HP 3000 Manuals

HP EDIT Reference Manual

Conducting A Basic Editing Session 

After HP EDIT displays the first page of the specified file, you are
ready to either add new text or edit existing text.  The following
sections provide fundamental information for performing the following
basic editing tasks:

   *   Executing commands
   *   Getting help
   *   Using editing modes and entering text
   *   Keeping text

Executing Commands 

HP EDIT provides three methods for executing commands.  You can either:

   *   Press a key or sequence of keys assigned to a command
   *   Specify a command name in response to a command prompt
   *   Use function keys, if enabled

Typically, you would execute a command by pressing a key or sequence of
keys.  Most of the more frequently used HP EDIT commands have assigned
default keys or key sequences.  For instance, if you wanted to execute
the Append Line command, you could press the A key.  Since there are a
limited number of keys on the keyboard, control and escape sequences
provide additional key assignments.  A control sequence consists of
holding down the CTRL key and then pressing a single key.  A Meta escape
sequence consists of pressing the Meta key (ESC or $) followed by a
single key.

Some of the less frequently used HP EDIT commands do not have assigned
default keys.  In order to execute these commands, HP EDIT provides a
command called Execute Editor Command.  When you execute this command, HP
EDIT prompts for a command name.  You can use this command to execute any
HP EDIT command, including those to which keys or key sequences are
assigned.

You can execute several frequently used HP EDIT commands with function
keys.  By default, function keys are enabled for your session.  They
appear at the bottom of the screen.  Refer to "Display And Keyboard
Features" in chapter 2 for more information about function keys.

Getting Help 

The first command that you may want to execute is the Help command, which
enables you to access the on-line Help system.  The H, h, and ?  keys are
assigned to this command.  You can also execute this command by pressing
the Help function key.

On-line Help provides the following choices of information from which to
select:

   *   General description of commands arranged by topic
   *   Names of all commands and assigned keys
   *   Command description specified by command name
   *   Command description specified by key assignment

On-line Help is designed to instruct you about performing a particular
editing function.  After you understand how to perform the function,
on-line Help serves as a reference source for command descriptions and
key assignments.

Refer to the Help command in chapter 4 for complete information about
accessing and using on-line Help.

Using Editing Modes 

When you access on-line Help, you execute the Help command in Command
mode, which is the default editing mode.  Except for certain commands
executable from function keys, you issue all HP EDIT commands in Command
mode.

After you execute a command in Command mode, HP EDIT remains in Command
mode unless you have executed a small group of commands called text entry 
commands.  When you execute a text entry command, HP EDIT switches from
Command mode to Text Entry mode.  You can enter new text or modify
existing text in Text Entry mode.

HP EDIT enables you to move freely between the two modes to perform all
editing tasks.  It is also possible to remain in Text Entry mode during a
session and perform all of the basic editing tasks using certain terminal
keys in conjunction with function keys.  Consequently, your usage of
editing modes depends on your personal preference.  Refer to "Creating
And Modifying Text" in chapter 2 for further information on mode usage.

Figure 1-2 shows the relationship of Command and Text Entry modes and the
action required to invoke either mode.


          Figure 1-2.  HP EDIT Modes 

Entering Text.     

You can invoke Text Entry mode by executing one of the text entry
commands from Command mode.  The categories of commands, number of
commands in each category, and purpose of each category is as follows:

Append                Four commands for entering new text

Insert                Two commands for entering new text or modifying
                      existing text

Overwrite             One command for entering new text or replacing
                      existing text

Replace               Three commands for modifying existing text

If you want to enter text in the new file you have created at the
beginning of this chapter, you could execute one of the commands for
entering text, such as Append Line.  After you execute this command, you
could enter unlimited text.  If you want to execute another command after
entering text, you could either use the function keys while in Text Entry
mode to execute the desired command, if available as a function key, or
you could exit Text Entry mode and return to Command mode to execute the
command.

Returning To Command Mode.     

To exit Text Entry mode and return to Command mode, either press the
Command Mode function key or press the following key sequence:

     /Return 

Keeping Text 

When you have finished editing and want to save text in the current file,
you can execute the Keep Text command.  You can save the text to the
current file name, or you can save the text to another file name.  If you
enter or modify text during a session and want to save the changes, you
must execute this command before you can exit HP EDIT or read in another
file.

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation