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Document:	VAX-11 Text Editing Reference Manual
Order Number:	AA-D02SA-TE
Revision:	0
Pages:	162
Original Filename:

OCR Text

August 1978

This document contains information on the two text-editing programs

provided with VAX/VMS. It describes in detail the features and use of
SOS, an interactive editor, and SLP, a batch-oriented editor.

VAX-11
Text Editing
Reference Manual
Order No. AA-D0O29A-TE

SUPERSESSION/UPDATE INFORMATION:

This is a new document for
this release.

OPERATING SYSTEM AND VERSION:

VAX/VMS V01

SOFTWARE VERSION:

VAX/VMS VO1

To order additional copies of this document, contact the Software Distribution

Center, Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754

digital equipment corporation - maynard, massachusetts

First Printing,

August 1978

The information in this document is subject to change without notice
and should not be construed as a commitment by Digital Equipment
Corporation.
Digital Equipment Corporation assumes no responsibility
for any errors that may appear in this document.

The software described in this document is furnished under a license
and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such
license.

No responsibility is assumed for the use or reliability of software on
equipment that is not supplied by DIGITAL or its affiliated companies.

The postage~prepaid READER'S COMMENTS form on the last page of this
document requests the user's critical evaluation to assist us in preparing future documentation.

The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:

DIGITAL
DEC

DECsystem-10
DECtape

MASSBUS
OMNIBUS

DECUS
UNIBUS
COMPUTER LABS

EDUSYSTEM
FLIP CHIP
FOCAL

PHA
RSTS
RSX

VAX

VMS

PDP

COMTEX
DDT
DECCOMM
ASSIST-11

DIBOL

INDAC
LAB-8
DECSYSTEM-~20
RTS-8

0s/8

TYPESET-8
TYPESET-11
TMS~11
ITPS~-10

SBI

CONTENTS

Page

PREFACE
CHAPTER

CHAPTER

vii
1

INTRODUCTION TO TEXT EDITING

1-1

1.1
1.2

SOS AND SLP
LINE NUMBERS

1-1
1-2

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.1
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.2
2.2.1
2.2.2
2,2.3
2.2.4

INTRODUCTION TO SOS
Initiating and Terminating SOS
Control Characters
Use of Escape
Upper- and Lowercase Characters
MODES OF OPERATION
Input Mode
Read-only Mode
Edit Mode
Copy-file Mode

2.2.5

Decide

2.2.6

Alter Mode

2.2.7

Alter/Insert Mode

2.3

LINE

(SOS)

2-1

Mode

NUMBERS,

2-1
2-2
2-2
2-3
2-3
2-4
2-6
2-7
2-7
2-9
2-9

2-10
PAGE

2-10
NUMBERS,

AND

RANGES

2-11

2.3.1

Line Numbers

2-11

2.3.2
2.3.3

Page Numbers
Positions

2-11
2-11

2.3.4

Ranges

2-12

2.3.5

Shorthand Characters

2-13

2.3.6
2.3.7

The Current Position
Defaults for Line and Page Numbers

2-13
2-14

Line-Number

2-16

2.3.8

2.4

of Line Numbers

and Page-~Number Offsets

HOW SOS NUMBERS

NEW LINES

The

2.4.2
2.4.3

When an Existing Line Intervenes
Input Mode versus Alter/Insert Mode

2.5
2.6

Current Line-~Number

2-17

2.4.1

DEFAULT

Increment

CONDITIONS WHEN SOS IS
AND RESTRICTIONS

INITIATED

LIMITATIONS

2.7
2,7.1
2.7.2
2.7.3
2.7.4

2-18

2-18
2-18
2-21
2-21

USING SOS SAFELY
Built-in Safety Features
The Save World Command
Two Options for Automatic File Saving
Recovering Information from Temporary Files:
An Example
2.8
EDIT-MODE COMMANDS
2.8.1
Alter (A -~ Alter Mode)
2.8.2
Copy (C)
2.8.2.1
Copy-file Mode
2.8.3
Delete (D)
2.8.4
End (E)
2.8.5
Find (F)

2-21
2-22
2-22
2-22

2.8.5.1

2-48

Find Options

iii

2-23
2-24
2-27
2-40
2-42
2-43
2-44
2-46

o
e

*
[)

IRENE

[]

(Cont.)

Help (H)
Input (I -- Input Mode)
Join (J)
Kill Page Mark (K)
List (L)
Mark (M)
reNumber (N)
Print (P)
Replace (R)
Substitute (S)
Multiple Substitutions
Substitute Options
Decide Mode
Transfer (T)
Save World (W)
eXtend (X)
Move Position (.)
Give Parameter (=)
Set Parameter (/)
Command File (@)

SOS

WNH

NDNNNHRPHEEHBPRHEREHERFREWODOJ0
NHEOWVOIAUILUILLBE
WM HO

NNNDNDDNODDODNDNDODNDNDDNDODNODBDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDN

O O WO W L]Ed [0000
0000
o0
0o L]000
0o .oo
0o L]CO L]G L] O
L
.
L]
* L]
[)
LJ
L]
L]
[)
*
[]
®

CONTENTS

PARAMETERS

AND

SWITCHES

Parameters

Switches

Setting Default Conditions Using Symbol

RANGES

SPECIAL

SOS

INTERNALS

CONTENT

CHARACTERS

SOS Temporary Files

2.13.1.1
2,13.1.2
2.13.2

Temporary File Example
Using SOS Efficiently
Format of Text Lines and Page Marks

INTRODUCTION

RUNNING
SLP

SLP

INPUT AND

OUTPUT

FILES

The

Correction Input

The

SLP

The SLP Listing File
The SLP Output File
HOW

SLP

USING

.1
.2

File

Command File

PROCESSES

FILES

SLP

Specifying SLP Edit Commands
SLP Operators
General Form of the Edit Command

Updating Source Files Using SLP
1
2
3
4

Generating a Numbered Listing
Adding Lines to a File
Deleting Lines from a File
Replacing Lines in a File
SLP

l—l

(SLP)

SLP

WWwWwwwNn =

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

oottt

WWWWwWwWwwLwwwwwwwwwwww

QUALIFIERS

/ [NO]JLISTING[:file-spec]

|
[

SOS

SPECIFYING

WWWWWLWWwWwWwWwwwwwwwwww
!
HHEFHFOUNNSNNSNUTLLLLERWWWDNDND
HHO

w N el eNeNoNe

PATTERN-MATCHING CONSTRUCTS

Find-String Constructs
Substitute-String Constructs
Combining Find-String Constructs

2.13.1

CHAPTER

SPECIAL

[ [

N NNV
L] L4
L]
*
L)
L]
L)

ol el el ol e

Assignment

CONTENTS

(Cont.)

Page

3.6.2
3.6.3
3.6.4
3.6.5
3.7
3.7.1
3.7.2
3.7.3
3.7.4

/ [NO]JOUTPUT [: £ile-spec]
/[NO]AUDIT_TRAIL[:(POSITION:pos,SIZE:len)]
/[NO]TAB_FILL
/ [NO]TRUNCATE [ :position]
THE AUDIT TRAIL
Changing the Value of the Audit Trail
Setting the Position and Length of the
Audit Trail
Temporarily Suppressing the Audit Trail
Deleting

an Input Audit Trail

3-11
3-11
3-11
3-11
3-12
3-12
3-12
3-13
3-13

APPENDIX A

SUMMARY OF SOS

FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

APPENDIX B

SOS

ERROR MESSAGES:

APPENDIX

SLP

COMMAND FEATURES

C~-1

APPENDIX

SLP

ERROR MESSAGES

D-1

NOVICE AND EXPERT FORMS

INDEX

A-1
B-1

Index~1l

FIGURES

FIGURE

2-1

SOS

2-2

How SOS

Modes

Operation

2-3
2-4

Inserted Lines
Alter-Mode Example
Transfer Operation to Move Part of
to Another Location

2-5

SOS

2-6
3-1

Temporary Files in a Sample Editing Session
Input Files and Output Files Used During

2-111

SLP

3-2

Calculates

Switches

2-5

the Numbers

and Their

Initial

of New,

2-20
2-30
a File

Values

Processing

2-71
2-85

TABLES

TABLE

2-1

Edit-Mode

2-2

Defaults

Commands:

2-3
2-4

Edit-Mode Command Summary
Alter-Mode Commands

2-26
2-28

2-5
2-6

2-68
2-83

2-7

Decide-Mode Commands
SOS Parameters
SOS Switches

2-8
2-9
3-1
A-1
A-2

Special Pattern-Matching Constructs
SOS Special Characters
SLP Operators
SOS Modes of Operation
Edit-Mode Commands: Function and Format

2-99
2-107
3-5
A-1
A-2

for

Line

Form

and

A-3

Meanings

A-4
A-5

Alter-Mode Commands
Decide-Mode Commands

Edit-Mode

and

Function

Page Numbers

2-8
2-15

2-84

Command Options

A-4

A-4
A-6

CONTENTS

(Cont.)

Page

TABLES

TABLE

A-6
A-7
A-8
A-9
B-1
Cc-1
C-2
c-3
D-1

(Cont.)

SOS Parameters
SOS Switches
Special Pattern-Matching Constructs
Position Shorthand Characters
SOS Error Messages: Novice and Expert Forms
SLP Output Qualifiers
Edit Mode Commands
SLP Operators
SLP Error Messages

A-6
A-7
A-8
A-8
B-1
C-2
Cc-3
Cc-3
D-1

PREFACE

MANUAL OBJECTIVES

This manual is designed as a reference for users
who
have
had
some
exposure
to
text-editing computer programs.
It is not intended as a
tutorial introduction, either to text editors in general or to the SOS
and

SLP editors

in particular.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

If you have read the introduction to SOS in
the
VAX/VMS
want to know more about SOS, this is the manual for you.

Primer

and

If you are familiar with some other text editing program -either
a
DIGITAL
text
editor
or
another
-- you can use this manual to gain
familiarity with SOS and SLP.
The
tables
and
figures
will
prove
helpful
in this familiarization.
Later, you can study this manual
learn details of SOS and SLP commands and features.

STRUCTURE OF THIS MANUAL

Information in this document

Chapter

2 describes SOS

in detail.

Chapter

in detail.

Appendix A summarizes SOS

is a brief

is organized as follows.

introduction to text editing;

some of the differences between S0S

lists

SOS

Appendix C
error

describes SLP

error

functions

summarizes

SLP commands,

messages.

following documents may also be
®

VAX-11l

VAX/VMS

SLP.

features,

it touches

and Appendix

messages.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

The

and

useful.

Information Directory
Primer

vii

and Appendix D

1lists

SLP

CONVENTIONS USED

Colored ink is
that you type.

IN THIS MANUAL

used in examples of
For example:

user-system dialog

show the

text

K500 5 7 00CRET)
This means
a carriage

following

JEHEEE B

The

that after
return.

The

the SOS prompt

symbols

represent

The escape key
the terminal)
The

carriage

The

delete

The

line

feed

The

space

bar

The

tab

The

backspace

following

key

symbols

(labeled

CTRL/I

pressing

Section

2.1.2

discusses

keys

ALT,

SEL,

the

(labeled CR or
DEL,

RUB,

followed

terminal

PRE,

keyboard:

depending

which

you

RETURN)

CAN)

(see

below)

key

stand

key

ESC,

you type P500:700

key

key or

initiate

special

(labeled

return

(*)

for

various

control

functions,

the given key while holding down the CTRL
these

control

functions.

key.

A downward-pointing arrow (|) marks a character
that
is
not
echoed
literally.
For
example, SOS echoes the escape character as a dollar
sign

(§).

In Chapter

this

indicated

KGR i

viii

follows:

CHAPTER

INTRODUCTION TO TEXT

EDITING

Text editing on a
computer
system
means
creating,
modifying,
and
maintaining
files
of information.
The files can contain any kind of
character-oriented information.
Some examples are:
®

Source language
language

for

assembly

language

Clear

text

such

as memos,

Data -- such as records
of numbers for input to

correspondence,

higher-level

documentation

from a payroll master file or
a chemical-analysis program

Text editing does not refer to maintaining binary
or any other non-character-oriented information.

1.1

program

files,

image

columns

files,

SOS AND SLP

This manual describes two text
you can use to create, modify,

editors, which
are
computer
and maintain ASCII files:

programs

SOS is an interactive editor.
Using it, you
work
online
to
the
computer,
carrying
on
a dialog with the program as you
create or modify a file.
(SOS stands for Son of
STOPGAP,
an
earlier text editor.)

SLP is a
batch-oriented
-editor.
It
is
designed
to
make
changes to a text file in one pass, without your intervention,
guided by a file of
instructions
you
have
prepared.
(SLP
originally meant "source language input program.")

Interactive editing, SOS-style, is the usual way to create files.
SOS
is also suitable for modifying a file interactively -- for thinking as
you work.
However, this method of text editing, while
more
amenable
to
creative
thought,
does
not
leave
a
record
of how a file was
modified.
If you need such a record, a batch-oriented editor is
more
suitable.
Use
SLP
1if
you
need an exact record of what changes were made to a
file, and when.
SLP is
widely
used
in
PDP-1l1
program-development

environments.
Changes
an operating system, for
distributed
by means of
source files.

to a given reference copy (a "base level") of
example,
can
be
succinctly
described
and
an SLP command file applied to the base-level

A batch-oriented editor is also useful when
you
want
to
check
the
editing
commands
carefully
before issuing them,
or when you want to
minimize the editing time on a system.

INTRODUCTION TO TEXT

EDITING

SOS is often used to create SLP command files.
Many
people
use
SOS
for
almost all their text-maintenance tasks, relying on SLP only when
they need a formal and complete record of changes to a file.
SOS and SLP are both invoked by the DCL
command
editor
1is
§SOS.
Therefore, to start S0OS, type
start SLP, type EDIT/SLP.

1.2

EDIT.
EDIT or

The
default
EDIT/SOS;
to

LINE NUMBERS

Different text editing programs use different methods to refer to
the
text
they
work
on.
Some use line numbers, whereas others refer to
text lines strictly by their content.
For
example,
a
line-oriented
text
editor
might
accept
the
command
"delete
1line
50," while a
content-oriented editor would take the command
"find
the
next
1line
that contains ABC and delete that line."

SOS and SLP both refer to text by line number.!
the
philosophy
behind
their
aware of the differences.

1line numbering;

But

they

user,

differ

you must be

In SOS, line numbers are actually part of each text
1line.
When
SOS
writes
your
file
to
disk,
it includes the line numbers unless you
specifically request that it omit them.
Lines are numbered with
some
interval
between
them
(usually
100), and new lines that you insert
must fit between adjacent line numbers.
Unless you give a command
to
renumber
part
of
a
file,
any given line of text has the same line
number each time you edit the file with SO0S.
In SLP, by contrast, line numbers are
not
part
of
the
text.
The
number of a line in a file you are editing with SLP corresponds to its
sequential position relative to the beginning of the
file.
Thus,
a
given
text
1line
may have different sequential numbers for different
runs of SLP, if lines have been inserted
or
deleted
at
an
earlier
point in the file.

In Chapters 2 and 3, this distinction is made by
referring
to
"line
numbers"
in the SOS discussion (Chapter 2), and to "sequence numbers"
in

the SLP discussion

Both editors also have
in the text.

string

(Chapter

3).

features that

let you

for

given

CHAPTER

INTERACTIVE

2.1

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

INTRODUCTION TO SOS

SOS is a line-oriented,
interactive,
text-editing
program.
Unlike
many line-oriented editors, SOS has features that allow you to examine
and change text
character by character.
You can use SOS
to
perform
the following functions:
®

Examine,

with

create,

for

and/or

the option

Merge

Create

parts

and modify ASCII

file

to
one

that

change

one

verify each
file

into

subset

text

files

arbitrary

change

before

text

strings,

is made

another

file

SOS
you

is line-oriented, so it works with line-numbered text
files.
edit a file that does not have line numbers, the editor adds
numbers to the text lines.

If
line

Unlike some (content-oriented) text editors, SOS requires
you
to
be
concerned with line numbers within the file.
For most SOS commands, a
line number or a range of
1line
numbers
specifies
the
text
to
be

operated

on.

programmed
of
text.

text,
file.

When

insert

keep

you

line

insert,

numbers

delete, move, or copy text, SOS is
ascending order within each
"page"
either refuse to accept more inserted

this end, SOS may
"page marks," or warn

you

renumber

the

1lines

the

SOS is more interactive than many other editors.
In
some
modes
of
operation
it
responds
on a character-by-character basis to what you
type.
This
degree
of
interactivity:
may
be
new
to
some
users
accustomed
to less interactive editors, which always expect a command
line terminated by a carriage return.
For

example,

one

SOS

feature

that

exhibits

this

character-by-character

interactivity
is Alter mode.
This special mode lets
within a line of text, interactively.
Alter mode has

and
syntax; it
functions
essentially as an editor
Alter mode is discussed in detail in Section 2.8.1.

Advanced
features
of
S80S
allow
searching
for
a
string
of text
specify blocks of text by content,

Section
Many

SOS

you make changes
its own commands
within

editor.

you
considerable
flexibility
in
(see Section 2.10) and allow you to
instead
of
by
1line
number
(see

2.11).
parameters

and

editor's default values

switches,

which

(see Sections

you

2.8.21

can

and

set,

2.9).

control

the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.1.1

(SOS)

1Initiating and Terminating SOS

Initiate SOS by
the DCL prompt:

typing one of

the

following

commands

response

$ EnITCren)
or

$ EDNIT file-srec(rea)
or

$ EDIT/0U
! outrut-file-sree
TRUT file-srec(RED)
In the first form above, SOS prompts you for the specification of
the
file
you
want to edit or create.
In the second form, you explicitly
type the file specification (file-spec).
If the specified
file
does
not
exist,
SOS
creates
it.
In
the
third
form,
outfile is the
specification for an output file.
In the second
and
third
forms
qualifiers, separated by slashes

SOS does not supply a default
type is null.

above,
(/), to

you
can
optionally
append
the file specification.

file type.

If you

omit

it,

the

file

There are several ways to terminate SOS; they are discussed in
detail
under
the
End
command
(E) in Section 2.8.4.
Usually, you give the
command E after SOS's prompt (*):

[file-sreacl
%

Upon terminating,
SOS
writes
an
output
file
containing
all
the
modifications
you made in editing the file.
The original file is not
changed.
The specification SOS uses for the output file
(unless
you
supply it explicitly) has a version number higher by 1 than the latest
version of the original file.

2.1.2

Control

Characters

All the usual VAX/VMS control characters can be used in most
contexts
within
SOS.
However,
some of these characters are not effective in
Alter mode.
For details, see the Alter command in Section 2.8.1.
The
control characters are described briefly below.

DEL

(DELete, or RUBout, or CANcel)
This character deletes the
previous
input
character.
Successive
DEL
characters
remove

characters

one

one.

Any

number

characters
can be deleted, up to the last carriage return
or escape typed.
The way this deletion is represented
on
your
terminal
depends
on
the type of terminal.
On CRT
terminals, the characters are physically deleted
and
the
cursor
is
moved
backward.
On hard-copy terminals, the
deleted characters are echoed in reverse
order,
and
set
off within backslashes (\).
This character, typed before an input
1line
1is
complete,
deletes
the entire line being input.
You can then retype
the line.
is
generated
by
typing
u
or
U
while

holding down

the CTRL

key.

is echoed as

This
character,
typed
while
output
suspends
the
output
until
you
type
echoed.
2-2

“U.

is
in
@=o.

progress,
is not

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

This character resumes output suspended by @,
not

echoed.

This
character
interrupts
output
in
progress.
SOS
continues to send output to the terminal, but the terminal
discards it.
SOS prompts when it
1is
ready
for
further
input;

the

prompt depends

on which

6 is not echoed.
This

character,

redisplays

the

This character

typed

before

entire

line.

Substitute

is echoed as

Use

immediately gets the

character
(select),

is
or

The

escape

Although

the

command

command)

are

some

terminals,

labeled ESC;
PRE (prefix).

character

VAX-1ll

the

(for

key

on others,

message

the

DCL

in
progress
Any changes
an

Alter

into

the

part

their

the

escape

only

In this manual,
the terminal.

contexts

indicates

SOS echoes the escape as
dollar-sign
character,_
special meaning to SOS.

Upper-

and

labeled ALT

input,

which

that

you

the

escape
it

file.

(altmode),

VAX/VMS

should

SEL

system.

interchangeably with

SOS does not.

You

can

legal.

press

$§.
Do not confuse this
shift-4.
The
dollar

Lowercase

terminal

lowercase

(&),

corresponding

indicate the end of

example,

delimiter

programs

the

and

“R.

“C.

use

Whether

completed,

attention of

incorporated

carriage return to

2.1.4

in.

Escape

many

escape

type any legal DCL command,
the
DCL
command
does
not
resume SOS by typing the DCL

Some SOS commands use the escape character,
syntax.

line

editor

character interrupts whatever command is
returns
you
1immediately
to Edit mode.

already made

2.1.3

input

the

is echoed

interpreter.
You
can
then
such as SHOW or CONTINUE.
1If
change the SOS image, you can
command CONTINUE.

This
and

mode

the

escape

key on

character
with
the
sign
normally has no

Characters

generates

all

uppercase

interchangeably

The

1is

file.

See

commands.

characters

dollar-sign

ESCAPE

set,

depends

text

character

enabling

Sections

2.9.1

and

SOS

that

you

type

into

significant

only

insert

2.8.22.

both

terminal

distinguishes
enter

you

the

characters,

escape

between

and

upper-

how
the terminal characteristics are set.
(Terminal
characteristics
are
changed
by
the
DCL
SET command -- see the VAX/VMS Command Language
User's Guide and the VAX/VMS Primer.) SOS accepts either uppercase
or
lowercase characters in commands, or a combination of the two.
In the
examples in this manual, upperand
1lowercase
characters
are
used

lowercase

characters,

upper~-

and

file.

when

the

characters

parameter

into

text

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Normally, SOS does
not
distinguish
uppercase
from
lowercase
when
searching for a given text string.
Thus, a search for the text string

satisfied
"holiday," using the Find or Substitute commands, would be
Holiday, or
holiday,
following:
the
any of
encountered
S80S
if
search
these
a description of
for
2.8
(See Section
HOLIDAY.
SOS to distinguish upper- and lowercase
request
can
You
commands.)
or
characters either by setting the EXACT switch (see Section 2.9.2)
by using an option of the Find and Substitute commands.

2.2

MODES OF OPERATION

SOS operates in a number of different modes.
A mode of operation
is
defined as a state of SOS in which the editor interprets terminal
input in a distinctive way.
You can tell which mode SOS is
operating
in by the way the terminal behaves.

SOS
submodes of
two
and
seven modes
the
represents
Figure 2-1
You
among them, and the prompt for each mode.
paths
the
operation,
or
Read-only,
Input,
can initiate the editor in one of three modes:
Edit mode is the heart of SO0S, from which the other modes can
Edit.
and
to Alter
Two submodes of Decide mode correspond
be accessed.
Throughout
Alter/insert modes, but communicate only with Decide mode.
the rest of this chapter, miniature versions of Figure 2-1 mark places
in the text where the various modes are discussed.

Figure 2-1 also shows the command(s) that let you change from one mode
of operation to another.
These commands are described in Section 2.8.
In different modes, SOS prints different prompts when it is

ready

accept
input,
as shown in Figure 2-1.
It then accepts a certain set
SOS
some modes,
In
its mode.
to
unique
of commands, each set
input on a character-by-character basis, so that you need
interprets
In different modes, SOS has different
after a command.
not type
typed unacceptable input.
have
you
that
you
ways of informing

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

EDIT file@®ED)

(file exists)

ERED

CIRLY

Input

EDIT file®ED

{no file exists)

€0

nnnnn €EBLO

| GED

(GITIVi))

REED

Read-only

EDIT file

/READONLY GED)

.
-

E@RED
CIRLY)

Decide

EQG
CTRL/C

D+

S....DERED

DCL

Decide Alter

JE
ETRLY)

nhnnnn

EDIT

@D Decide Alter/

(CTRL/C}

CTRL/O
-

CTRLIY)

[

Alter
-

insert

(GIe)

®ED

(CTRL/Y)

nnnnn

-t

A.ET

A
]

Alter/
insert

(@)

Copy-file
-

ctay)

X @ED

ERED

C.../CRED

The paths among the various SOS modes and submodes of operation are marked by arrows. Prompts are shown in boldface type.

Figure 2-1

SOS Modes of Operation

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

As mentioned
e

above,

you can

Input mode,

initiate SOS

SOS

accepts

mode,

you

text

(SOS)

in one of
you

type

three modes:

and

adds

the

display

the

file.
@

In Read-only

file;
e

Four

you cannot change

can

only

and

it.

In Edit mode, you issue most of the commands
to
display
and
change a file.
From Edit mode you can move to any other mode,
or you can exit to DCL.

other modes of

are Copy-file,

SOS

Decide,

operation

Alter,

are

accessible

from Edit mode.

They

and Alter/insert.

Copy-file mode
another.
You
the text to be

Decide mode is used in conjunction with the Substitute command
(see
Section
2.8.15).
You can issue a Substitute command to
replace all occurrences of one text string with another string
within a given range of text.
If you specify Decide mode, you
can choose on a case-by-case basis whether or not to make
the
substitution,
or
you
can
enter
Alter
mode
to
make more
extensive changes within a line.

Alter

In
is

mode

lets

you

this
special
a command that

type
®

lets you to
can search
copied.

Alter/insert mode

edit

copy all or part of one
file
into
and display the copy file to locate

character

within

1line.

intraline mode, each character that you
SOS acts upon
immediately;
you
need

lets

you

insert

text

that

you

type

type
not

into

the

text
file.
1In this mode, most control characters are treated
as text;
they do not perform their usual control functions.
Decide mode
In

these

has

two

submodes:

submodes,

SOS

Decide Alter

acts

almost

and

exactly

Decide

Alter/insert.

in Alter

does

mode

and Alter/insert mode, respectively.
The
only
difference
1is
that
these
submodes
are
accessed
from
Decide mode, not from Edit mode.
When you exit from the submodes you return to Decide mode, not to Edit
mode.
The

following

general

sections discuss

terms.

later,

at places

2.2.1

Input Mode

Input mode

SOS

file.

You

enter

More
the

you

text

can

Input

the

seven modes

detail
marked

insert

mode

one

and

two

on each mode

by miniature

copies

either

new

submodes

operation

lines

Figure

text

directly from DCL or

SOS

is given
2-1.

into

from

Edit

mode.

S0S starts up in Input mode if, when you give the
DCL
you
specify
a file that does not exist.
SOS creates
specified name and waits for you to type text
to
put
example

follows.

$ EDIT NEW.FORCED)
INFUTIDRAL
I IMANCHINEW.FOR S 1

00100

EDIT
file
into

command,
with the
it.
An

INTERACTIVE

Notice

that
In

that

Input

EDITOR

the

to be

prompt

typed.

the

line

1Initially,

number

SOS

that

numbers

correct typing errors while entering
control characters described in Section

When input
character.

(SOS)

SOS types the word INPUT before the filespec
creating the file and entering Input mode.

mode,

line

TEXT

text,

SOS

lines
use

remind

assigns

by 100s.

any

the

you

the

terminal

2.1.2.

complete, switch
to
Edit
mode
by
typing
an
escape
You can type escape either at the end of a line of input,
or after SOS has prompted with the next line number.
SOS then prompts
with an asterisk (*), indicating Edit mode.
You

can

E.
just
To

store

the

file

and

enter

Input

mode

again

into
the
Sections 2.8.7

file

put

2.2.2
Use

end

SOS

this

point

typing

the

Or, before terminating, you can make changes to the text
typed by using other Edit-mode and Alter-mode commands.

and

use

you

have

whole

the

Input or Replace
respectively).

2.8.14,

lines

commands

command

you

have

text

(described

Read-only Mode

Read-only mode

intend

modify

you

it,

protected

against

appending

the qualifier

EDIT

your

PAYROLL

only

need

you

writing

it.

/READONLY

examine

need

Start

the

file

1look

SOS

and

file

that

this

mode

not

is
by

filespec:

«MST/READO
Y Crer)
NL

READIDEBALILCORFIFAYROLL
.MST$3
R

Note that SOS
the prompt in

types the word READ
Read-only mode.

before

the

filespec,

and

that

Only nine commands are legal in Read-only mode (see Section 2.8): End,
Find,
List,
Print,
Save
World,
Move Position, Give Parameter, Set

Parameter,
Any
other
message

and

Command File.
These commands do not modify
the
commands, which would modify the file, result in the

COMMAND

INVALID

FOR

READ

ONLY

file.
error

FILE.

Read-only mode is the most efficient way to
to
modify a file.
It is efficient because

to a working
details.

2.2.3

file

it does

Edit

use SOS if you do not need
SOS does not copy the file
mode.
See
Section
2.13
for

Edit Mode

Edit mode constitutes the main part of SOS.
You can switch to any
of
five
other
modes
of operation from Edit mode, and you can return to
Edit mode from any of them.
(You cannot switch to Read-only mode from
Edit mode, or vice versa.)
SOS accepts 24 commands in Edit
mode.
Most
single
character,.
and most take arguments in
Table 2-1 lists the names and single-character

and
gives
a
descriptions of

are

represented

a predetermined syntax.
forms of the
commands,

brief
summary
of
their
functions.
the commands, see Section 2.8.

