Introduction to Tripos

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Introduction to Tripos
Chapter 1 : Simpl e Us e of Tripos
Chapter 2: Editin

g File s

Chapter 3: Furthe r Us e of Tripos

Glossary

Issue 5 (May 1986 )

Table of Contents
1.1 Chapte
1.2 Termina

r Overvie w
l Handlin g

1.3 Usin
g the Filing Syste m
1.3.1 Namin
g File s
1.3.2 Usin
g Directorie s
1.3.3 Settin
g th e Current Director y
1.3.4 Settin
g th e Current Devic e
1.3.5 Attachin
g a Filenot e
1.3.6 Understandin
g Devic e Name s
1.3.7 Usin
g Director y Conventions an d
Logical Device s
1.4 Usin
g Tripos Command s
1.4.1 Commo
n Tripos Command s
1.4.2 Runnin
g Commands i n the Backgroun d
1.4.3 Executin
g Command File s
1.4.4 Directin
g Command Inpu t and Outpu t
1.4.5 Interruptin
g Tripo s
1.4.6 Understandin
g Comman d Format s
1.5

Example Sessio n

Chapter 1: Simple Use of Tripos

This chapter provides a general overvie w o f the Tripos operating system ,
including description s o f terminal handling , th e director y structure , an d
command use . A t th e en d o f th e chapter , you'l l fin d a simpl e exampl e
session with Tripos.

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

1.1 Chapter Overview

Tripos i s a multi-processin g operatin g syste m designe d fo r 6800 0
computers. Although you can use it as a multi-user system , you normall y
run Tripos for a single user . Th e multi-processin g facilit y let s man y jobs
take plac e simultaneously . Yo u ca n als o us e th e multi-processin g
facility t o suspend one job while you run another.
Each Tripo s proces s represent s a particula r proces s o f th e operatin g
system - for example, th e filin g system . Onl y on e proces s i s runnin g a t a
time, while other processes are either waitin g for something t o happen or
have been interrupted an d are waitin g t o be resumed. Eac h process has a
priority associated wit h it , an d th e proces s wit h th e highes t priority tha t
is free t o run doe s so . Processe s o f lower priorit y ru n only whe n thos e o f
higher priorit y ar e waitin g fo r som e reaso n - fo r example , waitin g fo r
information t o arrive fro m disk .
The standar d Tripo s syste m use s a numbe r o f processe s tha t ar e no t
available t o you , fo r example , th e proces s tha t handle s th e seria l line .
These processe s ar e know n a s privat e processes . Othe r private processe s
handle th e termina l an d th e filin g syste m o n a dis k drive . I f th e
hardware configuratio n contain s mor e tha n on e dis k drive , ther e is a
process for each drive.
Tripos provide s a proces s tha t yo u ca n use , calle d a Comman d Lin e
Interpreter o r CLI . Ther e ma y b e severa l CL I processe s runnin g
simultaneously, numbere d fro m 1 onwards . Th e CL I processe s rea d
commands and then execute them . All commands and user programs wil l
run unde r an y CLI . T o mak e additiona l CL I processes , yo u us e th e
NEWCLI o r RU N commands . T o remov e a CL I process , yo u us e th e
ENDCLI command . (Se e Chapte r 1, "Tripo s Commands, " o f the Tripos
User's Reference Manual fo r a full descriptio n of these commands. )

1-1

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

1.2 Terminal Handling

You can direct informatio n tha t you enter a t th e termina l t o a Comman d
Line Interprete r (CLI) , tha t tell s Tripo s t o loa d a program , o r yo u ca n
direct th e informatio n t o a progra m runnin g unde r tha t CLI . I n eithe r
case, a termina l (o r console ) handle r processe s inpu t an d output . Thi s
terminal handle r als o perform s loca l lin e editin g an d certai n othe r
functions. Yo u can type ahead as much as you like .
To correct mistakes, you press the RUBOUT , DEL , or BACKSPACE key .
This erase s th e las t characte r yo u typed . T o ru b ou t a n entir e line , hol d
down th e CTR L ke y whil e yo u pres s X . Thi s contro l combinatio n i s
referred to from this point on in the manual as CTRL-X .
If you typ e anything , Tripo s wait s unti l yo u hav e finished typin g befor e
displaying an y othe r output . Becaus e Tripo s wait s fo r yo u t o finish, yo u
can typ e ahea d withou t you r inpu t an d outpu t becomin g inter-mixed .
Tripos recognize s tha t yo u hav e finishe d a lin e whe n yo u pres s th e
RETURN key . Yo u can also tel l Tripos that you have finished wit h a lin e
by cancellin g it . T o cancel a line , yo u ca n eithe r pres s CTRL- X o r pres s
any o f th e deletio n key s (BACKSPACE , DEL , RUBOUT ) unti l al l th e
characters on the line hav e been erased. Onc e Tripos is satisfied tha t you
have finished , i t start s t o display th e outpu t tha t i t wa s holdin g back . I f
you wis h t o sto p th e outpu t s o tha t yo u ca n rea d it , simpl y typ e an y
character (pressin g th e spac e bar is th e easiest), an d th e output stops. To
restart output , pres s a deletio n key , CTRL-X , o r RETURN . Pressin g
RETURN cause s Tripo s t o tr y t o execut e th e comman d lin e type d afte r
the current program exits.
Tripos recognize s CTRL- \ a s a n end-of-fil e indicator . I n certai n
circumstances, yo u us e thi s combinatio n t o terminat e a n inpu t file . (Fo r
a circumstance whe n you would use CTRL-\, see Section 1.3.6. )
Finally, Tripo s recognize s al l command s an d argument s type d i n eithe r
upper or lower case. Tripos displays a filename wit h the characters i n the
case use d whe n i t wa s created , bu t find s th e fil e n o matte r wha t
combination of cases you use to specify th e filename .

1-2

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

1.3. Using the Filing System

This sectio n describe s th e Tripo s filin g system . I n particular, i t explain s
how to name, organize, and recall your files .
A fil e i s th e smalles t name d objec t use d b y Tripos . Th e simples t
identification o f a file i s by its filename, discusse d belo w i n Section 1.3.1 ,
"Naming Files. " However , i t ma y b e necessar y t o identif y a fil e mor e
fully. Suc h a n identificatio n ma y includ e th e devic e o r volum e name ,
and/or directory name(s) a s wel l a s the filename. Thes e wil l be discussed
in following sections .
1.3.1 Namin g File s
Tripos holds information o n disks i n a number of files, name d so that you
can identif y an d recal l them . Th e filin g syste m allow s filename s t o hav e
up t o thirt y characters , wher e th e character s ma y b e an y printin g
character excep t slas h (/ ) an d colo n (:) . Thi s mean s tha t yo u ca n includ e
space (), equals ( = ), plus ( + ), and double quote ("), all specia l character s
recognized b y th e CLI , withi n a filename . However , i f yo u us e thes e
special characters , yo u mus t enclos e th e entir e filenam e wit h doubl e
quotes. T o introduc e a doubl e quot e characte r withi n a filename , yo u
must typ e a n asterisk (* ) immediatel y befor e tha t character. I n addition,
to introduc e a n asterisk , yo u mus t typ e anothe r asterisk . Thi s mean s
that a file name d
A*B =

C"

should be typed as follows :

"A**B =

C*" "

in order for the CLI to accept it .

Note: Thi s us e o f th e asteris k i s i n contras t t o man y othe r operatin g
systems wher e i t is use d as a universal wil d card. An asterisk b y itself i n
Tripos, represents the keyboard and screen. Fo r example,

\
\

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction t o Tripos

COPY f i l e n a m e t o *
copies the filename t o the screen .
Avoid spaces before or after filenames becaus e the y ma y cause confusion .
1.3.2 Using Directorie s
The filing syste m also allows th e use of directories as a way to group file s
together int o logica l units . Fo r example , yo u ma y us e tw o differen t
directories t o separate progra m sourc e fro m progra m documentation , o r
to kee p file s belongin g t o on e perso n distinc t fro m thos e belongin g t o
another.
Each fil e o n a dis k mus t belon g t o a directory . A n empt y dis k contain s
one directory , calle d th e roo t directory . I f you creat e a fil e o n a n empt y
disk, the n tha t fil e belong s t o thi s roo t directory . However , directorie s
may themselve s contai n furthe r directories . Eac h director y ma y
therefore contai n files , o r yet mor e directories, o r a mixture o f both. An y
filename i s unique onl y withi n th e directory i t belongs to , so that th e fil e
'fred' i n th e director y "bill ' i s a completel y differen t fil e fro m th e on e
called 'fred' in the directory 'mary' .
This filing structur e mean s tha t tw o people sharin g a disk d o not have t o
worry abou t accidentall y overwritin g file s create d b y someon e else , a s
long as they always create files i n their own directories.

WARNING: Whe n yo u creat e a fil e wit h a filename tha t alread y exists ,

Tripos deletes the previous contents of that file. N o message t o that effec t
appears on the the screen .

You can als o us e thi s director y structur e t o organiz e informatio n o n th e

disk, keeping different sort s of files i n different directories .

1-4

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

e Us e of Tripos

An exampl e migh t hel p t o clarify this . Conside r a disk tha t contain s tw o

directories, calle d 'bill ' and 'mary'. Th e director y Trill ' contains tw o files ,
called 'text ' and 'letter' . Th e director y 'mary ' contains a fil e calle d 'data '
and two directories calle d 'letter ' and 'invoice* . These subdirectorie s eac h
contain a fil e calle d 'junl8' . Figur e 1- A represent s thi s structur e a s
follows:
root

bill mar
++

text lette

y
+

r dat a lette

+ +

r invoic
+ junl

e
8

ABComputers
junl y Structur
8
Figure
1-A : Using Director
e

Note: Th e director y "bill ' ha s a fil e calle d 'letter, ' whil e th e director y
'mary' contains a directory calle d 'letter' . However , ther e i s n o confusio n
here becaus e bot h file s ar e i n differen t directories . Ther e i s n o limi t t o
the depth that you can 'nest' directories.
To specif y a fil e fully , yo u mus t includ e th e director y tha t own s it. , th e
directory ownin g tha t directory , an d s o on. To specify a file, yo u give th e
names o f al l th e directorie s o n th e pat h t o th e desire d file . T o separat e
each director y nam e fro m th e nex t director y o r fil e name , yo u typ e a
following slas h (/) . Thus, the full specificatio n o f the data files on the dis k
shown in Figure 1- A above is as follows:

1-5

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos
bill/text
bill/letter
mary/data
mary/letter/ABComputers
mary/letter/junl8
mary/invoice/junl8

1.3.3 Setting the Current Director y

A full file descriptio n can get extremely cumbersom e t o type, so the filin g
system maintain s th e ide a o f a curren t directory . Th e filin g syste m
searches fo r file s i n thi s curren t directory . T o specif y th e curren t
directory, yo u us e th e C D (Curren t Directory ) command . I f you hav e se t
'mary' a s you r curren t directory , the n th e followin g name s woul d b e
sufficient t o specify th e files i n that directory :
data
letter/junl8
invoice/junl8

