Change Columns provides the functionality to insert into or delete from a selection on a column-by-column basis. Using change columns, inserting characters at a specified position, or deleting a range of columns from a fixed format file, can be achieved very quickly.
Change columns are especially useful when working with programming languages that enforce very strict rules on the formatting of source code. In COBOL for example, change columns can be used to quickly modify column 7 (indicator field) to insert a special character for comments or debugging.
To change columns in each line
If you want to change a subset of lines, first select these lines.
From the Format menu, select Change Columns
Click Selection or Whole file to determine the range of line effected
In the Starting at field, enter the starting column
In the Range field, enter the number of columns to be changed. To insert text, enter 0.
In the Insert text field, specify the contents of the columns being changed. To delete the range of columns, leave this field empty.
Click OK
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Tip |
The Starting at field uses the current cursor position as the initial value. |
If a line within the specified range is shorter than the starting column, the line will be padded with the spaces up to the specified column. Specifying no replacement text for a range of columns will shift the text in each line to the left.
To clear the contents of the columns specified, enter the correct number of spaces in the Insert text field. Using change columns, a longer line of text than the size of the range of columns being changed can be specified, so care must be taken when making sweeping changes to a file.