VDE Version History
VDE19.UPD
---------
VDE Update Information:
version 1.9, 27 Nov 1999
(c)1999, E. Meyer
================================== NEWS =====================================
ORDERING INFORMATION
See the order form (ORDER.FRM) for current fees for registration, site
licenses, and updates. Please provide all information requested.
VDE ONLINE
Discussion of VDE is now supported on an Internet mailing list. To join,
send the E-mail message "subscribe" to:
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You will receive a confirmation request to which you must respond, and then a
welcome message with further instructions.
VDE and related files can be found on many Internet sites via the World
Wide Web or File Transfer Protocol, including the following, which are likely
to have recent updates:
http://www.punky.com/vde
http://short.stop.home.att.net/index.htm
http://members.aol.com/wolffsoft/vde.htm
ftp://members.aol.com/billw50/vde
CompuServe subscribers can find VDE in the download libraries of several
forums, including the Vintage Computing Forum (GO VINTAGE).
Y2K COMPLIANCE
VDE has been fully Y2K-compliant in its handling of dates from 2000 on
since version 1.81, in 1996. (In still earlier versions, such dates would
simply have displayed in MM/DD/YY format with an extra digit, "/100" instead
of "/00".) VDE should display dates correctly as long as the date
information your computer provides is valid.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR ON VDE 1.9
The need to deal with larger text files has become commonplace even
among users of DOS software, and VDE 1.9 can finally edit files of up to 600k
or so directly. VDE still takes a segmented approach to larger files, but
the former file-splitting process has now been replaced by a completely
automatic one, and many editing operations are now coordinated across
segments of a file. As VDE and DOS enter their twilight years, I can only
hope that you find version 1.9 even more useful, and that if you never got
around to registering your copy of VDE, you will do so now.
=============================== UPDATE GUIDE ================================
Users of previous versions of VDE will notice the following changes in
operation. Please refer to the instructions for full details.
NEW IN VDE 1.9
* LARGER FILES CAN NOW BE EDITED, and are automatically loaded and saved
in multiple segments. Many editing functions coordinate across multiple
segments. This is a major change; please read the instructions on "LARGE
FILES" and "SEGMENTATION" carefully, noting the new commands AltL+ and Esc%.
Note that VDE.DOC is itself now a large file, with which you can explore
these new features.
* A new AltS command performs a global Save on all modified files being
edited (unless untitled or protected).
* There is no longer a separate ^OW command for single-file windowing;
AltW splits the screen, initially showing the same file/segment, and then
others if you use AltN/B to move around. AltM (Match) can now be used within
a single file. See WINDOWING.
* You can now change the default file mode and/or margins for a VDE
session by specifying an option on the command line before any filenames:
VDE /M FILE1... or VDE /5,60 FILE1... See SYNTAX.
* The Right/Left arrow keys once again have the hybrid behavior they had
before version 1.87A, their motion restricted to the file text while within
it, but moving freely across the screen once outside it. (See CURSOR MOTION)
The column block toggles ^KN,^KI are now fully independent; ^KI works even
when ^KN is off, and isn't cancelled by it. Overflow graphics are now
replaced by ^PG, which is visible and easily searchable, rather than a space.
There have been numerous even more minor changes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.87 UPDATE SUMMARY (Jan 1999)
* A new input direction command ^I cycles between right (normal), down,
left, and up, for easier construction of vertical lines, borders, boxes, etc.
The copy character command ^\ now works appropriately in any direction, and
has a new feature to repeat graphics just entered.
* The file browser now lists files in a more effective vertical order,
and requests confirmation ("Y"es/"N"o) before deleting a file.
* A new file mode /T reads and writes files in Windows Notepad format,
unformatted text using ANSI (Latin-1) characters in the range 128-255 (80-
FF). Mode /M has been improved, and can now read MS Word 97 files.
* Block marking in column mode now behaves more smoothly when it
encounters short lines, adding spaces (and removing them again, during shift-
arrow or mouse blocking) to keep the marker in the intended column. [1.87A]
* Minor improvements: Rename (^KE) once again accepts a drive/directory
without a filename. In document modes, Preview (^OD) now also hides printer
Esc-sequences embedded directly in the text with ^P[Esc]. The auto-number
command ^K# can now number in decreasing order with a new option "-". [1.87B]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.86 UPDATE SUMMARY (Jun 1998)
* A new block command ^KT can convert hard tabs into spaces, maintaining
columnar alignment; and the ^K^ command (switch block case) has been removed.
