THE Quick Reference
Version 2.7

Where:

-h or -?	Display usage information and version.
-n	Do not execute a profile file.
-m	Force display into mono, ignoring colour support.
-r	Run THE in read-only mode.
-s	A debugging aid for Unix versions. Turns off signal trapping.
-b	Run in batch mode.
-k	Allow Soft Label Key display.
-l line_num	Specify line number to make current.
-c column_num	Specify column number to make current.
-p profile	The name of the profile file to use. If not specified, the file ".\PROFILE.THE" (under OS/2, DOS and Win95/NT) or "$HOME/.therc" (under UNIX), will be used, unless overridden by the environment variable "THE_PROFILE_FILE".
-a prof_arg	Used to pass a string to the profile file as argument. Only works with Rexx macros.
-w width	Length of longest line THE can handle (default 512).
-u disp_len	Display length in non-line mode.
dir	Will display a directory of the specified dir.
file [...]	Specifications of file(s) to edit. If multiple files are specified, each will be put in a separate file in the ring. The last file specified will be displayed. If no files are specified, the current directory will be displayed. Issuing [SOS EDIT] on a file spec will edit that file. [SOS EDIT] on a subdir will display that directory.

Option flags are case-sensitive.

Add [n]

add blank line
Default: 1

ALL [rtarget]

select and display restricted set of lines

BAckward [n|*]

scroll backwards [n] screens
Default: 1

Bottom

move to the bottom of the file

CANcel

quit from all unaltered files in the ring

CAppend [text]

append text after column pointer

CCancel

qquit from all files in the ring

CDelete [column target]

delete text starting at column pointer

CFirst

move column pointer to beginning of zone

Change [/string1/string2/ [target] [n] [m]]

change one string to another
Default: 1 1 1

CInsert text

insert text starting at the column pointer

CLAst

move the column pointer to end of zone

CLocate column target

move the column pointer

CMATCH

find matching bracket character

CMSG [text]

display text on command line

COMMAND command [options]

execute a command without translation

COMPress [target]

reduce spaces to tabs

CONTROLChar

allow control characters to be entered

COPY target1 target2
COPY BLOCK [RESET]

copies text from one position to another

COVerlay text

overlay text starting at the column pointer

CReplace text

replace text starting at the column pointer

CURsor Column
Cursor Screen UP|DOWN|LEFT|RIGHT
Cursor Screen row [col]
Cursor [Escreen] UP|DOWN
Cursor [Escreen|Kedit] LEFT|RIGHT
Cursor [Escreen] row [col]
Cursor CMdline [n]
Cursor HOME [SAVE]
Cursor File line [col]
Cursor Mouse

move cursor to specified position

DEFine key-name [REXX] [command [args] [[#command [args]...]]]
Define mouse-key-definition IN window [REXX] [command [args] [[#command [args]...]]]

assign one or many commands to a key or mouse event

DELete [target]

delete lines from a file
Default: 1

DIRectory [file specification]

list the specified directory as an editable file

DOS [command]

execute an operating system command

DOSNowait command

execute an operating system command - no prompt

DOSQuiet command

execute an operating system command quietly

Down [relative target]

move forward in the file a number of lines
Default: 1

DUPlicate [n [target|BLOCK]]

duplicate lines

Edit [file]

edit another file or switch to next file

EDITV GET|PUT|GETF|PUTF var1 [var2 ...]
EDITV SET|SETF var1 value1 [var2 value2 ...]
EDITV SETL|SETLF|SETFL var1 value1
EDITV LIST|LISTF [var1 ...]

set and retrieve persistent macro variables

EMSG [message]

display message

enter

execute a command

EXPand [target]

expand tab characters to spaces

EXTract /item/[...]

obtain various internal information about THE

FFile [filename] force a FILE of the current file to disk

Default: With no parameters, the current file is written.

FILE [filename]

write the current file to disk and remove from ring

Default: With no parameters, the current file is written.

FILLbox [c]

fill the marked block with a character

Find string

locate forwards the line which begins with the supplied string

FINDUp string
FUp string

locate backwards the line which begins with the supplied string

FOrward [n]

scroll forwards [n] screens
Default: 1

GET [filename] [fromline] [numlines]

insert into file the contents of specified file

HELP

edit help file for THE

HIT key

simulate hitting of the named key

Input [string]

insert the command line contents into the file

Join [ALigned] [Column|CURSOR]

join a line with the line following

Kedit [file]

edit another file or switch to next file

LEft [n|HALF]

scroll the screen to the left

[Locate] target [command]

search for a target

LOWercase [target]

change uppercase characters to lowercase

LS [file specification]

list the specified directory as an editable file

MACRO [?] filename [arguments ...]

