in reply to Editing features for advanced users

I suppose my editor(s) of choice follow my basic programming philosophy KISS, or as foopad suggests, LAW (Least Amount of Work).

Features I like:

Unfortunately, none of the editors I use have all of the things I want (there are several other things to add to the list that I can't think of at the moment). So I use Open Perl IDE and TextPad with Windows and Joe with Unix. I've never liked vi or Emacs, although I have to admit using vi to delete lines from or view large files (not much else though).

I'll also use Notepad, WordPad or Edit (Windows) if a quick or throwaway task is needed. I'm not adverse to trying new editors if they're practically free, easy to install, provide most of my listed features, have a short learning curve, and the keyboard shortcuts are not too disimilar from standard Windows apps or WordStar (though I've always hated WordStar with a passion, I at least learned most of the keystroke combinations).

I'm a pretty good typist so I don't really bother with macros. The other advanced features don't appeal to me either but I can see where other people might like them.

TETO! (to each their own).

--Jim

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Re: Editing features for power users
by maverick (Curate) on Jan 27, 2002 at 00:58 UTC
    vim has most of the features you're asking for:
    • Autoindent: :set smartindent will turn it on
    • Block cut and paste: there are SEVERAL command sequences for this. You could:
      • position the cursor at the start of the block press ma (set a mark named a at this line)
      • move to some other line press y'a (yank / copy from this line to mark a) or d'a (delete / cut from this line to mark a)
      • then move to the line you want insert those copied or cut lines and press p (paste).
      as for between other apps, copy or cutting goes to the windows clipboard and mouse highlighting will copy to the X buffer.
    • gvim supports this:
      • CTRL-W N splits the current window horizontally. (think: Control Window New)
      • CTRL-W J moves the focus to the window below
      • CTRL-W K moves the focus to the window above
      • :q (or another exit command) will close the current window
      • you can cut / paste between any of the windows
    • Jump to specific line number:
      • :(number)
      • :.+10 ten lines below the current one
      • :$ last line of the file
      • :$-5 5 lines before last line of file
    • Umm...regex find and replace. hello? :) you can also have it prompt per each replacment by adding c after the closing / on the replacement
    A very large part of the appeal for me is that my hands never leave the home keys regardless of the task I'm performing. I even mapped the escape key to ALT so that I didn't have to reach for it.

    HTH

    /\/\averick
    perl -l -e "eval pack('h*','072796e6470272f2c5f2c5166756279636b672');"

[reply]
      Thanks for taking the time to reply. I was pretty sure vi, vim, and gvim could meet my short list, probably my longer list too. I'm not so sure, at least from what I've read in this thread and my limited exposure to vi, that they fit the bill as far as short learning curve and familiar keyboard shortcuts (afraid the command/edit mode ":" annoyance is something I just can't get past).

      As for regex-like find/replace? I don't really like regex at all, and don't particularly want to learn two different flavors. Don't get me wrong, with Perl it is a wonderful and efficient tool for people who like it, need it and too rarely use it correctly, I just usually don't (like, need, or use it correctly ;-). On the rare occasions that I do need it, I use it appreciatively, but to use a different flavor of it regularly for editor find/replace? Er, no thanx.

      --Jim

      re:  Screamer++, fair enough!

[reply]
        You can use regexes to search and replace - doesn't mean you have to. :-)

        Makeshifts last the longest.

[reply]

        I even mapped the escape key to ALT so that I didn't have to reach for it.

      You can just use CTRL-[ to send the escape character. Your fingers never leave the home row and you don't have to mess around with alternate key mappings. You can also use this key combination to send ESC to Emacs. :-)

      Cheers!

      --
      hiseldl
      What time is it? It's Camel Time!

[reply]
        Hmmm... That doesn't seem to work. '[' is AltGr-8 and CTRL and AltGr don't mix.
        How does he do it?

        Oh well - maybe it's just my keyboard - I never could locate the right Alt button either.... ;-P

[reply]
Re: Re: Editing features for power users
by seattlejohn (Deacon) on Jan 28, 2002 at 05:40 UTC
    Just the other day I downloaded a (free!) Windows txt editor called Context that basically has all the features you list. I've only used it for a couple of days, but so far the only thing that I've missed is regexp support in search & replace -- but in another message you mentioned that you don't really regexps anyway. So it might be a good fit.

    Available here if you want to check it out:
    http://www.fixedsys.com/context/

[reply]

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