In IPython how do I create aliases for %magics?

Question

Let's say I want to create the alias %xed for %edit -x. How would I do it?

Answer 1

Update: The first response( below) does not accept parameters. So put this snippet at the end of the ipy_user_conf.py file ( it is in your home directory ).

def ed_xed(self,arg):
    ip = self.api
    return ip.magic.im_class.magic_edit(ip.IP," -x %s "%arg)

ip.expose_magic('xed',ed_xed)

Before update: Does it has to be %magic? You can use the macro and store magic to reproduce this behavior without the magic %.

In [5]: %edit -x
In [6]: macro xed 5
In [7]: store xed
In [8]: xed

for magic alias from the documentation ( %magic? ):

You can also define your own aliased names for magic functions. In your ipythonrc file, placing a line like:

execute IPYTHON.magic_pf = IPYTHON.magic_profile

will define %pf as a new name for %profile.

But I don't know how too add the parameter.

Answer 2

The answer given above uses the old magic system. get_ipython().expose_magic is dead. You now just import and use decorators for all this.

See here for more details.