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VDE.DOC
-------
Instructions for the VDE Editor:
version 1.62 (27 Oct 1991)
(c)1987-91, E. Meyer
Requires: Any computer (including PC compatible) running DOS 2.x or above.
================================ CONTENTS ==================================
1. ABOUT VDE: A brief description; Copyright and Licensing.
2. QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS:
A. Installation, Operating modes, Help.
B. Starting and ending an editing session.
C. Typing and correcting.
D. Moving the cursor.
E. The screen and windows.
F. Text formatting.
G. Searching and replacing.
H. Block operations.
I. Getting a printout.
J. Editing additional files.
K. What is a Macro?
3. GENERAL INFORMATION, alphabetically by topic:
Accessory programs, Compatibility with word processors, Control key,
Directories, Error messages, File modes, Memory, Multitasking
environments, Prompts, Spelling checkers.
4. REVIEWS / ABOUT THE AUTHOR.
For detailed information on editing commands see the VDE.REF reference file.
For the use of the VINST installation utility see the VINST.REF file.
=============================== 1. ABOUT VDE ===============================
VDE is a small, fast, powerful text editor offering:
* easy menu-bar operation or WordStar-compatible command keys
* multiple files, windows, cut and paste
* block copy, move, delete, read, write, and zoom
* find and replace (options for backward, ignore case, reformat)
* multiple-level undo to recover unintended deletions
* macros with full programming ability
* utilities to browse disk directories, split files, compare files,
count words, number lists automatically
* full DOS access: directories, DOS commands, shell
* variable number of text lines and columns displayed on IBM compatibles
* automatic save to disk at intervals
* programmable function keys and many other user configurable options
* ability to run on limited systems such as NON-IBM compatibles, laptops
But VDE is also an efficient word processor, with:
* left and right margins, wordwrap, automatic or manual reformat
* variable tabs, auto indent, centering, flush right
* right justification, proportional spacing modes
* page preview to check format and pagebreaks before printing
* customizable printer drivers for special effects (bold, underline,
italic, super/subscript, overstrike, pitch, font, etc)
* printing options: headers, pagination, selective print, print to file,
single sheet feed, address envelopes
* multiple file formats and text exchange (including plain ASCII,
WordStar, WordPerfect, XyWrite, NotaBene, Microsoft Word)
VDE's versatility is due to its combination of the most important word
processing features with the simplicity of a small editor designed to work
with plain text files, making it an efficient tool for many different tasks.
VDE's pure ASCII mode makes it an ideal choice for a DOS file editor, or a
practical editor to run from a shell within telecom, database, file
maintenance, programming, and other application software. Yet its full
formatting and printing features also make VDE a powerful word processor.
Commercial programs continue to develop in the direction of "desktop
publishing", making elaborate provisions for font variations and page layout,
and trying to present a graphic representation of the printed result on
screen. This is pretty, but overkill for most purposes; it takes lots of disk
space and memory, and slows down and distracts you from your writing. In
contrast, VDE is small enough to work well on even the most limited of
portable computers, and it is remarkably fast. You can find a phrase, or make
a global change, instantly; work gets done faster, and more of it can be done
at the keyboard, eliminating unnecessary printouts.
The use or sale of VDE is governed by the "COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE"
information below. Please read this carefully!
FILES
Be sure you have all the files which should be included in this package:
VDE.COM - The VDE editor itself.
VINST.COM - The installation and customizing program.
VDE.DOC - This basic documentation for VDE.
VDE.REF - The full Reference Guide for VDE.
VINST.REF - The Reference Guide for VINST.
VDExxx.UPD - Notes on new features in recent updates of VDE/VINST.
VDEOPT.DAT - Optional data file for EGA/VGA screen size changes (AltE).
WS4.VDF - Function key definitions for compatibility with WordStar.
WP.VDF - Function key definitions for compatibility with WordPerfect.
EXAMPLES.VDK - Several macro key definitions from the examples in VDE.REF.
CTRLCAPS.COM - Utility to let [CapsLock] key act as [Ctrl] (see CONTROL KEY).
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE INFORMATION
The VDE editor and documentation are copyright (c)1987-91
Eric Meyer, all rights reserved worldwide. They may not be
circulated in any incomplete or modified form, nor sold for
profit, without written permission of the author. The use
or sale of VDE is subject to the following terms:
SITE LICENSES. Any company or institution wishing to use VDE in the course of
its business must purchase a SITE LICENSE. The cost of the license is
quite modest, and varies according to the number of computers on which VDE
may be in use in the workplace:
COPIES COST
Up to 20 ..... $50 (US)
50 ..... $100
100 ..... $150
200 ..... $200
Over 200 ..... $1 per copy
The purchaser of a site license receives several benefits:
* A copy of the latest version of VDE on disk direct
from the author. (Specify 5.25" 360k or 3.5" 720k disk.)
* Support. You can get help with any questions or
problems you encounter in using VDE. Future upgrades can
be ordered on disk when desired.
* No piracy worries. Your employees may use VDE at home
and share it with others at no charge.
PERSONAL USE. There is no required fee for personal use of VDE. However, if
you like and continue to use VDE, you are encouraged to register, and help
support the development of high-quality, affordable software:
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION ..... $30 (US)
The user who chooses to register receives several benefits:
* A copy of the latest version of VDE on disk direct
from the author. (Specify 5.25" 360k or 3.5" 720k disk.)
* Support. You can get help with any questions or
problems you encounter in using VDE. Future upgrades can
be ordered on disk when desired.
* A document to verify the legality of your personal use
of VDE at your workplace as well.
COMMERCIAL SALE. Any software dealer or library may offer VDE for sale, as
long as the price charged for the disk containing VDE does not exceed US
$6. With this single exception, the sale of VDE, either alone or together
with other software or hardware, requires a licensing agreement. Please
write for terms.
ORDERING AND SOURCES. Site licenses and individual registrations may be
ordered directly from the author (see address below), by check or money
order in US currency; purchase orders are also accepted.
Credit card orders (VISA,MC,AmEx,Discover), including international,
may be made through the Public Software Library: phone (800)242-4775 or
(713)524-6394, FAX (713)524-6398, CompuServe [71355,470]. Mention item
#10303. (There is a $5 surcharge for this service.)
VDE is distributed widely through "shareware" channels. Users with a
modem can download the latest version as the archive file VDExxx.ZIP,
available from either of the two primary distribution points:
(1) Glendale Litera BBS - Glendale, CA (818)956-6164.
(2) On CompuServe, in download library 1 (DL1) of the IBMAPP forum.
In addition, VDE is available on a wide variety of other remote
systems, and by mail from many good software libraries, including the
Public Software Library, P.O. Box 35705, Houston TX 77235. (Disk #1933)
Please write for further information about VDE, including production and
availability of foreign language versions. Address correspondence to:
Eric Meyer
3541 Smuggler Way CompuServe: [74415,1305]
Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA Internet: 74415.1305@compuserve.com
THE CUSTOMARY DISCLAIMER: You undertake to use VDE at
your own risk. The author does not warrant the suitability
of VDE for any particular purpose, and assumes no liability
for damages of any kind resulting from its use.
======================= 2. QUICK START INSTRUCTIONS ========================
This introduction is intended to give beginning users a quick start on
editing with VDE, including the most basic and common commands. Throughout,
you will find ticklers like "(See SYNTAX)" which lead you to a more complete
explanation in the VDE.REF or VINST.REF file.
------------------ A. INSTALLATION, OPERATING MODES, HELP ------------------
INSTALLATION
Most users will have an IBM compatible computer, and can begin editing
with VDE straightaway. Before long, though, you should use the VINST program
to customize the display and many other options to your tastes. (Once you
have done this to your copy of VDE.COM, the welcome/copyright screen that
displays when you first enter VDE will no longer appear.)
However, if your computer is not 100% IBM-compatible, or if you have a
monochrome display on which VDE's default colors are not easily legible, you
should run VINST immediately, and perform the computer installation before
using VDE. (VDE will also run on the HP Portable Plus, HP 95LX palmtop,
Otrona 8:16, or on any MSDOS system with an ANSI.SYS driver.)
If you are using VDE on a display with fewer than 80 columns of text
(including some palmtop computers, or in MODE CO40), see the special
considerations under SCREEN SIZE.
VDE operates by default in Command mode. If you want to get started
using the simplified menu system, you must change this with VINST (or remember
to use the Esc? command each time you enter VDE). You will eventually
discover the settings you prefer for the many other options and defaults, as
you become more familiar with VDE. [See VINST.REF for details. Comments
below in brackets "[]" point out various uses of VINST.]
OPERATING MODES
VDE has two distinct modes of operation:
(1) MenuBar mode. (2) Command mode.
Command mode ultimately offers the greatest power, flexibility, and speed, but
it can take some time to learn the commands. MenuBar mode allows a user not
familiar with these commands to get started using VDE immediately, and will
appeal to those who are new to computers or word processing, who will use VDE
only occasionally, or who simply prefer not to memorize commands. Most VDE
commands also work in MenuBar mode. (Esc-key commands must be accessed via
the {Misc:Escape} item, since [Esc] itself summons the MenuBar.)
If you see the message "Esc=MenuBar" at the right end of the header line,
you are in MenuBar mode. If this area is blank, you are in Command mode.
To switch into MenuBar mode from Command mode, use the Esc? command; to
switch to Command from MenuBar mode, select {Misc:Command mode} (Esc,M,C).
(1) MenuBar mode guides you straightforwardly to the functions you need.
Suppose you want to underline a string of text in your file. Just press
[Esc], and the main "menu bar" will appear:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delete moVe Text stYle Set sCreen Print Block File Misc User Exit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underlining is a matter of type "stYle", so type "Y" (the highlighted letter)
to bring up the style menu bar, which gives choices "Underline", "Bold", etc.
Finally, select "U" for underline; the code will be inserted in the text.
In the text below, MenuBar commands will be referred to in the following
manner: {stYle:Underline}
This designates selecting st"Y"le, then "U"nderline from the menu bar sequence
(you actually type Esc,Y,U). Most (though not all) of VDE's functions are
available from the menu bars. [Others can be added to the User menu bar.]
You can also begin learning the VDE command set in MenuBar mode, since
the standard commands (such as ^PS for underlining) also work.
(2) Control-key commands (WordStar compatible), although they do need to
be memorized, are more concise, and give access to the full range of VDE
features, including powerful macros. If you're familiar with the popular
WordStar command set already, you can probably start right in editing files
with VDE. It uses simple one- or two-key combinations, for example:
^QC
which means "Hold down [Ctrl] while pressing Q, then press C", or
AltD
which means "Hold down [Alt] while pressing D". Many of these are mnemonic
(^Q for Quick movements, etc), though some are not. Their advantage is that
all are easily found by the touch typist without distraction -- no groping for
function keys or mice interrupts the writing process. This largely accounts
for the continuing popularity of the WordStar word processor, which (despite
being a decade old) is still widely used throughout the world. In addition to
many WordStar-standard commands, VDE has a number of Alt-key and Esc-key
commands to invoke its additional features, such as multi-file editing. (See
COMMAND SUMMARY.)
HELP
ON-LINE HELP: You can get a brief reminder of the command set anytime you
like by pressing ^J or [F1] for help. A summary of the simple control-key
commands will appear; press [PgUp/Dn] or [^/v] to page through other commands,
or press A, E, K, O, P, or Q to display the Alt-key, Esc-key, ^K, ^O, ^P, or
^Q-commands instead (or J to return to the original screen). Once you have
found the information you needed, press [Esc] or [Space] to exit from the help
menu.
THE MANUAL: if you need more extensive help while learning to use VDE,
turn to the manual (the three .DOC and .REF files). It is distributed on
disk, rather than in printed and bound form, for two reasons:
(1) It's easier to search for help electronically than to flip through a
printed index. Simply edit the file with VDE and use the find command (^QF or
{moVe:Find}) to locate the information you need instantly. You can even load
VDE.REF as an additional file along with your own writing work. Then, if you
can't recall, say, how to use auto indent mode, one keystroke can take you to
the manual to search for the term "indent".
(2) It saves trees, the pollution of paper production, and the choking of
landfills with waste paper. Not everyone will need or want a printed copy of
the manual. Of course, if you do, you can use VDE to print out any portion of
it that you desire, to have for reference at your desk.
---------------- B. STARTING AND ENDING AN EDITING SESSION -----------------
Let's suppose that you have VDE.COM in a directory called C:\EDIT. The
simplest way to run VDE is to type its name at the DOS prompt:
C:\EDIT>vde
When you do this, you will be presented with an empty file, called
"untitled", to write in. Feel free to type in some text, use the arrow keys
to move around, or experiment with any of the commands described below.
If you already have a disk file that you would like to review or modify,
you simply need to provide its name, for example:
C:\EDIT>vde my.doc or C:\EDIT>vde \autoexec.bat /n
In the first example, the file MY.DOC is found in the current directory
(C:\EDIT), and is loaded in the default file mode, which is "/A", or ASCII
document. ("ASCII" actually denotes the numeric code system used by MSDOS to
represent text characters; here, "an ASCII file" means a file containing only
plain text, as opposed to the proprietary codes of many word processors.) In
the second example, the file AUTOEXEC.BAT is found in the root directory of
drive C: (note the "\"), and the following option "/N" loads it as a NON-
document (a file consisting of fixed lines, rather than paragraphs of text).
You can also specify other files to edit concurrently, and data files (key
definition, printer driver, etc) to load. (See SYNTAX.)
VDE can edit many different types of files: non-documents, such as batch
files or program source code; or documents with formatted text, in either pure
ASCII or formats compatible with WordStar, WordPerfect, XyWrite, NotaBene,
Microsoft Word, and other word processors. (See FILE MODES, COMPATIBILITY.)
Maximum file size is roughly 80k (80,000 characters). If an existing file is
too large to edit with VDE, it can be divided up (see SPLITTING FILES).
VDE gives you an informative "header line" at the top of the screen,
including the file name, the current position (by page, line, and column), and
cryptic little "flags" showing the status of various editing options. (For
details see HEADER.) At times, further information may be provided below this
by various menus or error messages; press [Esc] or [Space] to remove these.
If any commands require user input, a "prompt" line (like "New value:") will
appear below the header.
You can change the name or file mode associated with your current work
(which is visible in the header) at any time with the command:
^KE or {File:rEname work}
(If you issue a command to save an "untitled" file to disk, VDE will
automatically prompt you to rename it first.)
It is important to understand that VDE works entirely IN MEMORY: nothing
happens on disk until you issue a command to save your work. There are
several different commands to exit from VDE or to select a new file to work
on, but the two most basic ones are:
^KX or {Exit:eXit w/save}
and ^KQ or {Exit:Quit w/o save}
The first is the normal way to end your editing session; the second is also
available in case you decide, for example, that you've made mistakes and do
not wish them saved as modifications to the file you were working on. Both
commands will return you to the DOS prompt. (Others allow you to remain in
VDE to edit another file; see SAVE/EXIT.)
"Backup files" are a good way to guard against losing earlier work. When
you save your latest work on MY.DOC, the previous version of the file is not
lost: it is renamed MY.BAK. Thus, if you decide that the recent changes were
a mistake, you can recover the previous text from the BAK file. [If you
prefer to save disk space, you can choose not to preserve BAK files.]
------------------------- C. TYPING AND CORRECTING -------------------------
One source of potential confusion to new users of an editor concerns the
simplest operation: What happens when you type a character? Obviously, the
character will appear in your file, and the cursor will advance; but there can
be further effects as well. Check the header to see whether the "Ins" flag is
visible. If so, you are in "insert mode"; any text to the right will be
carried along unharmed ahead of the cursor. If not, you are in "overstrike
mode", and any characters typed will REPLACE existing ones. (There is yet a
third "word insert" mode; see INSERTING.) You can toggle from insert to
overstrike mode with the simple command:
^V or [Ins]
Some people like to use overstrike mode (which is most like a typewriter)
when writing a first draft, and insert mode when revising; others prefer to
remain in insert mode all the time. You will discover which approach suits
your own writing habits.
You will often need to correct mistakes, and the computer makes this very
easy. Besides simply overtyping, there are many commands to remove unwanted
text from the file (see DELETING). The most commonly used are:
^G, ^T, [Del], ^[BkSp], and [BkSp]
^G deletes the character at the cursor; ^T deletes all characters up to the
end of the current word. Normally, [Del] or ^[BkSp] deletes the one before
it, while [BkSp] moves the cursor left nondestructively, but this can be
changed. [VINST can specify that [Del] should delete the character AT the
cursor, or that [BkSp] DELETE the previous one, or that ^[BkSp] delete the
previous WORD, if desired.]
Another command, useful for deleting larger amounts of text, removes the
entire line that the cursor is on:
^Y or {Delete:del Line}
Of course, you can make mistakes even in correcting mistakes: you might
accidentally delete text that you wanted to keep. This is where the ability
to "undelete", or recover deleted text, comes in, with the command:
^U or {Delete:Undelete}
Use this command immediately after the deletion accident. If you deleted a
block, it will be replaced. If you were deleting lines, words, or characters,
or overtyping characters, you can press ^U repeatedly to recover each previous
deletion in order.
--------------------------- D. MOVING THE CURSOR ---------------------------
Obviously, you need to be able to move the cursor around, in order to add
or delete text at different places in the file. The simplest way is with the
"arrow keys" on the IBM keyboard (or the WordStar "cursor diamond"),
[^] ^E
[<] [>] or ^S ^D
[v] ^X
which will move the cursor (as you might expect) up, down, left, or right.
Notice that the cursor moves within the TEXT, not simply at will on the
SCREEN: if you move to the right past the end of a line, you will find
yourself at the start of the next. If you move up or down to a shorter line,
the cursor will wind up at the end of the line, not beyond it.
Remember that the screen is a window into the text, and that window can
be shifted at need. If you move the cursor beyond the edge of the display, it
will "scroll" (horizontally or vertically) to show the text you moved to.
