Modify Command [M]

Modify Command [M]

Editing characters within lines using either Control codes (default Set Mod Robelle), D-I-R-U edits (Set Mod HP), or Control codes with visible feedback (Set Mod Qzmod).

MODIFY rangelist

(Q=no linenum, T=template)

(Default: rangelist = *)

By default, Modify displays the first line and puts the cursor under the first column. You enter an "edit-line" to specify a changes. You use spaces to move the cursor under the word you want to change, then type new characters to replace those in the columns above. For example:

/modify 5
   5    Over 2000 computers use Suprtool.  {prints line}
              750                          {you edit it}
   5    Over 2750 computers use Suprtool.  {prints new line}
        <Return>                           {end Modify}

Each time you press Return, Modify applies your changes to the line and prints the new result. This cycle continues until you enter only a Return (no more edits).

You use nonprinting Control codes for editing, such as Control-D to delete. For visual feedback, do Set Mod Qzmod, which puts your cursor right on top of the line and responds to each Control code by revising the image on the screen (i.e., Control-D actually makes the character disappear from the screen). If you would prefer to use MPE-style edits (D-I-R-U) instead of Control Codes, do Set Mod HP to reconfigure Modify.

To force the line number onto a separate line, use Set Mod Prompt OFF.

Examples

/modify 5/         {modify from line 5 until ^Y or end}
/find "corelate";m {find spelling error and modify line}
/mod "q_flag"      {modify all lines with "q_flag"}

Getting into Modify Mode

There are other commands that invoke Modify mode in Qedit:

• Change, when a line overflows or you use CJ.
• Add, when you use the auto modify character from Set Zip.
• Before, so that you can revise and redo a previous command.
• Redo, also enables you to revise and redo a previous command.

Edit Functions of Modify

Here are the edit functions of Modify and their Control codes, which may be changed with the Set Modify command.

HP-UX reacts to certain control characters which might conflict with the Qzmodify codes. For example, control-D sends an end-of-file signal to HP-UX but is also the delete character in Qzmodify. You should use the HP-UX stty program to change the default end-of-file signal. Please see the section Control Characters and stty for more details.

You create Control codes by holding down the Control key while pressing the other key. Most Control codes are invisible and do not move the cursor. In the user manual, the symbol (^) as a prefix stands for the Control key (^-D for Control-D).

Some functions combine two of the Control codes: pressing ^-T then ^-V in the first column of a line splices two lines together (and deletes the second line if it's emptied). Actions not restricted to column 1 may be performed at any point on the line.

Overwriting Characters

To overwrite characters in a line, type the new characters underneath the ones to be replaced. There is no need to type a control character; "overwrite" is the default edit function. Once you are in Overwrite mode, you can also use the Space bar to erase the columns that you move through. If you have not yet typed any characters, the Space bar just moves your column position to the right one place. You can get into Overwrite mode at any time while in modify by pressing Control-O. Terminate overwrite mode and go into space- transparency mode by typing Control-T.

Start Over Editing a Line

To correct a Modify mistake, enter the Goof control code (Control-G) and press Return. Qedit restores the line to its original contents and restarts the Modify cycle. Control-G does not undo Splits and Splices.

Doing Several Edits in One Line

You can do more than one edit operation in one edit-line if each edit is clearly separated from the preceding and following ones. When the edits are at different ends of the line, you must Terminate the first function so that you can move the cursor right to the next column. The Terminate control code (Control-T) provides this capability.

The following illustrates where to place your control codes (^ stands for the Control key), even though they will not appear on your screen. The first example capitalizes the "r" in "return", then replaces "in error" with "by mistake", which requires inserting the letters "ke." The second example inserts the word "Goof" and a space at the start of the line, and deletes the last two words at the end of the sentence, adding a final period.

/m 13
   13   a return. If you do this in error,      {displays line}
          R                      by mistake     {^codes are: }
 <spaces> R<^T, spaces>          by mista<^B>ke<Return>
   13   a Return. If you do this by mistake,    {redisplays}
/m+1
   14   control code restores the line for you. {displays line}
        Goof                          .         {^codes are: }
    <^B>Goof <^T, spaces>             .<^D, Return>
   14   Goof control code restores the line.    {redisplays}

Deleting Characters

To delete characters from the line, starting with the current column position, enter the Delete control code (Control-D). Then space to the right the number of columns to be deleted. Any remaining characters in the line are left-shifted to fill in the deleted columns.

In all cases, the columns deleted are those immediately above the cursor, regardless of what other functions have been performed previously on the same line. The Delete function is stopped by the first nonblank character, either Return, a printing character to switch back into Overwrite function, or another control code.

HP-UX reacts to certain control characters which might conflict with the modify codes. For example, control-D sends an end-of-file signal to HP-UX but is also the delete character in modify. You should use the HP-UX stty program to change the default end-of-file signal. Please see the section Control Characters and stty for more details.

Erasing the Line

To erase from the current column to the end of the line, enter the Delete control code, followed by a Return. If you do this by mistake, the Goof control code restores the line for you.

Inserting Characters

To insert characters in the line before the current column position, enter the Before control code (Control-B). Then type the characters to be inserted. The existing characters starting in the insert column are right-shifted to make room for the new characters.

On the operator's console of Seried 800 compputers, the Control-B character puts the terminal into "maintenance" mode. In these cases, use Control-^ instead. If you do press Control-B on the console accidentally, type "CO" on a Series 800 or 900.

