vi ~/.bashrc
alias nano='nano -S -c -u' # -S = smooth scroll , -c = line number, -u = undo
-S (--smooth) -B (--backup) -m (--mouse) (but can cause problems with copy pasting in putty portable) -c (--const) (always shows the line number and column of the cursor) -u (--undo) (meta u for undo, meta e for redo)
ctl + k = cut a line # multiple cuts in a row will all be added to the buffer ctl + u = paste a line # can also paste a block of ctl+k lines from the buffer together
ctl + o = save current changes ctl + x = exit # prompted to save or discard
ctl + c to cancel the above
ctl + w = find a string
alt + w = find again
ctrl + v = page down (argh confused with paste) ctrl + y = page up ctrl + space = forward a word
alt + / = last line of the file alt + \ = first line of the file
meta = esc or alt
meta + space = back a word
meta + u = undo meta + e = redo
CUSTOMIZE SYNTAX HIGHLIGHT COLORS sudo su cd /usr/share/nano/nanorc
If sensibly using a light background and dark font...
sed 's/yellow/blue/g' -i .nanorc sed 's/white/green/g' -i .nanorc
http://www.nano-editor.org/