Help for Ed (V 2.0)
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by Qixx [Update: 7/10/91]
Commands
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/ search forward for pattern
? search backward for a pattern
= show current line number
a append text starting after this line
Command: a Usage: a
Append causes the editor to enter input mode, inserting all text
starting AFTER the current line. Use a '.' on a blank line to exit
this mode.
A like 'a' but with inverse autoindent mode
Command: A Usage: A
Like the 'a' command, but uses inverse autoindent mode.
c change current line, query for replacement text
Command: c Usage: c
Change command causes the current line to be wiped from memory.
The editor enters input mode and all text is inserted where the previous
line existed.
d delete line(s)
Command: d Usage: d or [range]d
Deletes the current line unless preceeded with a range of lines,
then the entire range will be deleted.
e replace this file with another file
Commmand: e Usage: e filename
Causes the current file to be wiped from memory, and the new file
to be loaded in.
E same as 'e' but works if file has been modified
Commmand: E Usage: E filename
Causes the current file to be wiped from memory, and the new file
to be loaded in. Different from 'e' in the fact that it will wipe
the current file even if there are unsaved modifications.
f show/change current file name
Command: f Usage: f or f filename
Display or set the current filename. If filename is given as
an argument, the file (f) command changes the current filename to
filename; otherwise, it prints the current filename.
g Search and execute command on any matching line.
Command: g Usage: g/re/p
Search in all lines for expression 're', and print
every match. Command 'l' can also be given
Unlike in unix ed, you can also supply a range of lines
to search in
Compare with command 'v'.
h help file (display this message)
Command: h Usage: h or hc (where c is a command)
Help files added by Qixx.
i insert text starting before this line
Command: i Usage: i
Insert causes the editor to enter input mode, inserting all text
starting BEFORE the current line. Use a '.' on a blank line to exit
this mode.
I indent the entire file (from DGD ed v0.1)
This command indents your entire file under the
assumption that it is LPC code. It is only useful
for files that are not yet indented, since the
indentation style is unlikely to satisfy anyone.
Originally from DGD ed.
j join lines together
Command: j Usage: j or [range]j
Join Lines. Remove the NEWLINE character from between the two
addressed lines. The defaults are the current line and the line
following. If exactly one address is given, this command does
nothing. The joined line is the resulting current line.
k mark this line with a character - later referenced as 'a
Command: k Usage: kc (where c is a character)
Mark the addressed line with the name c, a lower-case
letter. The address-form, 'c, addresses the line
marked by c. k accepts one address; the default is the
current line. The current line is left unchanged.
l line line(s) with control characters displayed
Command: l Usage: l or [range]l
List the current line or a range of lines in an unambiguous
way such that non-printing characters are represented as
symbols (specifically New-Lines).
m move line(s) to specified line
Command: m Usage: mADDRESS or [range]mADDRESS
Move the current line (or range of lines if specified) to a
location just after the specified ADDRESS. Address 0 is the
beginning of the file and the default destination is the
current line.
n toggle line numbering
Command: n Usage: n
This command toggles the internal flag which will cause line
numbers to be printed whenever a line is listed.
p print line(s) in range
Command: p Usage: p or [range]p
Print the current line (or range of lines if specified) to the
screen. See the commands 'n' and 'set' if line numbering is desired.
q quit editor
Command: q Usage: q
Quit the editor. Note that you can't quit this way if there
are any unsaved changes. See 'w' for writing changes to file.
Q quit editor even if file modified and not saved
Command: Q Usage: Q
Force Quit. Quit the editor even if the buffer contains unsaved
modifications.
r read file into editor at end of file or behind the given line
Command: r Usage: r filename
Reads the given filename into the current buffer starting
at the current line.
s search and replace
set query, change or save option settings
Without arguments: show current settings.
'set save' will preserve the current settings for subsequent invocations of ed.
Options:
number will print line numbers before printing or inserting a lines
list will print control characters in p(rint) and z command like in
l(ist)
print will show current line after a single substitution
eightbit
autoindent will preserve current indentation while entering text.
use ^D or ^K to get back one step back to the right.
excompatible will exchange the meaning of \( and ( as well as \) and )
An option can be cleared by prepending it with 'no' in the set command, e.g.
'set nolist' to turn off the list option.
set shiftwidth <digit> will store <digit> in the shiftwidth variable, which
determines how much blanks are removed from the current indentation when
typing ^D or ^K in the autoindent mode.
t move copy of line(s) to specified line
Command: t Usage: tADDRESS or [range]tADDRESS
Transpose a copy of the current line (or range of lines if specified)
to a location just after the specified ADDRESS. Address 0 is the
beginning of the file and the default destination
is the current line.
v Search and execute command on any non-matching line.
Command: v Usage: v/re/p
Search in all lines without expression 're', and print
every match. Other commands than 'p' can also be given
Compare with command 'g'.
x save file and quit
Command: x Usage: x
Save file under the current name, and then exit from ed.
w write to current file (or specified file)
W like the 'w' command but appends instead
z display 20 lines, possible args are . + -
Command: z Usage: z or z- or z.
Displays 20 lines starting at the current line.
If the command is 'z.' then 20 lines are displayed being
centered on the current line. The command 'z-' displays
the 20 lines before the current line.
Z display 40 lines, possible args are . + -
Command: Z Usage: Z or Z- or Z.
Displays 40 lines starting at the current line.
If the command is 'Z.' then 40 lines are displayed being
centered on the current line. The command 'Z-' displays
the 40 lines before the current line.