Common tmux scrolling solutions are not working

Question

I have the following in my .tmux.conf file:

set -g mode-mouse on
set-window-option -g mode-mouse copy-mode
set -g terminal-overrides 'xterm*:smcup@:rmcup@'

In all running sessions, I used C-b :source-file to source this file, and also tried detaching and re-attaching, as well as killing sessions and just launching new ones.

Regardless, at my xterm terminal prompt within an attached session, scrolling with the mouse wheel produces things like this:

user@host ~ $ `H)`H)aH)aH)

and scrolling does not occur.

I am using Ubuntu 12.04. I am using MobaXterm to access a terminal from a Windows machine (this unfortunately cannot be changed). I am using tmux version 1.6.

I've already looked at the following links for solutions to this problem, and none were able to offer any help or clarifying remarks.

• < https://blogs.oracle.com/samf/entry/smcup_rmcup_hate >

• < How do I scroll in tmux? >

• < https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7798103/how-to-enable-scrolling-in-tmux-panels-with-mouse-wheel >

• < https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15411543/how-to-fix-scroll-bug-in-tmux >

Answer 1

I struggled with this problem for a long time as well. Most of the tips I read online didn't help, until I used this.

Put this in .tmux.conf:

set -g terminal-overrides 'xterm*:smcup@:rmcup@'

Answer 2

Hate to revive an old question, but in case anyone else is wondering in the future.

http://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/download-home-edition.html

Version 8.2 (2015-09-12) Improvement: you can now scroll in Tmux using Shift+MouseWheel if you have the "set-window-option -g mode-mouse on" feature enabled in your ".tmux.conf" file.

Answer 3

The default scrollback mode is copy-mode, which is activated by ctrl-b [ by default. After typing that you can page up and page down and use arrow keys to scroll back.

I don't have any experience trying to make the mouse do it. But the copy-mode stuff does work, I use it all the time.

The tricky bit is when you leave yourself in copy mode and don't realize it. You can hit q to exit it. I've started cursing at my non-responsive window more than once, only to realize I left tmux in copy mode.