How to combine shortcuts effectively?

Combining shortcuts in top is a great way to customize your view and find specific information quickly. While you usually press keys one after another (not simultaneously), you can "stack" their effects to create a custom dashboard.

Here is how to combine them effectively:

1. Toggle & Sort (The Most Common Combo)

If you want to focus strictly on memory without the "noise" of the header:

• Press m (lowercase): To simplify the memory summary lines at the top.
• Press M (Shift + m): To sort the process list by Memory.
• Result: A clean view focused entirely on RAM usage.

2. Highlight & Sort

To make it easier to see what is happening:

• Press z: To turn on color (usually makes the header or active processes stand out).
• Press b: To bold/highlight the running processes or the active sort column.
• Press x: To highlight the entire column currently being used for sorting.
• Result: If you press M, the Memory column will be highlighted, making it very easy to track.

3. Filter & Sort (For Power Users)

If you are looking for a specific user's memory-heavy tasks:

• Press u: Then type the username (e.g., labex) and hit Enter.
• Press M: To sort that specific user's processes by memory.
• Result: You see only labex's processes, ranked by memory usage.

4. Adjust Refresh Speed

• Press d or s: Change the update interval (e.g., type 1 for 1-second updates).
• Result: Combine this with a sort (like P for CPU) to see rapid spikes in system activity.

Summary of "Action" Keys

Try this combo now: Run top, then press z, then x, then M. You will see a colorful, highlighted view of your system's memory usage!

To go back to normal at any time, you can press z again or just q to exit.