Terminal autocomplete doesn't work properly
bash-completion
is a set of bash scripts which enables customized completion for specific commands.
This is not just for files and directories, but also e.g. for the commands. So you type partial of commands and by hitting Tab we get a auto completion of commands.
Installation
Step 1: Install bash-completion
$ sudo apt-get install bash-completion
And some times it works if we re-installed it by the follwing command:
$ sudo apt-get install --reinstall bash-completion
Step 2: Enable bash-completion in your .bashrc
file
Open your gedit ~/.bashrc
and if these content doesn't exist there, add them at the end of it and save it.
# enable bash completion in interactive shells
if ! shopt -oq posix; then
if [ -f /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion ]; then
. /usr/share/bash-completion/bash_completion
elif [ -f /etc/bash_completion ]; then
. /etc/bash_completion
fi
fi
Important: After changing the file you need to source your ~/.bashrc
with source ~/.bashrc
or reopen your Terminal. It should be fixed now.
If your case is terminal tab not working under Xfce, the solution is as follows:
- Open Application Menu > Settings > Window Manager.
- Click on 'Keyboard' tab.
- Clear the 'Switch window for same application' setting.
I've found the solution here.
You may also be in a shell that doesn't support auto complete (ex: Bourne Shell | SH). If you want BASH auto complete you need to switch shells, say to BASH (Bourne Again SHell) instead with the command
chsh -s /bin/bash
Source: Ubuntu Wiki - Changing Shells