(Here is a macro to replace it: ^QB ^KZ Esc$2 Esc1 ^^ Esc!1 Esc2 ^KZ)
* Improvements have been made in proportional mode (^OK) to the header
display, left margin and initial indent (^OL, ^OO), paragraph indent (^OG),
and ruler (^OT); all better reflect the effects of proportional margins.
* Column block mode (^KN) now properly handles block moves to a location
within or overlapping the marked block itself. In replace mode (^KI), moves
and deletions now leave a block of blank spaces behind. [1.86A]
* A new printer toggle ^PU (user) is available in mode /D. The print
(^KP) menu shows the driver in use, and has a new option "I" for a tab
expansion interval. Envelope printing (^KPA) handles different font sizes.
* Minor improvements: The file browser, when invoked via file load
commands AltL or ^KL/D, offers a new key [F5] for load ALL. Preview (^OD)
now allows use of arrow keys to scroll the screen. The Use (AltU) command
can now read and write individual VDK files also. The function key label
line (^OU) can now be scrolled by holding two of Shift/Ctrl/Alt at once.
* VINST's nstallation no longer asks for a computer type; VDE now
automatically detects the HP 95/100/200LX palmtops, and no longer supports
anything but true PC compatibles. Under ptions, you can now adjust the
amount of memory used by the speller dictionaries for best performance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.85 UPDATE SUMMARY (Jan 1998)
* The commands to define and record macros are now ^M and ^MM. After
entering a macro at the prompt, ^[Enter] will simply repeat the macro
(visibly) until you press [Esc].
* Input at command prompts can now be edited with the [<],[>] arrow keys,
instead of only being able to backspace and retype.
* The file browser can now also be invoked from ^KW (block write) or AltU
(load .VDx). Also, it now shows ALL subdirectories present, not just those
whose name matches the given filespec.
* VINST offers two new selections under nstallation: for 132-column
mode (AltA), "V" for VESA compliant, which works on most recent video cards;
and under keyboard type, "T"est, as normal default, in addition to overrides
"A"T and "X"T.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.84 UPDATE SUMMARY (Sep 1997)
* A new command Esc*m makes the file match command AltM treat hard CRs as
whitespace rather than a potential mismatch.
* The auto-number command ^K# now has multiple options, not only to set a
starting number, but also continue numbering from the last use; align flush;
use Roman numerals; or use a different marker character.
* Minor improvements: ^[Tab] now inserts spaces if Insert is on. Spell
checking (AltJ) recognizes words hyphenated at the ends of lines. /F mode
can now read some larger WordPerfect files.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.83 UPDATE SUMMARY (May 1997)
* A new command Esc@ can alphabetically compare two strings; a macro can
now sort the lines of a file.
* New commands show the value of the macro counter: Esc(H) displays it
briefly in the header, while Esc(T) writes it into the file text.
* Command prompts now offer two new features: ^[ enters text from the
currently marked block, and function keys may now be used at any prompt.
* A new command Esc*t allows you to choose not to trim spaces from the
ends of lines when saving nondocuments to disk, and Esc*U now unloads the
speller once it's been invoked, recovering its memory.
* File mode /X now allows a left margin setting, and both /X and /L modes
now set both margins when you load a file. Also, only printer codes
supported in the current file mode now display or act as such.
* Minor improvements: Preview mode (^OD) now highlights text affected by
print toggles. Replace (^QA) now reports the number of instances changed.
AltE (screen lines) has been revised, and offers slightly different choices.
The MenuBar offers a new command {Block:Goto}, for ^QB.
* VINST can now read and write individual function key definitions to
data files (.VDK), and thus move a definition from one set (.VDF) to another.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
VDE 1.82 UPDATE SUMMARY (Jan 1997)
* A new command Esc*L allows you to override VDE's file exclusions and
access any files you like.
* When reformatting causes rejoining of a hyphenated word in file modes
without soft hyphens (/A,U,M,X,L), a placemark is now left there.
