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- DAN includes a screen oriented text editor for creating and modifying
- algorithms and short ASCII data files. It can also be used for editing
- or examining any ASCII file that is less than 30,000 characters in
- length.
-
- Text is shown on the screen and scrolls as you move through the
- file. The screen cursor shows the location within the text where
- `actions' occur; e.g. the point where characters will be inserted.
- Movement through the file is accomplished using the cursor control
- keys, Home, End, and the Page Up and Page Down keys.
-
- The editor displays a menu bar under the main DAN menu that shows the
- editing functions it can perform. These functions are selected by
- typing the first letter of the action name; e.g. `F' to find a specified
- pattern of characters within the text. The editor will beep if an
- unrecognized command is entered. The menu bar is replaced by a help
- line when insert or exchange modes are in effect.
- +
- The editor interprets characters entered from the keyboard as commands
- until an `I',`X', or the `Ins' key is entered. The `Insert' command
- stops DAN from interpreting each character as a command and causes
- subsequent characters to be inserted in the text at the current cursor
- location. The `Xchange' command also suppresses command
- interpretation, but it causes subsequent typed characters to be
- exchanged for the character under the cursor (i.e. overtype). Use the
- `Ins' key to toggle between insert and exchange mode.
-
- Function keys, such as `F4' to execute the algorithm, are recognized
- during insert/exchange mode. Use the `Esc' key to stop the
- insert/exchange mode and return to the command entry mode.
- +
- TEXT EDITOR KEYS
- ----------------
- DAN's text editor recognizes the following keys:
-
- CURSOR MOVEMENT KEYS
- --------------------
- cursor left, right Move the active editing point left or right
- by one character.
-
- cursor up, down Move the active editing point up or down one line.
- If at the top or bottom of the screen then the
- text will scroll appropriately by one line.
-
- PgUp, PgDn Move active editing point up or down by 21 lines;
- i.e. by one page.
-
- Home, End Move to beginning or end of current line.
-
- Ctrl-Home, Ctrl-End Move to beginning or end of file.
- +
- EDITING FUNCTIONS
- -----------------
- Del Delete the character at the current cursor location.
-
- Backspace Delete the character to the left of the cursor's location.
-
- I, Ins Enable insert mode. Subsequent characters entered from the
- keyboard will be inserted in the text at the current cursor
- location. Toggle between insert and exchange mode with the
- `Ins' key. Insert mode is disabled with the `Esc' key.
-
- X, Ins Enable exchange mode. Subsequent characters entered from
- the keyboard will overtype the text at the current cursor
- location. Toggle between insert and exchange mode with the
- `Ins' key. Exchange mode is disabled with the `Esc' key.
- +
- D Delete a block of text from the current cursor location to
- a specified end point. The end point is indicated by
- hitting the `D' key again after having moved the cursor to
- a position one character past the last character to be
- deleted.
-
- Use the `Esc' key to cancel a delete operation.
-
- Deleted text is saved in a paste buffer and may be
- re-inserted using the Paste function. Use the Delete and
- Paste functions to move a block of text from one place to
- another.
-
- C Copy a block of text to the paste buffer. This function is
- used, along with the Paste function, to duplicate text
- without deleting the original text block. Cancel a copy
- operation with the `Esc' key.
- +
- P Insert the contents of the paste buffer at the current
- cursor location. Use in conjunction with Copy and Delete
- functions.
-
- F Find a pattern of characters in the text. Cursor will be
- moved to the next place where the specified Find string
- is located (or a `Text not found' message will be output).
- Cancel without performing the Find operation, by using the
- `Esc' key. Hit `F4' to perform the Find operation. Use
- the Again function to find the next occurrence.
-
- R Replace one text string with another. Previously entered
- text patterns are saved and may be edited using the cursor
- control keys, the Home and End keys, and the Del,
- Backspace, and Ins keys. Cancel with the `Esc' key. Use
- the Again function to repeat the Replace operation.
- +
- A Repeat the last Find or Replace operation (i.e. whichever
- operation was performed last) using the parameters that
- were previously entered for the Find or Replace.
-
- E Display next error found during the last compilation of the
- algorithm. Hit `E' to move to successive error locations.
-
- K Perform an error check on the current algorithm and show
- successive error messages (up to the first 10 errors). The
- error message will appear above and to the right of the spot
- in the algorithm where DAN detected the error; that is, the
- lower left corner of the error message box is DAN's best
- guess at the location of the error.
-
- H Display help information for key words in the algorithm.
- Use the cursor keys to highlight the keyword or variable
- that you wish information on. Hit `Enter' or `F1' to see
- the help information. Use `Esc' to cancel Help mode.
-
- Q, Esc Exit the editor and return to DAN's top level menu.
- +
- FUNCTION KEYS
- -------------
- F1 Show help information for DAN's text editor.
-
- F2 Save the current text file. You are given the option to
- specify a new name for the file. The current file name (if
- any) is the default name. The default name may be edited
- in the same manner as the Find and Replace text patterns.
- Hit `F4' when you have completed entering the file and path
- names. If no path name is given then the current directory
- will be used.
- +
- F3 Reload/load a new text file. You may specify a file and
- path name. Hit `F4' to perform the load operation when the
- form shows the desired file and path names.
-
- Alternatively, you may enter a file name containing the DOS
- wildcard characters (`*' and `?'), or leave the file name
- blank (equivalent to entering `*.ALG'). If wildcards are
- used or the file name is blank, hit `F10' (not `Enter' or
- `F4') to see the possible choices that match the ambiguous
- file name. Then use the cursor keys, `PgUp', `PgDn',
- `Home', or `End' to highlight one of the choices and hit
- `Enter' to load that file.
-
- +
- F4 Execute the current algorithm. After execution is
- complete, control returns to the text editor.
-
- F5 Clear the algorithm; i.e. reset the algorithm buffer to
- blanks and delete the name. You will be asked to verify
- your Clear request before the operation is executed.
- Enter `Y' (or `y') to proceed. Any other character will
- cancel the Clear request.
-
- F10 Show a list of DAN's keywords. Help information on each
- keyword is available by using the cursor keys to move the
- highlight to any word on the screen and then hitting `F1'
- or `Enter'.
-
- Shift-F2 Invoke any of DAN's forms, for example, to examine or
- modify the processing duration.
-