For

complete

INTERACTIVE TEXT

Initiate SOS in Edit mode by
already
exists,
on
either
SO0S's prompt.
For example:

EDITOR

(SOS)

giving
the
filespec
the
EDIT command line

of
or

a
in

file
that
response to

s EnITGEn)
FILESTESTELD. MACCReD)
ERDITIDRALICHENDRIKSITESTRLD.MACH
&
¥

SOS prints

the word

The

prompt

for

For

details on the operation of each Edit-mode
command,
Table
2-3 in that section summarizes the command

2.8.

commands
numbers,

take

EDIT before

this mode

argument

the

line

indicating what text SOS
appear if the file is divided

also
numbers,

page

numbers,

and

Edit-Mode

Form

filespec,

asterisk

ranges

number,

are

Table
Commands:

Edit

see
Section
syntax.
Most

range

in Section

2-1
Form and

Function

Meaning

Enter

Alter

mode

for

Copy

range

intraline,

char-

editing.

lines

another

place

Delete

End

Find

SOS,

return

for

specified

the

DCL.

occurrence

strings

Help

package

Input

Enter

Input

mode

Join

Join two text lines

K
L

Kill page mark
List

Delete
List a

Mark

Insert

reNumber

Renumber

Replace

Delete

Substitute

mode.
Replace

Save

World

eXtend

.
=

Move Position
Give Parameter

/
e

Set Parameter
Command File

one

text.

terminal.

insert

lines

into one line.
the

printer

a file.

Transfer

text.

a page mark.
range of lines on

1line

2.3.

within a file, or from another file.
Optionally, enter Copy-file mode.
Delete a range of lines.

mode.

Page numbers may
formats
of
1line

given

acter-by-character
C

is to operate on.
into pages.
The

Command

Alter

indicating

(%*).

page mark.
a

range

range of
a

range

one

lines.

lines

text

the

and

terminal.

enter

Input

strings with

other string(s) in a range of lines.
Optionally, enter Decide mode.
Copy a range of lines to a new location
and delete the original lines.
Write

new

file

containing

all

the

changes made so far.
Enter Alter/insert mode to add text to the
end of a line.
Reset the position of the current line.
Give the value of an SOS internal
parameter or switch.

Reset an SOS parameter or switch.
Execute the SOS commands contained
command file.

Print next line.

Print previous line.

2-8

in a

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.2.4

(SOS)

Copy-file Mode

Copy-file mode allows you to copy all or part of one file into another
file at a specified location.
Furthermore, it lets you search through
and display the copy file to locate the exact part you want to copy.

Enter Copy-file mode by using the
Edit-mode
command
Copy
with
the
qualifier
/C
(see
Section
2.8.2).
For example, to search the file
SUBRLIB.FOR and copy part of it after line 100
into
the
file
being
edited,

type:

Note that C* is the prompt for this mode.
The
copy
file
|is
opened
read-only.
Thus, only commands that do not change the file are legal,
as in Read-only mode.
The commands most
often
used
are
Print. and
Find.

To exit from Copy~file mode, use the command E.
(Do not confuse
this
command with the Edit-mode command E, with which you exit to DCL.) SOS
then prompts for the range of lines to
copy.
When
you
supply
the
range, the copy operation is completed and you return to Edit mode.
Copy-file mode

2.2.5

is described

in detail

in Section 2.8.2.1.

Decide Mode

The SOS command Substitute (see Section 2.8.15) allows you to
replace
arbitrary strings of text with other strings.
Decide mode, entered by
way of the Substitute command, lets you decide, line by line,
whether
or not to make the specified substitution.

For each line in which a substitution is called for, SOS displays
the
modified line and prompts with D* for your decision.
You reply with a
single character.
(No
is needed;
8SOS reads and
acts
upon
the
single
character
that
you
type.)
If
you
reply
with
an illegal
character,

SOS

repeats

the prompt.

The options you can exercise
make

Yes,

No,

Enter Decide Alter mode with the change already made.

Make the change,

Return

the

change

in Decide mode include:

not make

the

without decision.

shown.

change.

and make all further

changes

immediately to Edit mode.

Decide mode is described

in detail

in Section 2.8.15.3.

automatically,

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.2.6
Use

(SOS)

Alter Mode

Alter

mode,

you
®

mode

make

minor

can perform the

Insert

delete

changes

following
single

within

line

text.

this

functions:
multiple

characters

words

within

character
(s)

a line
®

Move forward
or word(s)

Move

Delete
within

Split

Insert

the

backward

all text
a line
a

line

control

occurrence

until

within

the

line,

given

either

character

occurrence of

into

within

line

a given

character

not echo single-character
commands
illegal command, a bell rings on the

that
you
terminal.

any point
characters

In Alter mode, SOS does
type;
if
you type an

line

SOS displays the line of text that you are editing as
you
build
it,
that is, as you insert, delete, and pass over characters and words.
You enter Alter mode by issuing the Alter command from Edit mode.
The
prompt in Alter mode is the line number followed by a tab, the same as
the prompt for Input mode.
You can easily determine which mode SOS is
in,
however,
by observing the behavior of the terminal (for example,
commands are not echoed in Alter mode).
There

are

several

type

RET )

SOS

the

Edit-mode

Alter

mode

2.2.7
In

ways

prints

prompt

return
the

Edit

remainder

mode.
of

the

The

most

line,

common
any,

and

gives

(*).

described

detail

Section

2.8.1.

Alter/Insert Mode

Alter/insert mode,

characters

text.
Most
control characters
into the text without performing
example,
Command

does
Language

not

User's

that

discard

Guide

for

you

type

are

inserted

into

the

(with seven exceptionsl) are inserted
their usual special
functions.
For
the

input

line.

control-character

(See

the

VAX/VMS

functions.)

You

enter Alter/insert mode from Alter mode
by
giving
the
I
or
R
command, or from Edit mode by giving the eXtend command.
SOS does not
prompt’ in Alter/insert mode.
You return to Alter mode by typing (),

Edit mode

Alter/insert mode
Section 2.8.1.

typing
is

().

described

with

the

Alter-mode

command

1. The exceptions are @, (&, (), (D), @D, GH, and @D
.

1in

INTERACTIVE

2.3

LINE NUMBERS,

Many

S0S

commands

TEXT

PAGE NUMBERS,
take

line

one

EDITOR

(SOS)

AND RANGES

argument

line

number

range

numbers, indicating what text the command is to operate on.
This
section describes how to use line numbers and
page
numbers
to
form
such ranges.
It also discusses shorthand characters for line and page
numbers, line and page number offsets, and
SOS-supplied
defaults
in
range

specifications.

command,

2.3.1

which

The

displays

examples

lines

this

section

use

the

text.

Line Numbers

SOS line numbers are 5-digit decimal
Line
numbers
may
not
be
larger
number,

you

typing

00050.

need

When

SOS

and

ascends

first

not

command;

ascending

following
number
:

zeros:

thus

typing

the

same

a file, it assigns line numbers starting at
hundreds.
(You can change these defaults with the

Parameter

The

leading

13280.
a line

numbers

always

type

numbers, such as 00400 or
than 65535.
When you type

see

Sections

order

example

2.8.21

and

2.9.1.)

any given page.
of

the

command

Line

using

100
Set

numbers

are

single

1line

300 GED

00300

DATE:

15-AUG-77

2.3.2
If a
into

Page Numbers
file

pages.

is large,
number
of

For

number

or if the
logical

example,

logically

information it contains falls
divisions,
you can divide the

assembly-language

independent

sections,

you

source

file

could place

naturally
file into

contains

each

section

The Edit-mode commands Mark and Kill Page Mark,
respectively,
and
delete
page
marks
in
a
file (see Sections 2.8.11 and
Sometimes SOS automatically inserts page marks when
you give a
Transfer command, depending on how the line numbers
fall.

2.8.9).

this

file on a separate page.

The complete specification for a
contain
both
a line number and

the

two.

For

line position in an SOS
a page number.
A slash

example:

insert

Copy or

text file can
(/) separates

X F110/2CRer)
This means print

2.3.3

110

on page

Positions

A position marks
position
as
an
2.8.11).
segtion);

points.

line

Other

single line in a text file.
Some commands
argument,
as
for example the Mark command

commands take a range as an
argument
(see
range can be specified by giving two positio
ns

2-11

take
a
(Section

the
next
as its end

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

A position consists of a line number and a page number.
You can
omit
either
one; if
you
do, SOS supplies a default, as shown below.
The
notation => means "is defined as."
The braces indicate
that
one
of
the enclosed expressions must be chosen.
line

position =>

2.3.4

/page

line/page

(current page assumed)

(first line on page assumed)

Ranges of Line Numbers

A range of line numbers can be formed in two

ways.l

One

way

specify
a
starting position and an ending position; separate the two
positions with a colon (:).
For example, the following command
tells
SOS
to
print
all
1lines from line 100 on page 4 through line 500 on

page

inclusive.

XF 10074150075

Depending on how the lines are numbered, this command could
tell
SOS
to
print
five
1lines,
or 50, or none.
If you know exactly how many
lines you want to print, but not what all their numbers are,
you
can

form a line-number range using the exclamation point (!) to indicate a
relative number of lines.
The following command tells
SOS
to
print
six consecutive lines,

starting with line number

100 on page 4.

¥FLOOAAVE

This command prints

six

lines whether

not

encounters

page

boundary.

The end points of
a
range
need
not
themselves
be
existing
1line
numbers.
For instance, in a file whose lines are numbered by 10s, the
range 33:67 refers to the three lines numbered 40, 50, and 60.

A range can consist of only a single line:

you can

omit

the

ending

position
or
relative
number of lines.
the Print command, which takes a range as
single line.

Previous examples showed how
its argument,
can
print
a

all

command

whose

range

You can omit the
starting position

applies

position

less

lines

the

a
range; SOS
shown below.

(range starts at current line)

common

way

form

single

the

position {

(range

defaults

(range

page.

position 1
n

1. A third, much
Section 2.11.

starting
position
of
to the current line, as

position
position
range

/page

starts

ranges

1is

line)

current

line)

described

INTERACTIVE

2.3.5

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Shorthand Characters

SOS recognizes three characters as shorthand for special line numbers.
These
shorthand
characters can be used in position specifications to
stand for both line numbers and page numbers:
.
/ .

(period)

(caret

/"
*

The
The

current line
current page

The

first

The
The

last line on
last page in

represented

up-arrow)

(asterisk)
*

The character
and

", ASCII

up-arrow on

94,

line

The first page

a page
the file

as a caret on some terminals

others.

The character 0 can be used interchangeably with
first
1line
on
a
page
or the first page in a
number
of
0
specification

1is
1illegal,
to mean “.

Some

examples

the

page

in the file

use

¥F100: . Crer)

and

SOS

these

through

interprets

shorthand

Print all

lines

the

=
to
file.
0

represent
the
A line or page
in

characters

from line

current

position

follow.

100

line,

inclusive.

Xp e a0 ()

Print all lines from the beginning
of

o oCrer)

the

page

through

line

620.

Print 10 lines beginning with the
current

Xpe 2k (ren)

line.

Print all

lines on the current

page.

¥/

Crer)

Same as above:
the

¥kt 2 (Crer)

print all

lines on

current page.

Print the last line on the current
page

and

the

first

line

the

last

line

page.

2.3.6

The Current

Position

The

current position

For

example,

to by a command.!l

after

SOS

the

completes

position

List

the

command,

referred

the

current

position
is
that
of the last line that was output.
After a Copy or
Transfer, it is the last line moved.
After a Find or
Substitute,
it
is
the
1last
1line matched.
(These commands are described in Section
2.8.)
Immediately
after
SOS
is
initiated,
the
current
position
corresponds

The

terms

the

"current

interchangeably.
components,

the

first

line

the

position"

fact,

the

current

line

number

file.

and

"current

current
and

the

position
current

line"”

are

is made
page

up of

number.

used

two

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

The current-line pointer
reason

and

returns an

is not moved

error

(SOS)

command

fails

for

any

message.

Two Edit-mode commands allow you to interrogate
and
to
reset
SOS's
current-line
pointer.
To find out where the current line is without
printing it, use the Give Parameter command =.
(described in
Section
2.8.20).

For

example:

00450/5

The Move Position command (see
Section
2.8.19)
resets
the
current
line.
Its
argument is a position specification, which can contain a
line number, a page
number,
or
their
shorthand
equivalents.
For
example,
the
following command moves the current-line pointer to the
last line on page 3.

% k/3CED)
X

2.3.7
One

Defaults

form

for

for Line

a complete

and Page Numbers
range

specification

is:

linel/pagel:line2/page2
You can omit various parts of the complete specification, and SOS will
supply defaults for the omitted parts.
The defaults discussed in this
section apply only to ranges for which:
®

You explicitly type

a colon

You explicitly

an exclamation mark

You

use

the

type

(:)
(!)

form /page

If none of these conditions holds, then the range
involves
line, and the defaults listed in Section 2.3.3 apply.

single

These defaults apply to all commands when you omit
part
of
a
range
specification.
For
some commands, the entire range specification is
optional.
The default range that results depends on the command.
See
the individual command descriptions in Section 2.8 for details.
The

following partial
indicate a range.

range

1linel/pagel:line2

1linel:line2/page2

/pagel:line2

linel:/page2

/pagel

:line2

specifications

2-14

all

represent

legal

ways

INTERACTIVE

Below

TEXT EDITOR

are

the complete specifications
The defaults SOS supplies are

above.

1linel/pagel:line2/pagel

1linel/.:line2/page2

"/pagel:line2/pagel

linel/.:*/page2

“/pagel:*/pagel

./.:line2/.

Table
range

2-2 shows the rules SOS
specification.
Note

uses
that

(SOS)

the
partial
underlined.

ranges

to supply the omitted
1linel
defaults
to

1listed

parts
of
if pagel

a
is

supplied; but if neither is supplied, the starting
position
defaults
to
./.
(the current position).
If omitted, page2 defaults to pagel,
if pagel is given; if neither is given, both default
to
the
current
page.

Defaults

this

part

for

Table
Line

omitted:

2-2
and

Its default

linel

°
.
/.

/pagel

.line2

Applying
results:

Page Numbers

the

rules

/page2

given

/pagel

Table

2-2

argument

is:

(if pagel

supplied)

(if

defaulted)

pagel

(whether pagel is supplied or defaulted)

some

A command with an argument of :line/page
acts
on
all
between the current position and the given position.

A command with an argument of
the current line and the last

:/page acts
line on the

defaults

for

all

gives

A command with
given page.

SOS's

acts

cases

The examples below illustrate
range specification.

/page

common

lines

on all lines
given page.
omitted

parts

these

the

lines

between

INTERACTIVE TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Complete

Command
XF
o 8O

Equivalent

(Rer

Meaning

Fo/eiBO/,

all

line

through

1lines

from

line

the

current

the

current

page.

(RET

Fo7. 0%/

(ETD R eV
§ VN

(Rex

Fo/e i X/

current

Same

the

¥FLR0S/3(RED)

P/ 1905/3

print all

above:

Print all

current page.

1lines

page.

current

line

2.3.8

lines on the

Same as above:
the

¥F

all

page.

1lines

through

line

from

the

905,

page

current
3.

Line-Number and Page-Number Offsets

Anywhere

that

forming
refer to
sign (+)

a
line-number offset.
You can use arithmetic expressions to
lines whose numbers you do not know.
Expressions
with a plus
refer to lines later in the file, and those with a minus sign

(-)

refer

line

earlier

number

legal,

arithmetic

expression

lines.

Arithmetic expressions do not act across page boundaries,
unlike
the
exclamation
mark
construction
(relative number of lines).
Thus, if
the current line is the third line from the end of a page, the command
P.+4

prints

Some

examples
*F o2

the

last

line

line-number

(rET

the

offsets

the

before

LYt KENGTD)

(as

P.+5,

P.+6,

follow.

line

the

two

lines

current

line.

Print all lines from the
fourth
page

% Pk~ 1 1 O0Crer)

page

line

through

the

current

line.

Print the last six lines on
the current page and the first
four lines on the next page.

£F

=18

% Fo-113

+1Crer)

three lines centered

about

the

Same

current

as above:

lines centered
current line.

4 P33 Crer)

Print the first
that arithmetic
not

cross

page

2-16

line.

print three
about

the

line.
Note
expressions do
boundaries.

and

on).

INTERACTIVE

Page-number

that

offsets

are

number

a page

page-number

offset.

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

analogous to line
number
legal, so is an arithmetic

Some

¥F100/ . +1 (&)

examples

offsets:
expression

follow.

anywhere
forming a

Print line 100 on the next
page.

kF305/%-1 1 4(ED)

Print four lines starting with

line

305 on

the

next-to-last

page.

XP/ =18/ +1(ReD)

Print all text from the first
line on
through

the previous page
the last line on the
following page.

You are
allowed
only
one
expression.
Thus, P10+3 is

The

syntax of
defined.
In
integers, and

line

is a

line-number

is a page

number

has

less

than

analogous

a number

followed

form.

That

1
an

one

HOW SOS

now
and g

be
are

formally
positive

indicate

NUMBERS

the

three

shorthand

expression.

is:

page

x ( [+ m]

page=>{

that one

chosen.

2.4

arithmetic

the braces

can
p,

arithmetic

65536.

where

in
an
illegal.

offset.

can consist

line=>

offset.

optionally

sign

P10+3+1

number.

a page-number

number

minus

numbers
and
page
numbers
the
definitions
below,
1,
m,
represent the following:

is a

line

or
but

line

characters,

plus
legal,

, ¢ [+ q]

the

enclosed

expressions

must be

NEW LINES

Basically, when you insert new lines of text into a file, SOS
numbers
each
new
1line
by
adding
the
current line-number increment to the
previous line
number.
This
section
discusses
three
topics
that
elaborate on this basic rule:
®

What

How

SOS

current
behaves

line-number
when

wants

increment

existing

line

is,

and

how

intervenes

set

before

the

Differences in SOS's line-numbering depending on
whether
are entering lines in Input mode or in Alter/insert mode

you

next
e

the

line

number

assign

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.4.1

The Current Line-Number

(SOS)

Increment

The current line-number increment is a parameter that
SOS
maintains.
If
you do not set it, SOS uses a value of 100 for the increment.
You
can find out what its value is by giving the
Give
Parameter
command
=INCREMENT(®&1),
and
you
command /INCREMENT:n(rer),

can

set it directly with the Set Parameter

The usual way to change the
1line-number
increment,
however,
is
by
specifying
a
second
argument
to an Input or Replace command.
With
this second argument you can call for either a permanent update to the
increment,
or
a temporary update that applies for this command only.
Alternatively,
you can
request
SOS
to
calculate
a
line-number
number of lines to fit in the space
known
a
that allows
increment

available to them.

See the description of the Input command,

2.8.7,

for details.

2.4.2

When an Existing Line Intervenes

Section

SOS does not let you insert lines so that the line
numbers
would
be
out
of sequence.
If an existing line stands in the way of the series
of new line numbers that SOS
1is
generating,
the
editor
eventually
refuses
to accept any more inserted lines since it cannot number them
in

sequence.

For example, suppose the current line-number increment
is
100.
You
want to insert some new text after line 400; however, line 500 already
exists.
You type an Input command:
I400Cxi).
SOS
bends
its
usual
rule
(which
would
call
for
the
new
1line to be numbered 500) and
assigns the number 450, halfway in between the
existing
lines.
SOSs
then
accepts
one
input
1line.
The next line number SOS calculates,
however, is 550 (the increment, 100, plus the
previous
1line
450).
Again,
this
1line number is beyond an existing line.
point, SOS returns you to Edit mode, ending text insertion.

2.4.3

number,
At this

Input Mode versus Alter/Insert Mode

There are two ways in SOS to insert
new
1lines
of
text: Input
mode
(accessed
by
the
1Input
or
Replace commands) and Alter/insert mode
(accessed from Alter mode by the command I, or from Edit mode
by
the
eXtend
command).
SOS
behaves differently in the two modes when it
encounters an existing line whose number intervenes in the sequence of
new line numbers SOS

is generating.

The difference is as follows.
In Input mode, SOS lets you insert
one
line before an intervening line, if it is the first inserted line.
If
SOS encounters an intervening line after you have inserted one or more
lines,
it
immediately
terminates Input mode.
1In Alter/insert mode,
upon encountering an intervening line, SOS always
numbers
the
next
line halfway between the previous line and the intervening line.
For

example,

suppose you want to

insert

text

after

1line

100.

The

current
increment
is 100, and the next existing line is 500.
TIf you
enter Input mode to insert the text (I100(z)), SOS
numbers
the
new
lines 200, 300, and 400; then SOS returns you to Edit mode.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

However, if you enter the new lines in
Alter/insert
mode
(Al100Ceer),
followed
by
I,
followed by (Cr) for each new line), SOS numbers the
new lines 200, 300, 400, 450, 475, 487, 493, 496, 498,
and
499.
At
this point, no room is left for any more new lines, since the previous
line and the intervening line are numbered 1
apart.
SOS
rings
the
terminal's
bell and rejects further line insertion, but leaves you in
Alter/insert mode.

If you have more lines to insert, you must return to Edit
(xer)) and issue a reNumber (N) command.

mode

(type

Figure 2-2 shows the logic of SOS's line numbering.
In
this
figure,
IN
1is the current line-number increment;
NL is the number of the new
line;
PL is the number of the previous line;
IL is the number
of
a
line
that
intervenes
1in
the
sequence
of
1line
numbers
S80S
is
generating.
In the calculation of a line number
halfway
between
PL
and
IL,
the
notation
[-1] means that SOS subtracts 1 if IL - PL is
odd, but does not subtract 1 if IL - PL is even.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

NL=PL+IN

(SOS)

TM~

Insert line

(Alter/insert mode)

Input mode ?

incoreed
line ?

yes

IL—PL=17?

Ring bell, refuse
insert.

Remain in

Alter/insert mode.

NL=PL +

(L-pLI/2
(=1
i

Insert line

NL =PL +

(IL—PL)/2
[—1]

i
insert line

i
Return

immediately to 4-)
Edit mode

Figure

2-2

How SOS Calculates the Numbers of New,

Inserted

Lines

INTERACTIVE

2.5

TEXT

DEFAULT CONDITIONS WHEN SOS

EDITOR

(SOS)

INITIATED

The default conditions
that
apply
switches
when
you
start
up
the

to
various
SOS
editor are listed

parameters and switches are described fully
a
way
(the
symbol-assignment
mechanism)

parameters
-and
below.
The SOS

in Section 2.9, along with
to override these initial

defaults.
Noexpert —-- SOS starts by assuming that you are not an experienced SOS
user.
Therefore, it prints long, self-explanatory error messages; it
asks for verification before deleting large blocks
of
text; and
it
displays
deleted
characters
in
Alter
mode.
All examples in this
chapter assume a nonexpert user.
See Section 2.9.2 for
a
discussion
of the EXPERT switch.

Line

numbering

100.

When

you

SOS

insert

numbers
lines

lines

text,

100s

SOS

uses

1initially,
a

starting

line-number

increment

100.

Automatic file
saving
(see
0;

therefore,

you

work

saving -Sections
SOS

does

1it.,

The two
2.9.1

not

parameters that govern automatic file
and
2.7.3)
are
initially
set
to

automatically

You must

issue

save

Save World

copy

commands

your

file

achieve

file

backup.

Lowercase characters -- Initially, SOS accepts lowercase characters as
typed.
If your terminal can generate lowercase characters, and if you
have instructed VAX/VMS not to convert them to
uppercase
(using
the

DCL

command

SET),

then

SOS

accepts

and

2.6

LIMITATIONS AND

RESTRICTIONS

Some

limitations and

restrictions on

echoes

the

them as

use of

SOS

lowercase.

are listed below.

Line length -- No line of text can
be
1longer
than
500
characters,
including
spaces but excluding the
that terminates the line.
1If
you attempt to generate a line longer than 500
characters
(with
the
Alter,
1Input,
Join,
Substitute, or eXtend commands), SOS prints the
error message LINE IS TOO LONG, and returns you to Edit mode.
In
the
case
of
an
Alter
or
eXtend
command,
any
changes
that you made
previously to the line are discarded, and you
are
returned
to
Edit
mode.

String length -- No string used in a Find or
Substitute
command
can
exceed
200
characters
in
1length.
If
you
use the forms of these
commands that allow multiple strings, the combined length of all
such
strings cannot exceed 200 characters.
If you exceed these limits, SOS
prints the error message SEARCH STRINGS
EXCEEDED
BUFFER
LENGTH
and
returns
you
to Edit mode.
Reissue the command with fewer or shorter
strings.
Line numbers --

2.7

USING SOS

Line numbers cannot exceed

65535

(decimal).

SAFELY

Some risk is associated with the use of any text editor.
You can,
by
mistake,
delete or garble large amounts of text, or even whole files.
A hardware or software failure that occurs while you are using a
text
editor can destroy a considerable amount of work.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

S0S is designed for safe use.
The editor assumes that
you
can
make
mistakes; therefore
(unless
you have declared yourself an expert SOS
user, via the EXPERT switch), SOS asks you to
confirm
commands
that
would
delete
1large
amounts of text.
It also provides features that
you can use to minimize the adverse effects of system malfunctions.

2.7.1

Built-in Safety Features

SOS requests confirmation before
making
major
changes
to
a
file.
Decide
mode
1is one safety feature of SOS; the editor lets you decide
case by case on character-string substitutions, instead of making
all
substitutions blindly.
(Section 2.8.15 describes Decide mode.)
SOS also requests confirmation before performing a Replace
or
Delete
that
would
delete all the text on one page, or would delete across a

page

boundary.

2.7.2

The Save World Command

The SOS
creates
results
The W

Save World (W) command saves "everything
in
the
world."
a back-up file that is a copy of the input file containing
of all the editing changes you have made so far.

command

minutes
against

in
the

errors

the work

2.7.3
For

your

own.

since

Two Options
greater

automatic

named

SAVE

mode;

and

ISAVE

To select
2.8.21).

used

frequently,

perhaps

every

five

ten

a long editing session.
1In this way you protect yourself
ill effects of system failures, and against
any
possible

done

even

the

should

1It
the

the

some

system

failure

does

occur,

you

lose

only

last W command.

for Automatic File Saving

safety,

wuse

ISAVE.

controls

you

can

the

Save World

SAVE

these options,
For example:

set

controls

two

SOS

parameters

command.

automatic

These
file

that

saving

Input mode.

use

the

Set

govern

parameters
in

are
EAQdit

Parameter

command,

(see

Section

you

have

issued

*/SAVE$ 10 Grer)
%/ ISAVE t5Gar)
X

S0S

automatically performs

Save

World

command

after

10 Edit-mode commands that modify the file, or after you have inserted
five lines of text
in
1Input
mode,
whichever
comes
first.
While
executing the save, SOS displays this message:
DOING

You

can

SOS

turns

SOS,

set

AUTO-SAVE.

reset

operating
off

the

PLEASE

the

SAVE

and

Edit mode.

corresponding

both options

WAIT.

are

turned

ISAVE

Setting
auto-save

off.

parameters

either

any

parameter

option.

When

time

to
you

while

a value

initiate

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.7.4

(SOS)

Recovering Information from Temporary Files:

An Example

If SOS execution is interrupted by a system malfunction,
you
may
be
able to recover some lost work from SOS temporary files.
These files,
and the way in which SOS uses them, are
described
in
Section
2.13.
Briefly,
one
or
both
of
the
files
8S0Sxnn.TM1l and SOSxnn.TM2 may

contain part of your file
number

your

terminal).

(x is the controller number,

and nn

the

The following example illustrates one way in which lost work might
be
recovered
from an SOS temporary file.
A hypothetical user, Adams, is
updating a master address list on terminal number 22 when
the
system
loses
power.
Not
being
prudent
by nature, Mr. Adams has not been
using the W command frequently.
After this close
call,
however,
he
sets the ISAVE parameter for automatic file saving.

K=rame(RET)

SSOMST§1?

nkfil:EQHAMSJQDHRE
X

kFlavkir :s{;
PAGE

1050

Larkin

James

4935

Forbes

Av.

01059

Lawson

Acdam

225 Grand Av.

OLOSO

‘

Fittshursh

15213

Osk land

CA 94610CreT)

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Nothing works: the system has expired.
Several minutes
later,
after
Adams
logs
back onto the revitalized system, he recovers information
from an SOS temporary file as shown below.
The temporary file must be
renamed,
because
SOS
refuses
to
open
a
file
it recognizes as a
temporary file.

directory sosel2.
)/
FullCeD)

DRALICARAMS]
17-JUN-78
13121
205422.TMLs L
SO8AZ2. TM25 1
TOTAL

4
2

4./35.

BLOCKS

rensme

sose22.tml

edit addtme.mstCrer)

17-JUN-78
17-JUN-78
IN

2.,

131135
13817

FILES

addtme.mst(Cer)

EOITIDRALCADAMSIADDTMF
. M8TS 1

ESC

%Flarking

FAGE

i«

Larkin

James

S5CRET)

4935

Forbes

Av.

Fittsburdgh

15213

¥wiaddress

vmetCer)

CNRAL I CADAMETANDRESS
. M8T3 182
X

The exact details of the editing done so far determine how current the
material contained in an SOS temporary file will be.
Adams was lucky;
most of the previously edited material was in the temporary file.

However, the point of emphasis here is that you cannot depend
temporary files to provide reliable back-up in case of system
Such files are at best a last resort.
The safest back-up is
use

2.8

the W

command.

EDIT-MODE

COMMANDS

This

section describes in detail the
functions of SOS Edit-mode commands.

mands

are

presented

alphabetical

four
nonalphabetic
commands
given
last.
The
functions
when

they

discussed
Table

2-3

syntax,

both

chapter.

used

the

summarizes

and

described.
used

are

along with

the

The
in

the

Edit-mode

The

and
com-

order.