Once you have a sizable amount of text, there are many further commands
to allow you to move around more rapidly (see MOVING AROUND). The most common
are:
^A and ^F or ^[<] and ^[>]
to move the cursor back and forth an entire word at a time; and
^R and ^C or [PgUp] and [PgDn]
These commands move the cursor up and down through the text by about one
screenful, causing the display to scroll. In addition,
^QR and ^QC or ^[Home] and ^[End]
may be used to move instantly to the top or the end of the file, respectively.
------------------------ E. THE SCREEN AND WINDOWS -------------------------
VDE normally presents you with a header line and a screen full of text,
24 lines of 80 columns. There are many things you can do to change the size
(on EGA/VGA systems) or appearance of this display, or to cause it to
"scroll", showing a different portion of the text (see SCREEN CONTROLS).
One command that can be helpful for aligning text is:
^OT or {User:Ruler} [unless changed]
This adds a "ruler line" below the header, indicating margins, tab stops, and
the current cursor column. (See RULER.)
If you think of the screen as a "window" into your text, you can imagine
splitting it in half and having windows into two different portions of text at
once. This is a very powerful tool for comparison, revision, and other
purposes (see WINDOWS). There are two commands to produce such a split
window:
^OW [can be installed in {User} menubar]
and AltW or {sCreen:Window}
The first allows you to examine two areas of the SAME file at once; the second
shows you two DIFFERENT files. In either case, once you have two windows on
screen, the command:
AltF or {sCreen:Other win}
is used to move the cursor back and forth from one window to the other. (An
imitation "cursor" remains in the inactive window to mark your place.) Like
many other VDE commands, the window commands are "toggles": if you want to get
rid of the split window, use the same command a second time to remove it.
--------------------------- F. TEXT FORMATTING -----------------------------
VDE can format text in a document, partially or entirely automatically,
while you write. In addition, existing text can be instantly reformatted in a
variety of ways. (For full details see MARGINS, SPACING, JUSTIFICATION,
REFORMAT, AUTO FORMAT.)
The fundamental thing, of course, is to keep the text within the desired
margins. The left and right margin columns can be set with the commands:
^OL, ^OR or {Text:margin L,R}
Typical margins are 1, 66 for pica type, or 1, 78 for elite; you can vary them
as desired, however, and mix different formats in a single file.
This left margin command is ordinarily used only for indenting portions
of a text. To specify the physical margin that should always be left at the
edge of the paper when printing, see the left margin setting in PRINTER
INSTALLATION.
Once margins are set, WORDWRAP occurs automatically. If you type past
the right margin, the word will be moved to the next line; if you type outside
the left margin, the cursor will advance to it. If you need to type outside
the current margins, change them or RELEASE them with the command:
^OX or {Text:Mrgn rel}
Wordwrap will format your text properly as you type; but notice that if
you go back to make additions or deletions afterward, these will often leave
short or overlong lines, disrupting the flow of the paragraph. There is a
simple command to fix this:
^B or {Text:rEform}
This will cause the entire paragraph to be reformatted. Note that you can
also use this command after changing margins or spacing, to reshape the text
to the new format. The first line of a paragraph may be indented in any way
desired, and reformatting will preserve this.
If you prefer, however, VDE can make the reformatting process completely
automatic, with the command:
^OM or {Text:auto fmT}
When this is on, the "AF" flag appears in the header, and manual reformatting
is no longer necessary: VDE will continually reformat the text as you edit; if
you change the margins, you will instantly see the result.
With auto format, you need to be a bit careful about mixing different
formats, since there will be a tendency for text to get reformatted to the
CURRENTLY set margins and spacing, which may differ from those in effect when
it was written, whenever you modify it. (If you goof and allow this to
happen, simply reset things as they should have been to restore the format
before continuing.)
A different feature makes it easy to write neatly formatted lists or
outlines with VDE, without constantly having to change the left margin. Auto
Indent mode is entered with the command:
^OA or {Text:auto Indent}
You will see the "AI" flag in the header, and the behavior of wordwrap (and
the [Enter] key) will be changed in order to preserve the indentation and
structure of existing text. Each time the cursor wraps over to the next line,
it will indent automatically to match the previous line of text.
(Auto indent does work in non-documents as well; see AUTO INDENT.)
You may find it useful to know a little about how VDE handles text. Many
word processors store special hidden codes in a file to indicate paragraph
boundaries or changes of format, and calculate the result each time the text
is to be displayed or printed. VDE, however, uses no such codes; it actually
formats the text according to your request, and stores it that way in a simple
text file.
VDE's ability to reformat text in a document depends upon a subtle
distinction: when wordwrap occurs, a space is left at the end of the line,
which indicates that the CR (Carriage Return) is "SOFT", introduced (and later
removable) for formatting purposes. On the other hand, when you actually hit
[Enter] to end a paragraph, you get a CR with no preceding space, which means
it is "HARD", a permanent boundary for formatting the paragraph. (A little
arrow appears at the end of the line to indicate this.) Exercise care when
typing at the end of a line: you can change a hard CR into a soft one, or vice
versa, by deleting or adding a space at the end of the line.
(Note: this means that [Enter] is NOT a key to use simply to move
downward through the file. It will do that, but will harden all the CRs as
well, obstructing future reformatting.)
---------------------- G. SEARCHING AND REPLACING --------------------------
One of the simplest, but most powerful, features of an editor is the
ability to find a given string of text in the file, and perhaps to replace it
with another. To find the next occurrence of a particular character or
phrase, type:
^QF or {moVe:Find}
You will be asked for the string to find (and any options desired); the cursor
will move to that location in the file. (You may instead see an error message
if the string cannot be found.) You will find yourself using this command
constantly, for example to look up information, or to move to a desired
location in the file.
Automatic replacement is also very convenient. Suppose you have prepared
a study of the usefulness of "whatsits" in your business, only to discover
that the preferred term is actually "widgets"; or written a memo to "John"
which should have gone to "Ann". One simple command can make such changes:
^QA or {moVe:Replace}
You will be asked for the string to find, and then the string to replace it
with. The cursor will be placed in succession on each occurrence of the
string, starting at the cursor location. (You will see the prompt "Chg?" in
the header.) To change this instance, press "Y"; pressing "N" skips to the
next with no change. To change all further instances without being asked
individually, press "*" instead. [Esc] cancels at any time.