You ca n se t an y director y a s th e curren t directory . T o specif y an y file s

within tha t directory , simpl y typ e th e nam e o f th e file . T o specif y file s
within subdirectories , yo u nee d t o typ e th e name s o f th e directorie s o n
the path from the current directory specified .
All th e file s o n th e dis k ar e stil l availabl e eve n thoug h you'v e se t u p a
current directory . T o instruc t Tripo s t o searc h throug h th e directorie s
from th e roo t directory , yo u typ e a colo n (: ) a t th e beginnin g o f th e fil e
description. Thus , whe n you r fil e descriptio n ha s th e curren t director y
set t o 'mary', yo u ca n als o obtai n th e fil e 'data ' by typin g th e descriptio n
':mary/data\ Usin g th e curren t director y metho d simpl y save s typing ,
because all you have t o do is specify th e filename 'data' .
To obtain th e othe r file s o n the disk , firs t typ e ':bill/text ' and ':bill/letter '
respectively. Anothe r wa y migh t b e t o C D o r typ e / befor e a filename .
Slash does not mea n 'root ' as i n som e systems , bu t refers t o the director y
above th e curren t directory . Tripo s allow s multipl e slashes . Eac h slas h
refers t o the leve l above . S o a Unix (TM ) . . / i s a / i n Tripos. Similarly ,
an MS-DO S (TM) . . \ i s a / i n Tripos. Thus , i f the curren t director y i s
1-6

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

e Us e of Trit
Tripos

':mary/letter', yo u ma y specif y th e fil e 'rmary/invoice/junlS ' a s

7invoice/junl8'. T o refer to the files i n ':biH\ you could typ e
CD ibil l

or
CD //bil l

Then you could specify an y fil e i n *till* with a single filename . O f course,
you coul d always us e th e // feature t o refe r directl y t o a specific file . Fo r
example,
TYPE //bill/lette r '

displays th e fil e withou t you r firs t settin g "bill ' as th e curren t directory .
To g o straigh t t o th e roo t level , alway s typ e a colo n (: ) followe d b y a
directory name . I f you us e slashes , yo u mus t kno w th e exac t numbe r o f
levels back desired.
1.3.4 Setting the Current Devic e
Finally, yo u ma y hav e man y dis k drive s available . Eac h disk devic e ha s
a name , i n th e for m DF n (fo r example , DF1) , wher e th e 'n ' refers t o th e
number o f th e device . (Currently , Tripo s accept s th e devic e name s DF O
to DF3) . Eac h individua l dis k i s als o associate d wit h a uniqu e name ,
known as a volume nam e (see below for more details).
In addition, th e logica l devic e SYS : is assigned t o the disk you started th e
system u p from . Yo u ca n us e thi s nam e i n plac e o f a dis k devic e nam e
(like DFO:) .
The curren t director y i s als o associate d wit h a curren t drive , th e driv e
where yo u ma y fin d th e directory . A s yo u know , prefacin g a fil e
description wit h a colo n serve s t o identif y th e roo t director y o f th e
current drive . However , t o give th e roo t directory o f a specific drive [ yo u
precede th e colon with the drive name. Thus, you have yet another wa y of
specifying th e file 'data ' in directory 'mary' , that is 'DFl:mary/data\ |Thi s
assumes tha t yo u hav e inserte d th e dis k int o drive DF1 . So, to referenc e
1-7

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

a fil e o n th e driv e DF O calle d 'project-report ' i n director y 'peter',yo u

would typ e 'DFO:peter/project-report' , n o matter whic h directory you ha d
set as the current one .
Note: Whe n yo u refe r t o a dis k driv e o r a device , o n it s ow n o r wit h a
directory name , you should always type the colon, for example, DF1:.
Figure 1- B illustrate s th e structure o f a file description. Figur e 1- C give s
some examples of valid file descriptions .
Left of the: Righ

t of the: Righ

Device nam e Director

-or- -or

Volume nam e Filenam

t of a /

y nam e Subdirector

y nam e

- -or

e Filenam

Figure 1-B : The Structure of a File Descriptio n

SYS:commands
DF0:bill
DF1:mary/letter

DF2:mary/letter/junl8

DOC:report/sectionl/figures
C:cls

Figure 1-C : Examples of File Description s

To gain access to a file o n a particular disk, you can type its unique name ,
which i s know n a s th e disk' s volum e name , instea d o f th e devic e name .
For instance, i f the fil e i s on the disk 'MCC , you can specify th e same fil e
by typin g th e nam e '[Link]/project-report' . Yo u can us e th e volum e
name t o refe r t o a dis k regardles s o f th e driv e i t i s in . Yo u assig n a
volume nam e t o a dis k whe n yo u forma t i t (se e "FORMAT " i n
Chapter 1,"Tripo s Commands, " i n th e Tripos User's Reference
Manual fo r further details) .

1-8

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

e Us e of Tripos

A device name , unlik e a volume name , i s not reall y par t of the name . Fo r
example, Tripo s ca n rea d a file yo u create d o n DFO : from anothe r drive ,
such a s DF1: , if you place th e dis k i n tha t drive , assumin g o f course tha t
the drive s ar e interchangeable . Tha t is , i f you creat e a file calle d 'bill ' on
a dis k i n drive DFO: , the fil e i s know n a s 'DF0:bill' . I f you mov e th e dis k
to drive DF1: , Tripos can still rea d the file, whic h is then 'DFl:bill' .
1.3.5 Attachin g a Filenot e
Although a filenam e ca n giv e som e informatio n abou t it s contents , i t i s
often necessar y t o look in the file itsel f to find out more. Tripos provides a
simple solutio n t o thi s problem . Yo u ca n us e th e comman d calle d
FILENOTE t o attac h a n associate d comment . Yo u ca n mak e u p a
comment o f up t o 8 0 character s (yo u mus t enclos e comment s containin g
spaces i n double quotes) . Anything can be put i n a file comment : the da y
of th e file' s creation , whethe r o r no t a bu g ha s bee n fixed , th e versio n
number of a program, and anything else tha t may help to identify it .
You mus t associat e a comment wit h a particula r fil e - not al l file s hav e
them. T o attac h comments , yo u us e th e FILENOT E command . I f yo u
create a ne w file , i t wil l no t hav e a comment . Eve n i f th e ne w fil e i s a
copy o f a fil e tha t ha s a comment , th e commen t i s no t copie d t o th e ne w
file. However , an y commen t attache d t o a fil e whic h i s overwritte n i s
retained. T o writ e a progra m t o copy a file an d its comment , you'l l hav e
to do some extra work to copy the comment .
When you renam e a file, th e commen t associate d wit h i t doesn't change .
The RENAM E comman d onl y change s th e nam e o f a file . Th e file' s
contents an d commen t remai n th e sam e regardles s o f the nam e change .
For mor e details , se e "LIST " an d "FILENOTE " i n Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s

Commands," of th e Tripos User's

Reference

1-9

Manual.

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos
1.3.6 Understandin g Devic e Name s

Devices hav e name s s o tha t yo u ca n refe r t o the m b y name . Dis k name s

such a s DFO : are example s o f devic e names . Not e tha t yo u ma y refe r t o
device names , lik e filenames , usin g eithe r uppe r o r lowe r case . Fo r
disks, yo u follo w th e device nam e b y a filename becaus e Tripo s support s
files o n these devices . Furthermore , th e filename ca n includ e directorie s
because Tripos also supports directories .
You can als o creat e file s i n memor y wit h th e devic e calle d RAM: . RAM :
implements a filin g syste m i n memor y tha t support s an y o f th e norma l
filing system commands .
Note: RAM: requires th e librar y 1/ram-handle r t o be on the disk , an d fo r
the MOUN T comman d hav e bee n use d t o mak e th e RAM : devic e
available; se e "MOUNT " i n Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s Commands, " o f th e
Tripos User's Reference

Manual.

Once th e devic e RAM : exists, yo u can , fo r instance , creat e a directory t o

copy al l th e command s int o memory . T o d o this , typ e th e followin g
commands:
MOUNT ram :
MAKEDIR ram: c
COPY sys: c T O ram: c
ASSIGN C : RAM: C

You coul d the n loo k a t th e outpu t wit h DI R RAM: . I t woul d includ e th e

directory 'c' (DIR lists thi s as c(dir)). This would make loadin g command s
very quick but woul d leav e littl e roo m i n memor y fo r anything else. An y
files i n the RAM: device ar e lost when you reset the machine .
Tripos also provides a number of other devices tha t you can use instea d o f
a referenc e t o a dis k file . Th e followin g paragraph s describ e thes e
devices includin g NIL: , SER: , PAR: , an d AUX:. I n particular, th e devic e
NIL: i s a dumm y device . Tripo s simpl y throw s awa y outpu t writte n t o
NIL:. Whil e readin g fro m NIL: , Tripo s give s a n immediat e end-of-file .
For example, th e following :

1-10

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tijipos

EDIT ab c T O nil :

allows yo u to use th e edito r t o browse throug h a file, whil e Tripo s throw s

away the edited output .
You us e th e devic e calle d SER : t o refe r t o an y devic e connecte d t o th e
serial lin e (often a printer). Thus, you would type the following comman d
sequence:
COPY xy z T O s e r :

to instruc t Tripo s t o sen d th e content s o f th e fil e 'xyz ' dow n th e seria l

line. Not e tha t th e seria l devic e onl y copies i n multiples o f 400 bytes at a
time. Copying with SER: can therefore appea r granular .
The device PAR : refers to the parallel por t in the same way .
Tripos als o provide s th e devic e AUX: . Thi s devic e refer s t o th e seria l
line, lik e SER: . However , unlik e SER: , AUX : alway s treat s th e seria l
line a s anothe r interactiv e terminal . Yo u usuall y us e AUX : wit h th e
NEWCLI command; see "NEWCLI " in Chapter 1 of the Tripos Us^r 's
Reference Manual fo r a full specificatio n o f this command .
There i s on e specia l name , whic h i s * (asterisk). Yo u us e thi s t o refer t o
the screen , both for inpu t or for output. Yo u can use th e COPY comman d
to copy fro m on e fil e t o another. Fo r instance, usin g * , you can copy fro m
a file t o the screen, for example,
COPY b i l l / l e t t e r T O *
You can also copy from the screen to a file. Fo r example,
COPY * TO m a r y / l e t t e r
sends anythin g yo u typ e o n th e keyboar d t o th e fil e 'mary/letter' . Tripo s
finishes copyin g when i t comes t o the end of the file. To tell Tripos to stop
copying fro m * , yo u mus t giv e th e CTRL- \ combination . Not e tha t * i s
NOT the universal wil d card.

