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help/edit.hlp
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EDIT command
The EDIT command invokes your defined editor to modify a file.
NOTE
This manual assumes that you are using the EDIT
program to edit. See the Special Cases section below
for information relating to other editors.
Format
@EDIT (FILE) /switch(es) input filespec (OUTPUT AS) output filespec
where:
switches are keywords, chosen from the list below,
indicating your choice of EDIT command
options.
Defaults are shown in the list of
switches
input filespec is the specification of the file you want to
edit.
Default - last file specification and
associated switches you gave
in a CREATE or EDIT command
during the current terminal
session
output filespec is the specification with which you want to
name the edited file.
Default - the input file specification,
but with a generation number 1
higher than the highest
existing generation number
Summary of EDIT Command Switches (Defaults in boldface)
NOTE
These switches are applicable only if you are using
the EDIT editor.
/BAK
/C128
/C64
/DECIDE
/DPY
/EXPERT
/INCREMENT:n Default n - 100
/ISAVE:n
/LOWER
/M33
/M37
/NOBAK
/NODECIDE
/NONSEPARATORS
/NONUMBER
/NOVICE
/NUMBER
/OLD
/OPTION:name
/PLINES:n Default n - 16
/R
/READONLY
/RONLY
/RUN:filespec Default file type - .EXE
/SAVE:n
/SEPARATORS
/SEQUENCE
/START:n Default n - argument of INCREMENT switch
/STEP:n Default n - 100
/UNSEQUENCE
/UPPER
/WINDOW:n Default n - 10
EDIT Command Switches
/BAK causes an unedited copy of the file to be
saved at the end of an editing session under
the specification name.Qyp, where name.typ is
the file's original specification.
Default
/C128 specifies a 128-character alphabet, allowing
insertion of control characters in an
alternate format. See the TOPS-20 EDIT
Reference Manual for details.
/C64 specifies a 64-character alphabet, disallowing
use of an alternate format for insertion of
control characters.
Default
/DECIDE lets you decide whether to accept or reject
each change caused by the operation of the S
(substitute) command of the EDIT program.
/DPY has no effect in the current monitor.
/EXPERT tells the EDIT program that you need only
abbreviated error messages, and fewer warnings
and reminders.
/INCREMENT:n specifies the value that will be added to each
line number of the file to obtain the next
line number.
Default n - 100
/ISAVE:n instructs the EDIT program to update the
backup file of specification name.Qyp after
every n lines you insert, instead of only at
the end of the EDIT session.
/LOWER specifies that all alphabetic characters you
type should be considered lowercase
characters; give uppercase characters by
preceding the corresponding lowercase
character with a single quotation mark (').
/M33 has no effect in the current monitor.
/M37 has no effect in the current monitor.
/NOBAK prevents an unedited copy of the file from
being saved at the end of an editing session
under specification name.Qyp, where name.typ
is the file's original specification.
/NODECIDE ensures the automatic operation of the S
(substitute) command of the EDIT program.
Default
/NONSEPARATORS notifies the EDIT program that the characters
. (period), $ (dollar sign), and % (percent
sign) are to be regarded as ordinary textual
characters and not as field delimiters
(separators) in the file being edited.
Default
/NONUMBER suppresses the printing of line numbers with
each line of a file.
/NOVICE tells the EDIT program that you want to see
complete error messages and all appropriate
warnings and reminders; opposite of /EXPERT
switch.
Default
/NUMBER prints a line number for each line of the
file.
Default
/OLD causes the first backup file to be saved under
the specification name.Zyp, where name.typ is
the file's original specification.
/OPTION:name sets any EDIT switches contained in lines of
your SWITCH.INI file labeled with name (of six
or fewer characters). The system expects this
file to be in your log-in directory.
/PLINES:n specifies how many lines to print in response
to each P (print) command of the EDIT program.
Default n - 16
/R same as /READONLY.
/READONLY prevents any changes to the file during the
current session of the EDIT program, that is,
makes it a read-only session. This switch
cannot be given in the SWITCH.INI file.
/RONLY same as /READONLY.
/RUN:filespec specifies the program to be run when you end
the current session of the EDIT program with
the G command.
Default file type - .EXE
/SAVE:n instructs the EDIT program to update the
backup file of specification name.Qyp after
every n EDIT program commands that modify the
file.
/SEPARATORS notifies the EDIT program that the characters
. (period), $ (dollar sign), and % (percent
sign) are not ordinary textual characters but
are field separators in the accompanying file.
/SEQUENCE tells the EDIT program not to strip the line
numbers from the file when the EDIT session
ends.
Default
/START:n specifies the first line number for the EDIT
program to use when numbering the file.
Default n - argument of /INCREMENT switch
/STEP:n same as /INCREMENT.
/UNSEQUENCE tells the EDIT program to strip the line
numbers from the file when the EDIT session
ends.