There are several options for find and replace; after you enter the text
string(s), you will be prompted to select them. Just press [Enter] again to
skip the options for now -- or, if you want to experiment, try one of these:
"B" = search Backward through the file, instead of forward.
"U" = case insensitive search - ignores upper/lower case, so
"corp" will match "Corp", "CORP", etc.
For further details, see FIND/REPLACE.
If you want to continue the last find or replace operation without typing
the strings in all over again, you can use the simpler command:
^L or {moVe:rEpeat f/r}
This can be used, for example, repeatedly to find the particular occurrence of
a string that you want.
--------------------------- H. BLOCK OPERATIONS ----------------------------
Editing often requires you to move or eliminate an entire "block" of
text, and VDE has a set of commands to allow you to do this easily. First, of
course, you have to "mark" the block, by defining its beginning and end. This
is done (in either order) with a pair of commands:
^KB, ^KK or {Block:Begin, End}
When the first marker is placed, you will see it as a bracket "{}" in the
text. When both are in place, the block is properly "marked", and its text
will be shown in a contrasting color (on IBM compatibles). You are now ready
to operate on the block with a wide variety of commands (see BLOCK COMMANDS,
AUTO NUMBER, PRINTING, UPPER/LOWERCASE).
The most common commands are to copy, move, or delete the block. Copying
is done by moving the cursor where you want the copy put, and using:
^KC or {Block:Copy}
An exact duplicate of the text within the block will appear at this location.
Moving the block is (similarly) done by moving the cursor where you want
the block put, and using:
^KV or {Block:Move}
Now the marked block itself is brought to the current location from its
previous one. Notice that the cursor must be located OUTSIDE the block for
either of these commands to work.
Finally, you can simply delete the block with the command:
^KY or {Delete:del Block}
(Of course, like all deletions, it can be recovered with ^U if need be.)
-------------------------- I. GETTING A PRINTOUT ---------------------------
The first thing to know about printouts is how to avoid unnecessary ones.
Computers were supposed to reduce the use of paper in offices, by storing
information electronically; instead they have led to an enormous increase in
consumption. VDE is designed to minimize the need for printing drafts of your
work; you can move around the file and make corrections so quickly that it is
easier to edit at the keyboard in the first place than to mark up printed copy
by hand, then type in the corrections. It also offers a simple command to
check the alignment and pagination of text on screen before printing, to avoid
mistakes:
^OD or {sCreen:Preview}
In preview mode, you can scroll through the file, examining it as it will
print: printer codes are hidden to show the actual alignment of text columns,
and pagebreaks are shown as dotted lines. (See PAGE PREVIEW.)
Printing is potentially a very complex matter: different printers work in
different ways; page layout has to be chosen; various effects can be used to
emphasize portions of the text; and so on. But for your first attempt, after
turning your printer on, simply use the print command:
^KP or {Print:Print file}
There are many options available to select header text, number location,
the portion of the file to print, and so on (see PRINTING). You can print on
any size paper or label, or address an envelope (see ENVELOPES). But for now,
just ignore all this -- turn your printer on, press [Enter] at the prompt, and
see what happens! (If you don't like the results, or if it's a long file and
will take forever, simply press [Esc] to interrupt and cancel.)
The default "printer drivers" are IBM/EPSON and SIMPLE; the latter should
work on virtually any printer, but is not capable of many special effects.
The VINST utility can be used to change to a driver which will support the
full capabilities of your particular printer, or to customize any driver for
your preferred page layout (see PRINTER DRIVERS and INSTALLATION).
There are various "printer codes" that you can place in your file to
produce different effects. One that's particularly useful is:
^PL or {Print:Formfeed} - causes a pagebreak at that location.
(Watch the page/line counts in the header as you do this; you will see that a
new page now begins there. This file itself contains pagebreaks.)
In addition, two of the printer "toggles" will work with any printer
driver, including SIMPLE:
^PS or {stYle:Underline} - underline.
^PX - strikeout.
These toggles must be inserted pairwise, to mark the beginning and end of the
affected text; for example,
you type: This is how you get ^PSunderlined^PS text.
and you see: This is how you get underlined text.
Toggles display onscreen as a highlighted letter ("S", "X", etc). Similarly,
further effects such as boldface, italic, and super/subscripts, are possible
with more specialized printer drivers. (See PRINTER CODES.)
----------------------- J. EDITING ADDITIONAL FILES ------------------------
Another extremely powerful feature of VDE is its ability to edit several
files at once. This makes it easy to compare files, make consistent changes,
move text from one to another, and so on. (See MULTIPLE FILES and WINDOWS.)
Once you are editing with VDE, an additional file can be loaded (up to a
total of 8) with the command:
AltL or {File:Add file}
After doing this you will see the flag "+" in the header, to remind you that
more than one file is being edited. Think of these files as waiting in line
for your attention; to bring a different file onto the screen (or current
window), use:
AltB, AltN or {File:Prev, Next file}
to move back and forth through the sequence.
Several other commands are especially useful when editing more than one
file, like cut and paste:
AltC, AltP or {Block:cuT, Paste}
These are actually an alternative set of block copying commands, with the
added ability to move text from one file to another. The cut command copies a
marked block of text into an internal buffer (it isn't deleted from the file,
though you can use the block delete command if you like afterward). From then
on it can be inserted at will, into any file being edited, using the paste
command.
--------------------------- K. WHAT IS A MACRO? ----------------------------
"Macros" are a sophisticated and powerful tool for automating repetitive
tasks -- but forget that for now, if it will help avoid the temptation to
think of them as a toy for computer-programmer types only. Any VDE user can
find something practical to do with them. Suppose you're writing a document
that will have different sets of margins in it -- say, 1 to 66 for ordinary
text, and 10 to 58 for indented quotations. You're going to wind up using the
^OL and ^OR commands every time the margins have to change (and trying to
remember whether it was 58 and 66, or 56 and 68). Sounds pretty tedious...
which is a hint that there's a better way to do it, with a macro.