The

@ )
are
and (Cesc),

commands,

are

Print command.
the

pages

and

DCL

commands,

following
table

(
of

forms

which

defines
in

the

their

they

the

terms

rest

are
this

on
SOS
failure.
frequent

INTERACTIVE

Definitions

for

the

TEXT

EDITOR

Edit-Mode Command

(SOS)

Summary

(Table

2-3)

Uppercase letters represent literals that
you
type
verbatim.
(SOS
accepts either upper- or lowercase letters.) Lowercase terms represent
variables, defined below.
The
symbol
=>
means
"is
defined
as."
Brackets
([ ]) indicate optional parts of the argument string (except
in directory or filespec, in which one set of brackets must be typed).
Stacked
braces
({ })
mean
choose
one of the enclosed expressions.
Angle-brackets (< >) enclose descriptive terms.
And
represents
the

escape

key

(or

ALTmode,

SELect,

PREfix).

file-spec

[device:] [[directory]l]filename[.type[;version]]

increment

<a positive

line

integer

number>

line-number
<

increment>

65536)

line

[+ m]

<an

integer

line-number

<a positive
<a page

page

position

{

integer>

number>

[+ gl

parameter

offset>

legal

line

SOS

parameter

[/page]

switch>

}

/page
q

<an

integer

page-number

offset>

:position

position

!n
range

tposition
In

start

string

positive

integer

line

number>

stringl{(xe)string2[ (ze)string3[(rer)string4
[Ce)string5[ (rer)string6]]1]1
(fewer than
characters)

2-25

200

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

Table 2-3
Edit-Mode Command

Command

(SOS)

Summary

Page | Form

Arguments

Alter!

227

[range]

Copy?

2-40

position [=file-spec] ,range[ increment1 [ increment2] ]

Delete

2-43

[range]

End

2-44

{B] [Q] [S] [T] {:file-spec]

position=file-spec/C

Overwrite input file

No output file

Strip line numbers

No numbers, no pages

Find®

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2-51

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252

[ [string]Cesc Dlrange] ] [,A] [N][.E] [.n] [-]
[:n]

[position] [,increment]
[position] [;increment]
[position] [;!n]

Join

2-55

[position]

Kill page mark

2-56

[page

List:LP or file

2-57

[range[,S] [,P{:file-spec]]]

Mark

2-58

[position]

reNumber

2-59

[increment] [,[range] [.start]

Print: terminal

2-61

[range] [,S]

[range] [,[S] [,F:file-spec] ]

Replace®

2-63

[range] [,increment]
[range] [;increment]

[range] [;!n]
[[oldstring(esc Inewstring] (esc) [range] [,D] [ N1 [,E]

2-69

position,range[,increment1 [ ,increment2]

2-73

[B] [:file-spec]

eXtend®

2.74

[range] [,N]

Move Position

2-76

position

Substitute®

2:65

Transfer
Save World

Give Parameter

2-77

parameter

Set Parameter

2-78

parameter[:n]

Command File

2-79

file-spec

Print next line
Print previous line

1 Enter Alter mode.
2 Enter Copy-file mode (if /C).

3 Enter Alter mode (if ,A).

4 Enter Input mode.
$ Enter Decide mode (if ,D).
$Enter Alter/insert mode.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Alter
2.8.1

Alter

(A -- Alter

Mode)

Format:

A[range] (rer)
Argument:
range

Specifies

the

range

mode.

you

omit

lines

range,

only

be edited
the

one

current

line

a
is

time

in Alter

edited.

Current line:
After

SOS

last

line

completes

an Alter

command,

sets

the

current

The Alter command invokes Alter mode, a
special
intraline editing mode, for each line in turn in
the given
range.
Alter
mode
is
useful
for
making
changes
within a line without having to

retype it.

the

It is also useful for making changes

involving
the column positions of
a single line or within a range of

characters
lines.

:Z::{::]::::

For each line in the given range, SOS prints the

line
number
and
waits
in Alter mode for your
input.
Eighteen commands
are
1legal
in
Alter
mode; any
other
input
1is
ignored and rings a
bell on the terminal.
These commands are listed
in
Table
2-4 and described fully later in this
section.
The single-character commands are
not
echoed
when
typed.
1Instead, they are effected
immediately.
Text
input
that
you
type,
replacing
or adding characters within the line,
is echoed as typed.
As
it

line

edited.

a result, in Alter mode, you see the line taking
(except for text that you have backed up over or

DCL

‘"“_fl;:J::::

1"
H
L

shape as you
deleted).

edit

SOS maintains an intraline pointer in Alter mode.
At any
given
time
this pointer points between two characters in the line.
You can space
the pointer across the line a character or a word at a
time
(forward
or
backward); you
can
insert
text
before
or
after
the
pointer
position; and you can delete or replace one or more characters
before
or after the pointer.

As you move the pointer across a line, SOS
displays
characters
that
the pointer passes.
When you move the pointer backwards across a line
(to the left), characters are displayed in reverse
order,
surrounded
by
backslashes (\...\).
Any characters that you delete are displayed
L2tween pairs of backslashes
(\\...\\).
(Note
that,
if
you
have
declared
yourself
deleted text is not
the EXPERT switch.)

As shown
positive

an
expert SOS user by giving the
echoed.
See Section 2.9.2 for
a

in Table 2-4, many Alter-mode
or
negative
integer.
For

command

/EXPERT,
description
of

commands can be preceded
most commands, the result

by
is

a
to

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

repeat the command the
does
not
make
sense
repetition counts move

move

given number of times.
The
repetition
count
for
some
commands, and is ignored.
Positive
the pointer to the right, and
negative
counts
(except for (&), for which the reverse is true).

it to the left

Table
Alter-Mode

2-4
Commands

Command

Meaning

Do not print
beginning of

rest
line

of line; recycle to
with edits incorporated.

[-]1[n]Cx...

Change next/previous n characters to given

[-]1[n]D

Delete next/previous n characters.

characters.!

End

Alter

mode

for

this

line;

not

[-] [n]Itext(esc)|Insert text after/before pointer;
increment n for new lines.
[-] [n]Kx

Kill

(delete)

character

all

until

nth

use

temporary

occurrence

Print rest of line; recycle
with edits incorporated.

beginning

Print rest
with edits

current

Quit Alter

mode;

[-]1 [n]Rtext(esc)

|Replace

Skip

line; recycle
incorporated.
restore

original

line

position

line.

next/previous n characters with

inserted

[-][n]Sx

line.

text.

forward/back

to nth occurrence

forward/back

n words.

character

[=][n]W

Skip

[-][n]X

Delete

[-][n]”

Invert case of next/previous n characters.

[-][n]<

Convert

[=]([n]>

Convert next/previous n characters

[-1[n] Gs)

Space back/forward n characters.

RET

next/previous

Leave Alter mode

for

n words.

n characters

this

line;

uppercase.

to lowercase.

rest of

line.

[=] [n] Coe)

Space back/forward

i.gave Alter mode

n characters.

for

this

line;

ine.

{continued

page)

INTERACTIVE

Table

TEXT

EDITOR

2-4

(Cont.)

Alter-Mode

Commands

Command

(SOS)

Meaning

[-]1[n1 (=)

Space forward/back n characters.

[-]

Skip to end/start of

TAB

line.

Do not print rest of line; recycle
position with edits incorporated.

CIRL/U

"Next"

typed.
similar

Start fresh:

line,

no minus

The other
fashion.

sign

commands

discard edits,

not print

"previous"

current

recycle to beginning

line.

typed;

that

a minus

sign

minus

are

.sign

presented

|is

Figure 2-3 shows on
five
1lines
the
interactive
process
of
using
Alter-mode commands to edit a single line of text.
(On your terminal,
you would see the single line displayed piece by piece as you gave the
commands.)
User input is shown in color.
Alter-mode commands are not
echoed

typed;

rather,

SOS

displays

their

results

the

text

1line.

The
arrow (}) shows the position of the intraline pointer at the time
the user types the given Alter-mode’ commands.
The resulting
printout
is shown immediately below each arrow;
an underline (_) marks the new
position of the intraline pointer.
The five Alter-mode commands
used
in the figure are described more fully later in this section.
If

the

error

range
message

specified
RANGE

for

GIVEN

an Alter
DOES

NOT

empty,

CONTAIN ANY

command

LINES.

SOS

prints

the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

Commands

used

this

moves

example
the

inserts

the

&€D)

space(s)

the

text

are:

pointer

following

text

(SOS)

the

right

and/or

you

past

one

word

and

its

tab(s).

type

until

(&)

(in

the

example,

active(®)).

moves the pointer to the right one character at a time,
and prints

changes

you

RET

the

type

following

(in

prints the

character.

the

rest of

this line.
SOS
command applies

10200

Eacn

user

character

example,

the

character

q).

line and ends Alter mode

for

returns to Edit mode, because the
to only one line in the example.

reauiring

CFU

time

Alter

obtains

1G200

Each

10200

Each

active

LO200

Fach

active

user

re..
CRW

10200

Fach

acltive

user

requiring

.
RET

10200
:

Each

ascltive

user

Figure

reaquiring

2-3

CFU

time

obtains

Alter-Mode Example

B (Alter mode)

The

not

command

rest

tells

SOS

line;

recycle

the

beginning

line

the

line.

That

is,
the line number is reprinted and the pointer is positioned before
the first character.
All edits made to the line up to this point
are
S0S does not print the remainder of the line (from the
incorporated.
current pointer position to the end) before recycling.

2-30

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

C (Alter mode)
[-]1[n]Cx...

Change next/previous n characters

to given characters

SOS accepts and prints the next n characters typed
on
the
terminal.
These
characters
replace the n characters in the line immediately to
the right of the pointer.
The pointer
moves
one
character
to
the
right
as you type each character.
If you type a minus sign before C,
the n characters you type replace text to
the
1left
of
the
pointer
position.
SO0S displays two backslashes (\\) followed by the replaced
characters (in reverse order).
When you type
the
first
replacement
character,
SOs
displays
two
more
backslashes
and
echoes
each
replacement character as typed.
The
following
example
1illustrates
this sequence.

00905

The

sreliminsty

business

rslan

(attached)

Q09GS

The

srelimimsts

.o
-4

QU205

The

=raliminstye

wts..

00905

The

sreliminasty

whasN\\arwe

aru(Cs)
.
RET

QOO

The

sreliminstys

wts \\ary

business

rlan

(attached)

The C command is ignored if the pointer
at the beginning of the line for -n).

at the end of

the line

(or
:

Three characters prematurely terminate the C command:
.

(Cec),

(rer),

and

If you type nC, followed by some replacement characters (fewer
than n), followed by one of these three characters, SOS terminates the
C command.

After

After
Alter

or ('r),

SOS

is at command level

in Alter mode.

(rer), SOS continues with the next line in the range
command, or returns to Edit mode if none remain.

In each case,

n characters have been deleted

from

the

original

the

text

~line.

The

character

ignored

after

a C

command.

D (Alter mode)

[-]1[n]D

Delete

next/previous

characters

Typing D deletes the character that follows the
pointer.
More
than
one
character
is deleted if you precede the D command with a number.
he deleted character(s) is (are) displayed, surrounded
by
pairs
of
backslashes:
\\abc\\.
If
you
supply a number, n, that is greater
than the number of characters remaining in
the
1line,
all
remaining
characters are deleted.
1If you precede the command with a minus sign,
characters before the pointer are deleted.
The D command
1is
ignored
if
the
pointer is at the end of the line (or at the beginning of the
line

for

-n).
2-31

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

line

E (Alter mode)

End Alter

mode

for

this

line;

not print

The E command tells SOS to end Alter mode for this line.
The rest
of
the
1line
1is
not
printed.
If
more
1lines remain in the range you
specified when issuing the Alter command, SOS proceeds in Alter
mode.
Otherwise,
the
Edit mode prompt (*) is issued.
(The
command is
the usual way to exit from Alter mode;
prints
the
rest
of
the
line before returning té Edit mode, or to the next line in the range.)

| (Alter mode)

[-]1[n]Itext(ec)

Insert
text
after/before
increment n for new lines

pointer;

use

temporary

The I command moves SOS
to
Alter/insert
mode.
SOS
accepts
characters
from
the terminal and
inserts them into the line beginning
after
the

current
pointer
position.
If you precede the
command
with
a
minus
sign,
characters
are
inserted
before
the
pointer
position.

Alter/insert mode is terminated

when

you

type

IZZZ{::]

(esc); the
editor
1is
left
in Alter mode.
The
pointer is then positioned to the right
of
the
inserted
text,
and points to the same place it
did
before
the
insertion.
The
characters are echoed on the terminal

inserted
as typed.

Both

mode

Alter/insert

mode

and

Alter

DCL_{

are

terminated
for
this line if you type (&/r).
1In
this case the final (esc)
1is
not
needed.
S0S
prints
the rest of the line and returns to Edit
mode (or continues in Alter mode if
more
lines
remain).
If you type
(i)
while
inserting
deleted.
ve ) echoes as a pair of

character.

Successive

text,
the
backslashes

(®r)s delete and echo

previous
character
is
followed by the deleted

characters

turn.
The next non(ee) character that you type is echoed as a second
pair of backslashes followed by the character.
If you type more ((il)s
than
the
number
of characters you have inserted with the I command,
SOS continues deleting characters to the left of the original point of
insertion
(until
it
encounters
the
beginning
of
the line).
SOS
remains in Alter/insert mode.
If you insert so much
500
characters,
SOS

text that the overall length of
prints the message LINE IS TOO

you to Edit mode.
Any changes
to this point are discarded.
You

can

type

number

before

that

the

you may have

command.

made

This

the line
LONG and

number

repetition
count, as it is for most Alter-mode commands.
acts as a temporary line-number increment if SOS creates
while
inserting
text.
SOS
<creates
a
new
1line when

existing

line

by
I

inserting

before

the

command,

inserts

characters

before

(Cr).
SOS

uses

the pointer

you
+n

type
as

the

position.

the

exceeds
returns

1line

not

Instead, it
a
new
line
you split an

negative

number,

-n,

temporary

increment

and

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

If you type
while in Alter/insert mode, SOS creates a new line
receive the rest of the inserted text.
The number of this new line
determined as follows:
e

If you

type

number

before

the

command,

this

type

If an existing line intervenes between the current line number
and
this
new
number,
the
new
1line is numbered halfway in

not

is added

number

the

before

the

added

command,

temporary

you

number

taken
as
a
line number.

increment

increment and

to
is

the current

the

current line number.

current

between.

If the next existing
current line, a bell
After the
beginning

1line
sounds

1is
and

numbered
1
no new line

higher
than
is created.

new line is
<created,
the
pointer
1is
positioned
of the new line; SOS is still in Alter/insert mode.

the

In Alter/insert mode, any character you type (with
seven
exceptions)
is
inserted
into the text line.
Many control characters do not have
their usual effect when entered in Alter/insert
mode.
For
example,
and
have
no
effect on terminal output.
They are simply
inserted into the text line without interpretation.

The

following

seven characters

are

not

treated

text

in Alter/insert

mode.

ends insertion.
ends Alter mode for this line.
deletes the previous character.
creates a new text line.

(cTRLIC)

returns SOS to Edit mode.

|
~
w

[2)

retypes the line.
gets the attention

DCL.

K (Alter mode)

[-1[n]Kx

Kill

(delete)

all

until

nth

occurrence

character

This command tells SOS to delete all text from the pointer position up
to,
but
not including, the next occurrence of the given character x.
If you supply n, SOS deletes all text up to the nth occurrence
of
A
minus
sign
causes
SOS to delete backwards (to the left) from
pointer position through the given character.
Deleted characters
printed within pairs of backslashes (in reverse order for -n).

x.
the
are

SOS

the

ignores

remainder

If the
upper—

the
the

command
line,

the

given

occurs

character
fewer

than

does
n

not occur

times.

EXACT switch is on (see Section 2.9.2), SOS requires
and lowercase match with the given character x.

exact

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

L (Alter mode)

rest

line;

recycle

to beginning

line

This command tells SOS to print the rest of the line, from the pointer
position
onward,
and recycle to the beginning of the line.
The line
number is reprinted and the pointer is
positioned
before
the
first

character.
All
edits
made
to
the
1line
up
to
this
incorporated.
Compare the L command with
the
P
command,
next

(and

see

the

following

point
are
described

example).

P (Alter mode)

rest

line;

recycle

current

position

The P command tells SOS to print
the
rest
of
the
1line,
from
the
pointer
position onward, and recycle to the current pointer position.
All previous edits are incorporated.
The P command
1lets
you
get
a
fresh

1look

line

and

the

command.

command

0240
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editing.

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section

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0.2

shows

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section

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Q (Alter
Q

Quit Alter

The Q
from

mode;

command
the
E

most

original

line

immediately returns you to Edit mode.
and
commands,
which
end Alter

current line.
the range you
Under

restore

returns

specified

mode)

Thus
mode

you to Edit mode even if more
the initial Alter command.

it
differs
only for the

lines

remain

circumstances,

restores

the

line

its

original

(as
it
was
before editing with the Alter command).
made to the line are discarded.
However, if you have
by inserting ((ir), the Q command leaves them intact.

state

Any changes you
formed new lines

R (Alter mode)

[-] [n]Rtext(ec)
The

command

Replace next/previous n characters with

behaves

exactly

0Itext(esc).

SOS

the

deletes

command

the

[-] [n]D

inserted

followed

characters

text

the

after

the

pointer (before the pointer for -n) and enters Alter/insert mode.
The
characters
deleted
are
displayed surrounded by pairs of backslashes
(in reverse order for -n).
(If the EXPERT switch is on, SOS does
not
display deleted text.)
1If you type
after an nR command to create
a new line, SOS does not use the given n to
determine
the
new
line
number.
In other words, the n in nR applies to the delete operation,
not to the insert operation.

S (Alter mode)
[-]1[n]Sx

Skip

forward/back

nth

occurrence

The S command accepts one character
it,
and
moves
the pointer to the
that character.
If you
supply
n,
occurrence

skip character
moves

over

the

are

character.

printed.

intervening characters
backslashes.

are

pointer

All

the

printed

character

moves

pointer

characters

the

EXACT

switch

between

1is

(see

uppercase

Section

and

left

the

order

character after the current pointer position is
the
skip
character.
Therefore,
you
can
skip
repeatedly typing, for example, Se.
The pointer is
to the next occurrence of e.
If

the

that

moves

reverse

The

distinguishes
example:

from the terminal, without echoing
right until the next occurrence of
the
pointer
moves
to
the
nth

The

negative.

left,

between

skip

the

command

160 Crer)

FrodueLbian

senecder

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Froodao Lion

50
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Preoveeboon

managser

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erodoctse

the

single

characters.

w/exact(ReD)
RIS

the

pointer

not
compared
to
through
a line by
advanced each time

2.9.2),

lowercase

the

past

deficits

For

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

The S command is ignored if thelgiven character does not occur in
rest

of the line, or

not moved.

if it occurs fewer than n times.

The pointer

the

W (Aiter mode)

[-]1[n]W

Skip forward/back n words

This command moves the pointer to the right (to the left for -n) until
it
points to the first character of the next word.
The pointer moves
over spaces and tabs, then over the next word, then over any following
spaces
and
tabs.
If you supply n, the pointer moves to the start of
the nth following word (preceding for -n).
A

"word"

is defined as any collection of letters and numbers.

X (Alter mode)
[-][n]X

Delete next/previous n words

The X command acts like the W command, except that it deletes
spaces,
word(s),
and
following spaces through the nth word after the pointer
(before the pointer for -n).
SOS prints
deleted
characters
between

pairs of backslashes
is on,

(in reverse order for -n).

SOS does not print deleted characters.)

(If the EXPERT switch

Typing 99X is an easy way to delete the rest of a line.

A (Alter mode)

[-1[n]"

Invert case of next/previous n characters

This command changes the
case
of
n
characters
after
the
pointer
(before
the pointer for -n).
Uppercase letters become lowercase, and
lowercase characters become uppercase.
Nonalphabetic
characters
are
not
affected.
The
cursor
moves past the n characters and they are
echoed (for -n, the characters are echoed
in
reverse
order
between
backslashes).

< (Alter mode)

[-][n]<

Convert next/previous n characters

uppercase

This command converts lowercase characters to uppercase.
The
pointer
moves
past
n
characters
(or
moves
back n characters if -n).
All
lowercase characters

characters
(for

-n,

encountered

become

encountered are not affected.
reverse order

uppercase;

between backslashes).

2-36

and

uppercase

The n characters are echoed

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

> (Alter mode)
[-]1[n]>

Convert next/previous n characters to lowercase

This command converts uppercase characters to lowercase.
The
pointer
moves
past
n
characters
(or
moves
back n characters if -n).
All

uppercase characters
encountered
become
lowercase;
any
lowercase
characters
encountered are not affected.
The n characters are echoed
(for -n, in reverse order between backslashes).

(Alter mode)

[-1[n](s)

Space back/forward n characters

Typing
moves the intraline pointer one space to
the
left,
The
characters
that
the
pointer
passes over are printed between single
backslashes.
If you supply n, the pointer moves
back
n
characters.

The
pointer
moves
forward
if
n
1is
negative:
-nCesr) is exactly
equivalent to nCs#).
If the n (or -n) you supply is greater than
the
number
of
characters
remaining,
the pointer moves to the beginning
(end) of the line.
SOS ignores the command if the pointer is
at
the
beginning of

the line

(or

at the end of the line

for -n).

(Alter mode)

RET

Leave Alter mode

for

This Alter-mode command

this line;

print rest of line

is the usual way to terminate editing for

the

current
line.
ends Alter mode for this line whether you are in
Alter mode or in Alter/insert mode.
SOS prints the rest of the
1line,
and
either
prints
the
1line number of the next line
gives the Edit-mode prompt if no lines remain.

in the range or

(Alter mode)

[-]1[n] ()

Space back/forward n characters

has the same effect as (¢):
it moves the character pointer
one
to
the
left.
does not delete characters at Alter-mode
command level, it simply moves the pointer.
The characters
that
the
pointer passes over are printed between single backslashes.
space

If you supply n,
the
pointer
moves
back
n characters.
movement
is to
the
right
if n
is negative: -nCom)
is

Pointer
exactly
equivalent to n(Cs).
If the n (or -n) you supply is greater than
the
number
of
characters
remaining,
the pointer moves to the beginning
(end) of the line.
SOS ignores the command if the pointer is
at
the

beginning of the line

(or

at the end of the line

for -n).

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

(Alter mode)

Leave Alter mode
(rD

acts like

Alter-mode

command

for

this line;

end Alter mode

level.

(r) signals SOS to create
above, for details.

From

print
for

rest of

this

line

1line,

SOS

within Alter/insert mode,

a new line.

See

1is

however,

the Alter-mode command

(Alter mode)

[-][n]Css)

Space forward/back n characters

Typing
moves the pointer one character to the
right
and
prints
the
character.
The
pointer
moves
n
characters
if you supply n.
Pointer movement is to the
1left
if
n
1is
negative; characters
are
printed in reverse order between single backslashes.
If the n (or -n)
you supply is greater than the number
of
characters
remaining,
the
pointer
moves
to
the
end (beginning) of the line.
SOS ignores the
command if the pointer is at the end
of
the
1line
(or
at
the
beginning of the line for =-n).

(Alter mode)

[-1(as)
(or

Skip to end/start of line
(@mn))

characters

moves

that

the pointer

the

pointer

SOS moves the pointer to
in reverse order between

the end of

passes

over.

the start of the line
single backslashes.

the
you

and

1line
type

and
a

prints

minus

sign,
characters

The Edit-mode
command
X
(eXtend),
which
invokes
Alter
mode,
is
equivalent to the command A followed by
and I.
That is, X prints
the line and invokes Alter/insert mode at the end of the line.

(Alter mode)

not

rest

line;

recycle

beginning

The
command tells SOS to recycle to the current pointer position.
All previous edits are incorporated.
SOS does not print the remainder
of the line (from the current pointer
position
to
the
end)
before
recycling.
Thus, in Alter mode
behaves the same as in Edit mode.

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

(Alter mode)

Start fresh: discard edits,
do not print line

recycle

to beginning of

line,

This command restarts Alter mode for the current line.
Any
previous
changes
you
made are discarded.
SOS immediately redisplays the line
number without printing the rest of the line.
If you have formed new lines
by
inserting
(¥,
the
command
leaves
previous
1lines
intact.
It discards any changes made to the
latest (r)-created line and recycles to the beginning of that line.

mode,

does

not have the
is taken as

same
text

effect
and is

in
Alter/insert
inserted into the

mode.
line.

this

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Copy
2.8.2

Copy

(C)

Formats:

Cposition,range|,incrementl[,increment2] JCrer) ‘

Cposition=file-spec|,range|,incrementl|, 1ncrement2]]]@
Cposition=file- spec/C‘llD

Arguments:

position
Specifies

the destination for the
copied
1lines.
If
number specified by position already exists, the copied
inserted after position.
If not, the copied lines
are
beginning at position.

the
1line
lines are
inserted

range

Specifies the
omit range in

source range of the lines to
be
copied.
the second form, above, the entire file is

If
you
copied.

incrementl
Specifies

the

line-number

increment

for

SOS

use

for

the

copied

lines.
If
the
source range contains page marks, incrementl is
used only up to the first page mark.
If you omit incrementl, SOS
uses the current line-number increment.
increment2
Specifies the line-number increment for SOS to use for the
lines
following
the
final page mark in the source range.
If you omit
increment2, SOS uses the current line-number increment.

Signals

that

file~-spec
Specifies

text

the

copy

come

from

second

file

(the

copy

file).

file.

Option:
/C
Tells
as
a

SOS to enter Copy-file
read-only file so that

mode: that is,
you can search

to
it

open the copy file
for the text to be

copied.
Current

line:

After

SOS

last

line

The

completes

Copy

command,

sets

the

current

1line

the

copied.

Copy command

inserts

copy

block

text

given

position

in
the
file.
The block of text can be copied either from somewhere
else within the file (the first usage form above) or from another file
(the
second
and third usage forms).
1In the latter case, if you type
/C at the end of the Copy command, SOS enters Copy-file
mode
so
vyou
can locate the text in the second file.
When you give a Copy command, SOS acts as if you
command
at
the
given
location,
and
treats
specified range as if you had typed it in.

had
each

given
an
text line

Input
in the

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

S0S takes
after
a

steps to make sure that line numbers are in
Copy
operation.
The rest of this section
numbers before and after a Copy command.
For an

line
SOS handles
2-4,

line

numbers

this

situation,

SOS chooses a small enough line-number
lines
1in
the
range to fit after the
following
1.

protocol:
SOS

checks

current
2.

the

whether

all

line-number
lines

the

example
of
how
Section 2.8.15, Figure

see

increment
to
allow
destination position,

lines

will

fit

increment.

will

not

fit

proper
sequence
gives details on

with

the

<current

increment,
S0S
checks whether the lines will
the increment you supply (incrementl).
3.

1If the lines will not fit with incrementl
supplied
incrementl),
SOS tries to find

that
SOS

cannot

copied

number

will

choose

1is

make
a

small

larger

position

the

lines

enough

than

and

the

fit

all
using

the

uses

the

line-number

uses

(or if you have not
a smaller increment

fit.
increment

numerical

difference

number

the

line

number

1lines

between

the

line

file.

the

inserts

this
case, SOS inserts page marks.
First, it copies as many lines as
will fit, using either the current increment or
your
incrementl
(if
supplied),
inserts
a
page
mark,
and copies the rest of the source

lines

with

their

line

numbers

intact.

Then SOS

second

page

mark.

SOS
it

tells you what increment it has used with the
inserts
a
page mark, SOS issues the message

message INCl=n.
INC1=ORDER n AND

If
P/M

INSERTED.

If the range of
renumbers
the

lines to be copied already contains
page
marks,
copied lines only up to the first page mark.
The

mark

and

range

copied,

are

copied

For the lines
to the one it
l.

the

their

lines
line

after the last
uses for lines

the lines
will
increment, SOS uses

SOS

the

them

with

increment

fit

with

SOS

chooses

the

you

the

INC2=n

the

SOS

does

AND

P/M

specification

meaning

precedes
range

range contains page marks,
the lines copied after the

INC2=ORDEK

the

the
first

page

first
line

specification

following

not

mark

have

INSERTED
the

increment2

well.

the

similar

default

does
range

it
*,

(or

smaller

1line-number

(increment2).
if

you

have

not

increment.

inserts
inserts

another
a final

page
page

SOS

tells you
the
increment
final page mark.
The message

insert

source

contains

to
if

1line on a page,
before

the

default

choose a small enough increment, it
the lines with numbers intact, and

source
uses
for

mark

using

specify

mark.

If
it

page

SOS follows a protocol
first page mark:

copies

£fit

the

the lines will not
supplied increment2),

last

intact.

‘

not

cannot
copies

numbers

page mark,
before the

If the lines will fit,
line-number increment.

If SOS
mark,

all

with

SOS
page

final

insert

one.

contains

the

page

mark,

shorthand

symbol

SOS copies the page mark

begins

meaning

the

copy
last

the
line,

text.
SOS

and

If
copies

that
the
the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Note that SOS
copies
the
page
mark(s)
whether
you
specify
the
symbol (s)
and/or *, or whether SOS supplies them as defaults.
Thus,
SOS copies the preceding page mark if you type the range
S3:50/4

This is because the initial line number for page 3 defaults to ~.
copies:
the succeeding page mark

if you type the range

SOS

20/3:/4

This is because the final line number for page 4 defaults

you
type only a single page number for the range, SOS copies both the
preceding and the succeeding page marks for that page.
For example:
75

This is because S0OS expands /5 to "/5:*/5,

above.

