NAME
pico - simple text editor in the style of the Pine Composer
Syntax
pico [-f] [+n] [-nn] [-t] [-v] [-w] [-z] [file]
Description
Pico is a simple, display-oriented text editor based on the
Pine message system composer. As with Pine, 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. As a work-around for com-
munications programs that swallow certain control charac-
ters, you can emulate a control key by pressing ESCAPE
twice, followed by the desired control character, e.g. "ESC
ESC c" would be equivalent to entering a ctrl-c. The editor
has five basic features: paragraph justification, searching,
block cut/paste, a spelling checker, and a file browser.
Paragraph justification (or filling) takes place in the
paragraph that contains the cursor, or, if the cursor is
between lines, in the paragraph immediately below. Para-
graphs are delimited by blank lines, or by lines beginning
with a space or tab. Unjustification can be done immedi-
ately after justification using the control-U key combina-
tion.
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 delete command will
remove text between the "mark" and the current cursor posi-
tion, and place it in the "cut" buffer. The undelete com-
mand effects a "paste" at the current cursor position.
The spell checker examines all words in the text. It then
offers, in turn, each misspelled word for correction while
highlighting it in the text. Spell checking can be can-
celled at any time. Alternatively, pico will substitute for
the default spell checking routine a routine defined by the
SPELL environment variable. The replacement routine should
read standard input and write standard output.
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 "n" and the 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., receives
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 on a named file is saved here.
Authors
Michael Seibel, mikes@cac.washington.edu
Laurence Lundblade, lgl@cac.washington.edu
Pico was originally derived from MicroEmacs 3.6, by Dave G.
Conroy.
Pico is a trademark of the University of Washington.
Copyright 1989-1994 by the University of Washington.
See Also
pine(1)
Source distribution (part of the Pine Message System):
ftp://ftp.cac.washington.edu/mail/pine.tar.Z