in alternate-display mode, simply decrease the size of the task display(s) above it.
SORTING of task window
For compatibility, this top supports most of the former top sort keys. Since this is primarily a service to former top users, these commands do not appear on any help screen.
command sorted‐field supported
A start time (non‐display) No
M %MEM Yes
N PID Yes
P %CPU Yes
T TIME+ Yes
Before using any of the following sort provisions, top suggests that you temporarily turn on column highlighting using the ‘x’ interactive command. That will help ensure that the actual sort environment matches
your intent.
The following interactive commands will only be honored when the current sort field is visible. The sort field might not be visible because:
1) there is insufficient Screen Width
2) the ‘f’ interactive command turned it Off
< :Move‐Sort‐Field‐Left
Moves the sort column to the left unless the current sort field is the first field being displayed.
> :Move‐Sort‐Field‐Right
Moves the sort column to the right unless the current sort field is the last field being displayed.
The following interactive commands will always be honored whether or not the current sort field is visible.
f :Fields‐Management
This key displays a separate screen where you can change which field is used as the sort column, among other functions. This can be a convenient way to simply verify the current sort field, when running top
with column highlighting turned Off.
R :Reverse/Normal‐Sort‐Field toggle
Using this interactive command you can alternate between high‐to‐low and low‐to‐high sorts.
4d. COLOR Mapping
When you issue the ‘Z’ interactive command, you will be presented with a separate screen. That screen can be used to change the colors in just the ‘current’ window or in all four windows before returning to the top
display.
The following interactive commands are available.
4 upper case letters to select a target
8 numbers to select a color
normal toggles available
B :bold disable/enable
b :running tasks "bold"/reverse
z :color/mono
other commands available
a/w :apply, then go to next/prior
<Enter> :apply and exit
q :abandon current changes and exit
If you use ‘a’ or ‘w’ to cycle the targeted window, you will have applied the color scheme that was displayed when you left that window. You can, of course, easily return to any window and reapply different colors or
turn colors Off completely with the ‘z’ toggle.
The Color Mapping screen can also be used to change the ‘current’ window/field group in either full-screen mode or alternate-display mode. Whatever was targeted when ‘q’ or <Enter> was pressed will be made current as
you return to the top display.
5. ALTERNATE-DISPLAY Provisions
5a. WINDOWS Overview
Field Groups/Windows:
In full-screen mode there is a single window represented by the entire screen. That single window can still be changed to display 1 of 4 different field groups (see the ‘g’ interactive command, repeated below).
Each of the 4 field groups has a unique separately configurable summary area and its own configurable task area.
In alternate-display mode, those 4 underlying field groups can now be made visible simultaneously, or can be turned Off individually at your command.