3. Editing Files
Linux doesn't have
EDT
, but there are scores of editors available. The only one that's guaranteed to be included in every UNIX version is
vi
---forget it, your sysadm must have installed something better. Probably the most popular editor is
emacs
, which can emulate
EDT
to a certain degree;
jed
is another editor that provides
EDT
emulation.
These two editors are particularly useful for editing program sources, since they have two features unknown to
EDT
: syntax hilighting and automatic indentation. Moreover, you can compile your programs from within the editor (command
ESC-X compile
); in case of a syntax error, the cursor will be positioned on the offending line. I bet that you'll never want to use the true blue
EDT
again.
If you have
emacs
: start it, then type
ESC-X edt-emulation-on
. Pressing ALT--X or ESC-X is
emacs
' way of issuing commands, like
EDT
's CTRL--Z. From now on,
emacs
acts like
EDT
apart from a few commands. Differences:
-
don't
press CTRL--Z to issue commands (if you did, you stopped
emacs. Typefgto resume it); - there's an extensive on-line help. Press CTRL-H ?, or CTRL-H T to start a tutorial;
- to save a file, press CTRL-X CTRL-S;
- to exit, press CTRL-X CTRL-C;
- to insert a new file in a buffer, press CTRL-X CTRL-F, then CTRL-X B to switch among buffers.
If you have
jed
: ask your sysadm to configure
jed
properly. Emulation is already on when you start it; use the normal keypad keys, and press CTRL--H CTRL--H or CTRL-? to get help. Commands are issued in the same way as
emacs
'. In addition, there are some handy key bindings missing in the original
EDT
; key bindings can also be tailored to your own taste. Ask your sysadm.
In alternative, you may use another editor with a completely different interface.
emacs
in native mode is an obvious choice; another popular editor is
joe
, which can emulate other editors like
emacs
itself (being even easier to use) or the DOS editor. Invoke the editor as
jmacs
or
jstar
and press, respectively, CTRL-X H or CTRL-J to get online help.
emacs
and
jed
are
much
more powerful than good ol'
EDT
.
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