Each margin change would require you to type something like:
^O L 1 0 [Enter] ^O R 5 8 [Enter]
But you can define a macro that does exactly that, and then store it to a key
for use whenever you need it! So try out the Macro Record command:
Esc "
(NOTE: if you were in MenuBar mode, the [Esc] called up the menu bar! Select
{Misc:Escape}, then type the quote (").) You will see a quote-mark flag
appear at the right side of the header. Now type exactly that sequence of
commands, ^OL10 [Enter] ^OR58 [Enter], while VDE is recording them (be careful
not to make any typos). Then, to end, type Esc " again:
VDE asks "Use now or Store?" and you reply:
"S" (since you want to Store this to a key for later use)
VDE asks "Make Quiet, No-repeat, Both?" and you reply:
"B" (sounds nice, doesn't it? See MACROS to learn why)
VDE asks "Store to key:" and you press:
[F2] (for example)
You just defined a macro and stored it to a function key! Now every time
you press [F2] the margins will be instantly reset to 10, 58. Obviously you
could do the same thing for margins 1, 66, and store that on another key; and
you'd be all set to change from one set to the other with a single keystroke.
If you were going to be writing this sort of document all the time, you would
eventually want to use VINST to define those keys permanently in your copy of
VDE.COM.
VDE macros can get a lot more complicated than this, but those most often
used are of exactly this simple sort. Now that the concept has been
demystified, here is some further explanation:
A "macro" is a string of VDE commands and/or text that you can type in
once and then have repeated automatically. The "macro definition" command
Esc[ lets you type in such a string quickly and directly; the "macro record"
command Esc" memorizes the string while you use it as you normally would in
editing. A "function key" is a macro stored to one of the [F1]...[F12]
function keys, while a "macro key" is a macro stored to a key combination
Esc0...9 or EscA...Z; these can all be defined temporarily while editing, or
permanently with VINST. "Macro programming" involves the use of special
commands which perform more complex operations including loops, tests, and
jumps, much like a programming language. (See MACROS.)
Macros execute EXACTLY as though you had typed the given keys yourself;
this means that every keystroke, including answers to prompts, [Enter]s, and
so on, must be properly included, so plan ahead carefully, with pen and paper
if necessary. (Exception: confirmation warnings like "Abandon(Y/N)?", which
may or may not occur in normal usage of commands affecting disk files, do NOT
occur when a macro is running, so never include a confirming "Y".)
You can use virtually any commands in macros, though for a start you
could experiment with text phrases and simple formatting changes (try creating
a personalized letterhead).
VDE's 84 user-definable macros allow you to customize it for any task,
such as the formatting requirements of specialized professional writing, or
many programming languages. (See MACRO and FUNCTION KEYS.)
========================== 3. GENERAL INFORMATION ==========================
ACCESSORY PROGRAMS - A variety of other programs can be used together with
VDE to enhance its usefulness for particular applications.
VDE does not include a spelling checker or thesaurus; however, many
such programs, both commercial and shareware, can be used with it. (See
SPELLING CHECKERS.) An excellent shareware program is Share Spell from
Acropolis Software, P.O. Box 5037, Fair Oaks, CA 95628.
If you need sorting functions, from alphabetizing lists to
maintaining simple flatfile databases, various programs can be used,
including Michael Mefford's excellent free PCSORT utility (described in
the 27 Nov 1990 issue of PC Magazine, and available on PCMagNet).
If you do much printing, a utility that can print four pages in
reduced size on one side of a sheet can save lots of paper. P4UP is
shareware for LaserJet/DeskJet printers, from Hexagon Products, P.O. Box
1295, Park Ridge, IL 60068.
For academic and technical writing, a footnote/endnote formatting
utility for WordStar files is available that can also be used with VDE.
Please write to the author if you are interested.
A variety of accessory programs have been developed for VDE by other
authors. They are available through shareware channels, including
CompuServe and Glendale Litera BBS. Their mention here constitutes no
guarantee or obligation by the author of VDE:
VDE-ED (by Patrick Swayne) is an operating "shell" that adds a number of
features to VDE, including on-screen display of function key labels.
VDE-MC (by Evan Slawson) is a utility for macro/function key definition
files that translates them from the unreadable .VDK/.VDF format used
by VDE and VINST, to an easily read and edited text file (and back).
VDE-BC (by Ed Keefe) is a set of key definitions to produce Big Characters
(3 lines high) and interesting graphic borders in VDE files.
VDE-SP (by Fred Haines) is a set of key definitions designed to make VDE
a word processor dedicated to writing stage or screen scripts.
RJ (by Tom Kallal) is a utility that can right-justify any text file
before printing. This could be convenient for those who want right-
justified printouts without formatting their text that way in VDE.
KBDFIX includes programs to fix a problem in old AT BIOSes. If VDE's
shift-blocking turns on when you don't want it, this will fix it.
COMPATIBILITY - VDE is "compatible", to various degrees, with many other word
processors, including WordStar, WordPerfect, XyWrite, NotaBene, and
Microsoft Word, and can be a handy accessory for users of these programs.
VDE also produces standard ASCII text files, which can be read by
virtually all software. (See FILE MODES.)
ASCII - Standard ASCII text files produced by many programs can be
edited by VDE in /A, /U, or /N file mode. However, these files usually do
not follow VDE's text formatting conventions, so they will probably appear
to be full of hard CRs, and therefore impossible to reformat. There are
two easy ways to solve this problem: first, you can use ^QA to find "^M"s
and selectively replace them with "_^M". But the best method is to use a
macro program (this is one of the definitions in EXAMPLES.VDK, and
described under MACRO PROGRAMMING.)
WORDSTAR - Highly compatible. /W file mode supports WS version 3 and
4 file format; these files can be exchanged freely between VDE and WS. /5
file mode supports WS versions 5 and 6; it removes all the additional
embedded codes (printer ID, fonts, notes, etc) not supported in VDE,
including some formatting information in version 6 files, but is otherwise
compatible.
VDE's operation will seem very familiar to a WordStar user. There is
no "No-File" menu; some WS commands are lacking; and VDE has new ones of
its own. VDE's macro commands are completely different (they were
developed before WS had macros!). Aside from that, there are small
differences in other commands, including indenting and place marks.