For

you
allows
Copy-file Mode - This mode
2.8.2.1
not
only
to
copy a block of text from another
file, but also to search the copy file to locate
the
text.
You call for Copy-file mode by using
the Copy
command
in
the
third
format
given
example:

KCAGS 3=CONTROL . OLR/CCrer)

The equal sign (=) means
copied

from

second

signals Copy-file mode.
(that is, if you use the

that

file,

text

1is to be

DCL

and the final /C

If you do not
type
/C
second usage form given

above), the entire file is copied at
the
point
specified.
In
this example, the file would be
copied at or after line 455, page
3,
depending
on whether or not line 455 exists.

‘rih;iq_J l:

—
A

\
‘

a
type
If you type the final /C, SOS prompts C* and waits for you to
Find, Print, List, or Move Position command.
Only a limited number of
Iis
the copy file
in Copy-file mode because
commands are legal

read-only

while it is open.

and (&) are

The Edit-mode commands

legal,
because
they
are
essentially
abbreviations
of
the
Print
command.
Also legal, but of limited utility, are Give Parameter, Set
Any other command results in the message
Parameter, and Command File.

COMMAND INVALID FOR READ ONLY FILE.

After you locate the desired lines in the copy file,
¥

SOS

type

(_RET

responds with
ENTR

RANGE

LINES:

if
and,
range
the
At this point you complete the Copy command with
desired,
one
or two line-number increments.
You can use line-number
abbreviations ( . - * ) in specifying the range.
The
values
of
the

current
line, current page, last line, and so forth refer to the copy
and
SOS completes the copy operation
file, not to the original file.
responds with

(the Edit-mode prompt).

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

D
Delete
2.8.3

Delete

(D)

Format:

D[range] (&)
Argument:
range

Specifies the lines to be deleted.

default

1If you omit

the

range,

the

it sets the current line to

the

is to delete the current line.

Current line:

After SOS completes a Delete command,
last line deleted

(which no longer

exists).

lines
If no
This command deletes the lines in the specified range.
range, SOS prints the error message RANGE GIVEN DOES NOT
the
in
are
CONTAIN ANY LINES.

Before deleting all lines

boundary,

questions:

SOS

DELETE

ENTIRE

FAGE?

DELETE

ACRDSS

PAGESYT

page,

confirmation

requests
Y
Y

with

deleting

one

across

the

page

following

needed).
not
is
SOS then waits for you to type either Y or N (a
rejects any character other than Y, y, N, or n and repeats the
SOS
question.

After deleting the lines, SOS reports the results of the deletion with
a message such as the
SLOLINFOSY

following:

DELETEDR

20145721 002507°4) .

If the EXPERT switch is on,

SOS

neither

tells you how many lines were deleted.

2-43

requests

confirmation

nor

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

E.
End
2.8.4

End

(E)

Formats:

E[:file-spec](re)
EB[:file-spec]
EQ[:file-spec]
ES[:file-spec]
ET[:file-spec]
()
Arguments:

file-spec
If given,
current

specifies

output

the

file

output

file.

omitted,

file.

The

SOS

uses

the

output

file

has

specification.

Tells
the

SOS

not

create

same

version number
effectively deleted.

Q
’

Tells

SOS

to quit

Tells

SOS

to write

page

marks.

Tells

SOS

"back~up"
as

without

the

input

writing

file,

output

and

the

input

file

file.

the

output

file

without

line

numbers,

but

with

the

output

fiie

without

line

numbers

page

to write

marks.

Current
Not

line:

applicable:

after

the

End

command,

SOS

terminates.

The End command terminates the editing session and returns you to DCL.
Different
versions
of
the
End
command
allow
you to exit with or
without a back-up file, line numbers, or page marks.

SOS tells you the specification of the
output
file
it
writes.
It
gives
no
specification
if you exit without an output file (EQ).
1If
you have not changed the file since it was last written,
SOS
appends
the

note

(NO

CHANGES)

the

file

specification,

and

exits

without

rewriting the output file.
If you do not give
a
file
specification
with
the
E
command,
SOS
writes
an output file with the same file
specification as given in the last Save World
command.
If
no
Save
World
was given, then the file name and type are the same as those of
the input file, but the version number is higher by 1.
If you
supply
a
file
specification,
the
output
file
1is
written
with
that
specification.
When supplying a file specification,
output
file over an existing file.
same

name

and

type

version
number
specification is

version
EXISTS

number,

and

FILENAME:.

the

given

file

before
writing
the
identical to that of

SOS

requests

rejects
a

new

the

you cannot
make
SOS
write
If a file already exists with
specification,

SOS

output file.
If
an existing file,

command

filename

with

increments

the

the given
including

file
the

the message
the

its
the

prompt

FILE ALREADY
ENTER

NEW

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Use the EB form of the End command to request
SOS
not
to
create
a
back-up
file when it exits.
The version number of the output file is
not incremented.
Thus, the information in the original file is
1lost,
unless you have previously given a Save World command that incremented
the version number.
The ES form requests
SOS
to
write
the
output
file
without
1line
numbers.
You can use ES to save disk space, since files without line
numbers
require
less
storage
space.
However,
SOS
requires
significantly
more
processing
time
to generate a file without line
numbers.

This

Section

2.13.1.

because

On VAX/VMS

systems,

programs

that

the way SOS

you

need

not

cannot

deal

with

use

handles

temporary

make

1line-numbered

files;

allowances

files.

see

for

(This

desirable on some other systems with other implementations of SOS.) On
VAX/VMS,
the
input/output system transparently handles line-numbered
files.
Therefore, the use of ES should be rare.
Use the ET form of the End command to clean up a file that has
become
messy
with uneven line numbers and with page marks scattered randomly
throughout.

tells

without page marks
opens the file, it

mechanism
to
2.9.3).
Thus,
One use of the
files to serve
Chapter 3).

SOS

control
you can
ET
as

write

the

as well as without
renumbers it.
You

SOS's
start

form of
command

output

line
can

ESECrer)
ERTCrer)

any order.

1ts

useful

and T options

forms

version

Write the output

marks.

not

textual

file,

(see

Section

command
is
in
preparing
command
SLP, the batch-oriented editor (see

are

V_Write the output f@le without
increment

The next time SOS
symbol-assignment

1line-numbering
defaults
the file.

the End
input to

Some

fresh with

You can use any combination of the B, S,
command,

file

numbers.
use
the

file

number.

without

increment

2-45

its

with

given

below.

1line

numbers.

1line

version

numbers

number.

the

End

not

page

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

F’

Find
2.8.5

Find

(F)

Formats:

F[[string]
() [range] [,A)[,N][,E][,n][,-]]1C&D
F[[stringlCrm)

string6]
C& [range] [,A] [,N] [,E] [,n]]GED
Arguments:

string
Specifies the string of characters (fewer than 200) that
SOS
to
search for.
SOS prints the first line in which the string
found.
If you omit string, SOS uses the current find string.

is
is

range

Specifies
SOS

the

range

lines

searches

from

the

line

after

searched.
the

file.

1If you omit

current

line

the

range,
end

’

stringl...stringé
Specifies six or fewer distinct strings that
for.
The
total
number
of
characters
in
exceed 200.

SOS

1is

the

strings

search
may

not

Options:
[

Tells

SOS

found.
string
’

enter

Alter

mode

automatically when

The intraline pointer
in the line.

points before

the

string

the beginning

the

1line(s)

lowercase

letters

Tells SOS
which the

to print only the
string is found.

line

number(s)

Tells

SOS

equivalent

not

the

treat

uppercase

and

string.

Tells
given

SOS to
range.

Tells

SOS

find

the

to print

the

n occurrences

line

that

does

the

not

string

contain

the

string.

Current line:
After

SOS

completes

last

1line

found;

Find

however,

command,

the

unchanged.

2-46

sets

the

current

fails,

1line

the current

line

the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

Common

F (D

short

(SOS)

forms:

for the string(s) specified in the previous complete
Find
command,
starting
at
the
1line
after
the
current
1line, and
continuing to the end of the previously specified range.

N EED)

Search for the previousl} specified string(s), starting after the

current

line

and

continuing

until

the

end of

the

file.

Use the Find command to find a given string of text occurring within a
given range of lines.
SOS prints the first line containing the string
within

the

range.

finds

the

string

If the range includes more than one page,
and
on a page other than the current one, it prints

n.
before printing the line containing the
string.
If
SOS
find the string in the given range, it prints STRING NOT FOUND,
FAILED.
The current line is unchanged.
To find the first
following form:

occurrence

word

find

and

given

page,

SOS
PAGE

cannot
SEARCH
.

use

the

Fisomerd/4

This

form of

that

contains

locate

the

Find

the

command means

the

string

occurrence

command,

the

first

line

page

"isomer".

use

only

the

same

range

string

you

gave

the

argument:

KF 4/ &(RET)
This form means find and print the first line on page 6 that
contains
the string "isomer" (from the previous Find command).
If you use this
form of the Find command before you issue a complete Find command, SOS
prints ILLEGAL SEARCH STRING GIVEN.
If you omit the range
following the current
For example:

specification, SOS begins searching
line, and continues through the end

at
of

the
the

1line
file.

(Cesc
)

{

fdeoxsribob(rer)

This form means
beginning
with
the file.

find the
the line

first occurrence of
the
string
"deoxyribo"
following the current line through the end of

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

You can give the Find command repeatedly, each time
occurrence
of
a
string in the file.
To do this,
For

finding
the
next
simply type F(xrer).

example:

(Cesc)

xfrandom$/1/ xCED

D)
01310

POGE
00110

2.
&

*f (Crer)

kf (GED)

STRING

*:::: ¢

random

but

00320

certain

dedree

eseudo-random

NOT

rerturbations

FOUNDy

the

structure

lattice

the

randomness

rnumber

the

imnterval

srocess.

[O0r1dy

chosen

FAILED

00110/2

You can
special

search for
form
of

string.
and the

After
typing
all the search
range and options (if desired).

first string,

The multiple

as many as six different strings at once by using a
the Find command.
Instead of typing (sc) after the

type (®r);

SOS prompts you with F*
strings

strings can contain up to

200

for

another

this way,

characters

type

in all.

An example using two search strings is given
below.
Note
that
the
user
has
typed ,99 as an option at the end of the Find command.
SOS
finds the first 99 (or fewer) occurrences of either search
string
in
the

range.

£fraendom(rer)
ESC

F¥stochastriod
s/ Lk 99(rer)
DOI20

but

QO740
NL310

froam the stochastic
a certain dedree of

FAGE

PAGE

revburbastions

the

lattice

eauation (Ee.
randomness i

structure

4-2).,
bhe #rocess.

QG110

OQL2L0

ranmdon

a8
4.

rseudorandow

bhe

studs

mumber

bthe

stochastic

interval

DOy1ly

chosen

#rocesses.

A common error in using the Find command
1is
to
type
RET
after
a
search
string when you meant to type (Cesc).
SOS assumes you intend to
specify multiple search strings, and prompts F*.,
At this
point,
you
can type (sc) and complete the Find command normally.

2.8.5.1
Find Options - The complete Find command, including
options,
is
shown as the first format given at the beginning of Section 2.8.5.
You can supply options in any combination and in any order.
If you give a Find command with one or
more
options,
these
options
will
still
be in effect if you later use the abbreviated form F (rer).
The ,n option is an exception:
it applies only to the
complete
Find
command.

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

To reset the options while still using an
type F(esc) (rer).
If
you
do
not
indiscriminately
Number,

use
find
NUMBER.

the
,E
option,
a line containing

(SOS)

abbreviated

the
any of

Find

command,

command
below
would
the following:
number,

ESC

Froumirer $(rer)
This

ambiguity can be useful:
for example, when you want
to
find
a
whether
it
begins
a
sentence or not.
But if you want SOS to
distinguish uppercase from lowercase characters
when
searching,
use
the ,E option.

word

Using the ,E option is equivalent to turning
Section 2.9.2) for Find commands only.

Use
in

a
a

the

EXACT

switch

(see

large number like 999 for the ,n option to find all the
strings
given
range.
Unlike
the
other three options, the ,n option

applies

only

you

give

only

one

you

the
more

use

same
Find
positioned

one

execution

command

occurrence

the

Find

FFIRST(esc),2(rer)

(Alter

the

mode)

string
and

command.

and

later

For

use

example,

F(rer),

SOS

finds

FIRST.
(do

not

find)

command,
SOS enters Alter mode with
at the beginning of the line that was

options

the intraline
found.

the

pointer

Examples:
ESC

fdigl /49053

Print
last
a

the first three
1line on page 4,

string

that

lines, from the current
that contain the string

unless its case (upper
the given string.

lower)

1line
digi.

agrees

through
the
Do not match
exactly

with

+F ( RET

Print the next line after the
current
1line
that
contains
the
string
digi.
The
search
starts at the line after the current
line and continues to the end of the range last specified (to the
end

page

4).

exact

pattern

prints only one matched line;
previous Find command applies

the
only

match

,3
to

still

option
that one

required.

specified
command.

SOS

the

L?(

Mot /¥y
999 Crer)
Print only the line numbers (and page numbers) of
the
lines
in
the rest of the file that contain the string digi.
Exact pattern
matching is no longer called for.
Consequently, SOS matches Digi
and

DIGI,

for

example,

well

2-49

digi.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Kol pimg @
FIND-

digi

SURSTITUTE
FOR~ X

Display
the
strings
currently
in
effect
for
Substitute
commands.
See
Sections
2.9.1
respectively, for details on the STRING parameter
Parameter command (=).

the
and
and

Find
and
2.8.19,
the
Give

K P Mumioh

F¥torm (rer)

(CEsc)
FXGorlin$ .,/

Xsaver999

Find all occurrences of any of
the
strings
Munich,
Bonn,
and
Berlin
in the rest of the file.
Do not match a string unless it
starts with an uppercase letter.
As each string is found,
enter
Alter
mode
for that line, with the intraline pointer positioned
before the start of the string that was found.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Help
2.8.6

Help

(H)

Format:

H[:n]Crer)
Argument:
n

Specifies the number of
is to start printing.

the module

in the help package

that

SOS

Current line:

The Help command does not affect the current

line.

The Help command prints a help package on your terminal.
is

composed

quickly

of a number of modules.

through

A control

This package

feature lets you skim

the modules.

After the introductory module, the help package contains summaries
of
SOS
features
and
functions similar to Appendix A, but formatted for
printing on a terminal.

If you type the Help command with no argument, SOS prints
the
entire
help
package.
The
introductory module contains a list of the other
modules and their numbers, plus instructions
for
printing
the
help
package on the line printer.

If you type @rw)
while
a
module
is
printing,
SOS
skips
to
the
beginning
of
the next module.
You can skim through the help package
by typing successive .Cmru9s.
Typing
returns
you
immediately
to
Edit mode.

Tf you type the Help command with an argument
number

and

continues

the

end of

the

SOS

prints

help package.

As an example of how you can use the Help command, suppose
see a list of Alter-mode commands.
Proceed as follows:

Type H(rer).

Type @9

SOS prints

when you

Alter-mode commands.

Type H:6(rer).

Type

prompts

read

the

introductory module.

that

module

SOS prints module number

you want

number

summarizes

SOS prints the Edit-mode prompt

when SOS begins to

with

module

number

SOs

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

|
Input
2.8.7

Input

Input Mode)

Formats:

I[position] [,increment]Crer)
I[position] [;increment](rr)
I[position] [;!n]Ceer)
Arguments:

position
Specifies the destination for the inserted text;
position is the
line
number
of
the
first
inserted
1line,
if a line does not
already exist at position.
If a line
exists
at
position,
the
line
number
1is
set
to
position
plus the current line-number
increment (or the specified increment).
If another
1line
exists
at
or
halfway

before

this
between.

continues

new
1line
If you omit

the position where

number,

the new line is numbered
position argument, insertion

the

last

Input

command

left

off.

increment
Specifies
comma.

the
I1f

new

current

preceded

line-number
a

semicolon,

increment only for this
insert.
current line-number increment is

If
used.

increment,

if preceded by a
argument is a temporary

the

you

omit

increment,

Specifies the number of lines you want to insert.
an appropriate temporary line-number increment.

Current

calculates

line:

After SOS
last line

Common

SOS

the

completes
inserted.

short

I.CxD)

Insert

Input

command,

line.

sets

the

current

line

the

forms:

after

the

current

after

the

last

new

page

1 *GED

Insert

I/*+1(re)

Start

line

the

end

this

page.

the

file

there.

and

begin

inserting

I ( Rrer

Continue inserting after the line most
the
1line-number
increment
given
in

command.

this

You must

issue

complete

form.

2-52

recently
inserted,
the
1last
complete

Input

command

before

using
Input
using

INTERACTIVE

Use the
file.

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Input command to enter new lines into
a
Its
arguments
are
a
single
position

(line/page)

and/or

line-number

increment.

—

Text insertion begins (SOS enters Input mode) at
or after the line number specified by
position.
SOS
accepts
successive
lines of text from the
terminal,
and
inserts
them
into
the
file.

Successive line numbers are determined by adding
the
current
increment
to
the
previous
1line
number.

.
|I
::::{::]

DCL

The increment
argument,
if
specified
with
a
comma,
becomes
the
new line-number increment.
If specified with a semicolon, increment acts as
the line-number increment for this command only.
Subsequent commands continue to use the
default

increment

(except

temporary

increment).

ICreT),

which

uses

the

Use the third form of the Input command when you know exactly how many
lines
vyou want to insert.
1In this case, SOS calculates a line-number
increment that allows the given number of lines to fit before the next
existing line.

Exit Input mode by typing ().
If you type
at the beginning
of
a
new
input
line,
that (empty) line is not inserted into the file.
The last full line inserted becomes the current 1line.
You
<can
also
return
to
Edit mode by typing
at the end of the last line to be
inserted.

In some circumstances, SOS returns you
These
circumstances
are
given below,
continue

inserting

text:

to
Edit
mode
automatically.
along with ways to recover and

A line exists whose number is equal to or less than the number
that
SOS calculates for the next inserted line, and this line
is not the first line inserted.
(To continue inserting
text,
issue another Input command, specifying a smaller increment.)

The line number that SOS calculates for the next inserted
is greater than 65535.
(Renumber part of the file.)

line

You

(Use

try to

shorter

insert a

line

longer

than

500

characters.

lines.)

After completing an Input command, when
you
have
returned
to
Edit
mode,
SOS
remembers the line number and page number of the next line

to be inserted.
1If you type I(ka), text
insertion
resumes
at
this
point.
SOS
uses
the increment specified in the last complete Input
command you typed, even if it was a
temporary
increment.
Thus,
1in
this
special
case,
the
temporary increment endures after the Input
command in which it was established.
If you specify an existing line as position in an Input
command,
and
this
1line
1is followed by anothér line with a number higher by 1, SOS
prints the error message INSUFFICIENT LINE NUMBERS FOR INSERTION.
In
this
case,
use
the
reNumber
command
(N),
then reissue the Input
command.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Example:

00130

MOV

00140

CLR

00142

EREQ

X1, 92CED)

00144
00146

00150

MOV

Cesc)

RSsyCNTEL(R3)

$SAVE UCE FOINTER

U.CW2(RS)

SCLEAR

10%

3 IF

I.TCR(RK1) RO

ALL

EQUAL

SWITCHES
YES (ReD)

FGET REQUESTOR TCR ADDRESS (Ren)

MOV

X1 @D

170.yU.CNT(RS)

$SET

COUNT

FOR

170

NULLS

(Esc
)
00146

ENE

k=RIG(RE)

65%

5IF

XTk/4(rer)
00430

VERSION

214y

2-21-78.

GNL ,Cre)

ESC

00432

Xz Crer )
COEALCLANEYIFFIRV,MACS
181

2-54

NoE.

DON‘T

FUNCH

TRAILER

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Join
2.8.8

Join

(J)

Format:

J[position]Crer)
Argument:

position

Specifies the line to be joined to the following
line.
If
you
omit position, the current line is joined to the following line.

Current line:
After SOS completes a Join command, it sets the current
1line
to
the
new line made from the two o0ld lines; that is, the current line number
becomes the specified position.

The Join command joins two lines together.
The joined line
is given
the
number of the first line of the pair, that is, of the line at the
specified position.
It becomes
the
current
line
after
the
Join
command
completes.
The
1line number that previously belonged to the
second line of the pair ceases to exist.

SOS refuses to join two lines if the resulting line
would
be
longer
than 500 characters.
It prints the error message LINE IS TOO LONG.
If the line specified by position is the last
prints

1line

page,

ILLEGAL SYNTAX OF COMMAND.

Example:

§= 400 1 3(Crer)
30400
FAGE

The

#osl

write

a2lwsws

50610

DOLED

cleary

furnctional

srecifications that are essw to understand.

%J 400 1Crer)
TLLEGAL

SYNTAX

unambiguous

COMMAND

PRLUNEED)
V0 ey

The goal

2lwawsto write cleary

Q0400

The

soal

alwaus

The

#@ozl

alwaws

unsmbhishuous

DOA00

write

2-55

clesrcy

unasmbhidguous

SOS

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SO0S)

K
Kill Page Mark
2.8.9

Kill

Page Mark

(K)

Format:

K/page(rer)
Argument:

/page

Specifies

Current
The

be deleted.

line:

Kill

This

the page mark

Page

Mark

command

command deletes

does

("kills")

not

affect

a page mark

the

current

line.

that you have

inserted with

the
Mark command, or that SOS has inserted in the course of a Copy or
Transfer command.
When a page mark is
deleted,
the
text
that
was
previously
on that page appears at the end of the preceding page.
(A
page mark is considered to be located at the head of its page.)
You

can

delete

only

one

page

mark

;ime.

Deleting a page mark can leave line numbers out
you
with
the
message
LINES
OUT
OF ORDER.
immediately renumber the current page using the
If

you

PAGE

try
DOES

responds

delete

NOT

CANNOT

immediately
not

insert

EXIST.

KILL

nonexistent
If

INITIAL

you

PAGE

page
try

of
In

order.
SOS
warns
this case, you must
reNumber command.

number,

SOS

prints

delete

page

mark

MARK.

after
the start of the file
a physical page mark there.)

(SOS

the
1

considers

on page

message

(K/1),

SOS

the

text

but

it does

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

List
2.8.10

List

(L)

Formats:

Lirangel [,[S][,P[:file-spec]]](rer)
Lirangel [,[S][,F:file-spec] ](re)
Argument:
range

Specifies the range of lines to
lists the entire file.

list.

you

omit

range,

SOS

Options:
14

Tells SOS

,P:file-spec

suppress line numbers

Tells
SOS
to
specification,

in the

listing.

produce
a
disk
file,
with
formatted fo; later printing.

the

given

file

ordinary

SOS

1line

the

(F:file—-spec

Tells SOS to produce
text file.

a disk

file

formatted

Current line:

After SOS completes a List command,
last

line listed.

it sets the current

The List command allows you to generate either a printer listing or
a
disk
file
containing all or part of the file being edited.
The List
command has an advantage over the DCL PRINT command for
printing
SOS
files.
The
List
command generates headings on each page of printer
output giving the SOS page number, as
well
as
each
1listing
page's
sequential

number

within

the SOS

page.

The heading contains the specification of the file being listed;
the
date
and
time
printed;
and a page number in the form m-n, where m
represents the page number in the SOS file, and n
1is
the
segquential
number
of
the
1listing
page
within
the
SOS page.
(When n=1, the
printing of "-n" is suppressed.).
These headings are generated if you
specify
,P
(whether the output goes to a printer or to a disk file).
The headings are also generated if neither ,P nor ,F is specified.

The SOS parameter LENGTH controls the page length of listings produced
by
the
List command, ,P option.
1Its initial value is 55 lines.
You
can reset this parameter if desired (see Section 2.9.1).
You can specify a particular printer by using the
,P
option
in
the
form
,P:LPan: (a
1is
the controller designation and n is the printer
rnamber). LPan: is a legal file specification.
If you
omit
file-spec
from the ,P option, or if you supply neither ,P nor ,F, the listing is
sent

LPAO.

The option ,F:file-spec generates a disk file containing the lines
in
the
given
range, but without the page headings described above.
The
disk file thus produced is a normal SOS file.
Any page marks
in
the
range
are included in the file.
The ,S option, if present, tells SOS
to suppress line numbers in the disk file.
2-57

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

M
Mark
2.8.11

Mark

(M)

Format:

M[position](rer)
Argument:

position

Specifies

the position

new

position.

page.

SOS

(line/page)
inserts

that
a

If you omit position,

page

to be

the

mark

before

the current line

first
the

1line
given

is assumed.

Current line:
After
first

SOS completes a Mark command,
line on the new page.

The Mark
and

command

renumbers

inserts

all

a page mark

subsequent pages.

sets

the

current

specified point

1line

the

text

If the line number in the position specification does not
exist,
SOS
inserts
the
page mark immediately after the previous, lower-numbered
line.
If you give the Mark command for the first line on a page, SOS inserts
a
page
mark immediately after the existing page mark.
The page that
previously existed is then empty.

After the completion of a Mark command, the current line is the
line
on
the new page.
Therefore, if you give the Mark command
below,

the current

line

becomes

300/4.

first
shown

X M300/3CRED)
The

new line is the same line that you referred to
300/3, but it is now on page 4.

2-58

in the

command

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

N
reNumber
2.8.12

reNumber

(N)

Format:

N[increment] [, [range] [,start]](re)

NA[increment] [, [range] [,start] ](rer)
NP[increment] [, [range] [,start] J(zr)
Arguments:

increment
Specifies

the line-number increment between the renumbered lines.
If you omit it, SOS uses the current line-number increment.

range

Specifies
renumbers

the
the

range of lines
entire file.

renumber.

If you

omit

1it,

SOS

for the renumbering.
If
the value of increment.

you

start

Specifies the starting line number
omit it, SOS starts renumbering at

Tells

SOS

add

increment

every

1line

number

the

given

range.

Tells SOS to renumber all lines in the range
sequentially.
S0S
does not reset the starting line number at each page boundary.

Current

line:

After SOS completes a reNumber
the last line renumbered.

This

command

reNumber

renumbers

whenever

commonly,

you

INSUFFICIENT

can

LINE

the

SOS

command,

lines

prints

renumber

NUMBERS

FOR

in the
the

upon

sets

given

message

the

range.
LINES

receiving

INSERTION

(or

current

You

any

must

OUT OF ORDER.

the

1line

error

other

use
More

message

time).

The first argument, increment, specifies the
increment
between
1line
numbers.
The
first line renumbered is given this number, unless you
specify the third argument (start).
Each succeeding line is
given
a
number
that
1is
the sum of the increment and the previously assigned
number.

If SOS
number

crosses a page mark while renumbering, it
to the first line on the new page (unless
example, you type the following command:

assigns the increment
you specify NP).
For

Before renumbering,
shown below.

and

Page

115

Page

900

the

line

126
911

numbers

137
952

150
1022

pages

might

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

After

renumbering,

the

line

numbers

(SOS)

are:

Page

If you use the NP
form
of
the
command,
SOS
does
not
reset
its
numbering
when
it
encounters
a page boundary.
The entire range is
numbered in ascending order.
Thus, using
NP
in
the
above
example
produces:

b ST EOPRNAQ
D)
Page

Page

The NA

form of

increment
argument
If you

range

the

reNumber

to each

line

is meaningless.

not

specify

is empty,

command

number
If

supplied,

range,

SOS prints

tells

the

SOS

LARGE

reNumber

LINES

OUT

command

using

renumbers

add

If you

the

specified

use NA,

the

ignored.
the

entire

file.

start

RANGE GIVEN DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY LINES.

If, while renumbering, SOS assigns a line
stops
renumbering immediately and prints
TOO

SOS

range.

ORDER.

this

smaller

Page

Mark

the

number larger than 65535, it
the message LINE NUMBER STEP
point,

you

increment

must

reissue

smaller

the

starting

number.

If,

after

issuing a

message

LINES

current

page).

OUT

Kill
OF

ORDER,

(K)

command,

renumber

2-60

using

you
/.

get
as

the

the
range

error
(the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Print
2.8.13

(P)

Format:

Pl[range] [,S]Cre)
Argument:
range

Specifies the range of lines to print.
If yo.
omit
range,
SOS
prints
16
lines
(or the number of lines given by the parameter
PLINES).

Option:
S

Tells

SOS

suppress

line

numbers

and

only

the

text.

line

Current line:
After SOS completes
last line printed.

Common
P(

short

command,

sets

the

current
'

the

forms:

rer

Print
at

the

p/.GED

lines

current

(or

the

line;

all

lines on

the

the previous

number
of lines given by PLINES)

cross

page

boundaries

starting

necessary.

the current page.

line.

ESC

The Print
including
prints

line.

command prints on your terminal the lines in a given
range,
1line
numbers.
If the range includes a page boundary, SOS
blank

line

and

PAGE

suppress
when it

to mark

Use the option ,S
still prints PAGE

to
n.

You can interrupt
until
you
type

typeout at any time by
to
resume where

it.

line numbers in the Print
crosses a page boundary.
typing @G=is).
it left off.

command.

S0s

Output
pauses
To suppress all
There
may
be
a

remaining output from a Print command, type
@®rwo).
slight
pause
before
S0S
gives
the
Edit-mode prompt
continues to move output to a buffer area after you type

* because
@wo.
If

type

second

point

the

"If you use
number
of
can change
parameter

during

pause,

typeout

resumes

some

later

the Print command without arguments (P(rer)), SOS
prints
a
1lines (initially 16) beginning with the current line.
You
the number of lines printed by P(xr) by resetting
the
SOS
PLINES.

The

% /PLINES ; n(CeEr)
X

this

output.

SOS
you

command

is:

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

See Section 2.8.21

(SOS)

for details on the Set Parameter command /.

