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From: tanner@ki4pv.uucp (Dr. T. Andrews)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions,comp.bugs.sys5
Subject: Re: vi `ei:' (`modeline')
Summary: several vendors supply a "crippled" /bin/ex family
Keywords: vi passwd lookout
Message-ID: <7052@ki4pv.uucp>
Date: 12 Oct 88 10:45:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: ki4pv.7052
References: <3394@dunkshot.mips.COM> <1235@cbnews.ATT.COM> <13215@hqda-ai.ARPA> <176@csd-v.UUCP>
Organization: CompuData Inc., DeLand
Lines: 19

In article <176@csd-v.UUCP>, bak@csd-v.UUCP (Bruce A. Kern) writes:
) Just a note to report that the entire [modelines] feature seems to
) be absent in the Microport V/AT 2.3-U version of vi.

The same misfeature is present in most (all?) xenix releases.
Talking to the vendors provides the information that "vi" is crippled
that way for your own good.

They just comment out the relevant code.  No, they won't slide you
a fully-functional "vi" (perhaps with "modeline" turned off by
default).  For your own good.  And no, you can't buy just the source
to "vi" from them.  (Hey, they have to enhance the basic UN|X product
in some way: this is a proprietary enhancement!)

SCO, Intel, and Microport customers: you should be pleased that their
vendors know your needs, perhaps better than you do yourself.
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