Xref: utzoo comp.unix.questions:9701 comp.bugs.sys5:618
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!linus!gatech!emcard!wa4mei!rsj
From: rsj@wa4mei.UUCP (Randy Jarrett WA4MEI)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.bugs.sys5
Subject: Re: vi `ei:' (`modeline')
Summary: that explains it...
Keywords: vi passwd lookout
Message-ID: <1502@wa4mei.UUCP>
Date: 11 Oct 88 15:28:52 GMT
References: <3394@dunkshot.mips.COM> <1235@cbnews.ATT.COM> <13215@hqda-ai.ARPA> <13905@mimsy.UUCP>
Reply-To: rsj@wa4mei.UUCP (Randy Jarrett WA4MEI)
Organization: Amateur Radio Gateway WA4MEI, Chamblee Ga.
Lines: 20

In article <13905@mimsy.UUCP> chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek) writes:
>This bulletin is correct in point of fact but is wrong in spirit.
>What really happens is that vi is looking for `mode lines' consisting
>of `ex:<commands>' or `vi:<commands>'.  Such lines must appear within
>the first or last 5 (10?) lines of the file being edited.

That explains the problems that I have been having while makeing
changes with vi to my password file.  I have an entry that I use
my ham call sign wa4mei and in the password file it has a ':' at 
the end (wa4mei:...). everytime vi comes up it gives me a bunch
of gobbly gook about not being valid vi commands.  I am running
Microport 2.3U on a 286.  It doesn't cause any problems, just
annoying.  Sure drove a bunch of the wizards around here bonkers
for a while.


-- 
Randy Jarrett  WA4MEI 
UUCP  ...!gatech!wa4mei!rsj        | US SNAIL: P.O. Box 941217
PHONE +1 404 493 9017		   |           Atlanta, GA 30341-0217