1-11

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction to Tripos

1.3.7 Usin g Director y Conventions and Logica l Device s

In additio n t o th e aforementione d physica l devices , Tripo s support s a
variety of useful logica l devices. Tripos uses these devices to find th e file s
that you r program s requir e fro m tim e t o time . (S o tha t you r program s
can refe r t o a standar d devic e nam e regardles s o f where th e fil e actuall y
is.) Al l o f thes e 'logica l devices ' ma y b e reassigne d b y yo u t o referenc e
any directory .
The logica l devices described in this section are as follows:
Name Descriptio
SYS: Syste
C: Comman
L: Librar
S: Sequenc
DEVS: Devic

n Director

m disk roo t directory :

d librar y :
y directory :
e librar y :
e for Open Devic e calls :DEV
Temporary workspac e :

C
L
S
T

Figure 1-D : Logical Device s

Logical device

name:

Typical directory

SYS

name:

:
[Link]

'SYS' represents th e SYStem dis k roo t directory. Whe n you first star t u p
the system , Tripo s assign s SYS : to the roo t directory nam e o f the dis k i n
DFO:. If , fo r instance , th e dis k i n driv e DFO : ha s th e volum e nam e
[Link], the n Tripo s assign s SYS : t o [Link]: . Afte r thi s
assignment, an y program s tha t refe r t o SYS : us e tha t disk' s roo t
directory.

1-12

Introduction to Tripos Simpl

Logical device

name:

Typical directory

name:

e Us e of Tripos
:
[Link]:

'C represents th e Commands directory. Whe n you type a command t o the

CLI (DIR < c r > , fo r example), Tripos firs t searche s for tha t command i n
your curren t directory . I f th e syste m canno t fin d th e comman d i n th e
current directory , o r i n any othe r director y i n you r curren t path , i t the n
looks fo r 'C:DIR \ S o that , i f you hav e assigne d 'C: ' to anothe r director y
(for example , 'Boo t disk:c') , Tripo s read s an d execute s jro m
'Boot disk:c/DIR' .

Logical device

name:

Typical directory

L:

name:

[Link]:

'L' represents th e Librar y directory. This directory keep s the overlays for
large command s an d non-residen t part s o f th e operatin g system . Fo r
instance, th e disk-base d run-tim e librarie s (Ram-Handler
,
Port-Handler, Disk-Validator , an d s o forth ) ar e kep t here . Tripo s
requires this directory to operate.

Logical device

name:

Typical directory

name:

:
[Link]:

'S' represent s th e Sequenc e library . Sequenc e file s contai n comnjan d

sequences tha t th e C command searche s for and uses. C first look s for the
sequence (o r batch ) fil e i n you r curren t directory . I f C canno t fin d i t
there, it looks in the directory that you have assigned S: to.

1-13

Simple Us e of Tripos Introductio

Logical device

name:

Typical directory

n to Tripos

DEVS

name:

[Link]:DEV

Open Devic e call s loo k her e fo r th e devic e i f i t i s no t alread y loade d i n

memory.

Note: I n additio n t o th e abov e assignabl e directories , man y program s

open file s i n th e ':T ' directory. A s yo u recall , yo u fin d fil e (o r directory )
names predicate d wit h a ': ' i n th e roo t directory . Therefor e ':T ' is th e
directory T, within th e root, on the current disk. Yo u use this directory t o
store temporar y files . Program s suc h a s editor s plac e thei r temporar y
work files, o r backup copies of the las t file edited , in this directory. I f you
run out o f spac e o n a disk , thi s i s on e o f th e firs t place s yo u shoul d loo k
for files tha t are no longer needed .
When th e syste m i s firs t booted , Tripo s initiall y assign s C : t o th e : C
directory. Thi s mean s tha t i f you boot with a disk tha t you had formatte d
by issuing the command:
FORMAT DRIV E DFO : NAM E "[Link] "

SYS: i s assigne d t o '[Link]'. Th e 'logica l device ' C: is assigne d t o

the C directory o n the sam e dis k (tha t is , [Link]) . Likewise , th e
following assignment s ar e mad e
C: [Link]:
L: [Link]:
S: [Link]:
DEVS: [Link]:dev

c
1
s

If a directory i s no t present , th e corresponding logica l devic e i s assigne d

to the root directory.
If you ar e s o luck y a s t o have a har d dis k (calle d HDO: ) and yo u wan t t o
use th e syste m file s o n it , yo u mus t issu e th e followin g command s t o th e
system:
1-14

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

ASSIGN
ASSIGN
ASSIGN
ASSIGN
ASSIGN

e Us e of Tripos

SYS : HDO
;
C
HD0:C
L
HDO: L
S
HD0:S
DEVS : HD0:DEV
S

Please kee p in mind that assignments ar e global t o all CLI processes.

If yo u wan t you r command s t o loa d faste r (an d yo u hav e memory ^ 't o
burn'), type
MAKEDIR RAM: C
COPY SYS: C RAM: C AL L
ASSIGN C : RAM: C

This copie s al l o f th e norma l Tripo s command s t o th e RA M dis k an d

reassigns the commands directory so that the system finds the m therej.

1.4 Using Tripos Commands

A Tripo s comman d consist s o f th e command-nam e an d it s arguments , i f
any. T o execute a Tripos command, yo u typ e th e command-name an d it s
arguments after the CLI prompt.
When yo u typ e a comman d name , th e comman d run s a s par t o f the
Command Lin e Interprete r (CLI) . Yo u ca n typ e othe r comman d name s
ahead, bu t Tripo s doe s no t execut e the m unti l th e curren t comman d ha s
finished. Whe n a comman d ha s finished , th e curren t CL I promp t
appears. In this case, the command is running interactively .

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Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

WARNING: I f yo u ru n a comman d interactivel y an d i t fails , Tripo s

continues t o execute th e nex t comman d yo u type d anyway . Therefore , i t
can b e dangerou s t o typ e man y command s ahead . Fo r example , i f yo u
type
COPY a T O b
DELETE a

and th e COP Y comman d fail s (perhap s becaus e th e dis k i s full) , the n

DELETE executes and you lose your file.
The CL I promp t i s initiall y n > , wher e n i s th e numbe r o f th e CL I
process. However , it can be changed t o something else wit h the PROMP T
command. (Se e "PROMPT " "Tripos Commands " i n th e Tripos User 's
Reference Manual fo r further details. )
1.4.1 Commo n Tripos Command s
This subsectio n describe s i n ful l th e followin g commands , althoug h a
formal specificatio n o f eac h o f the m ca n b e foun d i n Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s

Commands," of th e Tripos User's

Reference

Manual:

- LIS T
- COP Y
- TYP E
- DELET E
- WH Y
- MAK E DIR
- DI R
- DAT E
Even i f yo u ar e onl y a novic e use r o f Tripos , you'l l nee d t o giv e thes e
commands a t som e point , s o tha t i t i s importan t tha t yo u understan d
what they can do, and when and how to use them .

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Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

The examples i n this subsection refe r to Figure 1-A .

LIST

To fin d ou t wha t file s ar e available , yo u ca n us e th e LIS T comman d a s

follows:
LIST

This display s a lis t o f al l th e file s o r subdirectorie s i n you r curren t

directory. Fo r example, i f the current directory i s :mary, the followin g i s
listed:
letter
invoice

'letter' in thi s cas e woul d b e flagged a s bein g a directory. Suppos e :mar y

is your curren t directory , an d you wis h t o lis t th e content s o f th e 'letter '
directory, you could, for example, specify i t after th e LIS T command:
LIST lette r

This would list the contents of the 'letter' directory on the screen .
If yo u attemp t t o LIS T a fil e o r director y whic h i s no t i n you r curren t
directory, an d yo u omit t o specify th e pat h back t o the roo t (tha t is , bac k
to the colon), an error occurs. Fo r example, if you specif y
LIST invoic e

while still in :mary, the following messag e i s displaye d

Can't examin e "invoice" : objec t no t foun d

This does not mean tha t 'invoice ' has been lost or deleted, but simply tha t
it canno t b e foun d i n th e curren t directory . Thi s ca n be disturbin g unti l
the filin g syste m become s secon d nature . I n thi s cas e yo u coul d eithe r
reset th e curren t director y wit h CD , o r specif y th e file' s path . (Se e als o
Section 1.3.3 , "Settin g the Current Directory" , for further details. )
1-17

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos
COPY

COPY make s a n exac t cop y o f a fil e o r directory . Th e firs t fil e o r

directory i s written to the second one usin g the keyword TO:
COPY :bill/do c T O :bill/newdo c

Suppose :bil l i s you r curren t directory , yo u ca n alter , o r eve n delete ,

'newdoc' an d stil l hav e hi s orgina l saf e i n 'doc' . S o lon g a s yo u giv e th e
correct path, you can even send a copy of the file 'doc ' to :mary by typin g
COPY :bill/do c T O :mary/do c

Note tha t i t i s possibl e fo r tw o file s wit h th e sam e nam e t o exis t i f the y

belong t o separate directories . However , yo u mus t b e carefu l i f you cop y
a fil e wit h th e sam e nam e fro m one directory t o another a s th e TO file i s
always overwritten. Fo r example, i f you typed the following :
COPY :mary/do c T O :bill/do c

after alterin g th e secon d versio n o f 'doc ' i n :mary , yo u woul d los e th e

original. Tha t i s t o say , :bill/do c woul d the n hav e th e sam e content s a s
:mary/doc.
To copy a directory to another directory, you could type, for example ,
COPY lette r T O invoic e

which places a copy of the files in 'letter' in the directory 'invoice. ' If there
is a fil e i n 'letter ' tha t ha s th e sam e nam e a s a fil e i n 'invoice ' (fo r
example, 'junl8') , then the contents of the file i n 'invoice' are overwritte n
and lost.
To mak e a cop y o f on e fil e an d plac e i t i n anothe r directory , yo u coul d
type, for example ,
COPY :[Link] 8 T O :[Link] 8

1-18

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

e Us e o f Tripos

By alterin g th e nam e o f th e fil e i n th e secon d directory , yo u avoi d th e

problem of overwriting the file 'invoice/junl8. '
COPY takes tw o possible keyword s a s arguments: ALL and QUIET. Yo u
only us e thes e argument s whe n yo u us e COP Y wit h directories . Fo r
instance, yo u us e AL L to ensure tha t COP Y copies all th e subdirectorie s
and file s o n th e pat h belo w th e firs t director y nam e t o th e second . Fo r
example, i f you had a directory :fre d and you copied the contents of :mary
to it,
COPY :mar y T O :fre d AL L

COPY woul d cop y al l th e file s an d subdirectorie s belo w :mary , an d an y

files an d subdirectorie s i n them , creatin g ne w directorie s a s necessary .
This mean s tha t ':mary/letter ' an d ':mary/invoice ' woul d becom e
:fred/letter an d :fred/invoice , an d all thei r files woul d als o be copied ove r
to the new directories.
Normally, whe n yo u giv e th e COP Y comman d t o copy th e content s o f a
directory, th e nam e o f th e fil e bein g copie d i s displayed , followe d b y th e
word "copied" when the file i s sucessfully copied :
COPY :bil l T O :fre d
text..copied
letter..copied

However, i f th e director y i s large , yo u ma y no t wis h t o hav e th e scree n

filled wit h messages . I n thi s case , yo u ca n us e QUIE T t o tur n of f th e
verification. Yo u can also use both keywords together; for example ,
COPY :mar y T O :fre d AL L QUIE T

copies th e content s o f th e file s an d directorie s belo w :mar y t o :fred j a s

explained above, only without displaying the "..copied" messages.