The Edit-mode commands

and (&) act as abbreviated forms

Print
command.
They
tell SOS to print, respectively, the next
and the previous line in the file.
With
and (<), you
can
through a file a line at a time in either direction.

and
suppose
the

operate regardless of
page
boundaries.
For
example,
current
1line
is
the last line on page 3 when you type

X = o (CRET)
.

x Cre)
PAGE

1600/3

00100
X

Guidelines

for

creating

These two special abbreviations of
follows:

RET

Csc)

RUNOFF

files

online

are

the Print command can be defined as

P°/.+41

= *

P.-1

P*/.-1

Example:

¥ o1
1 3CreD)
00530

trade~-off

00540

files

003545

most casesy

00550

Howevery

x Crer)

involved

instead

retrieval

there

using

relativelw

seauentially

maw

time

unused

ordanized

ones!

reduced significantles.
srace

the

file.

¥ Crer)
FAGE

000190

Access Methods?

00660

VAX-11

RMS

file

ordanizations

00600/3

¥ =RIGCRer)
3

RECED)

the

line
step

SUCH

LINE EXISTS

2-62

listed

Table

4-1.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Replace
2.8.14

Replace

(R)

Formats:

R[range] [,increment
) (rer)
Rirange] [;increment](Crer)

R[range] [; In]CGeD

Arguments:
range

Specifies the range of lines to be deleted and replaced with
new
text.
SOS
enters
Input
mode.
The first new line of text is
given the number of the first line in the
range.
If
you
omit
range, the current line is replaced.
increment
Specifies the new current line increment, if preceded by a comma.
If
preceded by a semicolon, it is a temporary increment for this
command only.
If you omit
increment,
the
current
line-number
increment is used.
n

Specifies the number of
deleted
range.
SOS
increment.

lines you want to insert in place of
the
calculates
an
appropriate
line-number

Current line:
After SOS
last line
Common

completes
inserted.

short

a Replace

command,

sets

the

current

line

the

forms:

R.(Cr)
Replace

the current

line with a new line or

Replace

the

line.

lines typed

in.

RCrer)
current

The Replace command acts like a Delete command for
the
given
range,
followed
by
an
Input
command
at the first line in the range.
SOS
tells you how many lines have been deleted (unless the
EXPERT
switch
is
on)
and
then
enters
1Input
mode.
You can optionally supply an
increment for the Replace command, as you can for the Input command.
The increment,
if
supplied,
acts
as
either
a
temporary
(;)
or
permanent
(,)
update of the current line~number increment.
That is,
use
the
,increment
argument
to
change
the
default
line-number
increment.
Use
the
;increment
argument
to
define
a
temporary
increment
for
this
command
only.
Subsequent
Input
and
Replace

commands continue

use

the default

increment.

Use the third form of the Replace
command,
Rrange;!n,
exactly
how
many
1lines
you
have
to
insert.
SOS
appropriate (temporary) line-number increment.

1if
you
know
calculates an

The line number of the first inserted line is that of the
first
1line
that SOS deleted in the range.
Subsequent line numbers are determined
by adding the current increment to the previous line number.

2-63

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

If you specify a range that crosses page boundaries, or that
includes
an
entire
page,
SOS asks for confirmation before deletlng anything.
SOS prints one of the following queries:
DELETE
REFLACE

ACROSS PAGES?T
ENTIRE PAGE?T

SOS does not

switch

request

Y
Y

OR
OR

N?
Nt

this confirmation

before deleting

the

EXPERT

is on.

In only one

particular

does

the

Replace

command

differ

from

equivalent
combination
of
Delete
and
Input commands.
The Replace
command does not define the proper parameters to allow the abbreviated
Input
command
ICeer).
You
can use this abbreviated form only after
typing a full Input command.

Examples:

X R/250(rer)
REFLACE

ENTIRE

FAGE?

N!Y

Replace all lines on page 2 and insert new lines, beginning
with
the
first
1line
deleted.
Use
an increment of 50; make 50 the
current line-number increment.

X Ri503
i 2(Cker)
Replace line 150
on
the
calculates
a
temporary
fit.

current
page
with
two
increment
that allows the

1lines. '
SOS
two lines to

¥ R33715
7CGED)
6
Replace

the

five

lines

starting

2-64

line

337 with

seven new lines.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

S
Substitute
2.8.15

Substitute

(S)

Formats:

S[[oldstring(a)newstring] (o) [rangel [,D] [,N] [,E] 1CzD)

S[oldstringl ()

oldstring6(esc)newstringl(rer)

newstring6 ()] [range] [,D] [,N] [,E]CxeD)
Arguments:

oldstring

Specifies any string of characters

(fewer

than 200).

newstring

Specifies a string of characters that SOS is

all occurrences of oldstring within the range.

range

substitute

for

is to make the
Specifies the range of lines over which S80S
If you omit range, SOS performs the substitution
substitution.
its search with the
starting
found,
only on the first match
current lihe, proceeding if necessary to the end of the file.

oldstringl...oldstringé

Specifies six or fewer distinct strings that SOS

with

newstring

(1 to 6).

replace

The total number of characters in all

the oldstrings cannot exceed 200.

newstringl...newstring6

Specifies six or fewer strings that S0S is to substitute for
(1 to 6). The total number of characters in all the
oldstring
newstrings cannot exceed 200.

Options:
D

Tells SOS

to enter Decide mode.

Tells SOS to print only the number

Tells SOS to accept only an exact

match

substitution

1line

(upper-

and

the

which

the

is made.

letters must agree)

in the oldstring(s).

lowercase

Current line:

After SOS completes a Substitute command, it sets the current line to
If SOS does not find
the 1last line in which a substitution was made.
the string to be replaced,

it does not change the current line.

2-65

INTERACTIVE

Common Short

You

must

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

command

before

Forms:

issue

complete Substitute

using

these

forms.

sCrer)
Perform

substitution(s)

the
current
oldstring.
of the current range.

one line:
Search from

the
the

first
1line
current line

containing
to the end

ESC

Sé, RET
Perform

substitution(s),

newstring,

the

using

current

the

current

oldstring

the

current

oldstring

and

line.

RET

Perform

substitution(s),

newstring,
the current

on
the
line to

wusing

first line
the end of

containing
the file.

oldstring.

and

from

This command substitutes an arbitrary string of characters (newstring)
for
another
arbitrary
string
(oldstring)
within
a given range of
lines, and prints each line in which a substitution is made.

An option (,D)
for
which
a

invokes Decide mode, in which SOS
displays
each
1line
substitution
is appropriate -- with the change already
-- and asks you to decide the disposition of
the
1line.
Decide
is described fully in Section 2.8.15.3.

made

mode
SOS

remembers

the

you

can

them

reuse

strings
in

you

later

specify

command.

Substitute

For

example:

command

that

bDr.

for

all

(Cese
) (Cesc )
¥sloolar $hr.$/1 8 2CED)

This

command

occurrences

tells

SOS

tells

SOS

Doctor

to make

the

substitute

pages

same

and

substitution on page

If you omit the search strings as shown
complete Substitute command, SOS prints
A

Substitute

command

with

the
Then,

string
the

The

specified

command

above before you have issued
ILLEGAL SEARCH STRING GIVEN.

arguments

(assuming

issued a complete command) performs the substitution
the next line, starting from the
current
1line,
in

occurs.

following

you

search proceeds, if necessary, until the
the last complete Substitute command.

have

already

in only one line:
which
oldstring
end

the

range

One exception applies:
if the last Substitute command operated on
current
1line,
then S(&r) tells SOS to search from the line after
current line.
Thus, having issued a complete Substitute command,
can

perform

range

SOS
on

repeatedly

prints
a

new

the

a blank

page.

same

substitution

typing

line

and

one

line

time

throughout

S(r).

PAGE

each

time

it makes

the
the
you
the

substitution

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

2.8.15.1
Multiple Substitutions - SOS can perform
substitutions
for
several
string-pairs
at
a time.
That is, oldstringl is replaced by

newstringl;
usage

oldstring2 by newstring2;

form above

and so

follows:

on.

Use

the

second

Specify all oldstrings first, and follow each oldstring

SOS prompts with S* to remind you that

After typing the last oldstring,

with

CeD-

Substitute command.

newstring.

with

S*,

each

type

newstring

you

are

with

within

and

(®r).

4.,

After specifying the last newstring, type a final

Complete the command by typing the

range

(and

the

first

SOS prompts

(o).
options,

desired).

The limit for multiple substitutions is six oldstring-newstring pairs.
The
total
length
both of all oldstrings, and (independently) of all
newstrings,

cannot exceed

200

characters.

For example, suppose you want to substitute the variable
X6
for
all
occurrences of X in a FORTRAN program, and likewise Y6 for Y.
X and Y
are always space-delimited.
Use the following Substitute command:

¥s CGOHXCGOGED)

sxCeOYCeD$(OXeCGOCeD)

{

sx(CGOYeCe
61t /x(CED)
You can specify fewer newstrings than

substitutes

example,

the

1last

newstring

oldstrings.

you

do,

SOS

For

"goat"

Note that in the case of two oldstrings, one of
which
is
a
subset of the other, you must give the longer oldstring first.

leading

2.8.15.2

,E)

"goats"

on page

"sheep"

all the extra oldstrings.
for all occurrences of

and

to substitute the word

for

type:

Xsgoats(Rer)

Cso)

(o)

{

Skgoatdsheers/1(ED)

appear

Substitute Options - The Substitute options

(,D

any order at the end of a substitute command.

can

Any options

used in a complete Substitute command remain in effect for later S(xr)
commands.

SOS
always
distinguishes
uppercase
newstring(s).
The
,E
option
only
oldstring(s).

For example, suppose you want
routine in the following line:
N0330

The uwtilitye

from
lowercase
characters
1in
affects SOS's interpretation of

change

routine EXE

the

name

executed by

the

utility

INTERACTIVE

The

following

Substitute

TEXT

EDITOR

command

effects

routine

XQT

(SOS)

the

change:

Cese) G

X SEXE$S XOT$ 330y
e (D
00330

The

utilite

executed

The EXACT switch controls this

exact

pattern-matching

feature.
Find) command requires an exact
EXACT is
off.
Section

EXACT
is
on,
every
Substitute (and
pattern match.
When SOS is initiated,
describes the EXACT switch.

2.8.15.3

Decide Mode

SOS

enters

Decide

mode

if
you
type the option ,D after the range in a
Substitute command.
(SOS
also
enters
Decide
mode if the DECIDE switch is on, that is, if you
have issued a /DECIDE
command.)
In
this
mode
you
can
decide on a line-by-line basis whether
or

not

make

each

substitution.

.
DCL

SOS
prints
each
1line
in
which
it
makes
a
substitution,
and prompts with D*,
Type one of
the eight single characters shown in Table
2-5.
No
is
needed.
1If you type any character
other than those listed, SOS repeats the prompt.

Table
Decide~-Mode

2-5
Commands

Form

Meaning

Yes,

make

the

change

shown.

Decide
mode with the next line
remains in the original range.

DEL

No,

not

unaltered.
A

Alter:

make
SOS

enter

already

made.

type

legal

any

the

change.

continues

Decide

Alter

Once

SOS

Alter-mode

changed,

The

1line

Decide

mode.

mode,

with

Decide

Alter

commands.

Decide
Alter
mode,
SOS
continues
displaying the next changed line (if
the original range).
E

End:

not make

Decide
mode
substitutions
G

Go:

yes,

make

the

change,

(return
are made
the

to
in

Same as (TM):

Quit, same as E:
do
not
immediately to Edit mode.

Same as (Cs):

and

the

When

and

change

you
you

Decide
mode
any
remains

immediately

make

all

automatically,

any

remains

mode,

Edit
mode).
the original range.

change,

changes
in
the
range
Decide-mode intervention.

continues

can
end
by

leave
further

further

without

no, do not make the change.
make

the

yes, make the change.

2-68

change,

return

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

T
Transfer
2.8.16

Transfer

(T)

Format:

Tposition,range[,incrementl|[,increment2]]
Arguments:

position
Specifies the destination for the transferred lines.
number
specified
by
position
already
exists, the
lines are
inserted
after
position.
If
not,
the
inserted beginning at position.

If the line
transferred
1lines
are

range

Specifies

the

source

range

incrementl
Specifies

the

line~number

the

lines

increment

for

transferred.

SOS

transferred
lines.
If
the
source
range
incrementl is used only up to the first page
incrementl, SOS uses the current line~-number

wuse

for

the

contains page marks,
mark.
If
you
omit
increment.

increment2
Specifies the line-number increment for SOS to use for the
lines
following
the
final page mark in the source range.
If you omit
increment2, SOS uses the current line-number increment.

Current line:
After SOS completes a
the last line moved.

Transfer

command,

sets

the

The Transfer command moves a block of text from one
another.
When
you
give
a Transfer command, SOS
given an Input command at the given location,
and

current

1line

place in a file to
acts as if you had
treats
each
text

line
in
the
specified range as if you had typed it in.
The text is
deleted from its original place in the file.
Contrast
this
command
with the Copy command, which moves a block of text without deleting it
(see Section 2.8.2).
SOS takes steps to make sure that line numbers are in sequence after a
Transfer
operation.
The
rest of this section gives details on line
numbers before and after a Transfer
command.
Figure
2-4
shows
an
example of a Transfer command.
SOS chooses a small enough line-number
lines
in
the
range to fit after the
following protocol:

increment
to
allow
destination position,

If the lines
will
not
increment,
S0OS
checks

fit
with
the
current
line-number
whether the lines can fit if it uses

the

(incrementl).

If the lines will not fit with incrementl
supplied
1incrementl),
SOS tries to find
that

can

make

the

lines

fit.

2-69

the

supply

wuses

S0S checks whether all the lines
current line-number increment.

you

fit

the
the

increment

can

all
using

(or if you have not
a smaller increment

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

SOS cannot choose a small enough increment if the number of
1lines
to
be
moved
1is
larger
than
the numerical difference between the line
number at position and the number of the next line in
the
file.
In
this
case, SOS 1inserts page marks.
First, it transfers as many lines
as will fit, using either the current increment or your incrementl (if
supplied),
inserts
a page mark, and transfers the rest of the source
lines with their line numbers intact.
Then SOS inserts a second
page
mark.

SOS tells you what increment it has
it inserts a page mark, the message
If
SOS
The
the

used with the message INCl=n.
If
is INC1=ORDER n AND P/M INSERTED.

the range of lines to be transferred already contains
page
marks,
renumbers
the
transferred lines only up to the first page mark.
page mark is copied, and all the lines up to the last page mark in
range

are

For the lines
to the one it

transferred

with

after the last
uses for lines

their

line

page mark,
before the

8GCS moves them
they can fit,.

using

the

1If the lines will
not
increment, SOS uses the

If the lines will not
supplied increment?),

intact.

SOS follows a protocol
first page mark:

default

fit
with
increment

fit
SCS

numbers

1line-number

similar

increment,

the
default
1line
number
you specify (increment2).

with increment2 (or if you have
chooses a smaller increment.

not

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INTERACTIVE
TEXT

2-71

EDITOR
(SOS)

0G)5/0Q80

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

If SOS cannot choose a small enough increment, it inserts another page
mark, moves the lines with numbers intact, and inserts a final page
mark.

increment
the
If the source range contains page marks, SOS tells you
The message
for the lines copied after the final page mark.
uses
it
and
final page mark,
a
insert
to
is INC2=n if SOS does not have

INC2=0ORDER n AND P/M INSERTED if it does insert one.

If the specification of the source range contains the shorthand symbol
~, meaning the first line on a page, SOS duplicates the page mark that
precedes the first line before it begins to move
the
text.
If
the

specification contains *, meaning the last line, SOS duplicates

range
the

following page mark as well.

Note that SOS duplicates the page mark(s)
whether
you
specify
the
Thus,
and/or *, or whether SOS supplies them as defaults.
symbols
SOS duplicates the preceding page mark if you type the range
/315074

This is because the initial line number for page 3 defaults to ~.
copies the succeeding page mark

if you type the range

SOS

2073074

This

is because the final line number for page 4 defaults

you
type only a single page number for the range, SOS copies both the
preceding and the succeeding page marks for that page.
For example:
75

This is because SOS expands /5 to "/5:*/5.

2-72

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Save World
2.8.17

Save World

(W)

Formats:

W[:file-spec]
(D)

WB[:file-spec]
(rker)
Arguments:

file-spec
1f given,
uses

the

specifies
current

the

output

file

file.

you

omit

file-spec,

SOS

specification.

Tells SOS not
The
previous
you

have

not

increment
version
of

used

the

before)

version number of the output file.
output file (or the input file, if
overwritten.

Current line:
The

Save

World

command

does

not

The

Save World

command

directs

file
being edited to disk.
written.
After the command,

affect
SOS

SOS
you

the

current

to write

tells you
remain in

the

line.

current

the name of
Edit mode.

version

the

file

has

Use the Save World command frequently as a precaution
against
system
malfunction or against your own errors.
If a catastrophe happens, you
only lose the work done since the last time you saved
"everything
in

the

world."

Section

2.7

gives

overview of

"defensive

editing."

Each time you use the W command, the current contents of the file
are
overwritten
on
the
output
file.
Thus, if you repeatedly use the W
command
without
giving
a
different
file
specification,
vyou
are
repeatedly
updating a single back-up file.
To obtain a chronological
string of back-up files, use W with
a
different
file
specification
each time.
WB

tells

SOS

not

increment

the

version

number

before

writing

the

output
file.
This option of the Save World command is effective only
if it is the first W command given.
That is, once
a
W
command
has
been
issued,
the
version
number
of
the
output
file
has
been
incremented.
All subsequent W or WB commands use
that
same
version

number.
Only if WB is the first Save World command will
the original input file;
otherwise
WB
is
equivalent
overwrites
the
input
file with the current contents of
are editing, and returns you to Edit mode.

2-73

overwrite
W.
S0s
the file you

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

eXtend
2.8.18

eXtend

(X)

Format:

X[range] [ ,N]Crer)
Argument:
range

Specifies the range of lines to be extended one at
you omit range, the current line is extended.

time.

Option:
' N

Tells SOS

to print only the line

number

each

1line

1in

the

range.

Current line:

After SOS completes an eXtend command, it sets the current line
last line in the range that was extended.

to the

The eXtend command aads text to the end of lines.
It
does
this
by
acting as if you had typed A (to enter Alter mode),
()
(to reach the
ena of the line), and I (to begin
inserting
text).
Alter
mode
1is
described in detail with the Alter command in Section 2.8.1.
SOS enters Alter/insert mode for each
1line
1in
the
range
that
you
sgecify.
It
prints the line and waits in Alter/insert mode.
If you
specify ,N, SOS prints only the line number.
At any time you can type
()
to
end
insertion
and
then
give any Alter-mode command.
For

example, typing L moves the intraline pointer to the beginning of
the
line, so you can make changes before the text you have just inserted.
If you type
while
inserting
text,
the
previous
character
1is
deleted.
echoes as a pair of backslashes followed by the deleted
character.
Successive (il)s delete and echo
previous
characters
in
turn.
The next non() character that you type is echoed as a second

pair of backslashes followed by the character.

If you type more (U)s

have inserted after the eXtend
you
characters
of
number
the
than
before
back
1left,
command, SOS continues deleting characters to the
the end of

the original

line.

If you insert so much text that the overall length of the line exceeds
5uL
characters,
S0S
prints the message LINE IS TOO LONG and returns
you to Luit moue.
Any cnanges that you may have made to the
1line
up
to

tnat

point

are aiscarued.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

If you

type

(1D

after

The

current

the

eXtend

(SOS)

command

(that

1is,

while

Alter/insert
mode), SOS creates a new line to receive the rest of the
inserted text.
The number of this new line is determined as follows:
1.

line

increment

added

If an existing
1line
intervenes
between
number
and this new number, the new line
in

line-number

the

current

number.

the
current
1line
is numbered halfway

between.

If the next existing
current line, a bell

line is numbered higher by
1
than
sounds and no new line is created.

If no errors occur and the new line is created, the intraline
is
positioned
at
the
beginning
of
the
new line; SCS is
Alter/insert mode.

the

pointer
still in

After an eXtend command, while in Alter/insert mode, any character you
type
(with
seven
exceptions)
1is inserted into the text line.
Many
control characters do not have their
wusual
effect
when
entered
1in
Alter/insert
moae.
For
example,
and
have no effect on
terminal output.
They are simply inserted into the text line
without
interpretation.

The

following

seven characters

are not treated as

text

moae
:

ends
enuys

insertion.
the eXtena command

for this
aeletes tne previous character.
creates a new text line.
returns SGS to eait mode.
retypes the line.
gets the attention of DCL.

2-75

line.

in Alter/incert

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

. (period)
Move Position

2.8.19 Move Position (;)
Format:

.positionCrer)
Argument:

position
Specifies

the new current position

(line/page).

Current line:
After SOS completes a Move Position command, it
to the line specified by the position argument.
This
line

command resets the
or
page
number,

change

the

current

Edit-mode prompt

sets

the

current

1line

current line.
If you
specify
a
SOS
prints NO SUCH LINE EXISTS,

line.

Otherwise,

the

only

220,

page

nonexistent
and does not
response
1is
the

Examples:

Set

the

new current position

line

*H'“'S
Set the new current position to the fifth line before the present
position.
Note that, if at present the current line is less than
five lines from the beginning of a page, then "/.
1is the current
position after the command.

*Q 0/0‘*'2
Set
as

the
the

current

new current position to
current
1line,
on the
page.

the line that has the same number
page that is two pages beyond the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR (SOS)

= (equal)
Give Parameter
2.8.20

Give Parameter

(=)

Format:

=parameter
(RD)
Argument:

parameter

Specifies any legal SOS

parameter

Parameters

switch.

switches are listed in Tables 2-6 and 2-7

(see Section 2.9).

and

Current line:

The Give Parameter command does not affect the current line.
SOS
switches.
This command returns the value of SOS parameters and
characters, or
strings,
integers,
parameters can have values of
A switch is an SOS internal variable that can
positions (line/page).
have one of two values:

on or off.

Tables 2-6 and 2-7 in Section 2.9 1list and define all 1legal SOS
The following examples show some useful
parameters and switches.
ones.,

Examples:

i ot Crer)
k=t
4

Print the page number of the largest page in the file.
F=NAME Crer)

(MST3$3
DRE2 I CMANNIFAYROLL

Print the current specification of the output file.
filespec used by the Save World and End commands.

This is

the

=S TRING
D)
FIND-

isomerr

SURSTITUTEstochastic
FOR~random
b 4

Print the values of the current Find and Substitute strings.
These are handy to know when using these commands repeatedly

through a
newstring,

is
The string identified as SUBSTITUTEfile.
the
of
description
the
(see
oldstring
is
and FOR-

Substitute command in Section 2.8.15).

2-1717

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

/ (slash)
Set Parameter
2.8.21

Set Parameter

(/)

Format:

/parameter [:value]
Arguments:
parameter

Specifies
2-6

and

any SOS

2-7

switch

Section

parameter

that

can be

set

(see

Tables

2.9).

value

Specifies a legal
of the individual
Current

line:

The

Parameter

Set

This command
allowed
to
16
can

value for that parameter.
See
parameters in Section 2.9.1.

command

does

sets the value
set any of the

parameters.

Table

2-6

not

affect

the

current

of SOS parameters
switches, but you

Section

2.9

and
can

shows

the descriptions

line.

switches.
You
set only nine of

which

parameters

are
the
you

set.

After setting the
requested
Edit-mode prompt *.

parameter

The examples below demonstrate setting
used SOS parameters and switches.
All

switch,

some
of
the
are described

S80S

prints

the

more
frequently
in Section 2.9.

Examples:

x/isavet10(ReD)
Perform

added

automatic

Save

World

command

after

every

1lines

Input mode.

¥ /exrert Crer)
The user
shorter

claims
error

deleting

text;

to be an
expert
at
wusing
messages; do
not
request

and

not display deleted

the
editor:
confirmation

issue
before

text

in Alter

mode.

current

1line,

when

x/FLINES:
23 Ce)
Print

receives

lines of

P(E).

text,

This

starting

the

is a useful value of PLINES

CRT terminals that
display
24
(especially
if
the terminal's
rate, for instance 1200 baud or

2-78

SOS

for users with

1lines
of
text
on
speed has been set to
above).

the
screen
a high baud

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

@ (at)
Command File
2.8.22

Command File

(@)

Format:

@file-spec(rer)
Argument:

file-spec

Specifies a

file containing SOS commands.

Current line:

After SOS completes a Command File command, it sets the
to the last line modified by a command in the file.

current

1line

Command File lets you place a repetitive or frequently used series
of
commands
in
a
file.
SOS executes the commands from the file as if
they came

from the

keyboard.

Once SOS begins executing a Command File command, it performs all
the
commands
in
the file, returning control to the keyboard only when it
reaches the end.
However, SOS
prints
the
following
1items
on
the
terminal:
e

Error

messages

Printouts

Lines

Changes made by the Substitute command

Lines

from the

found

altered

the

Find

command

the Alter

command

SOS also requests input from the terminal if the command file contains
a Substitute command that places the editor in Decide mode.
If the file type field of the command-file specification is
can omit the file type when giving the file specification.

CMD,

you

Command files can be nested to a depth of three levels.
That
1is,
a
command
file
can
contain
a
Command
File
command;
that file can
contain another Command File command.
If you attempt to nest
command
files
to
a
depth
of
four or more, SOS prints MAXIMUM COMMAND FILE
DEPTH EXCEEDED and issues the Edit-mode prompt *.

2-79

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

You can use command files to shorten the typing
of
For
example,
you
might
<create
two
files named
shorthand for commonly used Print commands:

common
commands.
L.CMD and W.CMD as

Lo GMID S

Fo
5/ %k
1 6

WeOMO:
Bl

If these two files are in your directory, you
the last six lines in a file, and type @W(RE)
lines surrounding the current line.

can type
to see a

@L(®1D)
to
"window" of

see
six

Another use for Command File is in repetitive editing.
Consider
the
task
of deleting the final three characters on each of 400 lines on a
page.
This task would be tedious to perform by
hand,
and
prone
to
error as well.
The example below shows how to build and use a command
file to do the required deletion.
Example:

In this example, the user (whose name is Lyles)
generates
a
command
file
named
DEL.CMD.
The
first line contains an X (eXtend) command
with a range of 100 lines.
(Lyles gives four Command File commands to
delete
the
400
1lines.)
The
remaining 100 lines in DEL.CMD contain
identical Alter-mode command sequences that perform
the
deletion
on
each line in turn.
Lyles uses the eXtend
command,
instead
of
the
Alter
command,
to
suppress
typeout of the lines being altered.
The ,N option of eXtend
allows this.
Since eXtend leaves SOS in Alter/insert mode, the
first
Alter-mode

command

level.

subsequent

(the

The

last

three

1is

esc

which

command

characters

returns

deletes

the

SOS

Alter-mode

three

line).

To get an escape
command
/ESCAPE

character into the file, Lyles uses the
to set the logical escape character to

(+).

Lyles

Thus,

escape

when

character

into

inserts

the

After entering the line
command
to
replicate
after

seven

deletes

the

copy

200

(For

and

types

details,

of Alter-mode commands,
the
line
the required

commanas,

excess.

line

file.

there

command

characters

are

128

see

Set
the

SOS

Section

Lyles
uses
1lu0 times.

replicated

Parameter
plus sign

inserts

2.9.1.)
the
WNote

lines;

Copy
that,
Lyles

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

& 1l

(SOS)

oo
o y
Gen)

INFUT SDRA2 (CLYLESIDEL
.CMD5 1

CisO)

{

00100

SO BT|

. oona
o4 rt
(ren)

*‘
c

¥ (0 RET

00200

EEED;

<
00300

ERD)

INC1=100

Kitae
200
o)
INC1=100
KOs 200 1%

INC1=100

Xy 2000k Crer)
INC1=100

ITNCL=100

Xp x (o)
~32M

03300

Xk 20054
o)
INC1=100

XOky 2000 K
INC1=100

¥k Crer )

~30

12900

LINE(S)

DELETED

(10200/1:12900).

X (Crer)
CORAICLYLESIDEL
.CMDG L]
%

Now Lyles edits the file in which the deletions are needed.
The
400
lines
are on page 3, numbered 10 to 4010.
Because the eXtend command
in DEL.CMD uses the current line (.), Lyles sets the current
1line
to
the
next
wunedited line before typing @DEL.
Immediately after giving
each Command File command, Lyles types
to suppress all
printout.
SOS completes the command and issues the Edit-mode prompt.

$ EXIT DIREC.CORGCeD)
EDITIORAZELYLESIDIREC
. CORS 12

X, /3D

*¥enEL CreD)
X,
12 (RE)
01010
Gurthers
21020

Gurskars

¥enEL
1 2(ReEr)
¥,

Jau

coesesoee

ANOdrew

csee

02020

Mosbhersy

TOm

cesssos oo

02030

Modeens

Alice

seseesee

¥epe
GeD) @ruo)
L
xeneL Ce)
e, 1 8 kCren)
Q4000

Zosels

Marie

04010

Tualy

Rauymorsd

sses

o ceeeven

2-81

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.9

SOS

PARAMETERS AND SWITCHES

SOS maintains a
number
of
control
different
aspects
some

2-7

list

(SOS)

the

parameters

the

A switch

and

parameters

in SOS

internal
parameters
and
switches
its operation.
You can set and

switches

and

from

the

terminal.

that
reset

Tables

2-6

and

one

two

switches.

internal

variable

that

can

have

values:
on
or off.
Switches are set with the Set Parameter command
(/) and
interrogated
with
the
Give
Parameter
command
(=).
All
switches
can
be
turned
off by prefixing NO to their names in a Set
Parameter command.

