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- pico(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual pico(1)
-
- Name
- pico - simple text editor
-
- Syntax
- pico [-f] [+n] [-nn] [-t] [-v] [-w] [-z] [file]
-
- Description
- pico is a simple, display-oriented text editor.commands are
- displayed at the bottom of the screen, and context-sensitive
- help is provided. As characters are typed they are immedi-
- ately inserted into the text. Editing commands are entered
- using control-key combinations.
-
- The editor has five basic features: paragraph justification,
- case-insensitive searching, block cut/paste, a spelling
- checker, and a file browser.
-
- Paragraph justification takes place in the paragraph that
- contains the cursor, or, if the cursor is between lines, in
- the paragraph immediately below. Paragraphs are delimited
- by blank lines, or by lines beginning with a space or tab.
- Unjustification can be done immediately after justification
- using the control-U key combination.
-
- String searches are not sensitive to case. A search begins
- at the current cursor position and wraps around the end of
- the text. The most recent search string is offered as the
- default in subsequent searches.
-
- Blocks of text can be moved, copied or deleted with creative
- use of the command for mark (ctrl-underscore), delete
- (ctrl-k) and undelete (ctrl-u).
-
- The spell checker examines all words in the text. It then
- offers, in turn, each misspelled word for correction while
- simultaneously highlighting it in the text. Spell checking
- can be cancelled at any time. Alternatively, pico will sub-
- stitute for the default spell checking routine a routine
- defined by the SPELL environment variable. The replacement
- routine should read standard input and write standard out-
- put.
-
- The file browser is offered as an option in the "Read File"
- and "Write Out" command prompts. It is intended to help in
- searching for specific files and navigating directory
- hierarchies. Filenames with sizes and names of directories
- in the current working directory are presented for selec-
- tion. The current working directory is displayed on the top
- line of the display while the list of available commands
- takes up the bottom two. Several basic file manipulation
- functions are supported: file renaming, copying, and dele-
- tion.
-
- More specific help is available in pico's online help.
-
- Options
- -f Use function keys for commands. This option supported
- only in conjunction with UW Enhanced NCSA telnet.
-
- +n Causes pico to be started with the cursor located n
- lines into the file. (Note: no space between "+" sign
- and number)
-
- -nn The -nn option enables new mail notification. The n
- argument is optional, and specifies how often, in
- seconds, your mailbox is checked for new mail. For
- example, -n60 causes pico to check for new mail once
- every minute. The default interval is 180 seconds,
- while the minimum allowed is 30. (Note: no space
- between "+" sign and number)
-
- -t Enable "tool" mode. Intended for when pico is used as
- the editor within other tools (e.g., Elm, Pnews). pico
- will not prompt for save on exit, and will not rename
- the buffer during the "Write Out" command.
-
- -v View the file only, disallowing any editing.
-
- -w Disable word wrap (thus allow editing of long lines).
-
- -z Enable ^Z suspension of pico.
-
- Lastly, when a running pico is disconnected (i.e., receipt
- of a SIGHUP), pico will save the current work if needed
- before exiting. Work is saved under the current filename
- with ".save" appended. If the current work is unnamed, it
- is saved under the filename "pico.save".
-
- Bugs
- The manner in which lines longer than the display width are
- dealt is not immediately obvious. Lines that continue
- beyond the edge of the display are indicated by a '$' char-
- acter at the end of the line. Long lines are scrolled hor-
- izontally as the cursor moves through them.
-
- Files
- pico.save Unnamed interrupted work saved here
- *.save Interrupted work is saved here
-
- Authors
- Michael Seibel, mikes@cac.washington.edu
- Laurence Lundblade, lgl@cac.washington.edu
- pico is originally derived from MicroEmacs 3.6
-
-