1-19

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos
TYPE

Once yo u hav e mad e a file, yo u can typ e i t out (tha t is , display it ) on th e

screen with the command TYPE. Fo r example,
TYPE :bill/do c

displays th e content s o f th e fil e :bilI/do c o n th e screen . I f you wan t you r

output t o includ e lin e numbers , yo u mus t specif y 'n ' after th e keywor d
OPT. Fo r example,
TYPE : b i l l / d o c OP T n
that is to say, 'type out the file wit h the option numbers turned on.'
If you wan t you r fil e t o appear a s hexadecima l numbers , typ e h after th e
keyword OP T instea d o f n . O f course , thi s i s mor e usefu l fo r file s
containing program code than for files containing text .
By default , TYP E type s th e fil e yo u specifie d t o th e curren t outpu t
stream (usuall y th e screen) . However , i t is possible t o use TYPE t o 'type'
one file t o another:
TYPE :bill/do c T O :bill/newdo c

This i s identica l i n effec t t o copyin g th e file ; 'doc ' i s retaine d an d it s

contents i s copied to the new file 'newdoc' .
You can also type a file t o a device. Fo r example,
TYPE : b i l l / d o c T O PAR:
prints the specified fil e on the printer, an d
TYPE : b i l l / d o c T O *
displays th e specifed file on the screen .
The spee d a t whic h a fil e i s type d ma y b e to o fas t t o rea d i f th e fil e i s
longer tha n wil l fi t comfortabl y o n th e screen . A s explaine d above , yo u
1-20

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

can alway s suspen d th e outpu t b y pressin g th e spac e ba r (o r an y othe r

convenient character) , an d resum e i t agai n b y pressin g th e RETUR N
key, an y deletion ke y (DEL , RUBOUT , BACKSPACE) , o r CTRL-X. Yo u
can als o us e CTRL- S an d CTRL- Q fo r thi s purpose ; i f CONSOLE p]\G E
mode is ON, the system automatically wait s at the end of each page .
The only problem that might occur is if, fo r example, you typ e
TYPE do c

and the following error message appear s

Can't ope n "doc "

This mean s tha t th e fil e 'doc ' is no t i n th e curren t directory . Eithe r th e

file nam e ha s bee n mistype d o r th e correc t director y ha s no t bee n
specified wit h CD.
DELETE

You ca n us e th e DELET E comman d t o ge t ri d o f unwante d file s o r

directories. U p t o te n file s o r directorie s ca n b e delete d a t on e time .
DELETE trie s t o remove eac h file i n the orde r you specified. I f it carlnot,
it give s a messag e an d trie s th e nex t fil e o n th e list . Fo r example ,
DELETE coul d fail becaus e th e 'object ' was 'not found', or rather tha t th e
name wa s incorrect . A directory ca n be deleted i f it is empty; a director y
containing file s ma y not . To delete on e file , yo u typ e th e nam e o f the fil e
you wis h t o delet e afte r DELETE . Fo r example , suppos e yo u wis h t o
delete th e file 'doc' , you would type
DELETE do c

To delet e mor e tha n on e file , lis t th e filename s o f th e file s yo u wis^ h t o

delete after th e command. Fo r example,
DELETE do c newdo c lette r

1-21

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

deletes th e file s 'doc' , 'newdoc' , an d 'letter' , provided , o f course, the y ar e

in you r curren t directory . I f the file s ar e no t al l i n th e sam e directory ,
you can still delet e the m by specifying thei r path. Fo r example,
DELETE :mary/lette r lette r

deletes th e file 'letter ' in the directory ':mary ' as wel l a s the file 'letter ' in
the current directory .
If yo u delet e al l th e file s i n a directory , yo u en d u p wit h a n empt y
directory. Onc e a director y i s empt y i t ca n b e deleted . Fo r example ,
suppose the directory :bil l is empty and you wish to delete it , you can typ e
DELETE :bil l

to remov e th e whol e directory . O f course , i f :bil l i s you r curren t

directory, yo u shoul d us e C D t o mak e anothe r director y you r curren t
directory befor e yo u tr y t o delet e i t a s Tripo s won' t allo w yo u t o delet e
your current directory .
WHY

It i s no t alway s convenien t t o consul t th e manua l whe n somethin g

unexpected happens . Whe n a comman d fail s i t give s a shor t erro r
message t o sa y somethin g ha s gon e wrong , althoug h i t usuall y doe s no t
go int o an y detail . Ther e is , however , a usefu l comman d calle d WH Y
which gives furthe r information . Th e messag e give n doe s not go as far a s
the manual , bu t ca n giv e yo u a hin t abou t wha t happened . Fo r instance ,
if the comman d
DELETE :bil l

fails, and it returns th e messag e

Can't delet e "bill "

you migh t wonde r wha t cause d th e failure . Usuall y yo u ca n gues s wha t

has gon e wrong . However , i f you nee d mor e help , type WH Y o n a line b y
1-22

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e o f Tripos

itself afte r th e faile d comman d an d a fulle r messag e wil l b e displaye d

describing wha t ha s gone wrong. Fo r example:
WHY
Last comman d faile d becaus e objec t i n use
MAKEDIR
Files m ay be created by ED , or EDIT; directories can only be created
with MAKEDIR . Yo u specify the name of the directory you wish to
create after the MAKEDIR command. Fo r example,
MAKEDIR :fre d
creates the new directory 'fred' in the root directory.
MAKEDIR only works with one directory at a time, so you must make
each directory separately. Also , for this reason, all directories on a path
must exist and cannot be made at the same time. Therefore, in order to
create 'ABComputers' , both ':mary' and 'letter' would have to be there
already. Unles s yo u specify the path, MAKEDI R make s th e pew
directory a subdirectory of the current directory. I f you have made :mary
your current directory, you can type
MAKEDIR lette r
to make the directory :[Link]. Yo u can then either type
CD letter s
and type
MAKEDIR ABComputer s
or you can stay in :mary and type

1-23

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction t o Tripos

MAKEDIR :mary/letter/ABComputer s
The results will be the same.
DIR

The DI R command sorts all the files an d subdirectories i n a directory an d

then list s them . I t can also sort and lis t th e file s i n any subdirectories . I f
you wish , you can us e DI R in interactiv e mod e t o deal wit h each file a s i t
is listed (that is, examine it , delete it , and so on) or quit.
Unless yo u specif y a directory name , DI R assume s tha t th e director y t o
be liste d i s th e curren t directory . Otherwis e DI R list s th e file s i n th e
specified directory . Th e orde r i n whic h DI R display s th e content s o f a
directory is as follows :
1. subdirectorie s (if there are any )
2. files
DIR list s th e files i n tw o column s s o tha t yo u ca n vie w eve n a larg e
directory a t once . O f course , i f yo u hav e a ver y larg e director y wit h a
great number of files, yo u wil l neve r be able t o view them all a t the sam e
time. I n thi s cas e i t i s a goo d ide a t o LIS T th e files t o a : T file. Yo u ca n
then vie w th e content s o f you r director y b y editin g thi s file wit h th e
screen editor.
DIR ca n tak e variou s option s afte r th e OP T keyword ; thes e includ e th e
A, D, and I options. Eac h of these options is described below.
OPT A list s th e subdirectorie s belo w th e specifie d one , indentin g eac h
sublist. Fo r example , i f yo u wer e t o us e DI R OPT A a t th e roo t leve l o f
the hierarch y described i n Figure 1-A , the n somethin g lik e thi s woul d be
displayed:

1-24

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

mary(dir) bill(dir
data tex
letter(dir) lette
junl8
ABComputers
invoice(dir)
junl8

)
r

OPT D only lists th e subdirectory names. Fo r example,

DIR :mar y OP T D
results i n
letter (dir )

if'letter' is the only directory below :mary .

OPT I ensure s DI R execute s i n interactiv e mode . Whe n yo u specif y
interactive mod e wit h OP T I , DI R list s eac h fil e an d director y i n turn .
After eac h name , DI R display s a questio n mar k (? ) an d wait s fo r ycj u t o
respond. DI R recognize s severa l possibl e answers . Eac h o f thes e i s
described below.
If you press RETURN, DI R moves on to the next name .
If you type the letter Q, you quit DI R and the listing stops .
If you type the letter B , DIR goes back to the previous directory level , yo u
can the n typ e B again t o go back t o th e leve l befor e that , an d s o on Unti l
you reac h the leve l o f the initia l directory . Yo u cannot, however , us e B to
move bac k beyon d th e initia l level ; tha t is , yo u canno t lis t file s an d
directories above your current directory .
If DI R list s a director y nam e i n interactiv e mode , the n yo u ca n typ e th e
letter E t o 'enter ' tha t director y an d lis t al l th e file s an d subdirectories .
Of course, you do not type E after a filename, onl y after a directory.
To delet e a file , typ e th e letter s DE L afte r th e questio n mark . Th e fil e
will b e delete d immediately . Yo u can also us e DE L t o delete a directory ,
1-25

Simple Us e of Tripos Introductio

n to Tripos

always providin g tha t th e director y i s empty , o f course . Notic e tha t yo u

type DEL , and that you do not press the DE L key.
If yo u typ e th e lette r T , DI R display s ('types' ) th e fil e o n th e screen .
CTRL-C wil l sto p th e output , bu t wil l no t retur n t o th e interactiv e
examination.
DATE

You ca n us e th e DAT E comman d t o displa y o r se t th e syste m dat e o r

time. Tha t i s t o say , yo u ca n us e DAT E t o chec k th e curren t dat e an d
time, o r yo u ca n us e i t t o se t th e syste m dat e o r tim e s o tha t al l
subsequent wor k i s associate d wit h th e correc t dat e an d time . I n othe r
words, whe n yo u LIS T your curren t directory , yo u fin d th e correc t date s
and times liste d with the filenames .
DATE ha s the following form :
DATE [ < date > ] [ < time > J [TO|VER < name > ]
and the following template :
DATE "DATE,TIME,TO = VER/K "
< d a t e > i s optiona l an d ca n includ e th e da y o f th e wee k (Monday ,
Tuesday, ...Sunday) , Yesterday , Today , o r Tomorrow , th e da y o f th e
month (0 1 throug h 31) , th e firs t thre e letter s o f th e mont h (Jan ,
Feb,...Dec), an d th e las t tw o number s i n th e yea r (tha t is , 8 6 fo r 1986) .
The earlies t dat e possibl e - the dawn o f time fo r Tripo s - is January 1st ,
1978 (that is, 77 refers to 2077 and not 1977) .
< t i m e > i s optional an d comprises th e hou r (00 through 23), the minute s
(00 through 59), and the seconds (00 through 59).
TO an d VE R ar e equivalent . The y ar e optiona l keyword s tha t ca n b e
used t o introduce a different destinatio n fo r the verificatio n o f the date or
time. Unles s yo u specif y otherwise , th e DAT E comman d verifie s th e

