Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!amdahl!pccuts!acs
From: acs@pccuts.pcc.amdahl.com (Tony Sumrall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: CygnusEd Professional
Keywords: Ced editors Emacs Uedit
Message-ID: <757@pccuts.pcc.amdahl.com>
Date: 25 Feb 89 05:33:38 GMT
References: <10766@ut-emx.UUCP>
Reply-To: acs@pccuts.pcc.amdahl.com (Tony Sumrall)
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA
Lines: 54

This could be considered to be commercial.  I don't consider it to be so
but you've been warned.

In article <10766@ut-emx.UUCP> mjl@ut-emx.UUCP (Maurice LeBrun) writes
that he is pleased with CED and gave up MG for it.

I had CED for about 3 weeks, spoke with ASDG support once and corresponded
with them several times WRT my feelings about CED--the support was, in
a word, excellent.  The editor, on the other hand, was less than what I
expected.

Around Sept. of 1988 I began using Uedit and was pleased with it albeit
a little overwhelmed with its capabilities.  Having seen ASDG's ads for
CygnusEd and knowing their reputation, I bought the editor in Jan. of this
year (note that I wasn't unhappy with Uedit but figured that CED would be
much better than Uedit was).  I used CED exclusively for 3 weeks and
finally came to the conclusion that it was just not for me.

My beefs (not in any order):

*  Couldn't run a macro at file load time so I could do context-based
   startup thingies.
*  Can't redefine keys via the AREXX interface (tried this in an attempt
   to overcome the previous problem).
*  All files being editted must be displayed on-screen at all times.
*  CED always displays its startup message whenever it comes up...even
   if it comes back from its quiescent state.
*  Can't customize screen colors when it opens its own screen.
*  Hot keys are fixed sequences -- I needed some way to change them.
*  No true regular expressions. (Note that Uedit doesn't have re's either).
*  While it can edit binary files, a control char causes a new line to
   be displayed.
*  CED always uses the topaz font.
*  Can't review your key redefinitions since it's all done via the
   keyboard.
*  Only macro capability is via AREXX.

Most, if not all, of the above problems will be fixed, ASDG said, in a
subsequent release of CED (date unknown).

Well, I've gone back to Uedit and am not in the least bit sorry that I
did.  Rick Stiles should be congratulated on a superb job.  His support of
the product is phenomenal and his dedication to quality is extreme.  I
doubt that I will ever stray from Uedit again.  Its power, flexibility and
speed are unbelievable (it's not GNU Emacs but, in some ways, I believe
it's better).  And all of this for less than $50.

This is not a slam against CED nor ASDG.  They have a fine product but it
just doesn't hold a candle to Uedit.
-- 
Tony Sumrall acs@pccuts.pcc.amdahl.com <=> amdahl!pccuts!acs

[ Opinions expressed herein are the author's and should not be construed
  to reflect the views of Amdahl Corp. ]