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I've set PS1 to the following value:

PS1="\033[0;37m[\033[1;33m\w\033[0;37m]\n\t \[[34m\]\u\033[0;37m@\[[34m\]\[[1m\]\h\[(B[m\] $"

The problem is that any command spanning more than a line loops around and don't generate a new line. So I overwrite the line that I already have typed. What is wrong with the PS1?

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that's not even a valid command, bash waiting for more input – yi_H Jul 17 '11 at 10:59

migrated from stackoverflow.com Jul 17 '11 at 12:03

1 Answer

up vote 5 down vote accepted

Non-printing characters in the prompt need to be surrounded by \[ and \] so that bash can properly track the length of the prompt and accommodate lines that go beyond the edge of the terminal.

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SO I should add before and after which parts of the line? – Runar Jul 17 '11 at 20:52
You add it before and after the parts that don't print, as many times as required. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Jul 17 '11 at 20:53
But the line do print, but when i type in a long command it loops. – Runar Jul 17 '11 at 20:54
CHARACTERS. Try again. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Jul 17 '11 at 20:55
Thanks a lot! It works now :) PS1="\033[0;37m[\033[1;33m\[\w\]\033[0;37m]\[\n\]\[\t\] \[${tRandColor}\]\[\u\]\033[0;37m@\[${tRandColor}\]\[${tBold}\]\[\h\]\[${tReset}‌​\] \$ – Runar Jul 18 '11 at 5:57

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