Text Utilities 1 for DOS
(text editors, text viewers)

Ratings: [* fair] to [* * * * * excellent]

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| Other Text Utilities | Text Formatting |

NE- Editor with multiple windows, mouse support, and a spell checker.

* * * *

NE is a good choice as an EDIT.COM replacement. Although it can only load files smaller than 64K, it has an undo function and offers numerous formatting features.

Strengths
  1. Built-in spell checker is easy to navigate. Can create and use a custom dictionary.
  2. Multiple document interface with mouse support
  3. Cut, paste, and undo routines mimic Windows Notepad. Clipboard window available.
  4. Can automatically load previously opened files or system files.
  5. Includes some word processing functions (justify, reflow text).
  6. Online help.
Weaknesses
  1. Many word processing functions are keyboard driven (Word-Star shortcuts) and not accessible from menus.
  2. Can only read/write files < 64K
  3. I've recently noticed a problem attempting to change directories from the File...Open dialog. Hmm...used to work! (perhaps a side-effect of running OpenDos?)

download ne300b.zip. (370K)


Pedit- DOS Edit clone with many added features and a spell checker.

* * *

Pedit is an up-and-coming editor that's similar, but in many respects superior to, DOS's EDIT. From the documentation:

Features
  1. Both, columns and lines can easily be marked, for alterations and/or deletions.
  2. There's an undo function!
  3. Indentation of source files can very easily be changed.
  4. Position marking and jumping.
  5. Word wrap of marked blocks, so text documents and E-mail can be changed and very easily made readable again.
  6. Insert/append another file into the current file.
  7. An integrated spelling checker.
Known Bugs/Limitations:
  1. Docs don't indicate max size of files which can be edited- but perhaps limited by available memory?
  2. Without EMS/XMS the copy/paste buffer is 16Kb.
  3. The "Save Mark" option is limited to 8Kb.
  4. Tabs are expanded to spaces, and stay as spaces.
  5. Files with strange CR(LF) can create unwanted empty lines.
  6. Mouse is not supported. (planned for version 2.20)
  7. Spelling user dictionary is limited to 16Kb.
  8. Enormously big files cannot be spell checked.

download pedit210.zip


VDE- Text editor designed for word processing.

* * * *

Few Windows users will probably be attracted to this editor- but anyone who's at least tried it will certainly appreciate the hard work that has been invested in the development of VDE. It is a very mature product that offers many text mode word processing features. It's quite easy to use- but if you rely on a mouse to do your work, this is not your program. Most commands are available as Word-Star key shortcuts (default mode). You can scroll and mark text with the mouse but cannot select menu items. The executable file is remarkably small for the tasks this program can perform. VDE is shareware but registration not required from individual users.

Strengths
  • Automatic word-wrapping default.
  • Print Preview function shows pagination.
  • Ability to edit several files at once.
  • Macros for automating repetitive tasks.
  • Ability to load word processor files - "compatibility" modes allow VDE to read and write files in the proprietary formats of WordStar, WordPerfect, XyWrite, NotaBene, Microsoft Word, and the HP LX palmtop Memo editor. Non-supported features will simply be filtered out. Can also write some formats (e.g. Word for DOS 5.0)
Weaknesses
  • Can only edit files smaller than about 80K.
  • Mouse may not function well under Windows.
  • I think WordStar shortcuts are a pain on modern keyboards.

download vde183.zip


Medit- Graphics mode mouse-driven editor with multiple undo and large file support.

* * *

I glanced at an earlier version of Medit and was impressed by its looks- but unimpressed with its performance. But I'm now using the most recent update to write this review. It's a strange editor really- it has (had?) good potential- but remains an unfinished experiment. Medit is the only graphical (non-text mode) editor listed here. It is mouse and menu driven and has the feel of a Windows app.

