PDP-15 Text Editor Utility Program

This document serves as a manual for the PDP-15 Text Editor (EDIT) utility program, a tool designed for modifying and creating symbolic source programs and other ASCII text material. The editor is compatible with both the ADVANCED Monitor Software System (ADSS) and the Disk Operating System (DOS).

The manual outlines the program's operational modes, including EDIT (Command) Mode for control functions and INPUT (Text) Mode for text entry. It also describes two data modes: Line-by-Line, which processes single lines sequentially, and Block Mode, which loads a user-specified portion of a file into a core buffer for more flexible editing and faster error correction.

Key aspects covered include:

• File Management: Detailed procedures for opening, closing, renaming, and deleting files, as well as how the editor handles input, subsidiary, and output files, including automatic replacement of input files with edited versions.
• Error Handling: Conventions for dealing with command string errors, premature end-of-file conditions, read errors, line overflow, and various file naming and calling errors.
• Commands: A comprehensive list and description of commands categorized into setup, input/output, line pointer control (locative), text modification and manipulation (e.g., print, delete, retype, insert, change, overlay, append, move, convert, line convert, modify), and edit close operations.
• Display Versions: Descriptions of two specialized versions: EDITVP for systems with a VP15A Storage Tube Display unit (usable in ADSS and DOS) and EDITVT for systems with a VT15 Graphics Display unit (usable only in DOS), which provide soft-copy editing capabilities.

The document assumes user familiarity with PDP-15 equipment and relevant monitor system software manuals.