THE - The Hessling Editor
Input Mode and
Insert Mode

Introduction

• Insert Mode and
• Input Mode.

Insert Mode

• set insertmode on
• set insertmode off
• set insertmode toggle

The first two forms of the command do not require explanation. The third form toggles insert mode from one state to the other: if insert mode is off, then the command will turn it on; if on, then the command will turn it off.

The state of the insert mode is shown on the status line (i.e., the lower right corner of the screen). When insert mode is on, the letters 'cR Ins" are visible; when off, only cR appears. The default profile binds the key F0 (also escape `) to "set insertmode toggle."

Creating a New line

Striking the F2 key will insert a single blank line below the current line. Also, the prefix commands "a" and "i" can be used to insert blank lines.

Input Mode

To create an "input mode," execute the following commands from the command line:

• SET NEWLINES LEFT
• DEFINE C-M enter

Input Mode is now on - what happens is dictated the state of the the insert mode key (the status of which is shown in the lower right corner):

• Insert Mode is on (the letters 'Ins' are visible) and the cursor is in the filearea
  

  If you strike the Enter key, a new line is created below the current line and the cursor moves to the first column of the new line.

  
  
• Insert Mode is off (the letters 'Ins' are NOT visible) and the cursor is in the filearea

  If you strike the Enter key, the cursor moves to the first column of the next line.

When in input mode-regardless of the status of the insert key-striking the Enter key will not move the cursor from the filearea to the command line. To move the cursor to the command line, strike the F12 key or the Home key.

Turning off input mode (execute the following command from the command line):

• DEFINE CM sos doprefix execute

Emulating XEDIT's power input mode

THE does not provide a power typing mode as in XEDIT, but a similar mode is available. THE provides two set commands, SET MARGINS and SET WORDWRAP, which determine where spilled lines will start and end.

Example

Entering the commands:

     set margins 1 72
     set wordwrap on

will cause text being entered to wrap from the current line to the next line starting in column 1, from the beginning of the word that passes column 72. The cursor position stays in the same position relative to the current word.

NOTE: Text that wraps will wrap onto the beginning of a preexisting line. A new blank line will be opened only if no following lines already exist. The prefix command "x*' may be used to "hide" any following lines, forcing the creation of a new line.