Adding Characters to the End of a Line

To add characters to the end of the line after the last nonblank character in the line, enter the Append control code (Control-A). Then type the characters to be added. This function is independent of the current column position.

Dividing a Line into Two Lines

The Divide control code (Control-V) splits the current line into two lines at the current column position. If a line number is available, Qedit moves all characters from the current column to the end of the line to a new line that is added after the current line. The Goof function recalls the original contents of the line, but does not delete the new line (neither does Control-Y). See also Divide command.

Splicing Two Lines Together

To splice two lines together, you must be on the first column of the first line you wish to splice. Type Control-T, then Control-V, and quick as a wink, all the characters from the second line are appended to the end of your current one. Qedit moves only as many characters as will fit. If all the characters are moved, the second line, now empty, is deleted. See also the Glue command.

Editing Lines with More Than 80 Columns

To modify long lines (i.e., more than 80 columns), use Set Left and Set Right to define a slice through the lines.

/set left 55
/mqt *            {quiet, with template}
+....60...+....70...+....80...+....90...+....100..+....
ubsequent Sales Follow-up - Completion Ratio Report

Or use Set Modify Qzmodify, it handles long lines without the need to set margins.

Qzmodify: WYSIWYG

You may want to try Set Modify Qzmodify to replace the normal Qedit modify with a "visual" modify (What You See Is What You Get). Qzmodify uses the same Control codes, plus many extensions, but Qzmodify does single-character reads. This allows it to respond immediately and visually to each keystroke, but means that the performance is unacceptable over NS, packet-switching LANs, and the DTC. Once in Qzmodify, type Control-Q for a list of commands.

How to Edit in Qzmodify

In Qzmodify, "what you see is what you get". The cursor rests on the same line as the text you are editing. If you press any printable key (ASCII code 32 or greater), that key either replaces the character the cursor was on, or (if Insert mode is on) inserts the key before that character, moving the rest of line to the right by one character.

When you initially enter Qzmodify you are in Transparent mode--here, a blank simply causes the cursor to move one space to the right. Pressing any other printable character immediately terminates Transparent mode and puts you in Overwrite mode, so the character replaces the one the cursor is on. The three basic modes are:

Qzmodify will not allow you to create a line longer than a maximum specified by the calling program, nor can you accidentally "lose" characters off the right edge when using Insert mode ... Qzmodify beeps when you try to do something illegal. To edit Roman-8 characters, use Set Editinput Extend ON.

Editing Commands

Qzmodify has an extensive set of commands, all of which are invoked via control characters. In this documentation, the symbol ^ means that the following character is a control character (e.g., ^G is control-G). Control characters may be entered as lowercase or uppercase letters (i.e: ^g and ^G are identical).

HP-UX reacts to certain control characters which might conflict with the Qzmodify codes. For example, control-D sends an end-of-file signal to HP-UX but is also the delete character in Qzmodify. You should use the HP-UX stty program to change the default end-of-file signal. Please see the section Control Characters and stty for more details.

Symbols Used in Qzmodify Command List

<c> is any single character. Qzmodify will search for this character. If <c> is ^W, the search will be for the next word (words are anything delimited by blanks) instead of for a single character.

<#> is zero or more digits. For example, ^P12+ would mean move forward 12 lines. ^P3- would move back three lines.

<n> is one of: ^A, ^B, ..., ^H and is interpreted as the number 1, 2, ..., 8 respectively.

<dir> is a "-" to move "back", or a "+" to move "forward".

<hh> is any pair of hexadecimal digits.

Note: When modifying a line longer than 79 characters, some commands (e.g.: ^D, ^B, ^E) will not update any line of the screen display other than the one you are on. Whenever you want to see an accurate display of your text line, press ^X to refresh the display. This limitation could be fixed, but only at the cost of slowing down response time while editing these longer lines.

Note: You cannot use the special keys on an HP terminal (e.g.: cursor keys, insert char, delete char, clear) because they are designed to either send no characters to the computer when they are pressed or two characters ... and both of these choices cause difficult problems unless you are on an HP e3000 with a Type Ahead Engine. Thus, these keys should not be used. If you use them by accident, a ^X will refresh the display of the line you are editing.

Qzmodify with a Type Ahead Engine

The Type Ahead Engine (TAE) from Telamon can be in one of three states from the Qzmodify viewpoint: disabled, enabled, or ignored. Each is defined below.

Ignored. Qzmodify will not do anything to either encourage the use, or discourage the use, of the TAE. This is usually the initial state (see below).

Enabled. Qzmodify will place the TAE in single-character mode at entry, and restore it to Line mode at exit. This means that the HP3000 won't lose typed ahead input anymore, and that the special keys (e.g., cursor keys) will work nicely.

Disabled. Qzmodify will disable typeahead (by sending ^A^V to the TAE) at entry, and enable it at exit. In this mode, the TAE is effectively taken out of the "circuit".

With Qedit, you configure TAE-treatment as part of the Set Modify Qzmodify command:

Set Mod Qzmodify     {ignore the TAE}
Set Mod Qzmod TAEOFF {TAE exists, disable it}
Set Mod Qzmod TAE    {TAE exists, enable it}

When the TAE is present and enabled, you can use these extra commands:

Hpmodify: No Control Characters

Set Modify Hpmodify replaces Qedit's standard Modify in all places with MPE-style editing (D for delete, I for insert, R for replace, U for undo, > for append, >D for delete at end, >R for replace at end, and D> for clear). We suggest Hpmodify when using Qedit over finicky datacomm networks, since it does not require any Control codes.

Hpmodify Keys - Reference

Hpmodify Examples