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VI - LIKE TEXT EDITORS
Vim- Excellent Vi-like text editor for power users.
* * * * * [added 9-14-98]
[H. Schwartz kindly submitted this review- written primarily for users new to the vim experience].
Vim is not just a powerful free editor, it is a whole anthropological phenomenon...
Vim is one of the several clones of the traditional editor vi (visual) included with virtually all Unix operating systems. Vim has a worldwide following, is ported to most operating systems (e.g., Unix, Macs, Dos, Windows, OS2), and comes complete with a web page and several ongoing listserv discussion groups.
Ease of use: When I was a trainer I could teach people to use Unix vi, at a reasonable level in an hour (by teaching a parsimonious subset of vi commands). Vim itself comes with a hypertext-like, comprehensive documentation system, a tutor for beginners, and a hypertext-like on-line help system. I say ``hypertext-like'' because it uses a ``tag'' mechanism to move between links what was designed 30 odd years ago. For those who care, there is documentation that has been translated into true html.
The Unix version of vim includes a version that lets users define custom, pull-down menus, and some of the vim in-crowd have developed free pull down menu systems that include all of vim's features. But, in general, vim (and vi) has no mac-like menu interface, no toolbars, and no keyboard help at the top or bottom of the screen. Vim includes a window system that gets ``windows'' jobs done. But vim's windows will seem simple, non-gui, and unfamiliar to users used to the windows of X-windows, Macs, or windows-95. In vim, 2 ``windows'' is simply the editing screen divided into 2 areas by a horizontal line. All versions of vim include full mouse support.
A major learning curve problem for vi clones is the use of three, different ``modes''. Vi was invented for early terminals that had no function keys, ``Alt'' key and so on. Consequently, it used ordinary letter keys to both execute editor commands and type text. One gets into edit command ``mode'' by hitting <Esc> one or more times. One gets back to typing mode by typing one of three commands: i (insert text), a (append text), R (replace or overtype text). The upside of this system is that letters for commands are quite mnemonic ( d = delete, r = replace, C = copy, M = move etc. etc.).
The third mode came into being because, the original vi was a replacement for the earlier line editor, ex. Instead of replacing ex entirely, vi retained the ex commands, and added new full screen oriented commands ``on top of it." One drops down from vi to the older ex editor in a similar way as one drops down to DOS from windows: Hit the colon (:) key in vi's command mode, and you drop down to ex, where one enters OS type commands at the screen's bottom.
Vim makes the mode easier for beginners by: 1) extending text entry mode to include quite a few basic editing operations, 2) defining a special key (control-O) that gives the illusion that one can execute most vi commands without changing modes, and 3) by indicating what mode one is in on the bottom of the screen. All in all, there is no doubt that vi is harder to learn than something like Multi-Edit for people used to the usual point and click window interfaces. But it is not anywhere near as hard to learn as popular prejudice claims.
POWER: Vim is designed to have a formidable set of features for programmers. In addition it has literally hundreds of commands, settings, and options many of which are unique and very convenient. A few:
There are 3 major features that are fairly unique to the vi family:
Reviewed by H. Schwartz (09-14-98).
16 and 32-bit versions are available for DOS. The 16-bit version does handle large files but excludes some vim-specific features present in the 32-bit version (autocommands, syntax highlighting, etc.) and it quickly runs out of memory when making big changes. Disabling undo helps. Recommended for pre-386 machines. The 32-bit version has Win9x LFN support and requires 386+ and DPMI provider (cwsdpmi included). Versions available for many other platforms (e.g., Win32)- see home page. Sven Guckes (1998) Charity-ware.
Download 2 files (links are to a USA ftp site):
vim53rt.zip (required, 860K)
and
vim53d32.zip (32-bit MS-DOS version, 450K) or vim53d16.zip (16-bit MS-DOS version, 280K)
ELVIS- Vi-like text editor for power users.
unrated [added 05-16-99]
Revise description. If VIM is getting too big for you or your PC, try another great vi clone: ELVIS. Other OS's supported: UNIX, OS/2, Win9x/NT (incl. a GUI version).
Comments from a user: Elvis "is a good html editor, as long as you don't have many graphics to manage. It has plain text, html, and unix man page display modes. It shows html formatted, permits simple edits (moving blocks of lines etc.), and has options to show the source when the user moves the cursor over a link, etc....Its documentation is...better written and clearer [than VIM], and is...more oriented to ordinary users, rather than programmers (although containing many complex options)."
"An older v1.8 of elvis is much smaller (about 1/3 the size) than elvis v2 or vim.......it starts up quickly and takes up less memory. For beginners, it has a simple, built in text only menu that does the basic editing functions."
