Less version 709

Version 709 was released for beta testing on 20 Aug 2026.

These are the differences between version 704 and version 709:

• Add || command.
• In | and || commands, ^N allows entering line number instead of mark letter.
• Add "ESC-]" / "ESC-RIGHTARROW" (right-limit-scroll) command (github #783).
• In lesskey files, add \k^x syntax for control chars and \k+x syntax for shifted chars.
• Underline OSC 8 links in text.
• Add -DO for custom coloring of OSC 8 links.
• Add LESSMSG, which allows translation of messages into other languages.
• Add LESSSECURE_DISALLOW.
• Add LESS_SHELL_COPTION.
• Add %G, %y, and %% in prompt strings.
• Add lesskey support for shift-uparrow, shift-downarrow, shift-pageup, shift-pagedown, ctl-uparrow, ctl-downarrow, ctl-pageup, ctl-pagedown, shift-delete.
• Change "make check" to use nonstandard object and binary file names, to avoid accidentally installing test binaries (github #791).
• Fix issues on systems with volatile getenv return values.
• Improve error handling for malformed binary lesskey file.
• Improve messaging when using __mouse after --emouse (github #808).
• Remove support for obsolete pre-241 lesskey binary format.
• Remove obsolete lesskey program.
• Move lesskey man page to section 5.
• Update display when resize window while in F mode on Windows.
• Fix missing "END" message at end of &-filtered output (github #774).
• Fix missing bell with G command at end of &-filtered output (github #774).
• Don't reset signal handlers in a subprocess on Windows.
• Fix ' command to not modify the mark when given a numeric argument (github #799).
• Fix erroneous message from --rscroll command when rscroll char is non-ASCII.
• Fix unexpected exit when TERM is invalid (github #809).
• Fix possible crash when use ":e #" after ":d" (github #810).
• Fix infinite loop if invalid option letter in LESS_UNSUPPORT.
• Fix crash if run !! command with no previous ! command (github #812).
• Fix inability to run a shell command starting with "!" character.
• Fix bugs using ^S search modifier (github #814).
• Fix display bugs when a status message contains non-ASCII chars or is displayed on a very narrow screen (github #816).
• Fix bug defining command which has a built-in command as a prefix (github #795).