How to enable the scroll mode for tmux

tmux config file

you can copy https://github.com/crazyhottommy/getting-started-with-genomics-tools-and-resources/blob/master/scripts/.tmux.conf to your home directory.

it changed the key binding from control + b to control + a if you are familiar with the screen shortcuts.

control + a + c will create a new window. control + a + Space will move to previous window. control + a + n will move to next window.

control + a + ?

will show you all the shortcuts.

scroll mode

One problem with screen or tmux is that you have to press control + a + [ to enter the copy mode, and and control + a + ] to paste it. I want to just use the mouse to scroll up and down and copy/paste.

read this long thread github issue: https://github.com/tmux/tmux/issues/145 The solution that worked for me:

• download the Tmux Plugin Manager

git clone https://github.com/tmux-plugins/tpm ~/.tmux/plugins/tpm

Put this at the bottom of .tmux.conf:

# List of plugins
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tpm'
set -g @plugin 'tmux-plugins/tmux-sensible'

# Other examples:
# set -g @plugin 'github_username/plugin_name'
# set -g @plugin 'git@github.com/user/plugin'
# set -g @plugin 'git@bitbucket.com/user/plugin'

# Initialize TMUX plugin manager (keep this line at the very bottom of tmux.conf)
run '~/.tmux/plugins/tpm/tpm'

• Now install tmux-better-mouse-mode plugin.

open your .tmux.conf.

To enable mouse-mode in tmux 2.1+, put the following line in your ~/.tmux.conf:

set-option -g mouse on

then add the following line to your .tmux.conf file:

set -g @plugin 'nhdaly/tmux-better-mouse-mode'

• install it

# start a new session
tmux

# install plugin
`control + a + I (captial)` to install all the plugins.

Now if you scroll up with your mouse, you will enter into copy mode automatically, and when you scroll down to the end of the current screen, you will exit the copy mode automatically.

• copy and paste

If you scroll up and select the text you want to copy by left-click and drag, you will exit the copy mode instantly, and the content you selected will be copied in the buffer. You just need to control + a + ] to paste it. very cool!