Pluses
  1. Can handle big files- requires a 386+ machine.
  2. Has multiple undo- you can correct mistakes made several keystrokes back.
  3. Has a search and replace function.
  4. Customizable fonts and display
  5. Several independent sizable windows can be opened.
Drawbacks
  1. It doesn't wrap text at the right margin. You must issue a manual carriage return to break a line.
  2. It doesn't offer a menu item for cut and paste. Must use key combinations (perhaps not a bad habit to learn).
  3. If you run this editor in the default 16 color mode it is one unresponsive puppy. You'll have to set an environmental variable in autoexec.bat to force it to use 256 colors which provides quicker video response. 256 color mode may require a VESA driver if your graphics card is not supported. Even then, it might be slow going on anything less than a 486 machine. It's not exactly quick on a Pentium 60.

I rarely change my mind about an editor- but the more I use this one the more I appreciate it's advantages over most of the freeware competition (multiple undo, easy file open dialogs) I nearly trashed it in my original review- but now I'm upping it's rating to three stars (7-9-97).

download medit151.zip (190K)


Multi-Edit DEMO- Functional power editor demo. Mouse/menu driven. Large files.

demo

Finding a freeware editor for DOS which is mouse compatible, menu driven, and handles very large files is difficult- I don't think any exist at this time (there is EDIT that comes packaged with DOS, but it lacks important features [e.g., undo]). Nearly all the freeware, CUA compliant DOS editors are similar clones derived from the same TFileEditor object included with Borland's Turbo Vision (e.g., NE) and they won't load files bigger than 64K. The only editors that suit my CUA tastes are shareware and commercial. I have recently found a demo of a commercial CUA compliant editor that is simply awesome: Multi-Edit. It is "nearly" fully functional.

Here are the features in the demo I like best:
    1. Mouse and menu driven. It's simple to use. The multiple window interface looks a bit like NE but there's much more under the skin.
    2. Handles huge files and has multiple undo.
    3. Built-in file manager.
    4. Implements text drag and drop.
    5. Performs regular expression text searches.
    6. Word processing capabilities.
    7. Language aware (this is first and foremost a programmer's editor).
What's the catch?
  1. You can't save configuration changes.
  2. There is a series of 2-3 introductory screens that must be stepped through before getting to an editing screen. Not a big hassle.
  3. Some external modules (e.g., spell checking, macro compiler) are not included with demo.

The Multi-Edit demo is a great promotion for this editor- they've sold me, and I'll probably purchase the real thing soon (depending on promotional offers, it runs as cheap as 130 bucks). Consider this review an "ad" of sorts.

Go to Multi-Edit download page (Demo zip file size is 650K.)


Terse -Tiny text editor
EzEdit -Tiny text editor

* * * *

Included here are two very small text editors suitable for emergency disks, computers lacking (!) disk space, or simple text editing. Both pack many features into very tiny packages (6K<) : The Terse Editor is a classic among DOS aficionados- one of the smallest usable editors ever produced; the other (EzEdit) is not so famous, but I use it more often because I think it's more user friendly. Of course, neither of these uses a mouse or has a standard menu bar (EzEdit does have a menu-like bar). Both are driven by key commands.

Here's a feature comparison I compiled:

Comparison Chart Terse EzEdit
Size 4K (exactly 4 clusters on a floppy) 5.5K
File loading command line only command line or from within program
Largest file editable 65K max I've successfully edited a 200K file
Max line length unlimited 128 columns
Mark/ paste yes yes (columns or lines)
Undo yes no
Search text yes yes
Replace text yes no
Online Help F1 initial screen, not available after file loaded
Other features: Dual file editing, line drawing.
Note: Backspace does not delete.

Together they take up about 10K of disk space. So why not grab both? Terse is shareware that is free for individual use.

download terse12.zip (Terse)
download ezedit.zip (EzEdit)


LIST- Text file viewer.