Note that VDE does not obey WS "dot commands" in text, though in /W
or /5 mode it will avoid printing them.
WORDPERFECT - Limited compatibility. /P file mode READS files
created by WP versions 4 or 5; it recognizes margin changes, and print
codes for bold, underline, super/subscript, and overstrike. Formatting
features not supported will be removed. /P mode WRITES files that can be
read by WP as native text.
You can also edit in VDE using a command set much like WordPerfect's,
by using the WP.VDF key definition file. It causes the [F]-keys to call
up the MenuBar in a manner similar to WP's command structure.
XYWRITE/NOTABENE - Limited compatibility. /X mode READS files
created by XW/NB; it recognizes margin changes, and print codes for bold,
underline, and italics. Formatting features not supported will be
removed. /X mode WRITES files that can be read by XW as native text.
(Note: /U mode can also be used to read XW/NB files without processing or
filtering out formatting codes.)
MICROSOFT WORD - Limited compatibility. /M mode READS files created
by MSW version 5; it does not support any print effects or formatting
features. /M mode WRITES text that can be read by MSW as native text.
NOTE: /P, /X, and /M modes are intended for simple,
convenient exchange of text, with a limited set of print
effects. Users with more demanding requirements for file
compatibility and translation should investigate commercial
programs such as Software Bridge or Word for Word.
CONTROL KEY (CTRLCAPS) - Like other programs that make extensive use of the
[Ctrl] key, VDE's commands may be awkward for users with "enhanced" or
nonstandard keyboards which put it in a less accessible location, and
[CapsLock] in the home row instead. Some keyboards can be reconfigured;
if yours cannot, the included CTRLCAPS utility can be used to give the
[CapsLock] key a dual function.
With CTRLCAPS active, you can press and release [CapsLock], and it
will function as it normally does; but if you hold down [CapsLock] while
pressing another key, it will function as [Ctrl] instead. This makes all
VDE's WordStar-style commands (^A, etc) easy to type once again.
To use CTRLCAPS (version 1.1), you can type:
CTRLCAPS for status report (and help if not installed)
CTRLCAPS ON to install (or reenable) this dual-function key
CTRLCAPS OFF to temporarily disable it
CTRLCAPS is a small memory resident utility (TSR), and remains
installed until you reboot; do not load it from within another program or
shell. Once installed, you may change its status at any time.
DIRECTORIES - At any VDE filename prompt, you can always specify a directory
as well. Otherwise, the default directory assumed by the file commands
(^KL,^KR,^KE,^KF,^KJ; AltL) is that of the current file; when editing
multiple files, this can differ from one to the next. The directory does
not display in the header, but is shown by the ^KI and ^KF commands.
The current DOS directory remains unchanged, and is shown by the AltR
command, for which it is the default directory. (It can be changed at the
AltR prompt.) You will return to this directory upon exiting VDE.
You can use the DOS "SET" command to designate a special "VDE
directory" where associated files (VDEOPT.DAT, *.VDx) can be kept, for
example: C:\>SET VDE=C:\UTIL
(This command can be put in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.) If such files are
referenced on the command line (see SYNTAX) or with the AltU command (see
ACCESSORY FILES), with no directory specified, VDE will look for them in
this directory before checking the current one.
ERROR MESSAGES - Press [Esc] or [Space] to continue.
"Error" - invalid data entered, or inappropriate command.
"Invalid Key" - an illegal command key sequence was pressed.
"Not Available" - the required hardware or software is not present.
"Invalid Name/Path" - nonexistent path, duplicate filename, or excluded type.
"No File" - requested file does not exist.
"I/O Error" - read or write error, disk full, invalid drive, etc.
"Format Error" - word too long, or margins invalid.
"Not Found" - the object of a search was not found.
"Block Error" - there is no marked block (or the cursor is in it).
"Macro Error" - programming command misused, or recording overflow.
"Graphics Overflow" - too many graphics in file to fit in table.
"File Near Full" - this file has less than 1K memory free for editing.
"Out of Memory" - file, block, or string won't fit in available memory.
IMPORTANT NOTE: On DOS version 2.x systems, an attempt to access an
empty disk drive or to print when the printer is not online can produce a
critical error message directly from DOS, something like:
"Device not ready; Ignore, Retry, or Abort?"
If this should happen, correct the situation and press "R" for Retry.
Pressing "I" usually has no effect. DO NOT PRESS "A", as this will exit
from VDE back to DOS, losing all text in memory!
If, after recovering from such an error, the message is still on
screen, you can press ^OZ,Esc to redisplay your text.
FILE MODES - VDE has nine "file modes": "A"SCII, "W"ordStar, WordStar "5",
Word"P"erfect, "X"yWrite, "M"icrosoft Word, or "U"nformatted document; and
"C"-source and "N"on-document. In general, the document modes all have
wordwrap, pagination, and print styles, and default to variable tabs; non-
documents (/N) do not have wordwrap, pagination, or print styles, and
default to hard tabs. C-source (/C) is a non-document, but defaults to
variable tabs and auto-indent.
The file mode option can be specified along with the filename at any
VDE file function prompt (such as "Read in file:"), allowing you to read
or write text in whatever format needed. [The default mode is /A, but
this can be changed, and exceptions declared, with VINST.]
Most VDE users will select /A mode for documents (word processing,
with formatted text) or /N mode for nondocuments. /C mode offers tabs and
indentation for structured programming languages like C or Pascal. There
is also /U mode, which writes a document without any carriage returns
except at the ends of paragraphs, a format used by some other software.
These four modes use plain ASCII text, which is produced or accepted by
virtually all software (DOS, compilers, database, telecom, etc).
The /W, /5, /P, /X, and /M modes allow VDE to read and write WordStar
3/4, WordStar 5, WordPerfect, XyWrite or NotaBene, and Microsoft Word
files (see COMPATIBILITY).
CONVERSION: You can easily use VDE to mix text from several
different formats, or to convert a file from one format into another.
Just specify the appropriate mode with each file loaded or read in, or
change to the appropriate mode (with ^KE) before saving. (Note limits on
supported features in each format.)
