A text editor is very much like a word processor. It is used by programmers and for creating files such as batch files or configuration files. Text editors can only work with ASCII text and cannot do special formatting like bold, italics, or underline.
Why not just use a word processor?
A word processor can be used as a text editor if it can save documents as ASCII files. Most word processors today can save in ASCII format, so why not just use a word processor instead of a text editor?
A word processor is so powerful and loaded with features which are not recognized in an ASCII file, it is cumbersome for programmers and for creating simple configuration files. It is usually just easier to use a text editor. However, if you don't do any programming or configuring of your computer system, you won't need a text editor.
Brand Names
There are dozens of text editors available. There are probably more text editors on the market than there are word processors.
If you are on a UNIX machine, the popular text editors are vi, joe, pico, and ee.
The two most popular PC-based text editors are Edit (written by MicroSoft) and E (written by IBM). We have both of these editors in Grand County School District.
Edit commands
Since the MicroSoft text editor (Edit) has been around the longest, most people are familiar with its commands. The same commands are used in Wordstar and MicroSoft's word processors (Works and Word). Here is a list of some of the more common commands:
select lines = shift + arrow
select words = shift + ctrl + arrow
copy to clipboard = ctrl + insert
cut (yank) current line = ctrl + y
cut to end of line = ctrl + q, y
cut selected text = shift + delete
move one word left = ctrl + arrow
move line up/down = arrow
move to beginning of next line =
ctrl + enter
move to end of current line = end
paste contents from the clipboard =
shift + insert
insert a special ASCII character =
alt + ASCII number or
ctrl + P, ctrl + KEY
search for text = ctrl + q, f
search and replace text = ctrl + q, a
repeat last search = ctrl + L or F3
E Commands
E is the IBM editor that comes with IBM's DOS version 6.3. Here is a list of the common commands for E:
F1 = help
F2 = save file and continue (quick save)
F3 = quit without saving
F4 = save file and quit
F5 = (unused)
F6 = show draw options
F7 = change filename
F8 = edit new file
F9 = undo current line
F10 = next file
Shift + F1 = scroll left
Shift + F2 = scroll right
Shift + F3 = scroll down
Shift + F4 = scroll up
Shift + F5 = center line vertically
Ctrl + F1 = uppercase word
Ctrl + F2 = lowercase word
Ctrl + F3 = uppercase mark
Ctrl + F4 = lowercase mark
Ctrl + F5 = cursor to beginning of word
Ctrl + F6 = cursor to end of work
Alt + a = adjust marked area, blank old
Alt + b = block text
Alt + c = copy blocked text
Alt + d = delete blocked text
Alt + e = cursor to end of blocked text
Alt + f = fill block
Alt + g = (unused)
Alt + h = (unused)
Alt + i = (unused)
Alt + j = join (with following line)
Alt + k = (unused)
Alt + l = line mark (block line)
Alt + m = move block
Alt + n = key in fileName at cursor
Alt + o = overlay block
Alt + p = reformat following Paragraph
Alt + r = reflow marked area
Alt + s = split line at cursor
Alt + t = center text in block
Alt + u = unblock
Alt + w = block Word
Alt + x = escape (allow special characters)
Alt + y = cursor to beginning of block
Alt + z = block, character mode
Alt + 1 = edit file named on current line
Alt + = = execute the current line or
marked set of lines as
commands
Ctrl + a = change window size
Ctrl + d = delete word
Ctrl + e = erase to end of line
Ctrl + f = repeat previous Find command
Ctrl + h = split screen horizontally
Ctrl + l = copy text line to command line
Ctrl + m = toggle tiles/messy window
style
Ctrl + q = swap to/from .all file
Ctrl + r = record key sequence (macro)
Ctrl + t = play recorded key sequence
Ctrl + v = split screen vertically
Ctrl + w = move to next window
Ctrl + x = force syntax expansion
Ctrl + z = zoom window to full screen.
