Technical Tip: How to insert special symbol '?' in the FortiOS CLI

Description

This article describes how to insert the special symbol '?' in the CLI as part of the input. In the FortiOS CLI, '?' is usually used to open the help menu, but under certain circumstances it can be used as part of the input, for example, to configure a redirect URL containing a '?' in a firewall policy.

Scope

FortiGate.

Solution

To use the special symbol '?' as part of the input in the CLI, press 'CTRL+V' or 'Ctrl + Shift + -' on the keyboard first, then press '?'.

This is how to configure a redirect firewall policy to use a URL with a '?':

config firewall policy
    edit 1   
        set name "test"
        set uuid 9454cdf2-4923-51e8-336f-123d6b6ab6b5
        set srcintf "port2"
        set dstintf "port1"
        set srcaddr "all"
        set dstaddr "all"
        set action accept
        set schedule "always"
        set service "ALL"
        set logtraffic all
        set groups "Local"
        set nat enable
        set redirect-url "http://abc.com/test?=123"
    next
end

Note that copying and pasting the entire redirect-url will not work, it is absolutely necessary to input 'CTRL+V' or 'Ctrl + Shift + -' first before using the '?' symbol.