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From: ward@chinet.UUCP (ward)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Re: query on IBM PC editors
Message-ID: <449@chinet.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Jul-86 18:06:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: chinet.449
Posted: Thu Jul 31 18:06:22 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Aug-86 07:18:51 EDT
References: <35@datagen.UUCP> <509@bunny.UUCP>
Reply-To: ward@chinet.UUCP (Ward Christensen-)
Organization: chi-net, Public Access UN*X, Chicago IL
Lines: 23
Keywords: PC editor
Summary: My preference: PMATE from Phoenix

Previous replies recommended BRIEF, EPSILON, KEDIT, PC/VI, and SPF/PC.
I'd like to add: PMATE, from Phoenix Software Associates.  While this is
a bit "old" fashioned editor (no colors, no windows, single file), its
degree of programmability AND terseness of programming is, I think,
unrivalled.  The latest release contains programming macros for C and 
Fortran programming, though I can't speak to them.
  It has a slick "built-in macro" area, allowing you to significantly
extend the editor capabilities.  For example, there was no command to
go directly to a line number, but there was a command "l" which takes
as a left argument, the +/- number of lines to go.  There is also a
numeric variable @L which is the current line.  Thus, to go to line 200,
you merely have to go "the number of lines" indicated by 200-@L.  Thus
if I'm on line 300, 200-@L is -100, and sure enough, I have to go -100
lines.  I assigned this to a "macro" "G", and macros are executed via
a .<letter> command, and can take an argument (believe me, its easier
to program than to tell about!).  Thus the macro is: "@A-@LL".  The @a
is the "argument" passed (e.g. 9 as in 9.g).  MUCH more complex macros
can be made such as to extract hex numbers from a file, set up your
printer (type 8, it gets set to 8LPI, type 2 it goes elite, etc).
  $149 from Programmers' Shop.  Happy to answer specific questions,
give support, etc via ihnp4!chinet!ward
  /Ward Christensen, inventor of XMODEM, co-inventor (with Randy Suess)
of the worlds oldest and still running micro bulletin board, CBBS(tm).