execute a macro command file

MARK Line|Box|Stream|Word|Column

mark a portion of text

MODify set-command

display current SET command for alteration

MOVE target1 target2
MOVE BLOCK [RESET]

move a portion of text

MSG [message]

display message on error line

Next [relative target]

move forward in the file a number of lines
Default: 1

NEXTWindow

switch focus of editing session to another file

NFind string

locate forwards the line which does NOT begin with the supplied string

NFINDUp string
NFUp string

locate backwards the line which does NOT begin with the supplied string

NOMSG command [arguments]

execute a command suppressing any messages

NOP

no operation command

OS [command]

execute an operating system command

OSNowait command

execute an operating system command - no prompt

OSQuiet command

execute an operating system command quietly

OSRedir filename command [arguments ...]

execute an operating system command and capture output

OVERLAYBox

overlay marked block on current cursor position

PREServe

save various editor settings

PREVWindow

switch focus of editing session to another file

PRint [target] [n]
Print LINE [text]
Print STRING [text]
Print FORMfeed
Print CLOSE

send text to default printer or print spooler

PUT [target] [filename]

write part of a file to another

PUTD [target] [filename]

write part of a file to another and delete

QQuit

exit from the current file without saving changes

Query item

display various option settings

QUIT

exit from the current file if no changes made

READV Cmdline [initial text]
READV KEY

read keystrokes and pass to macro

RECover [n|*]

recover changed or deleted lines

REDRAW

redraw the current screen

REFRESH

refresh the contents of the current screen

REPEat [target]

repeat the last command

Replace [text]

replace the current line with supplied text

RESet ALL|Block|Prefix

cancel the marked block or prefix commands or both

REStore

restore various editor settings

REXX rexx instructions

execute Rexx instructions

RGTLEFT [n]

scroll the screen to the left or right

RIght [n|HALF|FULL]

scroll the screen to the right

SAVE [filename]

save changes to current file

SCHange /string1/string2/ [target] [n] [m]

selectively change strings
Default: 1 1 1

SET set_command [set_command parameter(s) ...]

execute various set commands

SHift Left|Right [n] [target]

move text left or right

SHOWkey [ALL]

display current key value and command assignation

SORT target [[sort field 1] [...] [sort field 10]]

sort selected lines in a file

SOS sos_command [SOS_command ...]

execute various SOS commands

SPlit [Aligned] [Column|CURSOR]

split a line into two lines

spltjoin

split/join two lines

SSave [filename]

force SAVE to specified file

STATus [filename]

display current settings of various variables

SUSPend

suspend THE and return to operating system

tabpre

switch between FILEAREA and PREFIX area

TEXT text

simulate keyboard entry of characters

THE [filename]

edit another file or switch to next file

TOASCII [target]

convert the target from EBCDIC to ASCII

TOP

move to the top of the file

Up [relative target]

move backward in the file a number of lines
Default: 1

UPPercase [target]

change lowercase characters to uppercase

Xedit [file]

edit another file or switch to next file

?[+|?...]

retrieve - return the next/prior command on the command line

=

re-execute the last command issued on the command line

! [command]

execute an operating system command

&[command]

execute and re-display command

[SET] ALT [n] [m]

change alteration counts
Default: OFF

[SET] ARBchar ON|OFF [char1] [char2]

set arbitrary character(s) for targets
Default: Off $ ?

[SET] AUtosave n|OFF

set autosave period
Default: OFF

[SET] BACKup OFF|TEMP|KEEP|ON

indicate if a backup copy of the file is to be kept
Default: KEEP

[SET] BEEP ON|OFF

turn on or off the audible alarm when displaying errors
Default: OFF

[SET] CASE Mixed|Lower|Upper [Respect|Ignore] [Respect|Ignore] [Respect|Ignore]

set case sensitivity parameters
Default: Mixed Ignore Respect Respect

[SET] CLEARErrorkey *|keyname

specify which key clears the message line
Default: *

[SET] CLEARScreen ON|OFF

indicate if the screen is to be cleared on exit
Default: OFF

[SET] CLOCK ON|OFF

turn on or off display of time on status line
Default: ON

[SET] CMDArrows Retrieve|Tab

sets the behaviour of the up and down arrow keys
Default: RETRIEVE

[SET] CMDline ON|OFF|Top|Bottom

sets the position of the command line.
Default: BOTTOM

[SET] COLOUR area [modifier[...]] [foreground] [on] [background]
[SET] COLOR area [modifier[...]] [foreground] [on] [background]

set colours for display
Default: Depends on compatibility mode setting and monitor type.

