How to use the command 'pluma' (with examples)

Pluma is a command that allows users to edit files in the MATE desktop environment. It is a versatile text editor that supports various features such as syntax highlighting and multiple encodings. This article will illustrate several use cases of the ‘pluma’ command with examples.

Use case 1: Start the editor

Code:

pluma

Motivation: Starting the pluma editor without any arguments will open an empty, untitled document. This use case is useful when you want to quickly start editing a new file.

Explanation:

• pluma - This command starts the pluma editor.

Example output: The pluma editor will open with an empty, untitled document.

Use case 2: Open specific documents

Code:

pluma path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...

Motivation: Opening specific documents directly from the command line can save time when you know the exact file paths. This use case eliminates the need to navigate through the file browser to find and open each file.

Explanation:

• pluma - This command starts the pluma editor.
• path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ... - These are the file paths of the documents you want to open. Replace them with the actual file paths.

Example output: The pluma editor will open with the specified documents loaded for editing.

Use case 3: Open documents using a specific encoding

Code:

pluma --encoding WINDOWS-1252 path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...

Motivation: If your documents are encoded in a specific character encoding, you can use this use case to ensure they are displayed and edited correctly. Different encodings may be required for compatibility with certain software or systems.

Explanation:

• pluma - This command starts the pluma editor.
• --encoding WINDOWS-1252 - This argument specifies the character encoding to use. Replace WINDOWS-1252 with the desired encoding.
• path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ... - These are the file paths of the documents you want to open. Replace them with the actual file paths.

Example output: The pluma editor will open with the specified documents loaded and displayed using the specified character encoding.

Use case 4: Print all supported encodings

Code:

pluma --list-encodings

Motivation: Sometimes you may need to view a list of all the supported character encodings in the pluma editor. This use case allows you to quickly access the available options.

Explanation:

• pluma - This command starts the pluma editor.
• --list-encodings - This argument displays a list of all the supported character encodings.

Example output: The pluma editor will print a list of all the supported character encodings to the terminal.

Use case 5: Open document and go to a specific line

Code:

pluma +10 path/to/file

Motivation: When working with large documents, it can be time-consuming to scroll or search for a specific line. This use case allows you to directly open a document and jump to a specific line.

Explanation:

• pluma - This command starts the pluma editor.
• +10 - This argument indicates the line number to go to. Replace 10 with the desired line number.
• path/to/file - This is the file path of the document you want to open. Replace it with the actual file path.

Example output: The pluma editor will open with the specified document loaded, and the cursor will be placed at the specified line number.

Conclusion:

The ‘pluma’ command provides a range of options for editing files in the MATE desktop environment. Whether you want to start a new document, open specific files, set character encodings, view supported encodings, or navigate to specific lines, pluma offers the necessary functionality. By leveraging the examples provided, you can optimize your workflow and efficiently edit files in the MATE desktop environment.