KnowledgeBase 00084: Command Editor

Last updated: 22 Jul 2016 Applies to: All versions

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This article was originally published as a Tip of the Week.

Introduction

The command editor records the most recent commands executed by a user from the command prompt. By default, 99 commands are stored but this can be altered using the CMDSTACK configuration parameter.

Two styles of command editor are provided; one based on the "dot commands" found in many multivalue environments, the other using the cursor and control keys.

The Dot Commands

Except where stated below, the value of n defaults to 1 if ommitted.

.An text	Append text to command stack entry n. There must be a space before text. Any additional spaces will be included in the appended data.
.Cn/old/new/G	Change string old to new in stack entry n. The optional G causes a global replacement where all occurrences of old are replaced by new. If G is not specified, only the first occurrence of old is changed.
.Dn	Delete stack entry n.
.In text	Insert text as entry n. There must be a space before text. Any additional spaces will form part of the inserted entry.
.Ln	List the most recent n commands. The value of n defaults to 20.
.Rn	Recall (copy) entry n to position 1 without deleting the original copy.
.Un	Convert entry n to upper case.
.Xn	Execute command n. The repeated command is copied to position 1 except when executing the current most recent command.
.?	Display a help message regarding the stack manipulation commands.

There are additional dot commands described in the QM Reference Manual.

Using Cursor and Control Keys

Ctrl-A or HOME	Move cursor to start of command.
Ctrl-B or Cursor Left	Move cursor left one place.
Ctrl-D or DELETE	Delete character under cursor.
Ctrl-E or END	Move cursor to end of command.
Ctrl-F or Cursor Right	Move cursor right one place.
Ctrl-G	Exit from the command stack and return to a clear command line.
Ctrl-K	Delete all to the right of the cursor.
Ctrl-N or Cursor Down	Display "next" command from command stack.
Ctrl-O or Insert	Toggle insert/overlay mode.
Ctrl-P	Display "previous" command from command stack.
Ctrl-R	Search back up the command stack for a given string. The string may be entered either before or after the Ctrl-R. Using Ctrl-R again, finds the next item matching the supplied string.
Ctrl-T	Interchange characters before cursor.
Ctrl-U	Convert command to uppercase.
Ctrl-Z or Cursor Up	Display "previous" command from command stack.
Backspace	Backspace one place.

Configuring the Command Editor

Field 3 of the $RELEASE record in the VOC file can be used to control the behaviour of the command editor. The following uppercase letters may be present:

E	Position the cursor at the end of a recalled command rather than the start.
L	Use screen size to determine default number of items in .L command.
O	Start in overlay mode.
S	Show the stack commands when moving back through the stack.
X	Clear the recalled command if the first character typed is not a control code. This mode cannot be used with E.

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