14.3 Command Character

Command: escape xy

(none)
Set the command character to x and the character generating a literal command character (by triggering the meta command) to y (similar to the `-e' option). Each argument is either a single character, a two-character sequence of the form `^x' (meaning C-x), a backslash followed by an octal number (specifying the ASCII code of the character), or a backslash followed by a second character, such as `\^' or `\\'. The default is `^Aa', but `"' is recommended by one of the authors.

Command: defescape xy

(none)
Set the default command characters. This is equivalent to the command escape except that it is useful for multiuser sessions only. In a multiuser session escape changes the command character of the calling user, where defescape changes the default command characters for users that will be added later.

Command: meta

(C-a a)
Send the command character (C-a) to the process in the current window. The keystroke for this command is the second parameter to the `-e' command line switch (see section 3. Invoking Screen), or the escape .screenrc directive.

Command: command [-c class]

(none)
This command has the same effect as typing the screen escape character (C-a). It is probably only useful for key bindings. If the `-c' option is given, select the specified command class. See section 14.1 The bind command, See section 14.5 Bindkey.