How to configure htop to display the complete command line?

Question

It there a way to display the complete command line in htop (e.g. in multiple lines or with a moving banner). With the default setting where only one line is displayed it isn't possible to distungish all processes, e.g. different java programs (because class or jar argument follows a bunch of arguments) or programs with long absolute path of binaries.

Omitting the full absolute path in favour of only the binary would be a compromise where distinction would not be optimal, but better in some cases.

I checked out the settings and the manpage and didn't find an option suitable in my understanding.

Something like this `for p in $(pidof java); do echo $p:; cat /proc/$p/cmdline| xargs -0 echo; done |less` to inspect pids commandline? — Alex, Oct 02 '14 at 19:59

jofel · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-30T12:11:33.947

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As far as I know, the only way to show the full command line is to scroll right with the arrow keys or to use a terminal with a small font.

EDIT (thanks to @LangeHaare): You can use Ctrl-A and Ctrl-E to jump to the beginning and end the command line.

edited Nov 30 '17 at 12:11

answered Oct 02 '14 at 11:27

jofel

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Do you know whether there's a way to jump to the end and back to the beginning of the command line? Dealing with `java` command lines containing the complete classpath can lead up to > 2000 signs easily... – Kalle Richter Oct 02 '14 at 11:32
@Karl To the right end? or down end? – tachomi Oct 02 '14 at 13:37
@tachomi The right end (and left end, i.e. the view right after start) – Kalle Richter Oct 02 '14 at 15:04
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@KarlRichter you can use CTRL+A and CTRL+E to go to start and end of the scrolling – LangeHaare Nov 20 '17 at 17:11
There is a feature request but it has been refused: https://github.com/hishamhm/htop/issues/233 – Ortomala Lokni Mar 21 '19 at 16:20

score 9 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 30 '21 at 09:47

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Just press the w key.

From the help available with F1:

w: wrap process command in multiple lines

edited Dec 30 '21 at 09:47

Stephen Kitt

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answered Dec 29 '21 at 05:03

danykey

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This should be the accepted answer--at least as of 2021. – mellow-yellow May 31 '22 at 15:29
cool tips, only works with more recent version of htop (ubuntu 20.04's repo version not included) – n0tis Jul 06 '23 at 11:25

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 09 '19 at 00:01

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ctrl+f and use arrow key to move left and right.

answered Apr 09 '19 at 00:01

rosepark222

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How to configure htop to display the complete command line?

3 Answers3