* * * *

LIST is a text file viewer that is very popular with DOS users. LIST can view files of nearly unlimited size and possesses a plethora of options for locating and formatting displayed text. User preferences can be "cloned" (saved). LIST supports mouse navigation (needs improvement) and the "plus" version adds some file management capabilities. The LIST package is not freeware but can be used by individuals without charge.

download list91m.zip


READ- Another text file viewer.

* * *

READ is a file viewer that has seen some major improvements over the past two years. While still not as slick or versatile as LIST, it is a very good utility and can handle files up to about 800K. Unlike LIST, there is no directory viewer; instead, filenames must be passed on the command line (workaround: use with PICK). READ is mouse compatible, and different color schemes are possible. One advantage over LIST is the easier ability to copy screen text to a file. This package also comes with READY which can handle files of unlimited size but lacks some of READ's features (e.g., no mouse). Also included is READMAKE, a program which can make any text file a self executing program (e.g., if you want to distribute a text document without worrying about an appropriate viewing application). READMAKE does not compress the self-executable file which is often significantly larger than the original text file.

download read703.zip (360K)


ViewS- Text file viewer with automatic smooth scrolling.

* * * *

Cool. ViewS is a breath of fresh air in the arena of text file viewers. It seems to have a dual personality: part arcade game and part serious application. But ViewS is a superior text file viewer. What is immediately apparent on first inspection is the smooth scrolling built into ViewS. The mouse almost acts like a joystick accelerator. Move the mouse down a little and the text starts scrolling by at a slow pace. Move the mouse a greater distance and the scrolling speed smoothly accelerates. I could write several paragraphs extolling the artistic design of this simple app- but instead I will limit myself to it's comparative strengths and weaknesses as a text file viewer. reviewed 6-11-97

Strengths:
  1. Apparently reads files of any size.
  2. Case sensitive and insensitive text searching and marking. Can write marked text to file.
  3. Has a high bit filter option and can automatically detect binary files.
  4. Lots of configuration options, but....(see weaknesses).
  5. Like READ, ViewS comes packaged with a separate program (VTXT2EXE) that can turn any text file into a self viewing application. Original size must be smaller than 64K. Unlike READMAKE, VTXT2EXE also compresses the self viewing executable into a file not much larger than the original text file.
Weaknesses:
  1. There is no File Open or directory listing feature. Can only load files using the command line.
  2. Configuration involves compiling an ascii configuration file into binary form. (Compiler is supplied)
  3. Perhaps a little too flashy- but I don't mind the color cycling of status messages (I think some of this can be turned off in the config file).

download views196.zip


MORE replacements (page through standard output.)

LESS- File viewer and MORE replacement. * * * * *
Page- Simple file viewer and MORE replacement.* * *

LESS is like MORE- the utility that comes with DOS which allows you to page through multiple screens of output. LESS is a popular DOS port of a native UNIX program. Unlike MORE, LESS allows the user to scroll up and down the output. You can also search for text and go to specific line numbers. Many options exist. While LESS is easy to use, the syntax rules will be unfamiliar to DOS users. If you feel ready to cut your teeth on a Unix-type program, I suggest trying LESS. Less177e is a more novice-friendly clone of LESS.

Page is similar to LESS but with many fewer options. It is simpler and more user friendly. Like LESS, it allows text searching, bookmark setting. and line navigation.

As file viewers, both programs load entire file into memory and thus max file size limit appears to be dependent on available memory.

download less177e.zip (LESS)
download page1_4.zip (Page)


STV- Small (3K) text viewer supports mouse.

* * *

Smooth Text Viewer is a very small (3k) text file viewer that supports smooth scrolling with a mouse. Includes a search function and displays percent of file viewed. Word wrap mode available. In my use, it doesn't appear to scroll smoothly using arrow keys. With large files, Home and End keys don't function properly. Cannot scroll beyond right margin. This app is packaged with Byte Manager but also is available as a separate download.

download stv303.zip


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(c)1997 Richard L. Green