HELP WITH EDITORS

Table of Contents

• The Pico Editor
• Pico command keys
• The Penove Editor
• The Elvis Editor (like "vi")
• A Guide to The Eudora Mail Package (for popmail)

Whenever you want to compose mail, you will have to use an editor. Unless you've changed yours on Free-Net, you're probably using pico.

Pico is designed to be a simple, easy-to-use text editor with a layout very similar to the pine mailer. The status line at the top of the display shows pico's version, the current file being edited and whether or not there are outstanding modifications that have not been saved. The third line from the bottom is used to report informational messages and for additional command input. The bottom two lines list the available editing commands.

Each character typed is automatically inserted into the buffer at the current cursor position. Editing commands and cursor movement (besides arrow keys) are given to pico by typing special control-key sequences. A caret, '^', is used to denote the control key, sometimes marked "CTRL", so the CTRL-q key combination is written as ^Q. That means you would hold down the Control key on your keyboard and hit the letter Q. Editor control key combinations are *not* case sensitive, so you don't need to use your shift key.

The following functions are available in pico. Where applicable, corresponding function key commands are in parentheses, though these function keys may not work correctly using your terminal program.

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Pico Command Keys

^G (F1)

Display this help text.

^F

move Forward a character.

^B

move Backward a character.

^P

move to the Previous line.

^N

move to the Next line.

^A

move to the beginning of the current line.

^E

move to the End of the current line.

^V (F8)

move forward a page of text.

^Y (F7)

move backward a page of text.

^W (F6)

Search for (where is) text, neglecting case.

^L

Refresh the display.

^D

Delete the character at the cursor position.

^^

Mark cursor position as beginning of selected text. (control-^)

Note: Setting mark when already set unselects text.

^K (F9)

Cut selected text (displayed in inverse characters).

Note: The selected text's boundary on the cursor side ends at the left edge of the cursor. So, with selected text to the left of the cursor, the character under the cursor is not selected.

^U (F10)

Uncut (paste) last cut text inserting it at the current cursor position.

^I

Insert a tab at the current cursor position.

^J (F4)

Format (justify) the current paragraph.

Note: paragraphs delimited by blank lines or indentation.

^T (F12)

To invoke the spelling checker

^C (F11)

Report current cursor position

^R (F5)

Insert an external file at the current cursor position.

^O (F3)

Output the current buffer to a file, saving it.

^X (F2)

Exit pico, saving buffer.

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PENOVE

Penove is a relatively simple text editor with few frills. It lets you move around in the text using your arrow keys (if you have chosen VT100 as your terminal emulation when logging on) and backspace over your mistakes using either the backspace key or the delete key. There is no spelling checker for now.

Keys to remember:

Control-A

Asks for assistance using Penove. You will be given a screen full of commands and which keys make them work.

Control-E

Saves your file and exits Penove. You sometimes have to press it twice before the program exits.

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Elvis

Elvis is an editor emulating the unix vi editor. Unless you know how to use vi, you shouldn't choose this as your editor.

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Menus

Formatted by Bro