★ APPLICATIONS ★ BUREAUTIQUE ★ EASY-EDIT ★ |
| Easy-Edit | Applications Bureautique |
Using programmable keys, John Keneally's program sets out to make life easier when editing on the Amstrad There is no doubt that editing Basic programs on most machines is a rather clumsy process. Typing in the program initially is reasonably easy, providing there is an AUTO command, but editing existing lines by typing EDIT and the line number soon gets tedious. A much better system would be one in which you could step backwards or forwards in the program simply by pressing a single key, altering any lines as needed. Fortunately on the CPC464 the presence of User-Definable keys makes it possible to do this, with the aid of a small self-modifying Basic program. It is not good programming practice to use programs which modify themselves, but in this case it is the only solution. Easy-Edit is used purely for editing existing lines, not for entering new lines, though of course you could edit the line number of an existing line to create a new one. When the program is run, the screen is split into two windows. On the left is the edit area, on the right an information window which shows the current program length (excluding any data), and a reminder of the control keys which can be used. Since the program works in 80-column mode, if you are using a colour TV and modulator it is best to turn off the colour control whilst editing. This makes it much more readable. You will be asked for the initial line number, which need not be an actual line as the program will find the next highest line if it doesn't exist. The lowest line number you can use is 53, so enter that if you want to start at the beginning of the program. Lines 100 and 110 in the program are simply for you to play around with. Any existing program you want to use with Easy-Edit must be renumbered higher than line 53, allowing Easy-Edit to be MERGED in. To move around the program, simply use the UP and DOWN arrow keys. If you try to go too far back in the program, you may come to line 52 but will be unable to go further back. This line must not be altered! It is there to give Easy-Edit a line to work on if there is no other program in the machine. Editing of any line is done as normal, except you press the up or down arrow when the line is finished, instead of Enter as normal. If you do press Enter by mistake, or drop out of Easy-Edit for any other reason, simply press the down arrow to get back in. You can restart Easy - Edit at any time by pressing the decimal point key on the number pad. Also, for a controlled exit in order to enter new program lines, press CTRL Z. This will automatically enter an AUTO command, so you just need to type the start line for the new program. When finished, press ESC as usual, followed by the number-pad decimal point key to re-enter Easy-Edit. Various control keys have been set up to allow single-key entry of the most commonly used Basic commands, as shown in the right-hand window. Just press CTRL and the appropriate letter. This greatly speeds up editing and entry of new lines.
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