* VDE's HP LX palmtop installations offer improved support: the [MENU]
key brings up the MenuBar; battery saving features are supported; the [ZOOM]
key now works while editing. Also [in 1.82A], a new file mode /L handles
"formatted" files created by the built-in MEMO editor and an icon VDE.ICN is
provided to install VDE for launch from the Application Manager.
* Minor improvements: accented letters (ASCII 80-A5h) are now treated
more like letters (their case can often be reversed, etc). Display of a
file's "Saved" time and date by AltK follows the user's choice of formats (in
VINST). The speller menu no longer hides the context of a word on the first
3 lines of the file. The ^OH,^OV commands, whose status is not visible in
the header, now show it briefly when used. The ^KP print option menu can now
be scrolled for viewing on narrow screens (like many other menus) with the
left/right arrow keys.
* Deletions: The outdated ^PG print pause feature has been removed.
There is no longer a VINST option to handle quirks of older Tandy keyboards.
============================= VERSION HISTORY ===============================
1984-1987: Development of "Video Display Editor" for CP/M computers.
VDE 1.0 (Dec87): First MSDOS release, for IBM PC compatibles only.
1.01 (Dec87): Faster; several bug fixes; minor changes to VINST.
1.1 (Jan88): Edits 2 files; AltE; AltT,D; DOS shell; generic ANSI inst.
1.2 (Mar88): AltW; AltM; Split; ^OQ; ^QT,^QI; AltG; [F]-keys; wordcount.
1.21 (May88): Auto indent; enhanced ^OI; ^PL is pagebreak.
1.22 (Aug88): AltO; AltA; AltI; append to files; enhanced ^KP, display.
1.3 (Jan89): 6 files; AltC,P; AltV; improved ^QA,^U; /5 mode (now /S).
1.31 (Mar89): ^K#; ^KZ; macro keys A-Z; AltU; ^OD.
1.4 (Jul89): MenuBars; macro record; proportional format/print mode.
1.5 (Dec89): 8 files; ^KA; enhanced ^KF, ^OW/AltF, ^QF; use less memory.
1.51 (Mar90): /P, /X file modes; word insert; improved ^OK mode.
1.52 (Apr90): Various small improvements and fixes.
1.53 (May90): ^QL,N; /M mode; foreign language/KEYBxx compatibility.
1.54 (Sep90): Small improvements; supports enhanced keyboard, F11/F12.
1.6 (Dec90): Auto format; Justify; ^OG; {User}; /U; improved ^U, ^OD.
1.61 (Mar91): Envelope printer; /C mode; enhanced AltE, block marking.
1.62 (Oct91): Supports UltraVision, HP95LX palmtop.
1.63 (Jun92): Autoexec macro; ^\ (now ^H); enhanced ^QF,^OI,^KF,^KA etc.
1.64 (Aug92): "W"ord find; dual /D,A modes; DESQview aware.
1.65 (Feb93): Protected mode ^KO; Browser can tag files; [goto#] option.
1.7 (Jun93): Spelling checker; ^OU; HP100LX. PC compatibles only, again.
1.71 (Oct93): Esc?, Esc: for macro input; small improvements.
1.72 (Jan94): Reads WordPerfect 6 files; small improvements.
1.73 (Aug94): ^[Del]; [gotostring] option; small improvements.
1.8 (Aug95): Column blocks ^KN,^KI; mouse; ^OY, Esc*S; ^KU; ^Tab, ^\.
1.81 (Sep96): Indent ^OO; Esc/; load option /1-8; small improvements.
1.82 (Jan97): Esc*L; /L mode; various small improvements and fixes.
1.83 (May97): Esc*t; Esc*U; Esc@; Esc(H,T); many small improvements.
1.84 (Sep97): Esc*m; more ^K# options; small improvements.
1.85 (Jan98): Improved Macros (^M), browser; prompt line editing; VESA.
1.86 (Jun98): ^KT; improved proportional mode, ^KP, ^KN, browser, etc.
1.87 (Jan99): Input direction ^I; /T mode; improved browser, etc.
1.9 (Nov99): Edits larger files; global save; improved windowing, etc.
==============================[end VDE.UPD]==================================
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