Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ttrdc!ttrde!mellman
From: mellman@ttrde.UUCP (Thomas Mellman)
Newsgroups: att.unix,comp.bugs.sys5
Subject: vi exrc behaviour has changed??!!
Keywords: EXINIT .exrc CWD
Message-ID: <329@ttrde.UUCP>
Date: 4 Feb 88 18:03:23 GMT
Organization: AT&T, Skokie, IL
Lines: 19

It appears that vi's behaviour has changed with regards to its .exrc files.

I used to (prior to sysV R3) keep my basic set of vi options
and macros in the EXINIT variable, and more specific macros in particular
directories.  For example, in directories where I do C work, I have a
.exrc file tailored for that kind of work, and in my documentation
directories, I have a different .exrc file.

This has been a practical way to handle a limited number of special function
keys, and limited amount of macro space.

Now that we are moving to a R3 machine, I find that if I have the EXINIT
variable set, no further .exrc file reading takes place.  Furthermore,
even when the EXINIT variable is not set, only the .exrc file in my home
directory is read.

It seems that somebody decided that since he didn't use the old .exrc
feature, nobody else did either, and just quietly lopped it off.  I am
disappointed.