MEMORY - VDE allocates memory for each file according to need, up to a
maximum of 64k. (1k = 1024 bytes.) Due to the use of a compression
technique, the largest file that can be edited with VDE is roughly 80k.
VDE works well with anywhere from 128k to 640k RAM; the number and
size of files you can edit depends on the amount of memory you have free.
(VDE does not use extended memory.) If you are running short of memory
while editing, try exiting files you no longer need, or cutting (AltC) an
empty block to empty the cut buffer.
Running a DOS command requires enough free memory (beyond VDE's
usage) to load a copy of COMMAND.COM and any programs you intend to run
under it. You may not have enough memory to do this if you are already
running VDE in a shell from another program, or are editing many files
with VDE, or have lots of memory-resident software (TSRs).
MULTITASKING ENVIRONMENTS - VDE should be compatible with multitasking
environments, including DesqView. In order for VDE to run properly in a
DesqView window, you must identify it as a "program that writes directly
to the screen".
PROMPTS - First, VDE has several simple prompts requiring you to confirm an
action by typing "Y" or "N". These warning messages appear on line 1
(though they are NOT given when a macro is running):
"Abandon changes?" - a file you want to quit has been changed.
"Unchanged; save?" - a file you want saved hasn't been changed.
"File exists; overwrite?" - such a file already exists and will be lost.
"Not recoverable; delete?" - not enough memory to save block for undeletion.
These confirmation prompts appear at the right edge of the header:
"Chg?" - change this instance of a string? (Y/N/*)
"Rdy" - ready, press a key to print next page (Esc quits).
There are a number of standard prompts for either numeric or string input,
like "Column:" or "Find string:". The following control keys operate:
Correct error: [BkSp] (^H)
Finish entry: [Enter] (^M) or ^[Enter] (^J)
Replay last entry: ^R (except in Esc[ command)
Enter current filename: ^F
Erase entire entry: ^X
Abort operation: [Esc] (except in Esc[ command) or ^U
Note that to get any of these codes into the string itself, you must
precede it with ^P (this includes ^P itself).
EXAMPLE: to find a line beginning with a "*" (find "^M,*") type
^QF ^P[Enter] * [Enter].
Graphics can also be entered into strings using Alt-G.
SPELLING CHECKERS. VDE will work with many different spelling checker/
thesaurus packages, including such commercial programs as Webster's
Professional, Borland's Turbo Lightning, and Trigram's MicroSpell, as well
as shareware programs such as Share Spell. Any speller will work faster
if you keep its dictionary files on a RAM or hard disk.
These programs can interface with VDE in one of two ways:
(1) The program may work in a stand-alone mode (at the DOS prompt),
taking the name of your text file as an argument. To use such a program
while editing, you need to save your file to disk, use the AltR command to
run the speller on the disk file, and then use ^KL to reload the corrected
file. The following macro key definition (store as no-repeat) makes this
operation simple; assuming the speller is SPELL.COM:
^KS AltR SPELL_^PF^PM Esc ^KL^PF^PM "_"=space
You need to make sure the file is in the format expected by the
program; if in doubt, ASCII (/A mode) is probably best. Share Spell has
no problem handling VDE's printer control codes in /A files.
(2) The program may be loaded as a TSR (resident program) before
running VDE; you then activate it with a "hot key" while editing in VDE,
and it checks spelling either while you type, or by reading the text that
is on screen. Most TSR programs require configuration before use with
VDE, though installation should be similar to that for use with WordStar.
Some TSR programs, including Turbo Lightning, will not work while
editing in VDE unless you choose the VINST option "ignore enhanced
keyboard" [see INSTALLATION].
More notes for Turbo Lightning users: The recommended "environment"
for VDE in TL has both "Backspace keys" set to NONE, and the "Delete key"
set to CtrlG. You will also need to use the "Insert/Overwrite setup" to
locate the "Ins" toggle in VDE's header. Do not invoke TL when VDE's
header is off or the screen size is other than 80x25, because it will get
confused. To avoid flagging printer codes as spelling errors, enter
preview mode (^OD) before using TL's "Check screen" function.
===================== 4. REVIEWS / ABOUT THE AUTHOR ========================
Here's a sampling of recent comments about VDE:
"VDE is a word-processing program for people who like their
programs lean, mean and simple... executes all the standard
operations necessary for writing articles, books or screenplays...
blazingly fast... Even the loading and storing of files is speedy."
- Paul Ciotti, Los Angeles Times Magazine (18 March 1990)
"This may be the finest piece of word processing code ever
written. I have never been as impressed with anything as I have with
VDE 1.5... writing software in 100 percent assembly language still
pays off in performance and reduced code size. It's an astonishing
product, believe me. It's more than the perfect laptop word
processor. Actually, it's something that corporations should
consider if they want to save tens of thousands of dollars... I
cannot give a higher recommendation for any product that I have seen
in ten years than I can for VDE 1.5. Top recommendation."
- John Dvorak, PC Magazine (24 April 1990)
"What fascinated Dvorak was not just the astonishing functionality
achieved with very little programming code, but also the attitude --
and implications -- of the author who circulated it freely asking
only for a modest sum for site licenses... VDE is an amazing word-
processor, offering almost everything except the layout and document
processing features found in far fatter programs... it supports the
old WordStar command set... ergonomically the most efficient I've
ever learned."
- Colin Brace, Language Technology/Electric Word (July/Aug 1990)
"I've used various versions of WordStar, WordPerfect, and Wang
IWP. I wouldn't trade my copy of VDE for shrink-wrapped sets of the
latest versions of all of these. I congratulate you both on the
quality of your program and on your policy in making it available to
people." - K.N., registered VDE user (August 1991)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ERIC MEYER holds an A.B. in physics and a Ph.D. in history and philosophy
of science, and has taught at the Universities of Indiana, Oklahoma, and
Colorado. A longtime advocate of microcomputers, he has done programming in
HP-41, BASIC, FORTRAN, Z80 assembler, APL, LISP, and C; lately he has been
writing utilities in 8086 assembler for the IBM PC. In a period of escalating
software complexity and retail prices, he still believes it is important that
useful, inexpensive software remain available to computer users worldwide.
====================================[end]=====================================