1-26

Introduction t o Tripos Simpl

e Us e of Tripos

date and time to the screen. < name > ca n be a device o r filename .
To obtain the date and time, typ e
DATE

The currentl y se t syste m dat e an d tim e i s the n displaye d a s follows : th e

day o f th e wee k (fo r example , Monday) ; th e day , month , an d yea r i n th e
form DD-MMM-Y Y (fo r example , 28-Apr-86) ; th e tim e i n th e for m
HH:MM:SS (for example, [Link]) . I t is importan t t o note tha t th e dm e
is alway s accordin g t o 24-hou r clock ; tha t is , [Link] 0 fo r 2 a . m an d
[Link] for 2 p.m.
If the date i s incorrect , you can use DAT E to reset it . T o do this, type th e
correct date after DATE :
DATE 29-Apr-8 6

If you then giv e th e DAT E command, th e following , o r something lili e it ,

is displayed on the screen :
Tuesday 29-Apr-8 6 [Link] 4

However, i f you se t th e date t o one day ahead by mistake an d then, whe n

you notic e you r error , se t i t bac k again , an y file s yo u altere d whil e th e
date wa s stil l on e da y ahea d ar e liste d a s bein g las t altere d Tomorrow, '
which, of course, is perfectly logical , although seemingly impossible .
Notice tha t yo u ca n als o typ e a da y o f th e week , Yesterday , Today , o r
Tomorrow after DATE . Fo r example,
DATE Monda y

or
DATE Yesterda y

The correspondin g dat e i s the n set . I f the dat e wa s th e 28-Apr-86 , the n

specifying Yesterda y set s th e dat e t o Sunda y 27-Apr-86 . T o retur n t o
Monday 28-Apr-86, typ e
1-27

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos
DATE Tomorro w

The current time i s kept unless a new time i s specified .

When yo u se t th e tim e yo u ca n specif y i t a s thre e set s o f tw o digit s
separated b y colons . I n thi s cas e th e firs t tw o digit s ar e assume d t o b e
the hour , th e secon d tw o th e minutes , an d th e las t tw o th e second s
(HH:MM:SS). I f you omi t th e las t colo n an d everythin g afte r i t (tha t is ,
you just specif y HH:MM) , the n th e tim e i s se t t o th e hour s an d minute s
specified an d th e second s ar e assume d t o b e 00 . I f you omi t everythin g
the firs t colo n an d everything afte r i t (that is , you just specif y HH) , the n
the tim e i s se t t o th e hou r specifie d an d th e minute s an d second s ar e
assumed to be 00:00.
You usuall y onl y us e DAT E whe n yo u inser t a dis k fo r updating . Whe n
you first inser t a disk, Tripos creates a process at low priority, the restar t
process. This process validates the entire structure o n the disk. When th e
restart process completes, Tripos checks to see i f you have se t the syste m
date an d time. I f there i s n o tim e o r date set , yo u ca n the n us e DAT E a s
described earlie r t o set it; otherwise, if you leave the time and date unset ,
Tripos set s th e syste m dat e t o th e dat e an d tim e o f th e mos t recentl y
created file on the inserted disk. This ensures that newer versions of file s
have mor e recen t dates , eve n thoug h th e th e actua l tim e an d date wil l b e
incorrect.
If yo u as k fo r th e dat e an d th e tim e befor e th e validatio n i s complete ,
Tripos display s th e dat e an d tim e a s unset . Yo u ca n the n eithe r wai t fo r
the validatio n t o complet e o r us e DAT E t o ente r th e correc t dat e an d
time. Validatio n shoul d happe n a t once ; otherwise, i t shoul d neve r tak e
longer than one minute .

1-28

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e o f Tripos

1.4.2 Runnin g Commands in the Backgroun d

You ca n instruc t Tripo s t o ru n a command , o r commands , i n th e
background. T o do this , yo u us e th e RU N command . Thi s create s a ne w
CLI as a separate proces s o f lowe r priority . I n thi s case , Tripos execute s
subsequent comman d line s a t th e sam e tim e a s thos e tha t hav e bee n
RUN. Fo r example, you can examine th e contents of your directory a t th e
same tim e a s sendin g a cop y o f you r tex t fil e t o th e printer . T o d o this ,
type
RUN TYP E t e x t _ f i l e T O PAR:
LIST

RUN create s a ne w CL I an d carrie s ou t you r printin g (b y directin g th e

output o f that CL I - what woul d hav e bee n displaye d o n th e scree n - vi a
the paralle l por t device t o a printer) whil e yo u list your directory files o n
your original CLI' s output stream (the screen).
You ca n as k Tripo s t o carr y ou t severa l command s usin g RUN . RU N
takes eac h comman d an d carrie s i t ou t i n th e give n order . Th e lin e
containing command s afte r RU N i s called a command line . To terminat e
the comman d line , pres s RETURN . T o exten d you r comman d lin e ove r
several lines , type a plus sign (4-) before pressin g RETUR N o n every lin e
except the last. Fo r example,
RUN JOI N t e x t _ f i l e l t e x t _ f i l e 2 A S t e x t _ f i l e +
SORT t e x t _ f i l e T O s o r t e d _ t e x t +
TYPE s o r t e d t e x t t o PAR:
1.4.3 Executin g Command File s
You can use th e C command t o execute comman d line s i n a file instea d of
typing the m i n directly . Th e CL I read s th e sequenc e o f commands fro m
the fil e unti l i t find s a n erro r o r th e en d o f th e file . I f it find s a n error ,
Tripos does not execute subsequen t command s o n the RU N lin e o r in th e
file use d b y C , unles s yo u hav e use d th e FAILA T command . Se e
Chapter 1 , "Tripo s Commands, " o f th e Tripos User's Reference
Manual fo r detail s o n th e FAILA T command . Th e CL I onl y give s
prompts after executin g commands tha t have ru n interactively .
1-29

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction to Tripos

1.4.4 Directin g Command Inpu t and Outpu t

Tripos provides a wa y fo r you t o redirect standar d inpu t and output. Yo u
use th e > an d < symbol s a s commands . Whe n yo u typ e a command ,
Tripos usuall y display s th e outpu t fro m tha t comman d o n th e screen . T o
tell Tripo s t o sen d th e outpu t t o a file , yo u ca n us e th e > command . T o
tell Tripo s t o accep t th e inpu t t o a progra m fro m a specifie d fil e rathe r
than fro m th e keyboard , yo u us e th e < command . Th e < an d >
commands ac t lik e traffi c light s directin g th e flo w o f information . Fo r
example, t o direc t th e outpu t fro m th e DAT E comman d an d writ e i t t o
the file name d 'tex t file' , you would type the following command line :
DATE > text_fil e

See Chapter 1 , "Tripos Commands," of the Tripos User 's Reference

Manual fo r a full specificatio n o f the < an d > symbols .
1.4.5 Interrupting Tripos
Although th e BREA K ke y i s no t accepted b y Tripos a s a vali d interrupt ,
you ca n indicat e fou r level s o f attentio n interrup t wit h CTRL-C ,
CTRL-D, CTRL-E , an d CTRL-F . T o sto p th e curren t comman d fro m
whatever i t wa s doing, pres s CTRL-C . The following the n appears on th e
screen:
**BREAK

followed b y your usua l prompt . I n some cases , suc h as i n EDIT, pressin g

CTRL-C instruct s th e comman d t o sto p wha t i t wa s doin g an d the n t o
return t o readin g mor e EDI T commands . T o tel l th e CL I t o sto p a
command sequenc e initiate d b y th e C comman d a s soo n a s th e curren t
command bein g execute d finishes , pres s CTRL-D . CTRL- E an d CTRL- F
are onl y use d b y certai n command s i n specia l cases . Se e th e Tripos

Programmer's Reference

Manual

fo r details .

1-30

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

1.4.6 Understandin g Command Format s

This sectio n explains th e standard forma t or argument templat e use d by
most Tripo s command s t o specif y thei r arguments . Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s

Commands," of the Tripos User's

Reference

Manual

include s thi s

argument templat e i n the documentation o f each o f the commands . The

template provide s yo u with a grea t dea l o f flexibility i n th e order and
form of the syntax of your commands.
The argumen t templat e specifie s a list of keywords tha t yo u may use as
synonyms, s o tha t yo u typ e th e alternative s afte r th e keyword , an d
separate the m wit h an =.
For example,
ABC, [Link] = ZZZ
specifies keyword s ABC , WWW , an d XYZ. The user ma y use keywor d
ZZZ as an alternative t o the keyword XYZ.
These keyword s specif y th e number an d form of the argument s tha t the
program expects. The arguments ma y be optional o r required. I f you giv e
the arguments, you may specify the m in one of two ways:
By position I

n this case, you provide the arguments in the same orde r

as the keyword lis t indicates .

By keyword I

n this case , th e order doe s no t matter, and you precede

each argument wit h the relevant keyword .

For example , i f th e comman d MYCOMMAN D rea d fro m on e fil e an d

wrote to another, the argument templat e woul d be
FROM/TO
You could use th e command specifying th e arguments b y position
MYCOMMAND i n p u t - f i l e o u t p u t - f i l

1-31

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction t o Tripos

or using the keywords :

MYCOMMAND FRO M input-fil e T O output-fil e
MYCOMMAND T O output-fil e FRO M input-fil e

You coul d als o combin e th e positiona l an d keywor d argumen t

specifications, fo r example, wit h the following :
MYCOMMAND input-fil e T O output-fil e

where yo u giv e th e FRO M argumen t b y position , an d th e T O argumen t

by keyword. Not e that the following form is incorrec t
MYCOMMAND output-fil e FRO M input-fil e

because th e comman d assume s tha t 'output-file ' i s th e firs t positiona l

argument (that is, the FROM file).
If the argumen t is not a single wor d (that is, surrounded o r 'delimited' by
spaces), the n yo u must enclos e i t with double quotatio n mark s (") . I f the
argument ha s th e sam e valu e a s on e o f th e keywords , yo u mus t als o
enclose it with quotation marks. For example, the following :
MYCOMMAND "fil e name " T O "from "

supplies th e tex t 'fil e name ' a s th e FRO M argument , an d th e fil e nam e

'from' as the TO argument .
The keyword s i n thes e argumen t list s hav e certai n qualifiers associate d
with them . Thes e qualifier s ar e represente d b y a slas h (/ ) an d a specifi c
letter. The meanings of the qualifiers ar e as follows :
/A Th

e argument is required an d may no t be omitted.

/K Th

e argumen t mus t b e give n wit h th e keywor d an d ma y no t

be used positionally .

