<< Command

Shifts to the left a designated block of text.

Category:

Text editing, line command

Syntax

Details

Comparisons

Syntax

<< <n>

block-of-text

<< <n>

Without Arguments

The << command shifts a designated block of lines of text one space to the left.

Optional Argument

n: specifies the number of spaces that the designated block of lines of text shifts. Follow the n argument with a space. You can specify the numeric argument in the beginning or ending line of the block command, or in both. If it is specified in both, the first numeric argument is used.

Details

The << command shifts a designated block of lines of text one or more spaces to the left. The block of lines of text shifts the number of spaces that you specify with the n argument, or the block shifts at the left window border, whichever is less. This text-shift command does not lose characters when shifting.

Comparisons

The > and >> commands shift text in the opposite direction from the < and << commands. The ), )), (, and (( commands are similar text-shift commands, which, depending on the extent of the shift, can lose characters.