Version2.x:
First, download untardos.exe which you will need to unpack the following distribution file:
or get the older and smaller v1.8 (1994):
OTHER TEXT EDITORS
SETEDIT- (Set's Editor) Multi-window programmer's editor; mouse support, pulldown menus, large files.
unrated [added 9-13-98; updated 06-28-99]
Don't have much experience with this Borland inspired editor. Intended for programmers rather than word processors but includes some interesting features that all may find useful. Author: S. E. Tropea, Argentina. (1999)
06-28-99: New in v4.26i (6-99): Now uses installer; other tweaks; see docs.
download edi0426i.zip (835K)
FTE- Versatile power editor with an easy to use interface. Win9x LFN support.
unrated [added 4-4-98]
This looks like a superb editor in many respects; perhaps best suited to those who desire the versatility of a power editor but are more comfortable using a familiar point and click, pulldown menus interface. Designed for programming, but can perform general text editing as well. FTE is 32 bit and requires a DOS protected mode extender like CWSDPMI (not included). Win9x LFN's are supported. Programmers and HTML authors should be attracted to FTE (syntax highlighting for many languages, compiler execution, HTML "mode").
Some comments I've received from readers:
See FTE's home page for more info. Author: Marko Macek, Slovenia (1998). Source files are available for v4.97 but as yet (6-99) no one has compiled MS-DOS binaries. Win32 (text mode) binary is here.
download fted46b5.zip (367K)
Alternate site
TDE- 32-bit and 16 bit multi-window text editors.
unrated [added 11-14-98 updated 1-22-99]
The Thomson Davis Editor is a surprisingly small but complete public domain programmer's editor which should appeal to a larger audience. Although some users may be initially disappointed by a lack of mouse support, this editor has a relatively gentle learning curve, and a host of interesting commands (e.g., qoute text for e-mail replies, add time stamp, ROT13 blocks, etc.).
New in v5.0 (12-98): : '"Ported" to djgpp...Now all available memory can be used, and long file names are available under Win95+....Syntax highlighting; Pipe and redirection capabilities; Shell; View DOS screen; Insert a file into current file; A cursor cross; Easy typing of graphic characters; Repeat a key; Border a box block; Pseudo-macros; Block indent and undent; Various corrections and enhancements.' See included history.doc for complete info.
v5.0 Author: Jason Hood (1998), based on earlier versions by Frank Davis, with contributed code by Douglas Thomson. Suggestion and comments-RHW320. Originally featured on Yves Bellefeuille's Best freeware for DOS list.
download tde50.zip (672K)
JED- Programmer's editor; supports EMACS, BRIEF and other modes.
unrated [added 04-24-99]
Another power editor with many capabilities. EMACS and BRIEF veterans should be attracted to JED (Others may find it easier to comprehend than some other power editors, but documentation is not yet complete). Brief list of features:
Notes: Requires 386+ PC and DPMI provider. Install: Need to set env. variables for proper operation and Win9x LFN support.
Author: John E. Davis, (1998). Home Page. ; Sugg. by Scott Nesbitt.
download jed098-7.zip (560K)
ZED- Highly configurable 32-bit text editor.
unrated [added 06-28-99]
From a user: ZED is "just my kind of editor: techie, powerful, and configurable...I am hooked." The documentation is sparse which could make ZED's learning curve steeper than necessary (for starters, remember the F1 [help] and F10 [menu] keys).
Feature highlights:
Notes: EXE size 225K, requires a 386+ PC and a DPMI provider (included), no mouse support. GPL'd source available from home page.
Author: Sandro Serafini, Italy (1998). Home Page.
download zedds103.zip (195K)
Pico- Pine text editor for DOS.
unrated [added 9-13-98]
Pico is a familiar friend to users of the Unix Pine e-mail program. A unique yet easy-to-learn editor, this DOS DJGPP version includes mouse support (text selection and command invocation). Navigation commands are not difficult to master- a command menu is always visible at the bottom of the screen.
Pico was not designed to be a full-featured text editor (e.g., single file editing only, no text replace command) but can be used for simple word processing tasks (automatically wraps text at right margin, paragraph justification command). Can use a spell checker such as ISPELL.
Notes: Requires 386+, DPMI server. Win 9x LFN compatible. Handles large files, but slows down with larger ones. Includes a separate program which functions as a directory browser (also on the slow side).
Hint: To select text with mouse, double click to mark start of block and single click at end of block.
Port by Tim Van Holder (1997)
download pico396b.zip (235K)
DOS TEXT EDITORS: RELATED PROGRAMS
VBX- Full-screen, character mode box drawing program.
unrated [added 06-11-99]
"Manfred's little box painter" is an intuitive text mode box and line drawing tool for DOS. Brief list of features:
Notes: Single file editing, handles 2500 lines per 100K available mem.
Author: Manfred Jainz, Germany (1999), suggested by Robert Bull.
download vbx102.zip (beta, 123K)
ASCII CHARTS
See Screen Utils page
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