/S Th

e keywor d i s a switc h (tha t is , a toggle ) an d take s n o

argument.
1-32

Introduction t o Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

The qualifiers A and K may be combined, s o that the templat e

DRIVE/A/K
means that you must give the argument and keyword DRIVE .
In som e cases , n o keyword s ma y b e given . Fo r example , th e comman d
DELETE simpl y take s a numbe r of files fo r Tripos t o delete. I n this case ,
you simpl y omi t th e keywor d value , bu t th e comma s normall y use d t o
separate th e keyword s remai n i n th e template . Thus , th e templat e fo r
DELETE, that can take u p to ten filenames, i s

Finally, consider the command TYPE. The argument templat e i s

FROM/A,TO,OPT/K
which mean s tha t yo u ma y giv e th e firs t argumen t b y positio n o r b y
keyword, but tha t first argumen t i s required. Th e secon d argument (TO )
is optional , an d yo u ma y omi t th e keyword . Th e OP T argumen t i s
optional, bu t i f i t i s given , yo u mus t provid e th e keyword . So , th e
following are all vali d forms of the TYPE command :
TYPE f i l e n a m e

TYPE FRO M f i l e n a m e

TYPE
TYPE
TYPE
TYPE
TYPE

filenam e T O o u t p u t - f i l e
filenam e o u t p u t - f i l e
TO o u t p u t f i l e FRO M f i l e n a m e OP T n
f i l e n a m e OP T n
f i l e n a m e OP T n TO o u t p u t - f i l e

Although thi s manua l list s all th e arguments expecte d by the commands ,

you can display th e argumen t templat e b y simply typin g the nam e o f the
command, followed by a space and a question mar k (?).
If the arguments yo u specify d o not matc h th e template , mos t command s
simply displa y th e messag e 'Ba d args' or 'Ba d arguments' and stop. Yo u
must retyp e th e comman d nam e an d argument. T o display o n th e scree n
1-33

Simple Us e of Tripos

Introduction to Tripos

help o n wha t argument s th e comman d expected , yo u ca n alway s typ e a

question mar k (?).

1.5 An Example Session

The followin g i s a n example o f a simple sessio n usin g Tripos. The actua l
screen interactio n wit h Tripo s i s indente d t o distinguis h i t fro m tex t
describing th e action . Not e als o tha t wha t th e compute r display s o n th e
screen is printed in a bold typeface t o distinguish i t from what you type.
> CD
sys:

If yo u us e th e C D comman d withou t an y furthe r qualification , Tripo s

displays th e nam e o f the curren t directory . ( > i s th e usua l promp t fro m
Tripos.)
> C D dfl:ti m

You ca n als o us e C D t o chang e th e curren t directory . Th e comman d

sequence liste d abov e mad e th e director y 'tim ' o n dis k 'dfl: ' th e ne w
current directory . T o gai n acces s t o file s store d i n thi s directory , yo u
simply typ e th e filename . Yo u n o longe r nee d t o refe r t o th e director y
structure.
> LIS T
temp Di
book Di
doc Di
benchl 11
bench2 12

r
r
r
1
5

rwe d
rwe d
rwe d
rwe d
rwe d

Toda y
Toda y
Toda y
Toda y
Toda y

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

6
0
6
2
4

LIST request s a n extende d lis t o f al l th e file s hel d i n th e curren t

directory (dfl:tim) . Ther e ar e tw o file s an d thre e directorie s i n thi s
directory. Th e directorie s hav e th e wor d 'Dir ' in th e secon d column ; th e
files hav e thei r siz e i n th e secon d column . Th e letter s 'r' , 'w', 'e' , and'd '
refer t o the protection statu s o f the particula r file o r directory. Th e lette r
'r' means tha t you can rea d the fil e o r directory, 'w ' means tha t you writ e
1-34

Introduction to Tripos

Simple Us e of Tripos

to it , 'e ' means tha t yo u ca n execut e it , and'd' means tha t you can delet e
it. (Currently , Tripo s onl y use s th e 'd * flag. ) LIS T use s th e las t tw o
columns to indicate whe n you created a file o r directory.
> C D do c

The nam e use d her e afte r C D ha s n o colo n (: ) befor e it , an d s o Tripo s

makes th e searc h fo r th e nam e fro m th e curren t director y rathe r tha n
from th e roo t o f a filin g system . Th e curren t director y i s no w
'dfl:tim/doc'. T o loo k a t th e file s store d i n thi s directory , yo u woul d us e
the following command :
> LIS T

to display the following :

plan 42
chapterl 230

0 rwe d Toda y [Link] 7

0 rwe d Toda y [Link] 7

You ca n us e COP Y t o creat e th e fil e 'contents ' i n th e director y

'dfl:tim/doc', an d everythin g yo u typ e a t th e termina l goe s int o th e fil e
until yo u pres s CTRL- V Thi s send s a ne w lin e an d end-of-fil e characte r
and terminates th e file .
> cop y * t o content s
The Tripo s User' s Manua l
Chapter 1 : Introductio n t o Tripo s
CTRL-\

You ca n the n examin e th e director y content s agai n t o se e tha t th e fil e

does indeed exist .
> LIS T
contents
plan
chapterl

63 rwe d Toda y
420 rwe d Toda y
2300 rwe d Toda y

1-35

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

Simple Us e of Tripos Introductio

n to Tripos

To se e wha t i s i n th e fil e calle d 'contents' , yo u ca n instruc t Tripo s t o

display th e file b y giving the following command :
> typ e content s

Tripos then displays th e contents of'contents' :

The Tripo s User' s Manua l
Chapter 1 : Introductio n t o Tripo s

1-36

Table of Contents
2.1 Scree
n Editor - ED
2.1.1 Immediat
e Command s
2.1.2 Extende
d Command s
2.2 Th
e Lin e Editor - EDIT
2.2.1 Enterin
g EDI T
2.2.2 Basi
c Us e of EDIT
2.2.3 Terminatin
g an EDIT Sessio n

Chapter 2: Editing Files

This chapte r introduce s th e tw o editors , E D an d EDIT . A ful l
specification o f bot h editor s ca n b e foun d i n th e Tripos User's

Reference Manual.

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

2.1 Screen Editor - ED

You can us e E D t o edit tex t files. E D i s a screen edito r tha t yo u ca n us e
instead of the lin e editor EDIT.
To edit a file wit h ED , you specify it s nam e afte r th e E D command. Thi s
file i s sometime s calle d th e FRO M file. Th e FRO M file i s rea d int o
memory o n enterin g th e edito r an d i f n o file o f tha t nam e exists , a ne w
file i s created. Sinc e th e FRO M file i s rea d int o memory , ther e i s a limi t
to the siz e of file tha t can b e edited usin g ED . The defaul t workin g spac e
is 2000 0 words . Normally , E D estimate s ho w muc h spac e i t needs , an d
then allot s it . I t is possible, though , for E D to be confused b y a file wit h a
large numbe r o f shor t lines , i n whic h cas e yo u mus t us e th e keywor d
SIZE to adjust the working space manually .
Once yo u ar e i n th e editor , yo u ca n us e ED' s editin g commands . Not e
that certai n o f th e loca l line-editin g command s (fo r example , CTRL-X )
have no effect i n ED.
You mus t specify th e termina l typ e before you us e ED . I f you forget t o do
so, a n erro r occurs . T o specif y th e termina l type , yo u us e th e VD U
command. Thi s comman d identifie s th e mak e o f termina l t o b e used .
There ar e certai n termina l type s tha t ar e recognize d b y th e system , an d
all thei r keyboar d characteristics ar e understoo d b y the console handler .
The format i s as follows :
VDU < terminal typ e >
For example , suppos e yo u wer e usin g a Televideo95 0 terminal , yo u
would typ e
VDU tv i

Known terminal s make s ar e identifie d i n th e fil e DEVS:VDU . I t shoul d

be possibl e t o tailo r you r syste m an d suppor t you r ow n termina l i f i t i s
not alread y supported . Th e metho d i s describe d i n th e Tripos

Technical Reference

Manual.

2-1

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

To edit the file 'doc ' with ED, type

ED do c

on th e othe r hand , yo u coul d us e th e FRO M keywor d t o identif y th e

FROM file 'doc' :
ED FRO M do c

The fil e 'doc ' can no w b e edited, assumin g i t i s i n existence; i f not, a ne w

file of this name is created. If'doc ' is very large, typ e
ED do c SIZ E 3000 0

to ensure a work space of 30000 words .

Commands t o E D fal l int o tw o distinc t types . Th e firs t ar e know n a s
immediate commands , whic h ar e command s tha t ar e execute d
immediately, an d ar e specifie d b y a singl e ke y o r contro l combination .
The secon d ar e know n a s extende d commands . Extende d command s ar e
typed on the comman d lin e (las t lin e of the screen) , an d ar e no t execute d
until th e lin e i s finishe d (b y pressin g RETURN) . Severa l extende d
commands ca n b e liste d o n th e comman d lin e a t on e time ; the y ma y b e
grouped togethe r an d cause d t o b e repeate d automatically . Man y o f th e
simple immediat e command s have a corresponding extended version .
2.1.1 Immediat e Command s
The Tripos screen edito r provide s single-key o r combined-key command s
that allow you to do the following immediately :
control th e position of the curso r
insert tex t
delete tex t
scroll tex t
verify tex t
repeat extended command s

2-2

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

Each of these topics is described belo w

Cursor Control

You can mov e th e curso r wit h th e cursor control keys . I f the cursor i s on
the edge of the screen, E D scrolls the text horizontally t o make the rest of
the tex t visible . Vertica l scrollin g i s don e on e lin e a t a time ; horizonta l
scrolling i s done te n characters at a time. The cursor cannot be moved off
the to p or bottom o f the file , o r of f th e lef t han d margi n o f th e text . Th e
cursor control s are usuall y show n o n the keyboar d a s - > o r <- , etc . A s
some terminal s ma y no t hav e curso r contro l keys , yo u ca n als o us e th e
following control combinations :
Control

Action

CTRL-H

Move cursor lef t

CTRL-J

Move cursor down

CRTL-K

Move cursor u p

CTRL-X

Move cursor righ t

To move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line (that is, the
line th e cursor i s pointing at), you can us e th e HOM E key . Thi s ke y firs t
moves th e cursor to the right-hand en d of the line ; if it is already there , i t
moves i t lef t t o the beginnin g o f the line . Henc e repeate d pressin g o f the
key causes the cursor to jump backwards and forwards to each edge of the
line. I f your VD U doe s no t hav e a HOM E key , yo u ca n us e th e contro l
combination CTRL-] instead.
CTRL-E places th e cursor at the beginning o f the firs t lin e visibl e o n th e
screen. I f it is already there it is placed at the end of the last line visible .
The contro l combination s CTRL- T an d CTRL- R mov e th e curso r t o th e
start o f th e nex t wor d an d th e spac e followin g th e previou s wor d
respectively. Th e tex t is scrolled horizontally o r vertically i f necessary.