[SET] COMPat The|Xedit|Kedit|= [The|Xedit|Kedit|=] [The|Xedit|Kedit|=]

set compatibility mode
Default: THE THE THE

[SET] CURLine M[+n|-n] | [+|-]n

set position of current line on screen
Default: M

[SET] CURSORSTay ON|OFF

set on or off the behaviour of the cursor on a scroll
Default: ON

[SET] DEFSORT OFF|Directory|Size|Date|Time|Name [Ascending|Descending]

specify the order in which files appear in DIR.DIR
Default: NAME ASCENDING

[SET] DIRInclude *
[SET] DIRInclude [Normal] [Readonly] [System] [Hidden] [Directory]

set the file mask for directory command
Default: *

[SET] DISPlay n [m|*]

specify which level of lines to display
Default: 0 0

[SET] EOLout CRLF|LF|CR|NONE

set end of line terminating character(s)
Default: LF - UNIX
Default: CRLF - DOS/OS2/WIN32
Default: NONE - if THE started with -u option

[SET] ETMODE ON|OFF [character list]

indicate if extended display mode is possible
Default: ON - DOS/OS2/WIN32
Default: ON 32-255 - X11
Default: OFF - UNIX

[SET] FExt ext
[SET] FType ext

change the extension of the existing file

[SET] FILEName filename

change the filename of the file being edited

[SET] FMode d[:]

change the drive letter of the existing file

[SET] FName filename

change the filename of the file being edited

[SET] FPath path

change the path of the existing file
[SET] FULLFName ON|OFF
specify if complete filename to be displayed
Default: ON

[SET] HEX ON|OFF

set how hexadecimal strings are treated in string operands
Default: OFF

[SET] HEXDISPlay ON|OFF

turn on or off display of character under cursor
Default: ON

[SET] HEXShow ON|OFF [M[+n|-n]|[+|-]n]

turn on or off hex display of current line
Default: OFF 7

[SET] HIGHlight OFF|TAGged|ALTered|SELect n [m]

specify which lines (if any) are to be highlighted
Default: OFF

[SET] IDline ON|OFF

specify if IDLINE is displayed
Default: ON

[SET] IMPcmscp ON|OFF

set implied operating system command processing
Default: ON

[SET] IMPMACro ON|OFF

set implied macro command processing
Default: ON

[SET] IMPOS ON|OFF

set implied operating system command processing
Default: ON

[SET] INPUTMode OFF|FUll|LIne

set input mode behaviour
Default: LINE

[SET] INSERTMode ON|OFF|TOGGLE

put editor into or out of insert mode
Default: OFF

[SET] LINENd ON|OFF [character]

allow/disallow multiple commands on command line
Default: OFF #

[SET] MACRO ON|OFF

indicate if macros executed before commands
Default: OFF

[SET] MACROExt [ext]

set default macro extension value
Default: the

[SET] MACROPath path[s]

set default path for macro commands
Default: Path specified by env variable THE_MACRO_PATH

[SET] MARgins left right [[+|-]indent]

set left and right margins for wordwrap
Default: 1 72 +0

[SET] MOUSE ON|OFF

turn mouse support on or off
Default: ON - if mouse supported, OFF - otherwise

[SET] MSGLine ON M[+n|-n]|[+|-]n [lines] [Overlay]

set position and size of message line
Default: ON 2 5 Overlay

[SET] MSGMode ON|OFF

set display of messages on or off
Default: ON

[SET] NEWLines Aligned|Left

set position of cursor after adding blank line
Default: Aligned

[SET] NONDisp character

specify character to display for non-displaying characters
Default: #

[SET] NUMber ON|OFF

turn prefix numbers on or off
Default: ON

[SET] PENDing ON string
[SET] Pending OFF
[SET] Pending BLOCK string

set status of pending prefix commands

[SET] Point .name [OFF]

assign a name to the current line

[SET] POSition ON|OFF

determine if LINE/COL is displayed on idline
Default: ON

[SET] PREfix ON [Left|Right] [n [m]]
[SET] Prefix Nulls [Left|Right] [n [m]]
[SET] Prefix OFF
[SET] Prefix Synonym newname oldname

set prefix area attributes
Default: ON Left 6 0

[SET] PRINTER spooler|[OPTION options]

define printer spooler name
Default: LPT1 - DOS/OS2, lpr - Unix, default - Win32

[SET] PSCReen height [width] [RESET|PRESET]

set physical size of screen
Default: System Dependent

[SET] REPROFile ON|OFF

indicate if profile file to be executed for all files
Default: OFF

[SET] RESERved *|+|-n [colour] [text|OFF]

display a reserved line

[SET] REXXOUTput File|Display n

indicate where REXX output is to go
Default: Display 1000

[SET] SCALe ON|OFF [M[+n|-n]|[+|-]n]

set position and status of scale line on screen
Default: OFF M+1

[SET] SCOPE All|Display

sets which lines are to be excluded from commands
Default: Display

[SET] SCReen n [Horizontal|Vertical]

specify number of screens displayed
Default: 1

[SET] Select [+|-]n [target]

sets the selection level for the specified lines
Default: 0

[SET] SHADOW ON|OFF

determines if shadow lines are displayed or not
Default: ON

[SET] SLK n|OFF [text]

set Soft Label Key definitions
Default: OFF

[SET] SPAN ON|OFF [Blank|Noblank [n|*]]

specify if a string target can span multiple lines
Default: OFF Blank 2

[SET] SPILL ON|OFF|WORD

specify if a string target can span multiple lines
Default: OFF

[SET] STATOPT ON option column [length [prompt] ]
[SET] STATOPT OFF option|*

set display options on statusline
Default: ON NBFILE.1 13 0 Files=
Default: ON WIDTH.1 23 0 Width=