Figure 2-5 shows the SOS
abbreviations
are given
range

Four

values.

switches and
in uppercase

their initial
values;
minimum
letters.
A parameter can have a
Most parameters have integer values:

BIG
LENGTH

INCREMENT

ISAVE

PLINES

SAVE

START

STEP

SUBSTITUTE

parameters

have

values

that

are

text

strings:

ERROR
1D
NAME

STRING

Two parameters

have

values

that

are

positions

(line/page

have

values

that

are

single

characters:

can

specified

pairs):

LOCATION

Two parameters
ESCAPE
MAICE

qualifiers

the initial DCL EDIT command.
They can also be specified by using
symbol-assignment mechanism (see Section 2.9.3).
The
parameters
switches that you can preset in the EDIT command are:

parameters

and

the
and

INCKEMENT
ISAVE

DECIDE

PLINES
SAVE

EXPERT
LINE

STAKT

LOWER

switches

STEF

KEADONLY

the

Sone

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

Table
S0OS

Name'

(SOS)

2-6

Parameters

S?t from

.Prwet ,

Initial

Edit Mode?

via DCL?

Value

Meaning

BIG

ERROr

(null)

Displays highest page number

Displays last error message

ESCApe

(null)

Sets character for input/output of escapes

Displays current SOS version number

INCRement

100

Sets increment for numbering inserted lines

ISAVe

Controls auto-W on inserts

LENGth

Sets page size for List command

LOCAtion

Displays first line in edit buffer

MATCh

(null)

NAME

Displays output file specification

PLINes

Sets number of lines printed by P(Rer)

SAVE

Controls auto-W on commands

STARt

100

Sets starting line number

STEP

100

Sets increment for initial line numbering

STRIng

(null)

SUBStitute

00000/1

Sets special pattern-matching flag character

Displays current Find and Substitute strings
Displays number of matches in last Substitute

Displays current position

! Minimum abbreviation is given in uppercase letters.
2You can specify these parameters as qualifiers in the initial DCL EDIT command, or by using the symbolassignment mechanism (see Section 2.9.3).

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Table 2-7
S0S Switches

Name!

Initial

Value

BAK

DEClde

off

EXACt

off

. Preset 2

Meaning

via DCL?

Tells SOS to create back-up file
y

Sets auto Decide mode on Substitute
Requires exact case match for Find, Substitute, contentspecification

EXPErt

off

Declares experienced SOS user

LINE

Tells SOS to use existing line numbers

LOWEr

Tells SOS to accept uppercase, lowercase as is

READonly

off

Starts SOS in Read-only mode

SEPArator

off

Tells SOS to treat _$ . as alphanumeric

SEQUence

Leaves output-file line numbers

! Minimum abbreviation is given in uppercase letters.
?You can specify these switches as qualifiers in the initial DCL EDIT command, or by using the symbolassignment mechanism (see Section 2.9.3). Turn off any switch by using the letters NO before its name;

thus, NOLINE tums off the LINE switch.

2—-84

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

off

(SOS)

off

,: \\\\\

o .
N

DECIide

off

EXPErt

off

/,’,“

//, /‘

7”7

off

off
Vos

///

ALY

SEPArator

2-5

SO0S

SEQUence

Switches

and

-85

[

Figure

4 P

Their

Initial

Values

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

2.9.1

(SOS)

Parameters

BIG

Value:

Integer:

the largest page number now in the file.

Default:
Null.
Set:

Cannot be set by user.
SOS resets BIG when
you
add
or
delete
pages, and (if necessary) when you interrogate it with =BIG<CR>.

Interrogate:

Use =BIG( D)

When you give the command
=BIG
for
the
first
time,
SOS
searches
through the entire file, inserting page marks if it finds lines out of

order, until it reaches the end of the file.

The following output

typical.
X

(REX

14,

OUT OF ORDER
INSERTED FOR FAGE

LINES OUT OF ORDER
/M INSERTED FOR FAGE

F/7M

LINES

In this example, SOS returns the value 7 as the highest numbered
page
in
the
file.
The
message
LINES
OUT OF ORDER might result from
concatenating line-numbered files, for example with
the
DCL
command
COPY.

ERROR

Value:

String:

the last error message SOS printed.

Default:

Null.
Set:

Cannot be set by user.

prints

SOS always prints the long form (that is, the NOEXPERT
form)
of
last error message.
It does this even if the EXPERT switch is on.

the

error

8SOS resets ERROR each time it

message.

Interrogate:

Use =ERROKk CxeD)

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

ESCAPE
Value:

Character:

when

into
the
encounters

input,

causes SOS

insert

file; also,
the
character
an escape character in text.

an escape

that

S0S

character

prints

when

Default:

Initially

null.

When

you

(/ESCAPE(®D)), the default is §$

Set:

not

specify

(dollar sign).

character

Use /ESCAPE:x(rer)

Interrogate:

Use =ESCAPE (&)

This parameter defines a "logical
escape"
character
that
1lets
you
insert
an
escape
character
into
a text file, and lets SOS display
escape characters in text that it types out.
One reason for inserting
escape
characters
1into
text files is to use the Find and Substitute
commands in command files (see Section 2.8.22).
This

parameter
characters
into

command, SOS
character.

is
the

uses

initially
null,
so
you
text.
When you issue the

the

default

value

§$§

cannot
insert
escape
following Set Parameter
as

the

1logical

escape

£ ALEGCAE

The

logical

escape

used

three ways:

SOS inserts an escape character into
the
text
whenever
you
type
$
in
Input
mode,
in
Alter/insert
mode,
or
in the
newstring of a Substitute command.

SOS prints
text to be

SOS searches for an escape character when you type $
command or in the oldstring of a Substitute command.

§ whenever
typed out.

encounters

character

logical

escape

act

escape

the

You can
select
another
character by typing:

where

represents

the

new

character.

NOTE

You cannot
characters

use
as a

any
of
the
following
logical escape:

2/
] =

These characters
specifications.

To disable

the

logical

escape

are meaningful

feature,

% Canar
s GeD)
s
Note

that

the

colon must

typed.
2-87

type:

file

character

1logical

Find

escape

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Value:
String:

the current version number of SOS.

Default:
The current version.
Set:

Cannot be

set by user.

Interrogate:

Use =ID(rD)

SOS responds to the command =ID(®T) with its current

version

number.

If you experience problems with the text editor software, ascertain
the version number of SOS so you can
report
it
to
DIGITAL
service
For example:

personnel.

% T u(ReD)
808

V02,044

b 4

INCREMENT

Value:

Integer:
the line-number increment SOS
line number for input text.

uses to assign

the

Default:
100
Set:

Append as a qualifier
to
the
EDIT
command;
or
set
by
the
symbol-assignment
mechanism;
or
use
/INCREMENT:n<CR>.
S0S
changes INCREMENT when you give an Input or Replace command
with
a
second
argument
(comma-delimited)
to update the line-number
increment.

Interrogate:

Use =INCREMENT (rer)

INCREMENT is the line-number increment
SOS
uses
to
calculate
1line
numbers
for new lines created in Input or Alter/insert mode.
You can
set this parameter
directly
by
using
the
Set
Parameter
command.
However,
the
more
common way to change its value is by supplying an
increment argument to the Input or Replace commands.

ISAVE

Value:

Integer:

number of lines of input text

between

automatic

file

saves.

Default:
0 (auto-save

turned

off).

Set:

Append

a qualifier

the

symbol-assignment mechanism;

EDIT

command;

or use /ISAVE:n(xrer),

2-88

set

the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Interrogate:

Use =ISAVEGer)

This parameter
(the

other

controls one
controlled

/ISAVE:10 -~ SOS
insert
10
more
commands.

SOS's

by SAVE).

automatic

When

you

automatically performs a
1lines
into
the
file

ISAVE initially has
inserts.
To disable

the
value
ISAVE once

0,
so
you have

set

file-saving
ISAVE

for

options
example,

W
command
each
time
you
using
the Insert or Replace

auto-saving
is
disabled
set it, reset it to 0.

LENGTH

Value:
Integer:

page

length

for

the

List

command.

Default:
55
Set:

Use /LENGTH:n ()

Interrogate:

Use =LENGTH(Rer)

LENGTH

represents

the

page

length

for

printer

1listings

generated

the
List command.
1Its initial value is 55 lines.
Thus, SOS starts a
new page in the printer listing whenever it encounters
a
page
mark,
and
also whenever it has printed 53 lines without encountering a page
'mark (the listing heading requires two lines).

LOCATION

Value:

Line/page:

the position of

the

beginning of

SOS's edit

buffer.

Default:
~

Set:

Cannot be set by user.
from the input file and

SOS keeps
writes to

track of LOCATION as
its temporary files.

reads

Interrogate:

Use =LOCATION (Crer)

The edit buffer contains all the text that is
immediately
accessible
to
SOS.
If
you
1issue
a
command
that affects lines outside this
buffer, SOS must read text from the input file before' performing
the
command.
See Section 2.13 on SOS Internals.
For example, if you request the printout of a line earlier in the
than
the
position LOCATION, SOS must write the remainder of the
(after the current position) to its temporary file, and then read
the input file up to the line you requested.

2-89

file
file
from

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

MATCH

Value:

Character:
the flag character
Find and Substitute commands.

for

special

not

pattern-matching

Default:

Initially

null.

(/MATCHCrer)) ,

Set:

When

you

the default is ?

specify

(question mark).

character

Use /MATCH[:x]Cre)

Interrogate:

Use =MATCH(
)

This
parameter
defines
a
flag
character
for
S0S's
special
pattern-matching feature (see Section 2.10).
MATCH is initially null,
so special pattern-matching is disabled.
When you issue the following
Set
Parameter
default value of ?
as the flag character.

command,

SOS

uses

the

£ mn T CHCD
In Find and Substitute
with ? are interpreted

strings, certain groups of characters beginning
in a special way (see Section 2.10).

You
can
select
another
character
to
pattern-matching flag character by typing:

act

the

special

issue

x0T CH Qe
x

where

represents

the

flag

new

character.

type:

To disable special pattern-matching,
*MATCH

Note

that

the

colon must

typed.

NAME

Value:

String:

the

specification of

the output

file.

Default:

The
Set:

specification of

the

input

file.

Cannot be set by user.
SOS changes NAME when you
World command, giving a new file specification.

Save

Interrogate:

Use =NAME (rer)

After you issue a Save World command, the parameter NAME contains
the
file
specification that SOS would use for the output file if you gave
an End command (without naming a new file).
Before you have issued
a
Save
World
command,
NAME
contains
the
input
file specification.
However, if you explicitly gave an output file specification when
you
initiated
SOS
(/OUTPUT:file-spec),
NAME
initially
contains
this
specification.

2-90

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

PLINES

Value:

Integer:
the number of lines
command without arguments.

SOS

prints

upon

receiving

Default:

16
Set:

Append as a qualifier
assignment mechanism;

to the EDIT command;
or
or use /PLINES:n(rer),

set

the

symbol

Interrogate:

Use =PLINESCrer)

SAVE

Value:
Integer:

number

text-changing

commands

between

automatic

file

saves.

Default:
0 (auto-save

turned

off).

Set:

Append

a qualifier

the

symbol-assignment mechanism;

EDIT

command;

set

the

use /SAVE:n(Ge),

Interrogate:

Use =SAVE(rer)

This parameter controls one of SOS's two automatic file saving options
(the
other
1is
controlled
by
ISAVE).
When
you issue the command
/SAVE:20, for example, SOS automatically performs a Save World command
each time you issue the 20th text-changing command (listed below).
Commands that do not change the file are not included in
this
count.
Text-changing commands are defined as the commands that are illegal in
Read-only mode:
Alter
Insert

Copy
Join

Delete
Kill Page

Mark

reNumber

Replace

Substitute

Transfer

eXtend

Mark

START
Value:
Integer:

and/or

the

line

number

the

first

line

SOS

gives

a page,

the

first

line

in an unnumbered

file,

file.

Default:
100
Set:

override

the

EDIT

SOS's

command,

use /STAKRT:n

initial
or

set

default
by

the

value,

append

symbol-assignment

a gqualifier

mechanism;

Interrogate:

Use =STARTCrD)

If you reset START midway through editing a file
that
was
initially
unnumbered but that contained page marks, SOS numbers subseguent pages
(that it has not yet encountered) using the new starting line number.
2-91

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

STEP

vValue:

Integer:
the line-number
increment
numbers to an unnumbered file.

SOS

uses

assign

1line

Default:

100
Set:

To override S0S's

the

EDIT command,

Section 2.9.3);

initial

default value,

set by the

append as

a qualifier

symbol-assignment mechanism

or use /STEP:n(xer).

(see

Interrogate:

Use =STEP(®D)

STEP is the default line-number increment SOS uses to number the lines
of
an unnumbered input file.
SOS assigns line numbers as it reads in
the lines.
Therefore, you can change STEP at any time to
affect
the
line-number
increment
for the lines that SOS has not yet accessed in
an unnumbered file.

STRING

Value:

String:

the current Find and Substitute strings.

Default:

Null.
Set:

Cannot be set by user.
new Find or

Substitute

8S0S updates STRING whenever you

command.

issue

Interrogate:

Use =STRING(
D)

The parameter STRING contains the values of three search
strings: one
for the Find command and two for the Substitute command.
Any of these
search strings can contain multiple
strings,
if
such
strings
were
specified

in the last Find or

Aalter mode

Substitute.

mode

example:

Find command strings

Alter-mode
SURSTTTUTE -

Neoide

For

‘

Substitute

command

newstrings

Substitute

command

oldstrings

[ecide-mode
FiR--

deride

mode

decide-mode
X

It is sometimes useful to issue =STRING(Re) when

you

are

using

the

Find
and/or Substitute commands without arguments;
that is, when you
are searching for strings specified in a previous complete command.

2-92

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

SUBSTITUTE

Value:
Integer:
the number
Substitute command.

substitutions

performed

the

1last

Default:

0
Set:

Cannot be set
by
user.
SOS
wupdates
SUBSTITUTE
Substitute command, whether successful or not.

after

every

Interrogate:

Use =SUBSTITUTE
(rer)

This parameter is useful because it tells you how
many
SOS performed in a Substitute command with the ,N option
lines changed are not printed out).

substitutions
(in which the

If you entered Decide mode
you
entered
Decide Alter

with the last substitute
command,
and
if
mode for any line, the SUBSTITUTE parameter
the total number of possible
substitutions
for
that
1line.
true
even if, in Decide Alter mode, you undo one or more of

reflects
This
1is
the substitutions.

(Period)

Value:

Line/page:

SOS's

current position.

Default:

00000/1
Set:

Use

.position(®r).

command

that

affects

SOS
a

updates

this

parameter

after

every

line.

Interrogate:

Use

2.9.2
S0S
can

=.(xrer

Switches

switches are summarized in Table 2-7 and Figure 2-5.
All
turned on with the Set Parameter command; for example:

switches

X ot

(rex

Several of the switches can be specified as qualifiers to the

initial

EDIT

Section

command,

2.9.3).

All

using

switches

can

the

symbol-assignment

interrogated

with

mechanism

the

(see

Give

Parameter

command:
R A

You can abbreviate switch
names
to
examples below, the full switch names

four
characters.
are used.

all

the

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Any switch can be turned off by prefixing NO to its name
in the Set
For example, to turn off the Decide-mode switch,
Parameter command.
type:
¥ CHOTECTOF

use the
However,

For compatibility with other implementations of SOS, you can
minus sign (-) interchangeably with NO to turn off a switch.

you cannot use the minus sign on the initial DCL
It is best to use NO in all cases.

EDIT

line.

command

BAK

Meaning:

Determines whether SOS

output

file.

increments

the

version

number

the

SOS

does

not

Default:

BAK
Set:

is on.

Use /BAK(®T) or /NOBAK(xer)

(after initialization,

set this switch).

This switch determines whether SOS increments the version number of
issue the first Save World command in an
the output file when you
World.
editing session, or when you issue End without a previous Save
If BAK is off, SOS
is on, SOS increments the version number.
If BAK

does not increment the version

number,

but

instead

overwrites

the

file.

input

The setting of the switch is not meaningful if you give
a new
file
This is because the
specification with the Save World or End command.
new file specification obviates the question of
whether
or
not
you
want
a
back-up
file.
The setting is also not meaningful after you
issue

the first Save World command.

DECIDE

Meaning:

Determines whether SOS automatically enters Decide mode for

each

Substitute command.
Default:

DECIDE

Set:

is off.

Append as a qualifier

the

symbol-assignment mechanism;

EDIT

command;

set

the

or use /DECIDE(CxT) or /NODECIDE (&)

(after initialization, SOS does not set this switch).

I1f DECIDE is on, SOS
Substitute command.
command with the

issue a
time you
enters Decide mode each
The effect is as if you issued each Substitute

,D option.

The DECIDE switch provides an
operator errors.

Therefore,

may want to set this switch.

automatic

way

protecting

against

a user who is just beginning to learn SOS

2-94

INTERACTIVE TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

EXACT

Meaning:
Determines

whether

SOS

lowercase

letters)

requires
pattern

exact

match

(uppercase

and

searches.

Default:

EXACT
Set:

1is

off.

Use /EXACT(x1) or /NOEXACT(wer)
not

set

this

(after

initialization,

SO0S

does

switch).

If EXACT is on, SOS requires an exact pattern match for:
e

All

Edit-mode

Find

and

All

Alter-mode

All content-specified searches (see Sectioh 2.11)

and

Substitute
command

command

searches

EXPERT

Meaning:
If EXPERT

on,

SOS

assumes

you

are

an experienced

SOS

user.

Default:

EXPERT

off.

Append

(after

initialization,

Set:

qualifier

the

SOS

does

expert

SOS

symbol-assignment mechanism;

Declaring

yourself

EDIT

command;

set

not

set

wuser

this

(/EXPERT(xe))

The error and informational
than tnose for nonexperts.

SCS does not recuest confirmation before deleting
page bounaaries, or before deleting all text on a

S5CS

has

four

brief

text
page.

across

the

switch).

consequences:

does

belete

use /EXPERT(®T) or /NOEXPERT(&e)

not

Alter

report

kewlace
moae,

SCS

how

many

messages

lines

SOS

types

deletes

are

when

you

issue

command.
does

not

display

deleted

pairs of backslashes (\\...\\).
Thus, the
as you eult them in Alter mode corresponds
actual contents cof the lines.

characters

between

appearance of lines
more closely to the

LINE

tiesning:

Uetermines whether or not
present in an input file.
Lefault:

LINE is on

3CS

wuses

line

numbers

that

(that is, SC3 uses existing line numbersf.

may

INTERACTIVE

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Set:

Append

a qualifier

symbol-assignment
(after

the

mechanism;

initialization,

SOS

does

EDIT

command;

use

not

set

the

/LINE(®) or /NOLINECrer)
this

switch).

If you turn off the LINE switch by the logical name mechanism,
or
if
you
initiate SOS with the qualifier /NOLINE, SOS ignores line numbers
that may be present in the file it reads.
The
file
1is
renumbered.
SOS
does
not
print the usual message indicating the absence of line
numbers

(INPUT ASSUMED

UNSEQUENCED)
.

LOWER

Meaning:
Determines whether or not
S0OS
from the terminal to uppercase.

translates

1lowercase

characters

Default:

LOWER

(that

is,

lowercase

letters

are

not

translated

uppercase).
Set:

Append

a qualifier

(after

initialization,

symbol-assignment

the

EDIT

SOS

does

not

mechanism;

command;

set

the

or use /LOWER(XT) or /NOLOWER(RED)
set

this

switch).

A side effect of turning off LOWER is
that
if
the
exact
character
match options (,E) of the Find and Substitute commands are used, it is
impossible to match any lowercase character that
1is
already
in
the
file.
The EXACT switch, if turned on, has the same side effect.

SEPARATOR

Meaning:

Determines whether SOS treats the three characters
.,
$,
_
as
word
delimiters
if special pattern-matching is enabled for Find

and Substitute commands.

Default:
SEPARATOR

off.

Set:

Use /SEPARATOR(®e1) or /NOSEPARATOR(CRe)
does

By
.y

not

setting the
S,
and

set

this

(after

initialization,

SOS

switch).

switch SEPAKATOR, you can make SOS treat the characters
as
word-delimiters
for
purposes
of
special

pattern-matching (see Section 2.10).
This feature could be useful
in
editing a MACRO program, for instance, in which decimal points, dollar
signs,
and
underscore
characters
appear
frequently
as
parts
of
symbolis.

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR (SOS)

SEQUENCE

Meaning:

Determines whether SOS leaves line numbers in the output file.

Default:

SEQUENCE

Set:

is on.

Use /SEQUENCE(®1) or /NOSEQUENCE(®r1) (after
does not set this switch).

initialization,

SOS

command,

the

If you turn off the SEQUENCE switch and exit with the E

effect is as if you exited with ES.

Setting Default Conditions Using Symbol Assignment

2.9.3

You can change the parameter and switch values that apply when SOS is
initiated by using the DCL symbol-assignment mechanism. You can issue
a symbol-assignment command from the terminal to override the initial

defaults temporarily; or you can include the command in your LOGIN.COM
file to override the defaults permanently.

SO0S's initial default values for parameters and switches are listed in

Tables 2-6 and 2-7, and discussed briefly in Section 2.5. You can
override these defaults in three ways upon starting the editor.

To override the defaults
only,

S F0ITATHNCREMENT

for

the

editing

current

use qualifiers to the EDIT command line.
22

session

For example:

filesrec(Re)

To override the defaults for all editing sessions within the
current job (that is, until you log off the system), issue a
symbol-assignment command from the terminal:
$ GOS8

ERIT/S08/TNCREMENT § 2 (ReD)

To override the defaults for all future editing sessions,
place a symbol-assignment command (similar to item 2 above)
in your LOGIN.COM file.

The symbol-assignment command associates a character string with a
symbol. 1In item 2 above, the character string EDIT/SOS/INCREMENT:2 is

associated with the symbol SOS.

Typing SOS(ED) or

S80S

file-spec(®D

then becomes your own private way of initiating the editor with the
qualifier /INCREMENT:2. Such a symbol assignment lasts until you 1log
off

the

systenm.

To define a symbol that lasts from one job to the next, perform the
symbol assignment in the file LOGIN.COM. This command procedure file

contains commands that are automatically executed each time you log in
(see the VAX/VMS Command Language User's Guide).

2-97

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

You can include more than one SOS parameter
assignment.
Use
a
minus sign (-) in the
continue a long line.
As

example,

suppose

you

have

the

(SOS)

or
switch
in
a
symbol
last character position to

following

line

your

file:
B08:="ERIT/808/LOWER/STEFI10/8TART{LO/INCREMENT
¢t 2/PLINESL10"

When you type SOS
or
SOS
file~-spec
to
initiate
the
editor,
the
parameters and switches specified in the symbol assignment are applied

as qualifiers.
®

Therefore,

Lowercase

input

the

following

accepted

conditions hold:

is,

and

not

converted

uppercase.

SOS

reads

file,

numbers

line-number

increment

starting

starting at
®

SOS

uses

SOS

prints

2.10
One

unnumbered

the

lines

10s,

10.

1lines,

receiving pCrD),

for

inserted

lines.

the

current

line,

searching

upon

SPECIAL PATTERN-MATCHING CONSTRUCTS
SOS

feature

that

allows

great

flexibility

for

strings

using
the
Find
and Substitute commands is special pattern-matching.
This feature is initially disabled.
You control it by
means
of
the
MATCH parameter (see Section 2.9.1).

The

Set

Parameter

pattern-matching.

command

The

/MATCH : x (rer)

character

pattern-matching constructs.

acts

construct

as
is

flag
a

enables
to

group

mark
of

two

characters
beginning
with
the
flag character.
When SOS
such a construct in a Find or Substitute command, it treats
single
character with a particular meaning for its pattern
detailed below.

you

issue

character,

SOS

the

special-constructs
?

the

command

uses

flag.

the

The

/MATCH(®&)
question

examples

without

mark

(?)

given

later

special
the

default

this

encounters
it
as
a
search, as

specifying
by

special
or

a
as

section

flag
the

use

flag.

To disable

special pattern-matching, and to divest the flag
character
any special meaning, type /MATCH:(®er).,
Note that you must type the

colon.
Table 2-8 lists the special constructs.
Some of
the
constructs
are
used
in
find
strings (the string argument of Find and the oldstring
argument of Substitute), while others are used in
substitute
strings
(the
newstring
argument
of Substitute).
Sections 2.10.1 and 2.10.2
describe these two classes
of
special
pattern-matching
constructs.
Section
2.10.3
describes
combining
find-string constructs.

INTERACTIVE

Special

Con-

Internal

struct

represen-

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Table 2-8
Pattern-Matching Constructs

Meaning

tation

—

SN\
Z =
L

[2)

Ellelie
~

RlIRI=R

3){3)(3
3

EVENICVIIVEN ICVICS RV RUVRCS IOV IV

Find-string constructs:
?
CTRL/T
Match
Match
<
LTRL
Match
Match
X
Match
) X
Match
1x
Match
9

(CTRL/A)

Match
Match
Match
Match

(CTRLID)
(CTRLI)

separator

space or

tab

any character except x
0 or more of the character

1 or more of the character
any alphanumeric character

Match any letter

CTRL/W

any character

any

(A-Z,

x
x

a-z)

any uppercase letter (A-2)
any lowercase letter (a-2z)
any decimal digit (0-9)
beginning or end of line

Match internal representation of ¢

Substitute-string constructs:

(cTRL/B)

2*n?*

2,10.1

Find-String

You

use

can

oldstring

the

Substitute next string matched

CTRL/O

Substitute nth string matched

Constructs

constructs

the

Substitute

given

below

the

Find

command,

the

command.

Match Any Character

This construct matches any character.
As
an
example
of
1its
use,
suppose
you
want
to
locate
variables that start with B in a MACRO
program, but you do not want to see lines with labels that start
with
B.
Since
labels
start
in column 1, they are never preceded by any
other character.
Thus, the following Find command locates the desired
variables:

250

The

found.

first

?:
This

the

Find

character

command

Alter
of

the

tells

mode,

SOS

the

enter

Alter

mode

intraline pointer

when

points

match

before

the

pattern matched.

Match Any Separator
construct matches

letter,
a
number,
SEPARATOR is turned

separators.

See

searching
imbedded

words
other

for
in

or
on,

any

separator,

the
these

Section
that,
words

that

is,

characters
., $,
three
characters

2.9.2.)

The

any

character

and_.
also

construct

besides
appearing
in
as well.
For example,

(If
are

1is

except

the switch
considered

useful

1isolation,
may
suppose you want

1in
be
to

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

find all
occurrences
interested
in
words

can

issue

of
the
word
"can";
however,
like incandescent, canonical, and
following Find command:

the

you
are
so forth.

not
You

_ESC

KPF toan?t /11 /%y 999D
The ?: constructs before and after the word are matched by a tab or
a
space.
Note
that, unless the command /SEPARATOR(XT) was given, this
Find command does not match the word "can" if it ends a sentence.
SOS
does not treat the final period as a separator.
The Find command does

work if the word "can" begins or ends a
1line,
considers the beginning and end of a line to be

?2<

Match

This

Space or

construct

represents

described

above.

example

command

S80S

Tab

matches
subset

The
in

however,
because
separators.

space

the

following

command

section:

the

tab

(match

has

character.

any

separator)

the

same

effect

Thus,

construct

the

KFPeanT
g/ . L/ Ky 99 (R
This Find command does not match the word
line,
or
1if it ends a sentence.
A Find
limitations is given in Section 2.10.3.

?2%x

Match Any Character

Except

"can" if it begins or ends a
command that overcomes these

This 3-character construct matches
any
character
except
the
final
character
of
the
construct: any character that x would not normally
match.
Thus, a?%bc matches aac, acc, adc, and so forth, but not
abc.

?)x

Match

More of

the Character

This construct matches the character that follows, any number of times
that
it
appears.
Thus, a?)bc matches ac, abc, abbc, and so on.
SOS

matches

the

first

such

string

encounters.

This construct cannot be used in isolation:
the command
illegal, and results in the error message ILLEGAL SEARCH
Such a construct, if legal, would match every line.

?1x

Match

or More of

the Character

This construct is similar to the one
matches
one
or more occurrences of
matches abc, abbc, abbbc, and so on,

first

such

string

x
described
the given
but
not

encounters.

Match Any Alphanumeric

This construct matches

F?)x(s0)
is
STRING GIVEN.

above, except
that
it
character.
Thus, a?lbc
ac.
SOS
matches
the

Character

any character

2-100

the

ranges A-Z,

a-z,

and

0-9.

INTERACTIVE

Match Any Letter

(A-Z,

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

a-z)

This construct matches any uppercase or lowercase letter.
use
1it,
for
example,
to
find all lines in a file that
strings Mr., Ms., or Dr.:

You
could
contain the

¥ /mateon ()
Xp 2171,%/18/%,99
)
This

Find

two

letters

Match Any Uppercase

command prints
(of

either

all

lines

case),

that

followed

Letter

contain a
by

Match Any Lowercase Letter

Match Any Decimal

This

construct

203-A,

and

finds
on,

Digit

but

Match Beginning or

For
example,
101-f.

101-?&

the
(A)

range a-z.
or (4).

For

example,

For

example,

?+?+?+-A

matches

101-A,

DEF-A.

End

(?22)

(0-9)

number.
not

(a-z)

This construct matches any letter in
matches (i), (j), and so on, but not

followed

(A-2Z)

This construct matches any
uppercase
letter.
matches 101-A, 101-B, and so on, but not 101-7

2?2

space

period.

of Line

This construct is useful in searching for a string that begins or ends
a
line.
For instance, suppose you want to search a MACRO program for
all labels of the form Ln:.
You do not want to
see
1lines
in
which
these

labels

lines,

the

are

referred

following

Find

to.

Since

labels occur

command performs

the

the desired

beginning

search.