/UPPER specifies that all alphabetic characters you
type should be considered uppercase
characters; give lowercase characters by
preceding the corresponding lowercase
character with a single quotation mark (').
Default
/WINDOW:n specifies the number n (between 10 and 99) of
pages to be held in memory during the EDIT
session.
Default n - 10
Characteristics
Edit Mode or Input Mode
The EDIT command runs the EDIT system program in Edit mode,
which uses an asterisk prompt (*). (However, see also
Special Cases - Using an Editor Other than EDIT, below.) In
Edit mode you can use any EDIT program commands to modify
the specified file. If the EDIT program starts by printing
the word Input instead of Edit, the specified file does not
yet exist. You are then in Input mode, just as if you had
used the CREATE command instead of EDIT. See the CREATE
command description for details.
Saving Backup Files Periodically
Whenever you use EDIT, be sure to keep an extra copy of the
file you are modifying, in case of a system failure. By
default the system renames the unedited copy of your file to
name.Qyp at the end of an editing session. By using the
/SAVE:n switch you can have this backup file updated
periodically during the editing session to reflect your
edits.
SWITCH.INI File
If there is a group of EDIT command switches that you always
or often use with EDIT or CREATE commands, put them into a
file named SWITCH.INI in your log-in directory, in a line of
that file beginning with "EDIT:abc", where abc is any set of
characters you choose to identify the line. Then if you
include the single switch /OPTION:abc when you give an EDIT
or CREATE command, all these switches will be in effect.
Hints
Debugging Your Programs and Editing the Sources
You can use EDIT to modify files containing source programs
written in a programming language. The DDT and DEBUG
commands run system programs that offer more efficient and
powerful techniques for testing temporary corrections to
your programs, but you should use the EDIT command to make
final changes to the source files.
Further Information
For more information about the EDIT program, see the TOPS-20
EDIT Reference Manual.
Special Cases
Using an Editor Other than EDIT
The CREATE, EDIT, and PERUSE command descriptions in this
manual assume that these commands call on the EDIT program
for their action. If your job uses another editing program,
for example EDT, the switches and examples shown here will
not be applicable.
The editor used by CREATE, EDIT, and PERUSE is specified by
logical name EDITOR:, so you can find out the name of this
program by giving the command, INFORMATION LOGICAL-NAMES
EDITOR:. The job-wide definition (if any) will be given
first, followed by the system-wide definition; the job-wide
definition prevails if both exist. If the definition of
EDITOR: is SYS:EDIT.EXE, the CREATE and EDIT commands will
function as described in this manual. Otherwise, you must
consult the appropriate manual (for example, the EDT-20
Reference Manual) for information.
You can use the DEFINE command to define logical name
EDITOR: to be any editing program available at your
installation. Then this program will be in effect when you
give the CREATE or EDIT command.
Attempting to Edit Archived Files
If you attempt to edit an on-line archived file, the system
will let you produce an edited version of the archived file,
but will retain the original (archived) file unchanged under
the specification name.Qyp (or name.Zyp if you included the
/OLD switch in the EDIT command), where name.typ is the
file's original specification. See also Hints - Editing
Files of Type .Qyp, below.
Editing Files of Type .Qyp
If you edit a file of type .Qyp (any file whose type begins
with the letter Q), the EDIT program does not save the
unedited copy as a backup file. In such cases, give the
/OLD switch to retain the unedited copy under file type
.Zyp. If the file of type .Qyp is an archived file, you
will not be allowed to produce an altered version using the
EDIT command unless you include the /OLD switch.
Effect on Memory
The EDIT command clears any unkept forks from memory, then loads
the editor program defined by the logical name EDITOR:.
Related Commands
CREATE for creating new files
DIRECTORY-class commands for getting lists of existing files
PERUSE for editing files in read-only mode
Examples
1. Edit a file.
@EDIT FILE.FOR
Edit: FILE.FOR.1
*
2. Edit a file using the EDIT editor, requesting that an updated
copy of the file be saved after every three EDIT program
commands; ask that the first such backup file be saved under
specification FILE.ZOR. @EDIT /SAVE:3/OLD FILE.FOR
Edit: FILE.FOR.1
*
3. Edit a large text file, adjusting several EDIT program
parameters as you begin, and give new specifications for the
output file.
@EDIT /EXPERT/DECIDE/PLINES:50/WINDOW:99 REMARK.TXT REVISION.TXT
Edit: REMARK.TXT.18
*
4. Use the EDIT editor to create a SWITCH.INI file with one line
for the switches used in Example 2, and one line for those in
Example 3. Use this file to repeat Example 3.
@CREATE SWITCH.INI
Input: SWITCH.INI.1
00100 EDIT:ABC/SAVE:3/OLD
00200 EDIT:DEF/EXPERT/DECIDE/PLINES:50/WINDOW:99
00300
*E
[SWITCH.INI.1]
@EDIT /OPTION:DEF REMARK.TXT REVISION.TXT
Edit: REMARK.TXT.18
*