Q905: Wylbur Phoenix - a Line Editor for ASCII Text Files

Author(s): J. Zoll	Library: None
Submitter:	Submitted: 15.09.1994
Language: Fortran + C	Revised:

Wylbur Phoenix is a portable command driven editor, capable of embedding a full-screen editor of the user's choice as a sub-system. It can operate with the simplest Telnet connection to some remote machine. It is designed to give maximum power for the development and maintenance of the source files of the large programs used in particle physics, where it is neccessary to easily find in a large volume what one is looking for. It has been written because no editor is available which combines all the features considered essential:

a) Ease of use for the casual user;

b) 'undo' a series of mistaken edit operations;

c) global changes displayed, and maybe confirmed individually;

d) column sensitive editing;

e) handling of program variable names, not only text strings, but without language syntax analysis;

f) direct handling of program units, ie. Fortran or C routines or Patchy decks.

g) 'master range' automatically limiting edit operations to an arbitrary fraction of the whole file;

h) usage of windows as monitors and for full-screen editing;

i) immediate, context-free, display of critical lines.

j) permanent line numbers, not hindering normal access to the files by programs other than the editor;

k) portability.

Although Wylbur Phoenix does have some aspects of 'full screen' and interactive operations, these are distinct features which can selectively be switched off in 'batch mode' or in 'nowindow mode'. Thus Wylbur can be used in shell scripts and across non-specialized computer links; indeed for some applications Wylbur in batch mode is very convenient.

Structure:

Complete program

Usage:

Shell command "use fn" calls the normal version of Wylbur into operation to act on file "fn". This version is typically capable of handling 60000 lines. For bigger files one may use "useb" on some machines, which allows for 120000 lines.

On the Unix machines "use" and "useb" are links in /cern/pro/bin pointing to the executable modules. On the Vax "use" should be a symbol like

    $ USE :== $CERN_ROOT:[EXE]WYLBUR

Wylbur has not been made to work on IBM with VM/CMS.

To print the file used for delivering on-line help proceed as follows:

type "use" to call Wylbur into operation,

type "help -p temp 84" to create file "temp" for printing,

type "help h" for instructions on how to print file "temp".