ESC

FroLvts® /s, e Can)
Here

the

construct

matches

any

?27c

Match

This

construct matches

represent

in Table

character

the

2-8.

represent

locate

Internal

The use of
infrequent

For

the

beginning

Representation of

the

construct

These

that

suppose

you

Table

2-8 , shows,

any

(match

construct
when
you

character,

pattern-matching

and

type /MATCH:(®e)

(note

the

as f@uwp
Cesc) D).

should
need

it
search

colon)

SOS

internal

use the combined construct

‘epresentation

1line,

and

the

internally

character
c.

example,

the
1?7
instance

digit.

construct

@rr),

€w®uP),

matches

is
for

uses

representations

need

SOS uses

uppercase

be
to

letter).

rare.
search

Normally,
for an SOS

easier

2-101

to
character

then

issue

given

for

the

Thus,

internally to

?72&.

the

and

are

disable
directly.

Find

in
the
internal
special
That

command

is,

such

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

The only time you are required to use ?7 is when you
must
use
other
special
pattern-matching
constructs
1in a search.
In that case, you
cannot first disable special pattern-matching.
One such case would be
a
Substitute
command
that
searches
for
and then uses it in a
Substitute-string construct in the
newstring
argument
(see
Section
2.10.2).

2.10.2

Substitute-String Constructs

When you use find-string constructs in the oldstring of
a Substitute
command,
SOS
keeps
track
of
the
first,
second, ..., nth strings
matched within each line by these constructs.
The
substitute-string
constructs
let
you
manipulate
the
strings
matched by the special
find-string constructs,
natched strings.

without knowing

Jse these two constructs

substitute

the

exact

strings,

lewstring arguments of Substitute commands.

contents

the

that

the

is,

NOTE

Do not attempt to use
substitute-string
constructs
to refer to a string matched
by ?> (beginning or
end
of
1line).
A
beginning or end of line thus matched is
not included in SO0S's count
of
matched
strings.

?2*n?*

Substitute nth String Matched

This special construct gives you access to the first, second, ..., nth
strings
matched within a line by special find-string constructs.
One
possible use of this feature is in exchanging arguments of
functions.
For example, if you want to change all occurrences of
FUNCTION(a,b)
to:

FUNCTION
(b, a)

for

any arguments a and b,

command:

you

can

1issue

¥ AMATCH

the

following

Substitute

ESC

XGFUNCTIONC?Y P/ » P2/ 3 FUNCTION CPRIPK, PRLTKIG /10 4 Crer)
?"

Substitute Next String Matched

This construct is similar
to
the
previous
one.
When
used
in
a
substitute
string,
it
specifies substituting the next string in the
series of strings matched by find-string constructs.
Thus, if you use

the
constructs ?*32*2" in a Substitute newstring, SOS substitutes the
third and fourth
strings
matched
within
the
1line
by
find-string

constructs.

2-102

INTERACTIVE

2.10.3

Combining

TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Find-String Constructs

Find-string constructs can be combined in a Find or Substitute command
to

give

Perhaps

?%x

even greater
the most

(match

versatility

useful

to SOS's pattern-searching

Find-string

any character

except

construct

x).

For

others

matches any character

that is not alphanumeric.

2%2+

matches

any

character

other

than

?%22

matches

any

character

except

than

two

Find-string

constructs

?%21?+

matches
anything
combined construct
file in which much

?21?%2<

matches
tabs.

one

can

matches

any

lowercase

combined.

any

character

the

?2%2/

anything that

2%72:

not

2%2?2>

not a

?2%29

not alphanumeric

?2%2!

not a

2%72+

not
you

example:

except

spaces

the

(that

1line
matched

internal

is,

anything

a
character.
by all of the

is not a character

separator

space or

tab

letter

a number

can

the
following
combined
begins or ends a sentence
it begins or ends a line.

SPECIFYING RANGES

for

all

occurrences

the

construct.
This Find command
(assuming the EXACT switch is

XEPUP oan®L?lE/1 /%99

For any Edit-mode
argument, you can

letter.

For

except

construct

SOS does not consider the beginning or end
of
Thus,
the
beginning
or
end
of
a
1line
1is
following combined constructs (among others):

example,

number.

but
one
or
more
digits.
This
could be useful in searching a data
of the text is multidigit
numbers.

character

but @rup)
.,

representation

2.11

with

example:

?2%29

?2%?272&

For

combine

features.

word

"can"

works if
not on),

with

"can"
or if

BY CONTENT

command that requires a range of line numbers
implicitly specify the range by text content.

For example, instead of requesting that SOS print the
1lines
numbered
from
150
through
220, you can request that SOS print all lines from
the line in which the string ABC occurs through the line in which
the
string DEF occurs.
(You can do this for any SOS command, not just the
Print command.)

2-103

INTERACTIVE

A common way

specify a

range

TEXT

EDITOR

lines

(SOS)

use

the

following

form:

position:position
To

specify a

range

by content,

specifications with arguments

replace

the

either

following

both

the

position

form:

(s string Cso Crer)
Terminate the command with a final
Print

command

cited

above,

(®T).

type:

For example,

issue

the

Note that three carriage returns are required: one each
to
terminate
the two content specifications, and a final one to terminate the Print
command.
Note also that a colon
separates
the
two
halves
of
the

content-specified

Using
one

this
or

range.

kind of content

two

Find

for

the

specification

commands within whatever

executing the Print command given above,
search

search starts
If
SOS
does

string

ABC

soon

range).

is found, SOS performs
ABC,
when
you
type

Again,

When

you

the

range of

equivalent

command

for

as you

are

the

first

instance,

type

you

embedding

issuing.

SOS performs
(®&).

1In

The

at the current line and proceeds to the end of the file.
not
find
the
string,
it
prints
an
error
message

immediately after you type the first
Assuming ABC
position
of

type

SOS prints

the

lines

final

it has

error

(®er),

(D),
a

second search, starting
at
the
the
second
(terminating the
message if it fails to
find
DEF.

SOS performs the Print command,

located

its

two

Normally, SOS starts its search for a content-specified
current
1line.
search with the

However,
form:

you

can

specify

using

searches.

range

over

1line

which

SOS

the
to

(s string(&range
For

example,

current
current

suppose

page
line,

specifying

that
you

the

current

line

beyond

the

first

line

contains
the
string ABC.
Without resetting
can
effect
the
Print
command
given
above

the

range

for

SOS's

*F$ARCH/
.

$ $O0EF & Cer)

2-104

content-specified

search:

the

the
by

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Content specification is more general still.
give options that specify:

After the range you

An exact pattern match

A quasi-Decide mode

The nth occurrence of the given string.

can

(upper- and lowercase)

In other words, content specification has options that give it all the

generality of a Find or Substitute command.

The full syntax of a content specification is as follows:

o) [string] (e [range] [{,N}] [,E][,-]1CD
,D

where:

string

Specifies the pattern SOS is to search for.
Note that string
is
optional.
If
you omit it, SOS uses the string last used in the
same position in a content specification.

range

Specifies the range over which SOS is to search for
the
string.
If
you omit range, SOS searches from the current line to the end
of

the

file.

Tells SOS to enter a quasi-Decide mode.

SOS

prints

the

first

line
containing the string, then prompts with ?.
You type Y, y,
or
if the line printed
1is
the
1line
you
intend
for
the
content
specification.
SOsS
then
continues
with
the
content-specified command.
Type
to reject
the
1line.
S0S
then
prints the next line in the range that contains the string,
and again prompts with ?.
If you reject all
the
1lines
in
the
range
that
contain
the string, SOS prints an error message and
terminates the content-specified command.
N

of
instead
but
Tells SOS to enter the same quasi-Decide mode,
found, SOS prints only the line number, and
1line
each
printing
to accept the line; type
Type Y, y, or
prompts with ?.
to reject

it.

An integer:
within
the

tells SOS to use the nth occurrence
of
the
string
range.
Note that the meaning of this option differs

from its meaning in the Find command.
In Find, ,n tells
SO0S
to
print the next n occurrences of a string, not its nth occurrence.

- Tells SOS to accept only an exact pattern match in its search for
the
string.
Upper- and lowercase letters must match.
Note: the
EXACT switch, which controls exact pattern matching in
the
Find
and
Substitute
commands,
is
also
effective
1n
content
specifications.
Turning on the EXACT switch has the same
effect
as specifying the ,E option.

Tells SOS to use the first line in which
does

not

occur.

2-105

the

specified

pattern

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

Content specification has still another sort of generality.
The range
that
you
can
give
in
a
content
specification
can
itself
be
content-specified; the range in that content specification can also be
content-specified.
The maximum nesting depth is three levels.
For

example,

file contains the

00100
00200
00300
00400
00500
00600

abc
cde
fgh
ijk
1mn
opq

00800
00900
01000
01100
01200
01300

uvw
Xyz
123
234
uuo
890

00700

following

lines:

rst

]
.

indicated by the brackets,
the
user
wants
to
print
the
1lines
between
the
first occurrence of o and the next occurrence of u, with
the searches constrained to the range between the first occurrence
of
£
and
the
next
occurrence
of
1.
The
following
two-level,
content-specified Print command performs this task:

IR
$w$m$if$|flfll

Print lines from o...

ESC

t gl (e

Start searching
at f...

...continue search
,

until

ESC

| 4

o i $RET
RET

Do it.

G600

L35
0

0700

GOB00

...through

2.12

SOS

SPECIAL CHARACTERS

Table

2-9

shows

meaning

SOS.

(for

instance,

mode

SOS

all

the

nonalphabetic

The meaning

(0O

some

can have one of

operating

characters

that

depends

have

the

special

context

several meanings, depending on the

in).

2-106

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

Table 2-9
Special Characters

SOS

Char-

Meanings

acter

Edit mode:
Move Position command.
In position specifier:
means current

line

current

page.

Edit mode:
In

Copy

Give

Parameter

command:

means

command.

text

copied

file.

from

another

positive

In
position
specification:
signifies
line-number offset.
Special
pattern-matching
construct:
decimal digit.
Edit

mode:

Command

File

match

command.

Edit mode:
Set Parameter command.
In Copy command:
/C means enter Copy-file
At

DCL

level:

marks

beginning

character.
position specifier:
means
first page in a file.

first

mode.

qualifier.

In position
<cspecifier:
separates
line
page number.
Special
pattern-matching
construct:

In
or

any

line

number

and

match

any

page,

In position specifier:
means last line on a page, or
last page in a file.
Special pattern-matching construct:
substitute
the
nth string matched by a special construct.
In

End,

Save

World,

List

commands:

of a filespec.
In
range
specification:
ending positions.
In

Set

Parameter

parameter

Special

signals

separates

command:

signals

beginning

starting

and

beginning

value.

pattern-matching

construct:

match

any

separator.

In range
lines.

specification:

Special

pattern-matching

(A-Z,

signals

relative

construct:

number

match

any

letter

a-z).

Input,

Replace

commands:

signals

new

line-number

commands:

separates

increment.
In

Copy,

reNumber,

Transfer

arguments.

End,

eXtend

Find,

List,

commands:

,S5

Print,

separates

Substitute,
command

Save

options

(,A

World,
,D

,-).
(continued

2-107

page)

INTERACTIVE

Table

SOS

TEXT EDITOR

2-9

Special

(SOS)

(Cont.)

Characters

Char-

Meanings

acter

In Find command and
in
content
specification
(all
commands) :
used
as a command option.
Tells SOS to
find

the

first

1line

not

<containing

the

specified

pattern.

In
position
specification:
line-number offset.

signifies

;

In
1Input,
line-number

signals
temporary
command only.

Default

flag

Default

logical

Special

pattern-matching construct:

Replace
commands:
increment for this

character

for

negative

special pattern-matching.

escape character.
match

space

tab.

Special pattern-matching
or end of line.

Special

)

Special pattern-matching
of the given character.

Special

pattern-matching

uppercase

letter.

character

construct:

pattern-matching
except

the

given

match

construct:

one.

construct:

Special pattern-matching
construct:
next
sequential
string
matched

match

construct:

begining

any

match

any

substitute
the
by
a
special

construct.

ESC

Edit mode:
Input mode:

print previous line.
return to Edit mode.

Alter/insert mode:
return
Decide Alter/insert mode:
mode.
Decide mode:
illegal.

to Alter
return

In Find, Substitute commands:
for search and substitution.

Alter

mode:

move

mode.
to
Decide

delimits

intraline

text

pointer

Alter

strings

back

one

character.
RET

Edit mode:
print next line.
Alter mode:
print rest
of
edit for this line.

1line,

finish

intraline

Alter/insert
mode:
print
rest
of
1line,
intraline edit for this line.
Decide
Alter
mode
and
Decide
Alter/insert
print rest of line, return to Decide mode.
(continued

2-108

finish
mode:

next page)

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

Table 2-9
SOS Special

EDITOR

(SOS)

(Cont.)
Characters

Char-

Meanings

acter

DEL

Alter mode and Decide
Alter
mode:
move
pointer back one character.
Decide mode:
no, do not make the change.
All

other

modes:

delete

input

Alter mode and Decide
Alter
mode:
pointer forward one character.
Decide

mode:

yes,

make

TAB

Alter mode

and Decide

CTRL/U

Alter mode

and

performed

pointer

the

end

the

Decide
far

and

character.

move

intraline

move

intraline

change.

Alter

intraline

mode:

line.

Alter
place

mode:

discard

intraline

beginning of line.
Alter/insert mode and

2.13

SOS

text

and

edits

pointer

Decide Alter/insert mode:
insert it into the text line.

take

INTERNALS

This section discusses SOS temporary files and the format of SOS
text
lines
and
page
marks.
You
can make the most efficient use of the
editor if you know what SOS does with its
temporary
files,
and
how
these files are related to the input and output files you specify.

2.13.1

SOS Temporary Files

Whenever you are using the editor, you have
either
one
or
two
SOS
temporary
files
in
your
directory.
Their names are SOSxnn.TM1l and
SOSxnn.TM2 (x is
the
controller
number
and
nn
1is
your
terminal
number)
.

Two events within an
editing
session "affect
the
status
of
these
temporary
files:
your
1issuing
a
Save
World
command,
and
SOS
performing a "wraparound."
To understand. the
wraparound
operation,
consider the process of editing a file.

As you edit a file, SOS reads lines into an internal edit buffer!
writes

them

out

the

temporary

file SOSxnn.TMl.

and

Changes

you make

whose
bytes.

size

while editing are
incorporated
into
this
file.
This- process
of
passing
text
through the edit buffer to the temporary file continues
as long as your editing does not refer to a line before the
start
of
the
edit
Dbuffer.
(The
position of the start of the edit buffer is
marked by the parameter LOCATION, described in Section 2.9.1.)

1. The
edit
buffer
1is
an
in-image
storage
area
determined when SOS is linked; a typical size is 1500

2-109

|is

INTERACTIVE

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

When you do call for editing on a line before the start
of
the
edit
buffer,
SOS
performs
a
wraparound.
This means that SOS copies the
rest of the file (from the current position to the end) to SOSxnn.TMl.
At
this
point,
SOSxnn.TMl is a complete copy of your original file,
with all edits to date incorporated.
SOS then
"rewinds"
SOSxnn.TM1l:
it
returns
to the beginning of the temporary file and starts reading
from it.
Thereafter, SOSxnn.TM1l serves as the input file for
SOS closes your original file, and does not read it

further
again.

editing.

After rewinding, SOS creates a second temporary file,
8S0Sxnn.TM2,
to
which
it
writes lines passed through the edit buffer.
SOS continues
this pass-through operation until it finds the
1line
referred
to
in
your command.
The next time wraparound is
necessary,
the
temporary
files
switch
roles.
SOS
rewinds
both
files,
and
uses
8S0Sxnn.TM2
(which now
contains the most up-to-aate copy of the file) for input.
SO0S
passes
text
1lines
through
the
edit
buffer and writes them to SOSxnn.TMl.
Neither file is closed.
When

you issue
a
Save
World
command,
the
temporary
files
again
effectively switch roles.
The temporary file being used for output is
renamed to the file specifier given -- or provided by
default
=-in
the
Save World command.
it (read-only) for input.
is rewound and thereafter

SOS closes this renamed file, and
The temporary file that was used
is used for output.

then
for

opens
input

If you give enother Save World command, or if you give an End
command
without
a new file specification, SOS deletes the file created by the
last Save World command before renaming the output temporary file.
If you try to recover
Section
2.7.4,
you

information from temporary files as described in
may encounter some errors when SOS tries to read

data near the end of the file.
The errors occur
never
closed
properly
and
has no end-of-file
delete the erroneous line(s).

2.13.1.1

Temporary File

the
wraparound
number 5.
Brana

Fourier-analysis
Figure 2-6,
line
22v.
from

the

Example

Figure

program)

named

2-6

depicts

beginning

line

typed =LOCATION(CRer) at
the

buffer

example

FOUR.FOR.

illustration
current
copy of

(a)

line
to
FOUR.FOR

22v.

start

eait

Brand is working at terminal
FORTRAN source
file
for
a

Brand gives a Find command that moves the
At
this point, the file SOSAU5.TMl is a

If Brand
of

process.
A
user named
eaits a 500-line file (a

because the file
was
mark.
You can simply

this point,
line

he would

learn

that

the

2u0.

Illustration (b) in the figure shows what happens when Brand
some editing on line 4UU.
More of FOUR.FOR is pacssed through
buffer and written to SOSAU5.TMI1.

2-110

vperforms
the edit

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

FOUR.FOR

Edit

SOSA05.TM1

Buffer

FOUR.FOR

0—

00—

100

200—

Edit

SOSAQ05.TM1

Buffer

]

200 —

line 220

300

300 —

400 —

500

(A)

(SOS)

User issues a command referring to

(B)

line 400

User performs edit on line 400

line 220

FOUR.FOR

Edit

SOSA05.TM1

Buffer

FOUR.FOR

SOSA05.TM1

h—

100 —

—

100

—

200 —

200

—

300 —

—

300

—

400—

——

400

—

500—-

Edit
Buffer

line

ine 1 180

500
(C)

User issues a command referring to line 180, which is before the start
of the edit buffer. Therefore, SOS performs a wraparound.

Figure

2-6

Temporary

Files

2-111

Sample

SOSA05.TM2

Editing

Session

INTERACTIVE TEXT EDITOR

(SOS)

The start of the edit buffer is
now
at
1line
340.
The
1lines
are
shorter
in
this
part of the source file, so more lines fit into the
fixed-length edit buffer.
Illustration

(c)

shows

the wraparound process.

Brand

issues

Find

command that matches a string in line 180.
SOS copies the rest of the
file to SOSA05.TM1, rewinds the file, and uses it as the
1input
file.
SOS
then
creates SOSA05.TM2;
this file receives text passed through
the edit buffer up to line 180.

2.13.1.2
Using SOS Efficiently - In
Read-only
mode,
SOS
does
not
write
an
output
file.
The pass-through and wraparound file-writing
described above does not occur.
For this reason, SOS
uses
far
less
system
resources
in
Read-only
mode.
This is why it is best to use
Read-only mode routinely whenever you only need
to
examine
a
file.
(You
might
wuse
symbol
assignment
to
define
a
command
such
as
READ:="EDIT/SOS/READONLY".)

The most efficient way to use SOS in Edit mode is to avoid wraparound.
You
can do this by editing a file sequentially from beginning to end.
If you never refer to a line earlier in the
file
than
the
position
marked by LOCATION, SOS does not wrap the file.
You minimize the need
for costly and time-consuming file copying.
S0S's wraparound behavior explains why writing an
line
numbers
(ES
or ET commands) requires more
leaving the line numbers in place (as
mentioned

output file
without
processing time than
in
Section
2.8.4).

Suppose,
for
example,
that the current line is in the middle of the
file when you issue an ES command.
SOS passes text through
the
edit
buffer
until end of file;
rewinds both temporary files;
then passes
the entire file through a second time,
omitting
1line
numbers.
S0S
then
renames
the
output temporary file to the output name, destroys
the other temporary file, and exits.
If instead of an ES command you issue an E command, SOS need not
pass
the
file
through the edit buffer a second time.
After first passing
through to end of file, SOS renames the output temporary file
to
the
output name, destroys the other temporary file, and exits.

2-112

INTERACTIVE

2.13.2

When

Format of Text Lines

stored

is
a
VAX-11l
control.
The
of the VAX-11l

TEXT

EDITOR

(SOS)

and Page Marks

line-numbered

RMS
record.
SOS line number
RMS record.

file,

line

Its
type
comprises

1is
the

text generated

variable with
fixed-control

SOS

fixed-length
access field

The text line has the following format:
Byte

count

n | Line

The byte count,
characters
in

integer.

above

The

implied

a 16-bit
the
text

text

char)

number | char | char

consists of

An SOS page
case of the

byte

mark 1is
general

SOS

5-digit
text;

and

adds

terminate

such

number;

SOS does not print a
text on a page other

the

text line;

represented in a file
format given above:

-1

displays

ASCII

2
more
than
the
number
of
1line
number
is also a 16-bit
fewer
characters
(represented

its end

(3v).

point

count.

Byte count 3
When

is
The
500 or

that do not include the characters

is present
by the

integer,
line.

char

text

the

following

special

D
lines,

prints

and

it prints

(G#);

the

prints

1line

number

line.

page mark as such.
Instead,
when
it
than the current page, it prints PAGE n.

2-113

the n-2 characters of

displays
first.

CHAPTER 3

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.1

INTRODUCTION TO SLP

SLP

1is

batch-oriented

editing

program

(SLP)

used

for

source

file

maintenance.l SLP allows you to update

(delete, replace, add)

lines in

the changes made to a file,

time

computer

an existing file.
Furthermore, SLP gives
you
a
record
of
editing
changes.
The
SLP
command file provides a reliable way to duplicate
at a later

another

system.

Input to SLP consists of (1) a correction input
£file
that
you
want
updated, and (2) a command file containing text lines and edit command
lines that specify the update operations to be performed.
SLP locates
lines
to
character

be
changed
strings).

means

"locators"

(sequence numbers or

SLP output is a listing file and an updated
copy
of
the
correction
input
file.
SLP provides an "audit trail" that helps you keep track
of the update status of each line in the file.
The
audit
trail
is
shown
in
the listing and is included permanently in the output file.
When a given file is
wupdated
with
successive
versions
of
an
SLP
command
file,
you
can
use
different audit trails to differentiate
among the changes made at different times.
SLP output qualifiers let you truncate

lines,

create

audit trail, eliminate an existing audit trail,
and beginning position of the audit trail.

3.2

suppress

and specify the length

RUNNING SLP

Run SLP by submitting a command file for processing.
The command file
contains
the
EDIT/SLP
initialization line, SLP edit commands, and a.
DCL S$EXIT command.
You submit the command file by
wusing
either
the
SUBMIT command

the

(Execute

Procedure)

command.

You must create the command file before running SLP.
The
interactive
text editor SOS is usually used to create SLP command files.

In the following example, SLP is run by submitting

the

command

file

UPDATE .COM.
(The
required
contents
of
such
a
command
file are
detailed in Section 3.3.2.)
Note that, since the
file
type
of
the
command
file is COM, the type can be omitted on the DCL command line.
$ QUFDATE

When SLP finishes its processing,
l.

SLP

originally

meant

"source

the DCL prompt

language 'input

issued.
program."

Today,

interactive text editors like SOS are used more often for file input.
3-1

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.3

(SLP)

SLP INPUT AND OUTPUT FILES

SLP requires two types of input files: a correction input file
and
a
command
file.
The correction input file is the source file you want
to update.
The command file consists of an initialization
1line,
SLP
edit commands that indicate how the file is to be changed, and the DCL
command S$EXIT.
The listing file is a copy of the output file
with
sequence
numbers
added; it
shows
the
changes SLP makes to the correction input file.
The output file is the permanently updated copy
of
the
input
file.

SLP

output consists of a listing file and an output file.
Figure 3-1
shows the relationships among the SLP input and output
files.
Later
sections show the contents of the various files in this example.

Input File

Listing File

MYFILE.TST:

MYFILE.LIS;1

m—

Command File

UPDATE.COM;1

Figure

3.3.1

3-1

Processor

Output File

MYFILE.TST:;2

1Input Files and Output Files Used During SLP Processing

The Correction Input File

The correction input file is the file to be updated by
SLP.
It
can
contain
any
number
of
1lines
of
text.
When
SLP
processes
the
correction input file, it makes the
changes
specified
by
SLP
edit
commands
and
marks
these
changes with an audit trail (discussed in

Section

3.7)

in the output

file.

BATCH~ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.3.2

(SLP)

The SLP Command File

The SLP command
edit commands.

file is a VAX/VMS procedure
It consists of:

file

that

contains

An initialization line that tells SLP what files
This line has the general form:
EDIT/SLP[/qualifiers]

SLP

process.

input-file

The optional qualifiers are described in Section
3.6.
This
initialization
1line
must
be
the first line in the command
file.

SLP edit command lines
(see Section 3.5.1).

that define

Input lines.
output
file,
the file.

An SLP terminator.
A single slash in column
complete its processing of the files.

A command

These lines
of
text
are
either as new lines or to

terminator

the

The example below shows a command
to the items listed above.
SEQDITASLF
INSERT

changes
to the

DCL

file.

LINE

causes

SLP

The numbered

lines

correspond

(1)

AFTER

LINE

(3)
(2)

DELETE

LINE

AND

REFLACE

WITH

THIS

LINE

(3)
4)

BEXIT

£5)

The SLP Listing File

The SLP listing file
line
1in the listing

shows the updates made to the
file is numbered in sequence.

by means

trail

audit

suppresses
audit-trail
of a listing file.

(unless

you

generation).

A listing file is generated by default.
file by using the /NOLISTING qualifier;

3.3.4

S$EXIT command.

~4y 4

3.3.3

file

inserted
into
the
replace old lines in

MYFILE.TES

THIS

input

specify

Section

3.4

source file.
Each
Updates are marked
the

qualifier

contains

You can suppress the
see Section 3.6.1.

that

example

1listing

The SLP Output File

The SLP output file is the updated input file.
All
of
the
updates
specified
by
SLP edit commands are inserted in this file.
A default
audit trail, unless suppressed, is applied to new
or
changed
1lines.
The numbers generated by SLP for the listing file do not appear in the
output file.
An output file is generated by default.
file by using the /NOOUTPUT qualifier;

3-3

You can suppress
see Section 3.6.2.

the

output

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.4

(SLP)

HOW SLP PROCESSES FILES

This section uses an example to show how
following test file is named MYFILE.TST.

SLP

processes

files.

The

ONE
TWO

THREE

FOUR
FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT
NINE
TEN

This file is to be updated under
file, named UPDATE.COM:

the control of the

SEDIT/SLPAAUNTTLTRATL
I (FOESITION=GG

following

command

MYFTLE.TSHT

;gSERT THIS LINE AFTER LINE 3
BéiETE LINE 4 AND REFLACE IT WITH THIS LINE
;EXIT

Figure 3-1 represents the process of updating this file by issuing the
command
@UPDATE.
Below is the listing file (MYFILE.LIS) that results
from this operation.
l.

ONE

2.,

TWO

3.
4.
5.

THREE
INSERT THIS
DELETE LINE

7.
8.
9.
10.
l1l.

FIVE

LINE AFTER LINE THREE
4 AND REPLACE IT WITH THIS LINE

SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN

The audit trail

shows the new lines

(;**NEW**)

and

; **NEW**
; **NEW**
prx-1

indicates

where

lines
have
been
removed (;**-1l).
In this case, a new line has been
added after line
3,
and
1line
4
has
been
replaced,
causing
all
subsequent
lines to be renumbered.
The /AUDIT_ TRAIL qualifier in the
initialization line indicates that the audit trail is to begin at
the
next

tab stop after

column

50.

To process the files, SLP writes each line from the
correction
input
file
into
the output file until it reaches a line to be modified, as
requested in the command.
When SLP reaches a line to be modified,
it
makes the indicated modification, notes the change in the audit trail,
and then continues writing lines to
the
output
file,
in
sequence,
until it encounters another command or reaches end of file.

3.5

USING SLP

This section contains information on how to specify SLP edit
and update files

using SLP.

commands

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR (SLP)
3.5.1

Specifying SLP Edit Commands

SLP edit commands let you update source files by adding, deleting, and
replacing
lines
in a file.
SLP edit commands are marked by certain
characters that SLP
interprets as operators.
This
section
first

the

describes

operators SLP interprets specially, then describes the

general form for specifying SLP edit commands.

following characters
interprets the
3.5.1.1 SLP Operators - SLP
of them as the first character of an
one
specially when you enter
the percent sign
input line: the minus sign (-), the backslash (\),
(%),
the at sign (@), the slash (/), and the less-than character ().
Table 3-1 lists each of
these operators and
the
functions
they
perform.

The at sign (@) operator tells
SLP
to
read
further
input
from
a
This second command file can contain only SLP
file.
command
another
edit commands and new text lines.

(<)

The less~than character

escape

is the

character

that

1lets

you

enter characters in the command file (in column 1) that SLP otherwise
</ hides the slash
For example,
would interpret as operators.
from SLP, thereby enabling you to enter the slash into the
character
You can use the
output file without terminating the SLP edit session.
character

less-than

listed in Table 3-1

escape

character

(including itself).

Table

for all SLP operators

3-1

SLP Operators

Function

Operator

3.5.1.2

First character of an SLP edit command

Suppress audit-trail generation

Reenable audit-trail generation

Invoke a further command file for SLP processing

Terminate the edit session

Escape

character

General Form of the Edit Command - The general

edit command

is as

follows:

trail/]
-locatorl[,locator2][,/audit[;comment]
inputline

Arguments:

(minus

sign)

Specifies that this is an SLP edit command line.