[SET] STATUSLine Top|Bottom|Off|GUI

set position of status line
Default: Bottom

[SET] STAY ON|OFF

set condition of cursor position after CHANGE/LOCATE commands
Default: ON

[SET] SYNonym ON|OFF
[SET] Synonym [LINEND char] newname [n] definition

define synonyms for commands
Default: OFF

[SET] TABKey Tab|Character Tab|Character

set characteristics of the SOS TABF command
Default: Tab Character

[SET] TABLine ON|OFF [M[+n|-n]|[+|-]n]

set position and status of tab line on screen
Default: OFF -3

[SET] TABS n1 [n2 ... n32]
[SET] TABS INCR n
[SET] TABS OFF

set tab columns or tab length
Default: INCR 8

[SET] TABSIn ON|OFF [n]

set tab processing on file input
Default: OFF 8

[SET] TABSOut ON|OFF [n]

set tab processing on file output
Default: OFF 8

[SET] TIMECHECK ON|OFF

specify if time stamp checking done
Default: ON

[SET] TRunc n|*

specify the truncation column
Default: *

[SET] TYPEAhead ON|OFF

set behaviour of screen redraw
Default: OFF

[SET] UNDOING ON|OFF

turn on or off undo facility for the current file
Default: ON

[SET] UNTAA ON|OFF

specifies if "Unsigned Numerical Targets Are Absolute"
Default: OFF

[SET] Verify first [last]

set column display limits
Default: 1 *

[SET] WIDTH n

set width of maximum line that THE can edit
Default: 512

[SET] WORD NONBlank|ALPHAnum

controls what THE considers a word to be
Default: NONBlank

[SET] WORDWrap ON|OFF

set wordwrap feature on or off
Default: OFF

[SET] WRap ON|OFF

enable/disable string locates around the end of the file
Default: OFF

[SET] XTERMinal program

set X terminal to execute under X
Default: System dependent but usually one of:

[SET] Zone first [last]

set column limits for editing
Default: 1 *

SOS ADDline

add blank line after focus line

SOS BLOCKEnd

move cursor to end of marked block

SOS BLOCKStart

move cursor to start of marked block

SOS BOTTOMEdge

move cursor to bottom edge of FILEAREA

SOS CURRent

move cursor to current line

SOS CURSORAdj

move first non-blank character to cursor

SOS DELBAck

delete the character to the left of the cursor

SOS DELChar

delete character under cursor

SOS DELEnd

delete to end of line

SOS DELLine

delete focus line

SOS DELWord

delete word at or right of cursor

SOS DOPREfix

execute any pending prefix commands

SOS EDIT

edit a file from directory list

SOS ENDChar

move cursor to end of focus line

SOS EXecute

move cursor to command line and execute command

SOS FIRSTCHar

move cursor to first non-blank of field

SOS FIRSTCOl

move cursor to first column of field

SOS INSTAB

shift text to next tab column

SOS LASTCOl

move cursor to last column of field

SOS LEFTEdge

move cursor to left edge of window

SOS LINEAdd

add blank line after focus line

SOS LINEDel

delete focus line

SOS MAKECURR

make focus line the current line

SOS MARGINL

move cursor to the left margin column

SOS MARGINR

move cursor to the right margin column

SOS PARINDent

move cursor to the paragraph indent column

SOS PASTECMDline

copy contents of marked block to command line

SOS Prefix

move cursor to leftmost edge of prefix area

SOS QCmnd

move cursor to command line and clear

SOS RIGHTEdge

move cursor to right edge of window

SOS SETTAB

set a tab column at the cursor position

SOS STARTENDChar

move cursor to end/start of focus line

SOS TABB

move cursor to previous tab stop

SOS TABf

move cursor to next tab stop

SOS TABFIELDB

move cursor to previous enterable field

SOS TABFIELDf

move cursor to next enterable field

SOS TABWORDB

move cursor to beginning of previous word

SOS TABWORDf

move cursor to start of next word

SOS TOPEdge

move cursor to top edge of filearea

SOS UNDO

undo changes to the current line

Targets may be separated by the boolean operators '&' or '|'.

e.g. /string1/ | /string2/

Targets may also be prefixed with '~' to signify Boolean NOT.

E.g. ~/String/