2-3

Editing File s

Introduction to Tripos

The TA B ke y ca n als o b e use d t o mov e th e curso r forward . Th e ta b

positions ar e a multiple o f the tab setting (initally 3) . Where th e TAB ke y
does no t exist , yo u ca n us e CTRL- I t o achiev e th e sam e result . (Se e
"CONSOLE" in Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s Commands, " in th e Tripos User ' s
Reference Manual fo r further detail s on tab settting. )
Inserting Text

In ED , an y characte r yo u typ e a t th e keyboar d i s inserte d a t th e curso r

position, unles s yo u attemp t t o ad d t o a lin e tha t i s alread y 25 5
characters lon g (th e maximu m lin e lengt h i s 25 5 characters) . An y
characters t o the righ t of the cursor are immediatel y shuffle d u p to make
room fo r an y ne w insertion . A lin e ma y b e longe r tha n th e scree n widt h
(although les s tha n tha n 25 5 characters) . I f yo u ad d t o a lin e tha t i s
longer tha n th e screen , E D redraw s th e scree n an d scroll s th e tex t
horizontally s o that you can see the end of the line . If you move the cursor
beyond th e en d o f th e tex t o n a lin e (fo r example , b y usin g th e curso r
controls), E D automaticall y insert s space s betwee n th e las t characte r
and any new characters .
When yo u pres s th e RETUR N key , E D split s th e curren t lin e a t th e
cursor and makes a new lin e containing everthing that wa s previously t o
the right of the cursor; this is the new current line . Everythin g t o the lef t
of the curso r remain s unchanged . Yo u can, for instance, us e RETUR N t o
break a lon g lin e int o tw o i n order t o make i t fi t acros s th e screen . Thi s
means tha t you do not have to scroll th e text horizontally t o see th e end of
the line.
You ca n als o us e RETUR N t o inser t a blan k line . Fo r instance , i f yo u
press RETUR N a t th e en d o f a line , yo u creat e a ne w blan k lin e whic h
becomes th e ne w curren t line . I f you press RETUR N a t th e beginnin g o f
the line , yo u inser t a blan k lin e abov e th e curren t line , bu t thi s blan k
line does not become th e current line .
RETURN nee d no t be pressed a t th e en d of the line . Ther e i s a facility t o
set the right hand margin, initially se t at the default of 79, s o that when a
character i s typed a t th e end of the line , an d i t reache s colum n 79 , a new
line i s made . Unles s th e las t characte r wa s a space , th e hal f complete d
word i s move d dow n ont o th e newl y generate d line . Not e tha t thi s onl y
happens if characters are inserte d at the end of the line .
2-4

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

Delete

The deletio n key s wor k i n th e sam e wa y i n E D a s the y d o i n loca l lin e

editing, i n tha t the y eras e th e characte r immediatel y t o th e lef t o f th e
cursor an d mov e th e curso r lef t t o th e positio n o f th e erase d character .
The text is scrolled if necessary.
CTRL-N deletes the character at the cursor positio n without altering th e
position o f th e cursor . Thi s i s represente d b y DE L CHA R o n som e
terminals.
When you delete a character, E D moves any characters remaining on the
line t o th e righ t o f th e curso r leftward s t o fil l th e spac e previousl y
occupied b y tha t character . Thi s mean s tha t character s tha t wer e
beyond th e right-han d edg e o f th e scree n ma y becom e visibl e withou t
scrolling.
The CTRL- 0 comman d i s know n a s 'delet e word' , but its actio n depend s
on wha t th e curso r i s pointin g at . I f th e curso r i s a t a space , the n i t
deletes that space , and any other s to the right , up to the beginning of the
next character . I f th e curso r i s a t a character , tha t characte r an d al l
characters u p t o th e nex t spac e ar e deleted . O n som e terminal s th e IN S
CHAR key can be used instead .
To delet e al l th e character s fro m th e curso r positio n t o th e en d o f th e
current line , yo u ca n us e th e comman d CTRL-Y . Thi s comman d erase s
the character a t the cursor as well a s all th e characters to the right of the
cursor, while keepin g the cursor in the same position. This is represente d
by DEOL or LINE ERASE on some terminals .
The comman d CTRL- B remove s th e entir e curren t line . Th e lin e
disappears an d th e nex t tex t lin e move s u p t o tak e it s place . Thi s lin e
then becomes th e curren t line . Not e tha t th e curso r remain s i n th e sam e
position throughout . Bewar e o f thi s command : yo u canno t retriev e th e
line onc e you'v e presse d CTRL-B . CTRL- B i s replace d by DE L LIN E o n
some terminals .

2-5

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

Scrolling

The tex t can be scrolled verticall y lin e by line by moving the cursor dow n
to th e las t lin e o n th e screen . Alternatively , yo u ca n scrol l verticall y
twelve line s a t a tim e wit h CTRL- U (scrol l Up ) an d CTRL- D (scrol l
Down). Th e term s 'Up ' and 'Down ' can b e confusing . The y d o no t mea n
that yo u mov e u p an d dow n th e file . I f you imagin e th e entir e fil e t o b e
written o n a rol l o f paper , the n rollin g u p th e to p wil l revea l th e tex t
written a t the below. Similarly , i f the rol l i s unrolled, the n text at the to p
will be uncovered. Hence , scroll (o r roll) up and down.
Verification

ED make s a grea t effor t no t t o displa y an y othe r tex t o n th e scree n

besides th e tex t i n th e file , s o tha t al l message s appea r i n th e botto m
message area . However , i n rare circumstances, othe r text ca n appear o n
the screen . This does not necessarily mea n that the file i s in the conditio n
shown; it is just tha t E D has not had time t o refresh the screen. To check,
you can tell E D to rewrite the text by pressing CTRL-V (Verify) .
Repetition

You ma y wis h t o repea t a n extende d command . Thi s i s ofte n necessar y

when searchin g for a particular sectio n of text. A search string may see m
to b e unique , bu t i s ofte n foun d t o occu r severa l time s i n a file . A s E D
remembers th e las t comman d line , yo u ca n repea t i t b y pressin g
CTRL-G. Fo r example, yo u can use CTRL- G to search repeatedl y for th e
same searc h string unti l you find th e correct occurrence. I f the comman d
line contains an y repetition commands, ED executes the same coun t eac h
time you press CTRL-G .
2.1.2 Extended Command s
To star t a n extende d command , yo u pres s th e ESCAP E key . O n mos t
terminals thi s key i s the one labelled ESCAPE or ESC; however, on some
makes o f terminal, th e ESCAP E characte r i s sen t a s a prefix t o functio n
keys. Anothe r ke y mus t b e use d instea d o f ESCAP E o n thes e terminal s
(for example , yo u ca n us e F l o n th e Televide o 950). Yo u ca n us e thi s
substitute ke y whereve r ESCAP E i s use d withi n thi s description . (Se e
2-6

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

Chapter 4 , "Installation, " i n th e Tripos Technical

Reference

Hanua 1 fo r details on how to install a VDU lik e the Televideo 950.)

When you press the ESCAPE key , an asterisk (* ) appears on the last lin e
of th e screen, whic h i s know n a s the command line . Anythin g yo u type
after pressin g ESCAP E appear s o n thi s line . Wha t yo u typ e o n th e
command lin e i s assume d t o be an extended command . Yo u can erase
any mistake s o n th e comman d lin e wit h a deletio n ke y (for example ,
RUBOUT); otherwise th e line canno t b e edited. Yo u can terminate the
command lin e b y pressin g eithe r RETUR N o r ESCAPE . E D can only
execute th e command lin e whe n you press either of these keys . When you
press RETURN , E D executes th e command(s) o n the line an d returns to
immediate mode ; however , whe n yo u pres s ESCAPE , i t execute s th e
command(s) an d remain s i n extende d mode . I f yo u pres s RETUR N
immediately afte r pressin g ESCAPE , E D return s t o immediat e mod e
without doing anything .
Extended command s consis t of one or two letters of either uppe r or lowe r
case. Comple x multipl e command s ar e accepted i f each par t is separated
by a semicolon (;) . Commands can sometime s b e qualified b y the additio n
of an argument o r a string. An argument ca n b e in the form of a numbe r
(such as when yo u set up margins), o r a string. A string i s a sequence of
letters, numbers , o r space s define d betwee n terminator s know n a s
delimiters. A delimiter i s a character (whic h ca n be anything tha t is not
a letter , number , space , semicolon , o r parenthesis) , whic h i s use d t o
introduce an d terminate th e sequence . Example s o f strings wit h vali d
delimiters are as follows:
/happy/

! 2 3 feet ! :Hello! :" 1 / 2 "

Note tha t each delimiter mus t match . So , although ! is used in the secon d
example, i t has no effect i n the third wher e i t is used as part of the tex t
sequence. Als o th e slash (/ ) in the first exampl e i s a delimiter, bu t not in
the last . I t is important t o chose symbol s tha t are not going to be present
in th e tex t (fo r example , yo u canno t us e slashe s t o delimi t a strin g
containing a file description suc h as :doc/tripos).

2-7

Editing File s
Getting Out

Introduction t o Tripos
of ED

To ge t ou t o f E D an d kee p an y alteration s yo u ma y hav e made , pres s

ESCAPE an d the n typ e X . Afte r a brie f paus e a messag e appear s o n th e
command lin e sayin g tha t th e tex t i s being written out to file. Th e scree n
then goes blank an d the prompt sign appears on the screen. Yo u will the n
be out of the edito r an d fre e t o lis t your files , an d so on. Wha t happen s i s
that E D overwrite s th e FRO M fil e wit h th e update d version . Th e
previous versio n th e FRO M fil e i s kep t i n th e fil e :t/ed-backup . T o
terminate E D immediatel y withou t writin g ou t th e buffe r (tha t is , t o
throw wa y an y alteration s an d kee p th e origina l versio n o f the file), typ e
Q afte r pressin g ESCAPE . Whe n yo u typ e Q a messag e appear s o n th e
command lin e askin g i f you wan t E D to ignore an y changes that you ma y
have made . Thi s give s yo u a secon d chanc e befor e anythin g happen s t o
the file . I f no changes hav e bee n made , th e questio n wil l no t appea r an d
ED will terminate a t once leavin g th e file intact .
The S A (SAve ) comman d allow s yo u t o mak e a 'snapshot' copy of the fil e
without comin g ou t o f ED . S A save s th e tex t t o a name d fil e or , i n th e
absence of a named file, t o the current file. Fo r example:
SA ":doc/savedtext "

or
SA

This comman d i s particularl y usefu l i n area s subjec t t o power failur e o r

surge. I t shoul d b e note d tha t S A followe d b y Q i s equivalen t t o th e X
command. An y alteration s mad e between the SA and the Q will caus e th e
message
Edits wil l b e los t - typ e Y t o confirm :

to b e displayed ; i f n o alteration s hav e bee n made , yo u qui t E D

immediately an d th e fil e i s save d i n tha t state . S A i s also usefu l becaus e
it allow s yo u t o specif y a filenam e othe r tha n th e curren t one . I t i s
therefore possibl e t o mak e copie s a t differen t stage s an d plac e the m i n
different file s o r directories.
2-8

