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From: jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. De Armond)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.i386
Subject: Re: vi: Tmp file too large - ULIMIT?
Message-ID: <1235@rsiatl.UUCP>
Date: 24 Jan 90 10:01:12 GMT
References: <8655@cbnewsm.ATT.COM> <15108@bfmny0.UU.NET> <3P91VN6ccs@ficc.uu.net>
Reply-To: jgd@rsiatl.UUCP (John G. De Armond)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Radiation Systems, Inc. (a thinktank, motorcycle, car and gun works facility)
Lines: 36

In article <3P91VN6ccs@ficc.uu.net> karl@ficc.uu.net (Karl Lehenbauer) writes:

>>>I cannot edit a large text file (~450K) using 'vi'.
>>>It complains 'Tmp file too large' and switches to 'ed' mode.

You obviously hit a ulimit :-)

>>There are vi clones running around, perhaps one already accepts huge
>>files or could be patched to do so.  I don't doubt the right EMACS can
>>do it too.  
>
>Elvis (a vi clone) can edit files up to about 500K unmodified
>on a 386, which is much more than vi can.  Subjectively, it's
>a lot faster, too, tho' that's from the console.  peter@sugar
>says it's slower at low baud rates because the real vi is really
>smart about minimizing number of characters transmitted or
>screen updates.
>

Why do a clone when the gen-u-wine vi with 386/ix will do the job.
I routinely edit my mbox file looking for old letters. (No, dammit,
I DON'T have elm up yet :-)  I just looked at its size and was somewhat
surprised to see that it's >> 1 meg!  Vi brought it up in about 10 seconds,
and that with news unbatching running in the background.

I've never hit a file too big to edit, assuming the line lengths are
reasonable.  I could see no real reason for there to be a practical
limit because even if they are using an int as a line counter, a 32
bit int is pretty big.

John

-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC                     | The Fano Factor - 
Radiation Systems, Inc.     Atlanta, GA    | Where Theory meets Reality.
emory!rsiatl!jgd          **I am the NRA** |