Frequently Used Keys

• Install on CentOS: yum install sreen

• Show help: screen -h and C-a ?

• Start a new session: screen -S <session-name> (if a [screen is terminating] error raise, use screen instead)

• Create a new window: C-a c

• Switch between windows: C-a # where # is the window number

• Detach from a session: C-a d

• Reattach to an existing session: screen -r <session-name>

• List all sessions: screen -ls

• Reattach to a detached session: screen -r [session-name]

• Switch between windows: C-a C-a

Copy Mode

Open copy mode: C-a [.

In copy mode, press Space to mark starting point. Move the cursor (using vi key bindings) to the end point. Press Space again to copy selected texts. C-a ] to paste texts.

Scroll up/down: in copy mode, C-u/d or C-b/f

Ref: Copy and Paste

Customize Status Line

Add the following lines into ~/.screenrc:

cat ~/.screenrc
startup_message off
hardstatus alwayslastline
hardstatus string "%{= KW} [%1`] %{= Kw}|%{-} %-Lw%{= bW}%n%f %t%{-}%+Lw"
backtick 1 30 30 sh -c 'screen -ls | grep --color=no -o "$PPID[^[:space:]]*"'

Change default escape Ctrl-a

To change Ctrl-a to Alt-q, add the following lines into ~/.screenrc:

escape ^||
bindkey "^[q" command

Ref:

Understanding GNU Screen’s hardstatus strings