script

SCRIPT(1)                 BSD General Commands Manual                SCRIPT(1)

NAME
     script - make typescript of terminal session

SYNOPSIS
     script [-a] [-f] [-q] [-t] [file]

DESCRIPTION
     Script makes a typescript of everything printed on your terminal.  It is
     useful for students who need a hardcopy record of an interactive session
     as proof of an assignment, as the typescript file can be printed out
     later with lpr(1).

     If the argument file is given, script saves all dialogue in file.  If no
     file name is given, the typescript is saved in the file typescript.

     Options:

     -a      Append the output to file or typescript, retaining the prior con-
             tents.

     -f      Flush output after each write. This is nice for telecooperation:
             One person does `mkfifo foo; script -f foo' and another can
             supervise real-time what is being done using `cat foo'.

     -q      Be quiet.

     -t      Output timeing data to standard error. This data contains two
             fields, separated by a space. The first field indicates how much
             time elapsed since the previous output. The second field indi-
             cates how many characters were output this time. This information
             can be used to replay typescripts with realistic typing and out-
             put delays.

     The script ends when the forked shell exits (a control-D to exit the
     Bourne shell (sh(1)), and exit, logout or control-d (if ignoreeof is not
     set) for the C-shell, csh(1)).

     Certain interactive commands, such as vi(1), create garbage in the type-
     script file.  Script works best with commands that do not manipulate the
     screen, the results are meant to emulate a hardcopy terminal.

ENVIRONMENT
     The following environment variable is utilized by script:

     SHELL  If the variable SHELL exists, the shell forked by script will be
            that shell. If SHELL is not set, the Bourne shell is assumed.
            (Most shells set this variable automatically).

SEE ALSO
     csh(1) (for the history mechanism), replay(1).

HISTORY
     The script command appeared in 3.0BSD.

BUGS
     Script places everything in the log file, including linefeeds and
     backspaces.  This is not what the naive user expects.

Linux                            July 30, 2000                           Linux