Colored Prompt in KornShell

colorskshprompt

According to this StackOverflow post, it is possible have a colored prompt in KornShell. I have not been able to figure out how to do this. I am able to use color:

echo -e "\033[34mLinux\033[00m"

gives a blue "Linux" output, as does:

printf "\033[34mLinux\033[00m"

However, when I incorporate the escape codes into my PS1 prompt variable, they are not being escaped. What do I need to do to get a colored prompt? Besides being something of a sucker for eyecandy, I find that a colored prompt is useful when visually parsing output.

Best Answer

Just use a literal Esc character, entered with Ctrl-v,Esc (will be displayed as ^[ on the screen):

PS1="^[[34mLinux^[[00m"

Or use the output of the echo command you find out is working:

PS1="$(echo -e "\033[35mLinux\033[00m")"

Related Solutions

Multiline PS1 prompt

Just put an embedded newline inside the string:

PS1='$(echo $?): $PWD
>> '

Bash – Colored text set up with PS1 and colored output from commands mess each other up

The reason is because you're doing it wrong.

You said that you have an "open" color sequence at the end of your prompt. This is wrong. Colors do not nest. There's no "open" and "close". It's "switch to ..." or "reset to default" (which is actually "switch to 0"). So when ls --color=auto switches color for something when it's done it will issue the sequence to reset to the default. It's not "go back to what it was before".

Set the terminal to use the color of text that you want to be "default" (i.e., palette number 0). Then if you want your prompt a different color set it at the beginning and a reset at the end.

For more information read the Bash Prompt HOWTO Chapter 6. ANSI Escape Sequences: Colours and Cursor Movement documentation.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Multiline PS1 prompt

Bash – Colored text set up with PS1 and colored output from commands mess each other up

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