3-5

form

the

BATCH-ORIENTED

locatorl
Is a line locator that
pointer
to a specified

current
line

any

line pointer

the

edit

causes

is moved

file.

forms

EDITOR

(SLP)

SLP
to
move
the
1If only locatorl is

line.

command

locator

TEXT

that
This

described

line

and

field

SLP

can

current
line
specified, the

reads

the

specified

next
using

below.

locator?2

line

range

deleted
the

locator

that

beginning

replaced.

locator

defines

with

forms

range

locatorl

This

and

field

described

can

1lines

ending

(that

with

is,

locator2)

specified

using

the
to

any

status

below.

/audittrail/
Is

character

each

string

1line
in
replaced lines

changed

slashes

(/).

the
in

used

file.
the

keep

This

file

suppressed.

track

audit

wuntil

This

trail
the

the
is

audit

argument

update

used

mark

trail

must

the

file

new

either

delimited

inputline
Is

line

following

new

text

the

<current

optional

comment.

inserted

1line.

You

lines.

into
can

enter

any

immediately

number

input

;comment

All

fields
specified.

The

locator

the

command

fields

can

SLP

line

take

{/string[...string]/}
number

ignores

are

one

any

text

after

position-dependent;

the

following

semicolon.

commas

must

forms:

[+n]

Arguments:

string
Is

string

which

string

ASCII

characters.

exists

and

SLP

locates

the

moves

1line

the current line pointer to that
specified in the form
/string...string/
strings of characters separated by three

line.
If the locator is
(that
1is, two different
periods), SLP locates the
1line
in
which
string
is followed by the second character
what characters may be in between them.

the

first

string,

character

regardless

number

Specifies
to

9999,

sequence

moved.

The

number
largest

which

sequence

the

current

number

that

line
can

pointer
be

specified

Specifies
specified

(period)
Indicates

a decimal
value
by the locator.

the

All forms of the
command line.

current

line

used

offset

from

the

1line

line.

locator

can

specified

interchangeably

BATCH-ORIENTED

SLP

can

only edit
a

files

given

TEXT

sequentially.

moves
line.

past

1line

3.5.2

Updating Source Files

the

EDITOR

Once

file,

Using

(SLP)

the

current

cannot

1line

pointer

returned

that

SLP

This section describes how to use the SLP edit command to add, delete,
and
replace
1lines
in a file.
The section also includes a procedure
for generating a numbered listing for use in editing source
files
by
sequence number.

3.5.2.1

Generating

sequence

number.

file;

they

are

Numbered

However,

not written

To use SLP effectively,
when
you
prepare
the
other

programs

(such

necessarily

SLP

listing

numbered

Listing

sequence

the

SLP

numbers

output

processes

appear

only

input
the

listing

file.

obtain an up-to-date numbered listing for
use
command file.
Numbered listings generated by
as

useful
by

S0OS

and

the

preparing

submitting

MACRO

SLP

assembler)

command

file

file.
in

the

will

not

Generate

following

form:
SEDNTTACLP/ZNOODUTFUTEAZLISTING
S List~Filel

inegbt-file

SEXTT

Here list-file is the
that
SLP
produces,
whose lines are to be
processing the files.

name you optionally assign to the
1listing
file
and
input-file is the specification of the file
numbered.
The slash
(/)
tells
SLP
to
begin
SLP generates a numbered listing file, but does

not

file.

produce

output

3.5.2.2
Adding Lines to a File - The
SLP
edit
command
for
adding
lines
to
a
file contains only one locator field.
1Its form is given
below.

-locator|[,,/audittrail/]}
[ ;comment]

where

(as

Section

3.5.1.2),

locator

has

the

following

form:

/string[...stringl/
number

If number is
specified,
specified
by
sequence
lines in the file.
If

string

specified,

[+n]

SLP
inserts
number.
Any

SLP

locates

the
file
and
moves
the current
string.
Any input lines following
the file.

If you specify +n, SLP moves
the
1line
specified
1in the
lines to the file.

the

new
line(s)
after
the
1line
lines you enter are inserted as

occurrence

string

line pointer to the line containing
the command line are then added
to

the current line pointer n
locator field and then adds

1lines
beyond
any new input

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

(SLP)

The example below shows how to add lines to a
input file consists of the following lines:

file.

The

correction

ABC
DEF

GHI
KLM

123456789

The

input

file consists of the following commands and text lines:

$EDIT/SLF MYFILE.TST
~/123/
INSERT THIS LINE AFTER

LLINE

$EXTT

SLP processing generates the
1.

2.
3.

following

listing file:

ABC
DEF
GHI

KLM

123456789

INSERT THIS

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

LINE AFTER LINE

; **NEW**

456
789
CBA
XYz
987

SLP has applied sequence numbers to the lines and added an audit trail
to
the

the line following
string 123.

line

The next example uses the
new command file:
SEDLT/SLE

same

where

SLP

correction

found

input

the

first

file

MYFILE.TST

- DEF /42
THIE

NEW

TEXT

$EXTT

WN-

ABC

SLP processing generates

THIS

the

following

listing

file:

DEF

GHI
KLM

IS NEW TEXT
123456789
456

789
CBA

10.
11.

XYZ
987

; **NEW**

3-8

and

occurrence

the

following

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

(SLP)

Again, SLP has numbered the lines in sequence; this time the new input
line
1is
inserted
two
lines
beyond
the
1line containing the first
occurrence of the string DEF.

3.5.2.3
Deleting Lines
deleting
1lines
from a
given below.

from
a
File The
SLP
edit
file contains two locator fields.

command
for
1Its form is

-locatorl,locator2(,/audittrail/]
[ ;comment]
where locatorl and locator2 can be any of the
forms
of
the
1locator
fields described above.
The first field, locatorl, specifies the line
where SLP is to begin deleting lines;
locator2
specifies
the
1last
line
to
be
deleted.
SLP
deletes
all lines from locatorl through
locator2, inclusive.
The
The

example below shows how to delete
correction input file consists of

lines from
a
file
the following lines:

wusing

SLP.

ABC
DEF

GHI
KLM

123456789
456

789
CBA
XYZ

987

The command file
SEVIT/SLF
=S Lo

for this

example

follows:

MYFILE.TST

s R/ v/ XYL/

/
SEXIT

SLP processing generates
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

the

ABC
DEF
GHI
KLM
987

following

listing

file:

;¥*=-5

In this example, the ellipsis (...) is used to abbreviate
the
larger
string 123456789.
SLP searches for the first occurrence of the string
1 and the first occurrence of the string 9 on the line, assuming these

two
strings
bracket
a
larger
string,
in
this
case,
the string
123456789,
SLP begins deleting
1lines
at
this
1line
and
continues
deleting lines until it deletes the last line, specified by the string
XYZ.
SLP applies the audit trail count of the lines it deleted to the
next

line

the

output

file.

Using the same correction input file, this example shows how to delete
a
single
1line
using
the period locator.
The command file for this
example is as follows:
$EDIT/SLF
~/DEF/y.

$EXIT

MYFILE.TST

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

(SLP)

SLP processing generates the following listing:
1.

ABC

GHI

3.
4.

KLM
123456789

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

456
789
CBA
XYZ
987

p*¥*-1

SLP moves the current line pointer to the line containing
the
string
DEF
and then finds the period as the second locator field.
Since the
second locator field is specified, SLP interprets the edit command
as
a delete operation and deletes the line containing DEF.

3.5.2.4
Replacing Lines in a
File A
replacement
1is
a
deletion
followed
by new text.
The number of lines deleted need not match the
number of lines added.
To replace lines
in
a
file,
use
the
full
2-locator
command
form,
as
in
the delete command.
The first line
locator field specifies the first line to be deleted.
The second line
locator
field
defines the
for replacement operations,

last line in the range to be deleted, and,
the line where new text is to be inserted.

For example, the command -4,.+4 instructs SLP to move the line pointer
to
line
4 and replace line 4 and the next four lines (as represented
by .+4) with new input lines that immediately follow the command line.
This command is equivalent to -4,8.

The example below shows how to delete lines from a
file
and
replace
them
with
new
lines.
The
correction
input
file consists of the
following

lines:

ABC
DEF

GHI

123456789
BCN
CRB
BUR

The

command

file

SEDIT/SLF
e 4 o+j
NEW LINE
NEW LINE

follows:

MYFILE.TST
2
3

SEXIT

SLP processing generates the
1.

ABC

2.
3.
4.

NEW LINE 2
NEW LINE 3
123456789

BCN
CRB
BUR

6.
7.

following listing

file:

; **NEW**
; **NEW**
s ¥*-2

3-10

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.6

(SLP)

SLP QUALIFIERS

file
1listing
SLP qualifiers control the generation and format of the
You can use them to control the audit trail and
the output file.
and
sections
following
The
output options associated with these files.
describe the SLP qualifiers and the functions each performs.

/[NO]JLISTING[:file~spec]

3.6.1

The listing file that SLP generates by default has the same file name
You can request
its file type is LIS.
the correction input file;
as
the
using
by
file
1listing
the
for
specification
different
a

/LISTING: file-spec qualifier.

specify /NOLISTING.

To suppress the listing file,

3.6.2

/[NOJOUTPUT[:file-spec]

By default, SLP generates an output file with the same file
name
and
file
type as the correction input file.
Its version number is higher

name
by 1 than the highest version number existing for the input file
and
type.
You
can
give
a
different
specification
by using the

/OUTPUT:file-spec qualifier.

To suppress the output file,

specify /NOOUTPUT.

/[NO]AUDIT_TRAILI:(POSITION:pOS,SIZE:len)]

3.6.3

specify
or
This qualifier lets you suppress audit-trail generation,
The default is
the beginning position and length of the audit trail.
to generate an audit trail 8 characters long,
that

is,

starting in column 80 --

/AUDIT_TRAIL:(POSITION:SO,SIZE:B).

The maximum allowea value for the length parameter is 16.
either the position or length parameters,

If you give

you must give both.

The audit trail starts at the first tab stop after the position
(or

defaulted)

every 8 columns.

for

Section

the

/AUDIT_TRAIL

The /AUDIT TRAIL

detail

3.6.4

/[NO]TAB_FILL

qualifier.

qualifier

1is

given

Tab stops are set

discussed

3.7.

The qualifier /TAB_FILL causes SLP to insert tabs at the end
of
each
text
line
containing
an
audit
trail.
The default is to fill such
lines with spaces (that is, /NCTAB_FILL).
Using /TAB_FILL saves
disk
space,
because
fewer tabs than spaces are required to fill the lines
in both the output

3.6.5

file

and the

listing

file.

/[NO]TRUNCATE|[:position]

This qualifier lets you truncate
input
lines
to
the
given
column
position.
The
default is /NOTRUNCATE.
If you specify /TRUNCATE but
omit position, SLP uses the position
given
(or
defaulted)
for
the
/AUDIT TRAIL

qualifier.

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

3.7

(SLP)

THE AUDIT TRAIL

The audit trail is a device that allows you to keep track
of
changes
made
to
a
file
with
SLP.
The qualifier /[NOJAUDIT TRAIL lets you
suppress the generation of the
audit
trail,
or
set
its
beginning
position and length.
With SLP edit commands, you can change the value
(that is, the text) of the audit trail, and temporarily
suppress
and
resume audit-trail processing.
To suppress audit-trail
/NOAUDIT_TRAIL.

By default,

s ¥**NEW**,

each

3.7.1
The

the

audit

That is,

new or

following

trail

the text

changed

Changing

generation

initially,

initially

;**NEW**

specify

turned

on.

the

1Its

qualifier

text

value

audit

trail:

is placed starting

in column 80

line.

the Value of

SLP edit

the Audit Trail

command

changes

the

value of

the

-,./newtrail/
Here newtrail is the new value (text) of
the
audit
trail.
length of newtrail exceeds the length specified (or defaulted)
/AUDIT TRAIL qualifier, the audit trail is truncated to
that

(The

default

audit

specify

The

audit

trail

3.7.2

Setting

the

new

set

length

that

used

Position

beginning

following

trail,

less

;**NEW**,

If
the
for the
1length.

is never truncated, even if you

8.)
in

all

and

position

subsequent

Length

and

the

lines

changed.

the Audit Trail

length

the

audit

trail,

use

gqualifier:

/AUDIT TRAIL: (POSITION:pos,SIZE:len)
The

example

input

file

below shows

for

the

this example

use

this

qualifier.

The

follows.

ONE
TWO
THREE

FOUR
FIVE

The

command

file

follows:

SEDIT/SLEP/ZAUDNITOTRATILI(FOSITION
30, SIZEL10)
“~2y

bl v /FCHANGEQO
LY

NEW

LINE

NEW

LINE

SEXIT

3-12

MYFILE.TST

correction

BATCH-ORIENTED TEXT EDITOR

(SLP)

The following listing file results from SLP processing.
l.

ONE

2.
3.

NEW LINE
NEW LINE

FOUR

FIVE

3.7.3

2
3

; CHANGEOQOO1
; CHANGEOO1

Temporarily Suppressing the Audit Trail

You can temporarily suppress the audit trail im the output and listing

files
by
using
the
backslash
(\)
operator.
You
can
reenable
audit-trail generation with the percent sign (%) operator, even if you
initially specified /NCAUDIT_TRAIL.

Use the backslash
in
column
1
of
the
command
audit-trail
generation.
Use the percent operator
later point to resume the audit trail.

3.7.4

file
to
suppress
in column 1 at some

Deleting an Input Audit Trail

You can delete audit trails in the input file in one of the

following

ways:

)

The default audit trail, ;**NEW**, is
automatically
deleted
when the file is read with audit-~trail processing enabled.

()

Any other audit trail can be deleted by using
qualifier.

the

/TRUNCATE

The qualifier /TRUNCATE[:position] truncates input lines at the
given
column
position.
If
you
give
the
/TRUNCATE
gualifier
but omit
position,
SLP
wuses
the
position
given
(or
defaulted)
for
the
/AUDIT_TRAIL
qualifier.
Set
position at or before the start of the
old audit trail you want deleted.
Any trailing spaces or
tabs
after

position are

also deleted.

APPENDIX

SUMMARY OF SOS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

Table A-1

SOS Modes of Operation

Mode

Prompt

Used for

Edit

Editing -- adding,

Input

nnnnn

Typing in lines of text

Alter

nnnnn

Editing within a line

Alter/insert

(none)

changing text

Inserting text within Alter mode

Read-only

Examining a file without changing it

Copy-file

Searching, copying from another file

Decide

Deciding case by case on substitutions

Decide Alter

nnnnn

(Submode)

Like Alter mode

Decide Alter/insert|

(none)

(Submode)

Like Alter/insert mode

SUMMARY

SOS

FUNCTIONS

Table

Edit-Mode

Command
Alter

Commands:

AND

FEATURES

A-2

Function

and

Format

Function
Enter Alter mode for intraline,

Format'
A [range]

character-by-character editing.
Copy

Copy a range of lines to another place
within a file, or from another file.

C position [=file-spec] ,range [,incr1 [ ,incr2} ]
position=file-spec/C

Optionally, enter Copy-file mode.

Delete

Delete a range of lines.

D [range]

End

End SOS, return to DCL.

E [B] [Q] [S] [T] [:file-spec]

Find

Search for the occurrence of one or

F [{string] Cesc
) [range] [,A] {N] [.E] [,n] [,-1]

more specified strings of text.

Help

Display the help package.

Input

H [:n]

Enter Input mode to insert lines of

Jincr

text.

I [position]] < ;incr

Join

Join two text lines into one line.

J [position]

Kill Page Mark

Delete a page mark.

K /page

List a range of lines on the printer

L [range] [,S] [{ ,P[:file-spec]}]

iIn

List

or to a file.

,F:file-spec

Mark

Insert a page mark.

M [position]

reNumber

Renumber a range of lines.

N [incr]} [,[range] [,start] }

Print a range of lines on the terminal.

P [range] [,S]

Replace

Delete a range of lines and enter Input

,incr

mode.

R [range]

;incr

Replace one or more text strings with

S [[oldstring(CesC
) newstring]

;In

Substitute

[range] [,D] [LN] [LE]]

other string(s) in a range of lines.
Optionally, enter Decide mode.

Transfer

Copy a range of lines to a new location

T position,range [,incr1 [,incr2] )

and delete the original lines.
Save World

Write a new file containing all the

W [B] [:file-spec]

changes made so far.
eXtend

Enter Alter/insert mode to add text

X [range] [N]

to the end of a line.
Move Position
Give Parameter

Reset the position of the current line.

. position

Give the value of an SOS internal

= parameter

parameter or switch.
Set Parameter

Reset an SOS parameter or switch.

| parameter [:value]

Command File

Execute the SOS commands contained

@ file-spec

in a command file.
RET

Ces)

Print next line.

RET

Print previous line.

! The space after the single-character command is optional. Terminate each command with

and (EO).

(except the commands

SUMMARY OF SOS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

Definitions for the Edit-Mode Commands
Uppercase letters represent literals that

you

accepts either upper- or lowercase letters.)
variables, defined below.
The
symbol
=>

type

verbatim.

(SOS

Lowercase terms represent
means
"is
defined
as."

Brackets
([ 1) indicate optional parts of the argument string (except
in directory or filespec, in which one set of brackets must be typed).
Stacked
braces
({ }) mean to choose one of the enclosed expressions.

Angle-brackets (< >)
the escape key

enclose descriptive terms.

(or ALTmode, SELect or PREfix).

And

()

represents

file-spec =>[device:] [[directory]]filename[.type[;version]]
increment =>
1l

line

<a positive
<a

line

integer

number>

line-number

(less

than

increment>

65536)

1
~

[+ m]

m =>

<an

integer

n =>

<a positive

p =>

page

page => ) ° (

parameter

position =>

offset>

integer>

number>

[% q

legal

{ line

line-number

SOS parameter

[/page]

switch>

}

/page
g =>

<an

integer page-number

position

-range =>

offset>

[{:position}]

:position

start

<a positive

integer

line

number>

string => stringl[(eDstring2[(R&
D string3[(XDstring4

[GeDstring5{()string6]]1]]

value

legal

parameter

value>

SUMMARY OF SOS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

Table A-3

Meanings of Edit-Mode Command Options

Option

Meaning

Commands

Enter Alter mode

Find

Enter Decide mode

Substitute

Enter quasi-Decide mode

Content specification

Require exact case match

Find,

List to disk

List

Type only number,

Select printer

List

Suppress line numbers

List,

, -

Find line in which specified|{Find, content
pattern does not occur
commands)

Find

(all

commands)

Substitute,

content

Substitute,

eXtend,

specification

file

not line

Find,

specification

n occurrences of

(all

commands)

content

commands)

Print
specification

(all

Find

specified pattern

Use nth occurrence of

Content specification

specified pattern

Table
Alter-Mode

A-4
Commands

Command

Meaning

Do not print rest of line;
recycle
line with edits incorporated.

[-] [n]Cx...

Change
next/previous
characters.l

[-]1[n]D

Delete next/previous n characters.

End Alter

[-][n]Itext(ssc)|Insert

"Next"

The

Kill

no minus

mode

text

increment
[-] [n]Kx

(all

commands)

this

new

all

typed:

beginning

characters

line;

after/before
for

(delete)

sign

for

not

pointer;

use

occurrence

given

line.

temporary

lines.

until

nth

‘"previous"

minus

character

sign

other commands that accept a minus sign are presented

typed.

similar

fashion.

(continued on next page)

SUMMARY OF SOS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

Table A-4

(Cont.)

Alter-Mode

Commands

Command

Meaning

Print rest of line;
edits

incorporated.

Print
edits

rest of line;
incorporated.

Quit Alter mode;

recycle to beginning of line with

recycle

to current position

restore original

with

line.

[-] [n]Rtext
()| Replace next/previous n characters with inserted text.
[=] [n]Sx

Skip forward/back

[-][n]W

Skip forward/back n words.

[-][n]X

Delete next/previous n words.

[-]1[n]~

Invert case of next/previous n characters.

[-][n]<

Convert next/previous n characters

[-]1[n]>

Convert next/previous n characters to lowercase.

[-]1 [n]

to nth occurrence of character x.

)

Space back/forward n characters.

RET

Leave Alter mode for

[-] [n] CoeD
(L)

this line;

uppercase.

print rest of line.

Space back/forward n characters.
Leave Alter mode

for

this line;

[-1[n] (D

Space forward/back n characters.

[=]

Skip to end/start of line.

TAB

rest of line.

Retype line to current position.
Start fresh -- discard edits,
line, do not print line.

recycle

beginning

SUMMARY OF

SOS

FUNCTIONS

AND

FEATURES

Table A-5
Decide-Mode Commands

Form

Meaning

Yes,

No,

make
do

the

not

change

make

Alter:
enter
already made.
E

End:

Go:

make

not

the

make

the

(leave

Table

Set from

Edit Mode?

Preset

via DCL??

Alter

change,

SOS

shown.

change.

Decide

automatically

Name'

and

mode

return

make

with

all

the

Edit

change

mode.

further

Decide mode).

changes

A-6

Parameters

Initial

Meanin

Value

BIG

ERROr

(nuil)

Displays highest page number

Displays last error message

ESCApe

(null)

Sets character for input/output of escapes

Displays current SOS version number

INCRement

100

Sets increment for numbering inserted lines

ISAVe

Controls auto-W on inserts

LENGth

Sets page size for List command

LOCAtion

Displays first line in edit buffer

MATCh

(null)

NAME

Displays output file specification

PLINes

Sets number of lines printed by P(Rrer)

SAVE

Controls auto-W on commands

STARt

100

Sets starting line number

STEP

100

Sets increment for initial line numbering

STRIng

(null)

SUBStitute

00000/1

Sets special pattern-matching flag character

Displays current Find and Substitute strings
Displays number of matches in last Substitute

Displays current position

! Minimum abbreviation is given in uppercase letters.
2You can specify these parameters as qualifiers in the initial DCL EDIT command, or by using the symbolassignment mechanism (see Section 2.9.3).

SUMMARY OF SOS FUNCTIONS AND FEATURES

Table A-7

S0S

Name!

Initial

. Preset \

Value

via DCL?

BAK

DEClde

of f

EXACt

off

Switches

Meaning

Tells SOS to create back-up file
y

Sets auto Decide mode on Substitute

Requires exact case match for Find, Substitute, contentspecification

EXPErt

off

Declares experienced SOS user

LINE

Tells SOS to use existing line numbers

LOWEr

Tells SOS to accept uppercase, lowercase as is

READonly

off

SEPArator

off

Tells SOS to treat _$ . as alphanumeric

SEQUence

Leaves output-file line numbers

Starts SOS in Read-only mode

! Minimum abbreviation is given in uppercase letters.

2 You can specify these switches as qualifiers in the initial DCL EDIT command, or by using the symbolassignment mechanism (see Section 2.9.3). Turn off any switch by using the letters NO before its name;
thus, NOLINE tums off the LINE switch.

SUMMARY OF

SOS

FUNCTIONS AND

Table

Special
Con-

Internal

struct

Represen-

Constructs

Meaning

(2]

separator

Match

any

or tab
character except

space

or more of
or more of

the character
the character

[2) T

character

Match 1
Match
Match
Match
Match

any
any
any
any

alphanumeric character
letter (A-Z, a-z)
uppercase letter (A-Z)
lowercase letter (a-z)

Match

any

decimal

Match

internal

g | Ll | Kl | il 1 K

mllE{Ril=|{=

[2) Y £x)
o) ()
[ ] o] [2)
fu)

any

JIEFIGTIETICS

CTR

Match
Match

Match

CTR

cHoflel
e |— |

Constructs

CIRL/

b
%

ROR

= O

N U 0 ) s s ) ) ) ) ) &) ey

= g0 A e N

Find-String

A-8

Pattern-Matching

tation

FEATURES

digit

x
x

(0-9)

Match beginning or end of line
representation of

Substitute-String Constructs
2x12%

The

first

string

matched

find-string

construct

2*22%

The

?2%n?2*

The nth

second

The

string

matched

so matched

string in the sequence
find-string construct

Table

Position

Character

A-9

Shorthand

Characters

.
Meaning

Current

line

Current

page

First line on page

First page

Last

line

page

Last

page

file

matched

APPENDIX

SOS ERROR MESSAGES:

NOVICE AND EXPERT FORMS

In the right-hand
Table B-1 lists the error messages produced by SOS.
of the messages that SOS prints if the EXPERT
forms
the
are
column
messages
except
one
are
switch is on (see Section 2.9.2).
All the
and returns you to Edit
command
nonfatal: SOS
halts
the
offending
(You
one
confounded
the
1last
mode.
The
one
fatal
error
is
If it
does not occur in normal SOS use.
error
This
Sorry.).
S0S.

does occur,

SOS

returns you

possible recovery procedures

the

Table

SOS

Error

Novice

monitor.

Messages:

and

Expert

command file name
Cannot access HELP file
Cannot access LIST file
Cannot delete across pages
Cannot kill initial page mark
Command invalid for read only file
Command line I/0 error
Failed to open command file
Illegal file specification
Illegal parameter to switch
Illegal search string given
Illegal specification in line or page number
Illegal specification in range
Illegal switch name
Illegal syntax of command
Insufficient line numbers for insertion
Line is too long
Line number step too large - lines out of order
Lines out of order
Maximum command file depth exceeded
No such line exists
Page does not exist
Range given does not contain any lines
Search strings exceeded buffer length
String not found, search failed
Too many search strings given
confounded

SGCS.

Sorry.

2.7

for

B-1

Novice

Forms

Message

Bad

You

Section

See

in this eventuality.

Expert

Message

Name

bad

HELP
LIST

trouble
trouble

Del no pages
K/1 bad
File RO
I/0 error

Open failure
File?
Bad param to

switch

ISS

Bad

line/page

Bad

range

Bad

switch

?27?
No

room

Line
Step

too
too

long
big

Order

Command

files

NSL

Page?
Nothing
Too long

Not

there

Too

many

Internal

error

too deep

APPENDIX

SLP COMMAND FEATURES

To run SLP,

You

submit a command

Initialization line

SLP edit

DCL

submit

file containing:

commands

SEXIT

command

a command

file

using

either:

SUBMIT command

@ (Execute Procedure) command

The general

form of

the

initialization line

EDIT/SLP[/qualifier]

is:

input_file

where:

EDIT/SLP

Invokes SLP.

/qualifier

Specifies one or more output gualifiers.
This field can be specified using any of
the five forms listed in Table C-1.

input_file

Specifies
update.

source

file

you

want

SLP

COMMAND FEATURES

Table
SLP

Qualifier

Output

C-1
Qualifiers

Default

/[NO] AUDIT_TRAIL

[:(POSITION:pos,SIZE:1en)]
/[NO] LISTING [:file-spec]

Function

/AUDIT TRAIL:

Specifies whether an audit trail should be

(POSITION:80,SIZE:8)

generated, its beginning field and length.

/LISTING:file-spec

Specifies whether a listing file should be
produced, and lets you rename the listing file.

J/OUTPUT: file-spec

/[NO]OUTPUT{:file-spec]

Specifies whether an output file should be
produced, and lets you rename the output file.

/NOTAB_FILL

/[NO] TAB_FILL

Inserts tabs at the end of each text line
containing an audit trail; /NOTAB_FILL
inserts blank spaces.

/NOTRUNCATE

/[NO] TRUNCATE([:pos]

Truncates input lines at the given column
position; /NOTRUNCATE disables truncation.

The

general

form

the

SLP

edit

command

is:

-locatorl|,locator2] [,/audittrail/] [;comment]
inputline

where:

(minus)

Specifies

that

this

SLP

edit

command

line.

locatorl

Moves current
line
pointer
to
This field can be specified using
syntax forms listed below.

locator?2

Represents either an actual
1line
number
or
the
number
of
1lines to be deleted or replaced.
This
field can be specified
wusing
any
of
the
three
syntax forms listed below.

/audittrail/

Generates
an
audit
trail
which
marks
modified
lines
in
your
file.
It also
change the value of your audit trail.

inputline

Inserts
new
following the

;comment

An optional
semicolon.

1lines
into
your
current 1line.

comment;

SLP

ignores

specified
any of the

file

any

1line.
three

new
or
lets you

immediately

text

after

SLP

COMMAND FEATURES

SLP will process a command line with any of the following line locator
syntaxes:
All
forms of the line locator can be used interchangeably
in the command

line.

/stringl[...string2]l/

number

[+n]

where:

stringl

Is
an
ASCII
string
used
to
1locate
the
line
containing
that
string.
If
the
locator
is
specified as /stringl...string2/, SLP locates
the
line
in
which
the
two strings delimit a larger
string.

number

Is a
your

Is a decimal value used as
specified by the locator.

(period)

sequential number
listing file.

an offset

1line

from

the

line

C-2
Commands

Format

Function

-locator[,/audittrail/]
NEW

that

Indicates the current line.

Table
Edit Mode

Command

specifying

Add

new

line(s)

text.

LINE

~locatorl,locator2|[,/audittrail/]

Delete a range of lines.

-locatorl,locator2,[,/audittrail/]
NEW LINE
NEW LINE

Delete a range of lines
and replace with new
lines.

Table
SLP

C-3

Operators

Operator
-

(minus)

Function
First

character

Suppresses

Reenables

Invokes a

audit
audit

processing.

SLP

trail
trail

command.

generation.
generation.

supplemental

edit

command

session

and

file

for

SLP

returns

SLP

Terminates SLP
command mode.

Allows you to enter characters in an input
file
that SLP would otherwise interpret as operators.

APPENDIX

SLP

Table D-1

lists

the error

ERROR MESSAGES

messages

SLP

produced by SLP.

Table

D-1

Error

Messages

COMMAND

SYNTAX

ERROR

ILLEGAL

DEVICE

NAME

ILLEGAL