
 	/* The following settings are global */
 	uint curctx     : 2;  /* Current context number */
-	uint char_key   : 1;  /* All keys are single character long */
 } settings;
 
 /* Contexts or workspaces */
@@ -276,7 +275,7 @@ typedef struct {
 /* GLOBALS */
 
 /* Configuration, contexts */
-static settings cfg = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 4, 1, 0, 0, 1};
+static settings cfg = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 4, 1, 0, 0};
 static context g_ctx[MAX_CTX] __attribute__ ((aligned));
 
 static struct entry *dents;
@@ -1357,12 +1356,12 @@ static size_t mkpath(char *dir, char *name, char *out, size_t n)
 	return (xstrlcpy(out + len, name, n - len) + len);
 }
 
-static void parsebmstr()
+static int parsebmstr()
 {
 	int i = 0;
 	char *bms = getenv("NNN_BMS");
 	if (!bms)
-		return;
+		return 0;
 
 	while (*bms && i < BM_MAX) {
 		bookmark[i].key = bms;
@@ -1371,8 +1370,13 @@ static void parsebmstr()
 		while (*bms && *bms != ':') {
 			++bms;
 
-			if (cfg.char_key)
+			/*
-				cfg.char_key = 0;
+			 * Use single-char keys to use ^B like vim Leader key.
+			 * Fail here to ensure keys are single char.
+			 * To support multiple char keys remove the return
+			 * and add appropriate check to enable smart-detect.
+			 */
+			return -1;
 		}
 
 		if (!*bms) {
@@ -1399,6 +1403,8 @@ static void parsebmstr()
 		++bms;
 		++i;
 	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1970,8 +1976,8 @@ static int show_help(char *path)
    "4→, ↵, l, ^M  Open file/enter dir   .  Toggle show hidden\n"
              "e/  Filter          Ins, ^I  Toggle nav-as-you-type\n"
              "eb  Pin current dir      ^V  Go to pinned dir\n"
-            "d^B  Key prompt           ^L  Redraw, clear prompt\n"
+            "d^B  Leader key      LeaderN  Switch to context N\n"
-           "cEsc  Exit prompt         ^Bn  Switch to context n\n"
+           "cEsc  Exit prompt          ^L  Redraw, clear prompt\n"
             "d^G  Quit and cd           q  Quit context\n"
          "aQ, ^Q  Quit                  ?  Help, settings\n"
 "1FILES\n"
@@ -2711,8 +2717,8 @@ nochange:
 			DPRINTF_S(path);
 			setdirwatch();
 			goto begin;
-		case SEL_CDBM:
+		case SEL_LEADER:
-			tmp = xreadline(NULL, "key: ", cfg.char_key);
+			tmp = xreadline(NULL, "key: ", TRUE);
 			if (tmp == NULL || tmp[0] == '\0')
 				break;
 
@@ -3453,7 +3459,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 
 	/* Parse bookmarks string */
-	parsebmstr();
+	 if (parsebmstr() < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "ERROR parsing NNN_BMS: set single-char bookmark keys only\n");
+		exit(1);
+	 }
 
 	if (ipath) { /* Open a bookmark directly */
 		if (get_bm_loc(ipath, cwd) == NULL) {

src/nnn.h

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ enum action {
 	SEL_CDHOME,
 	SEL_CDBEGIN,
 	SEL_CDLAST,
-	SEL_CDBM,
+	SEL_LEADER,
 	SEL_PIN,
 	SEL_VISIT,
 	SEL_FLTR,
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ static struct key bindings[] = {
 	{ '&',            SEL_CDBEGIN,   "",     "" },
 	/* Last visited dir */
 	{ '-',            SEL_CDLAST,    "",     "" },
-	/* Change dir using bookmark */
+	/* Leader key */
-	{ CONTROL('B'),   SEL_CDBM,      "",     "" },
+	{ CONTROL('B'),   SEL_LEADER,    "",     "" },
 	/* Mark a path to visit later */
 	{ 'b',            SEL_PIN,       "",     "" },
 	/* Visit marked directory */