How to compose messages using the EVE editor

Version 1.0 - December 30,1995 - Created by Al Bento.

Why use EVE? Because with EVE you can do the following in Vax:

• Do full-screen editing, i.e. to edit a file and move up and down in this file to add text, correct typos, like in a regular wordprocessor.
• Set word-wrapping on and type as you are used to do in a wordprocessor, with EVE moving to the next line automatically whenever it is necessary.
• Reformat paragraphs if you decide to enter text after you have moved to another line, or many lines afterwards. Or when you cut and paste from another application in the Unix side of the Indys (like Jot, WordPerfect 6.0, etc).
• Include files you have saved in the Vax into your new document, or message.
• Spell check your files and/or messages avoiding embarrassing typos and misspelling of words.
• And many more functions like margins, center, etc, if you care to learn.

How to start EVE to edit a file at the $ prompt?

Many times it is more convenient to create a file directly in Vax to send as a message in Mail (see item 4) or to submit as a batch for SPSS, SAS, COBOL, etc. This is specially true when you are modifying a file many times before and after you use it, as in the case of program prodeveloment. Uploading and downloading becomes cumbersome is this case. You can use EVE to create and edit such files at the $ prompt (outside of Mail).

Start the EVE editor by typing EDIT/TPU at the $ prompt. If you want to create or modify the file TEST.TXT, enter the file name along with the EDIT command, and press the Return key (<return>) as shown below:

$ EDIT/TPU TEST.TXT <return>

The EDIT/TPU command will take you right into the EVE editor. You will be in a blank document which will look like this:

As you start typing the [End of File] marker will be moving down automatically, and the text will be accessible for you to edit. See an example here. You can use the arrow up or down to move up or down in the text.

A status line appears at the bottom of the EVE window in reverse video and provides information about the buffer (file) you are viewing in the window. The status line shows the buffer name, editing status (write or read-only), current mode (insert or overstrike), and current direction (forward or reverse). A message window, containing informational messages appears beneath the status line.

EVE is a full screen, wordprocessor-like editor. If you set it up to run in your account as described in item 6 below, it will do word-wrapping automatically every time you use it. Simple editing functions can be performed using keystrokes only (see item 3). Spelling, centering, reformatting paragraphs, including files, etc, require the use of a keystroke (Ctrl-B) to call the EVE command and specific keywords to perform each one of these functions (see item 4).

Eve can also be set up as the default editor for VaxMail (see item 6). This is an important feature specially for REPLYing to messages, and to avoid typos and other errors sending mail in a hurry.

Using the keyboard and keypad in EVE in Windows

The following keystrokes are available to enter commands and edit in Windows (to see it formatted as a table you need a browser that supports Netscape table extensions):

What you can do (in Eve)	Key or combination of keys
Save text message	Ctrl-Z
Quit without saving	Ctrl-Y
Delete character left	Del
Delete line	Ctrl-U
Tab	Tab
Move to begin of line	Ctrl-H (or Backspace)
Move to end of line	Ctrl-E
Move up, down, left, right	Arrows up, down, left, right
Move up 15 lines	PgUp (in the numeric keypad)
Move down 15 lines	PgDn (in the numeric keypad)
Access interesting Eve features (spell, reformat paragraph, center, etc).	Ctrl-B

How you can use spelling, reformatting, center, include files, etc.

As discussed before, EVE can perform most word processing functions using first a keystroke (Ctrl-B) to start command mode, and then issuing a keyword/command to obtain the function.

If you use Net Term or PROCOMM for Windows you can make the PC keyboard work as usual in VT-100 (VAX) emulation. See NetTerm or PROCOMM keyboard customization. If you decide not to do so (or you do not use NetTerm or PROCOMM), use the following procedure (a gimmick) to issue commands -- use keywords -- to obtain EVE special editing features:

• Start by pressing Ctrl-B. You will see at the bottom of the screen:
• Command: xxxxxxxx (where xxxxxxxx can be a variety of irrelevant things).
• The cursor will be at the end of xxxxxxxx. Use the delete key to delete the xxxxxxxx, so that all that remains is Command:
• You can now type a keyword after the 'Command:' prompt to obtain the feature you are interested. For example to call the speller you would type spell:

  Command: spell <return>

The following table (again a browser supporting Netscape table extensions is needed to see the table format) shows the keywords (commands) you can use:

Feature/function	What to type	Where should the cursor be before you enter a keyword
reformat a paragraph (after cut and paste, otherwise is automatic)	Fill	at any line in the paragraph
Include a file saved previously in document you are editing	Include file fname (where 'fname' is a name of a Vax file you want to include in the present document)	where you want the file inserted
checking spelling of your document	spell	not relevant
on-line help on Eve commands (ignore references to keypad keys in the Indys)	help	not relevant
open another process in the Vax (useful to find file names you forgot and want to include; finish the process by typing logout and you will be back editing)	spawn	not relevant
center text in one line	center	at the line

NOTE: There are more commands in EVE than I showed above. Use help at the command prompt to learn more about them.

How to start VaxMail to use EVE as the editor

The use of EVE as the VaxMail editor is important to compose messages and specially to REPLY to messages. You can reformat paragraphs, do spelling, etc. To make EVE your editor in VaxMail you need to:
1. Type Mail/Edit at the $ prompt (every time you start) instead of Mail:

   $ Mail/Edit <return>

2. Type: SET EDITOR TPU just once at the MAIL> prompt.

   MAIL> SET EDITOR TPU <return>

   • EVE will be set up to be used in Mail from this point on.
   • If you ever decide not to use EVE anymore type: SET NOEDITOR at the MAIL> prompt.
   • To check that you did set it up type: SHOW EDITOR at the MAIL> prompt :

3. Set up your Vax account to use EVE (see item 6).

How to set up your Vax account to use the EVE editor.

You need to create two files: LOGIN.COM and EVE$INIT.EVE

How to create these files?

1. at the Vax $ prompt type: CREATE LOGIN.COM

   $ CREATE LOGIN.COM <return>

2. type the following 3 lines :
   EMAIL = = "MAIL/EDIT=(SEND,REPLY,FORWARD)" <return>
   EVE = = "EDIT/TPU" <return>
   $ DEFINE EVE$INIT SYS$LOGIN:EVE$INIT.EVE <Ctrl-Z>

3. to check if the file was created type:

   $ TYPE LOGIN.COM <return>

4. at the $ prompt type: CREATE EVE$INIT.EVE

   $ CREATE EVE$INIT.EVE <return>

5. type the following 3 lines:
   SET CURSOR BOUND <return>
   SET KEYPAD EDT <return>
   SET TABS EVERY 5 <Ctrl-Z>

6. to check if the second file was created type:

   $ TYPE EVE$INIT.EVE <return>

After you logout and login again all features will be working, including word-wrapping, the use of EVE to start the editor, and EMAIL to start VAX Mail using EVE.

This page is maintained by Al Bento who can be reached at abento@ubmail.ubalt.edu. Although we will attempt to keep this information accurate, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. This page was last updated on March 16, 1996.