Introduction t o Tripo s
Undoing the

Editing File s

Last Command

From tim e t o time , yo u ma y giv e a comman d i n error ; however , shoul d

this happen , al l i s no t lost . Instea d o f starin g i n horro r a t th e screen ,
press ESCAP E followe d b y U (fo r Undo) . Th e ol d versio n o f th e curren t
line i s automaticall y reinstate d an d th e damag e undone . Wha t happen s
is tha t th e editor keep s a copy of the current line , an d then modifie s i t a s
characters ar e adde d o r deleted . Th e modifie d versio n replace s th e
original whe n th e curso r i s move d of f th e curren t line . Th e U comman d
simply discard s th e modifie d versio n an d cause s th e ol d versio n t o b e
used instead . Thi s mean s tha t Und o wil l no t wor k afte r delet e line , o r
when th e curso r ha s bee n move d of f th e lin e fo r an y reason . I f thi s
happens it is too late to undo the damage .
Blocks

A bloc k o f text ca n b e specified b y identifying th e beginnin g wit h th e B S

(Block Start ) command , an d th e end with th e B E (Block End ) command .
To d o this , yo u mov e th e curso r t o th e firs t lin e o f th e block , pres s
ESCAPE, and type BS . Then mov e the cursor t o the las t lin e of the block ,
press ESCAPE , and type BE . After you hav e given th e B S command, yo u
can us e an y o f th e curso r commands , o r execut e a searc h befor e yo u
define th e en d o f th e bloc k wit h BE . Nevertheless , i f yo u mak e an y
change to the text at this point, the block becomes undefine d again .
A block can be as small a s one line. Fo r example,
BS; BE

defines th e curren t lin e a s th e curren t block . A block ca n neve r star t o r

end within a line . I f you onl y wan t par t of a line, you mus t split i t befor e
you us e B S and BE . A block canno t be infinit e i n length . I f it is too long,
an error occurs. Th e size of block allowed i s relative t o the size of the file ;
a block containin g 5 0 line s ma y b e allowed b y a large file, bu t it won't by
a file of about 80 lines.
Once th e bloc k ha s bee n defined i t can be moved and inserted elsewhere .
To inser t th e bloc k i n a ne w position , yo u us e th e I B (Inser t Block )
command a s follows, firs t mov e th e cursor t o where you wis h t o insert th e
block, the n pres s ESCAP E an d typ e IB . A cop y o f th e bloc k i s
2-9

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

immediately inserte d afte r th e curren t line . T o delet e a block , yo u us e

the D B (Delete Block ) command. Yo u give this command i n the same wa y
as above , excep t tha t yo u typ e DB . Usin g th e BS , BE , IB , an d D B
commands, you can 'cut and paste' the contents of a file int o a new order.
It i s also possibl e t o mov e block s betwee n files . T o write a block t o a file ,
you us e th e WB (Writ e Block ) command. T o do this , pres s ESCAP E an d
typeWB. Fo r example,
WB /Doc /

writes th e previousl y define d bloc k t o th e fil e represente d b y th e strin g

delimited b y th e tw o slashe s (//) ; tha t is , th e bloc k i s writte n t o th e fil e
'Doc' An y vali d delimiter s ca n b e used ; th e secon d delimite r ma y b e
replaced wit h RETURN . I f the fil e doe s no t exist, i t is created. However ,
if the file does exist, its contents are overwritten with a copy of the block.
The I F (Inser t File ) comman d use s th e sam e forma t a s WB . I F inserts a
file immediatel y afte r th e curren t line . I F and WB can be use d to merg e
together different files .
You ca n als o us e B S an d B E t o mar k a bloc k i n orde r t o 'remember ' a
particular positio n i n a file . Yo u ca n the n us e th e S B (Sho w Block )
command. S B resets the screen so that the first lin e of an identified bloc k
appears at the top of the screen .
It is important to note that blocks refer t o whole lines . A BS cannot star t
within a line , no r ca n a B E finis h withi n one . Thi s mean s tha t yo u ca n
point th e curso r a t an y positio n on a line fo r th e bloc k marke r t o includ e
the whol e line . I f onl y par t o f a lin e i s required , th e lin e mus t b e spli t
before marking . Similarly , a bloc k canno t b e inserte d withi n a line . I f a
block i s t o be inserte d withi n a line the n th e lin e mus t be split before th e
block i s marked ; th e bloc k marker s ar e los t i f th e lin e i s spli t afte r
setting but before insertion .

2-10

Introduction t o Tripo s

Editing File s

Movement

The immediat e command s t o scrol l u p an d dow n ar e suitabl e fo r smal l

amounts o f movemen t u p an d dow n th e file . However , i f yo u wan t t o
move t o th e en d o f th e file , particularl y i f i t i s a lon g one , scrol l u p
(CTRL-U) i s unsatisfactoril y slow . Th e B (Bottom-of-file ) comman d
immediately write s out th e las t par t of the fil e o n the screen. So , the las t
usable lin e contains , wher e possible , th e botto m lin e o f th e file .
Conversely, th e T (Top-of-file) comman d write s out the top part of the fil e
with th e firs t lin e o f th e fil e a t th e to p o f th e screen . Th e movemen t
happens immediately because th e whole of the file i s kept in memory.
There ar e extende d command s tha t correspon d t o immediat e curso r
control commands . These , becaus e the y requir e mor e key s t o be pressed,
are no t a s convenien t fo r norma l curso r control . The y ar e mos t usefu l
when combine d i n a comple x command . Fo r example , yo u migh t hav e a
command lin e tha t find s a lin e containin g a string , move s t o th e en d o f
that lin e an d exchange s anothe r string , the n move s t o the nex t lin e an d
repeats th e whol e operation . Th e command s are : N fo r move t o the star t
of th e Nex t line ; P fo r mov e t o th e Previou s line ; C L fo r mov e Curso r
Left; C R fo r mov e Curso r Right ; C E fo r mov e Curso r t o th e En d o f th e
current line and CS for move the Cursor to the Start of the line .
Searching and

Exchanging

To find a defined string , you can use the F (Find) command. Fo r example,
F /ABC /

finds th e string 'ABC . The search starts immediately beyon d the curren t
cursor positio n an d continue s unti l th e strin g i s found , o r the en d o f th e
file i s reached . O n locatin g th e string , E D display s th e par t o f th e fil e
containing i t on the screen .
F onl y searche s forwards . Th e B F (Backward s Find ) comman d enable s
you t o search backwards from th e cursor. The searc h continues unti l th e
string i s found , o r th e to p o f th e fil e i s reached . Th e par t o f th e fil e
containing th e strin g i s the n writte n ou t a s before . Fo r example , th e
command
2-11

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

BF /ABC /

searches backward s throug h th e fil e t o fin d th e las t occurrenc e o f th e

string 'ABC . I f the comman d i s repeated , th e penultimat e occurrenc e i s
found, and so on until th e top of the file i s reached.
To exchang e on e strin g fo r another , yo u ca n us e th e E (Exchange )
command. Thi s command i s followed b y th e strin g t o be exchanged, wit h
the replacemen t strin g afte r th e las t delimite r o f th e firs t string . Fo r
example, if you typ e
E /Apples/Pears /

the firs t 'Apples ' t o b e foun d afte r th e curso r i s replace d wit h 'Pears' .
After th e exchange , E D move s th e curso r t o poin t afte r th e exchange d
text. Space s ar e allowe d a s strings . Fo r example , yo u ca n exchang e a
double space for a single one by typin g
E / /

A null string , tw o delimiters wit h nothing in between, can be used for the
first string . I n which case th e second string is inserted before the curren t
cursor position (that is, exchange nothin g for string).
You can also achieve a n exchange wit h the E Q command. E Q (Exchang e
and Query ) wil l execut e th e exchang e o r no t dependin g o n th e answe r
you give to the query. Fo r example, suppose you give the comman d
EQ/ise/ize/

then i t finds 'otherwise, ' moves the cursor to point at the first lette r of the
string (that is, the 'i'), and displays
Exchange?

on th e botto m lin e o f th e screen . A s 'otherwize ' i s clearl y wrong , yo u

answer b y typin g a n N an d n o chang e i s made . Yo u ca n the n pres s
CTRL-G t o fin d th e nex t occurrenc e o f th e string . Suppos e i t find s
'recognise', an d yo u wis h t o Americaniz e you r English , yo u typ e Y an d
2-12

Introduction to Tripos

Editing File s

the exchang e i s made . I f you typ e anythin g els e i n answe r t o th e query ,

the following i s displayed:
Commands abandone d

and no exchange i s made. However , E D remembers th e exchange string s

and so you can still repea t the E Q by pressing CTRL-G.
All these searc h and exchange commands recogniz e a difference betwee n
upper an d lowe r case : 'ABC ' i s no t th e sam e a s 'abc \ T o searc h fo r a
string tha t coul d includ e eithe r uppe r o r lowe r case , us e th e U C (Uppe r
Case) command. Thi s i s useful i f you wis h t o find a word that can appea r
either a t th e beginnin g o f a sentenc e o r i n th e middl e suc h a s 'All ' or
'all'. Fo r example,
uc;f/all/

finds
All th e King' s horse s
as well a s
Despite th e presenc e o f al l th e King' s horse s

Once th e U C command ha s bee n given , an y search or exchange wil l find

any combinatio n o f uppe r an d lowe r case . Althoug h i t does no t actuall y
do a physica l translation , E D act s a s i f ever y lette r i s i n uppe r case . T o
return t o th e default , yo u us e th e L C (Lower Case ) command . I n othe r
words, al l lowe r cas e letter s ar e agai n treate d a s differen t fro m uppe r
case.
Altering Text

The E command canno t b e use d t o inser t a new lin e int o th e text . Th e A

(After) an d I (Insert) commands inser t lines . To insert a blank lin e abov e
the current line , you can mov e th e cursor to the beginning of the lin e an d
press RETURN , o r yo u ca n us e th e A command . Similarly , t o inser t a
blank lin e belo w th e curren t line , yo u ca n mov e th e curso r t o the en d o f
the lin e an d pres s RETURN , o r you ca n us e th e I command. Whe n yo u
2-13

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

give eithe r o f thes e command s th e line s belo w th e curren t lin e ar e

shuffled dow n to make roo m for the new blank line .
You ca n als o specif y a strin g afte r eithe r th e I o r A command s Thi s
string i s the n inserte d o n th e ne w lin e create d b y th e command . Fo r
example,
A/The Walru s an d th e Oysters /

makes a ne w curren t lin e containin g th e tex t 'Th e Walru s an d th e

Oysters' below the old current line .
To spli t a lin e i n immediat e mode , yo u mov e th e curso r t o th e correc t
position an d press RETURN . I n extended mode , you can use the S (Split)
command in the same way .
To join tw o line s together , mov e th e curso r t o th e en d o f th e firs t line ,
press ESCAPE , an d giv e th e J (Join ) command . Th e secon d lin e i s the n
written at the end of the first .
The extende d versio n o f delet e i s th e D (Delete) command . Thi s delete s
the current line i n the same wa y as CTRL-B.
To delete a character a t th e curso r i n th e sam e wa y a s CTRL-N , you us e
the DC (Delete Character ) command .
Repeating Commands

It i s possibl e t o repea t command s i n extende d mode . T o repea t a

command a certai n numbe r o f times , yo u mus t specif y th e numbe r o f
times before the command. Fo r example,
4 E /slithy/brillig /

exchanges th e nex t four occurrence s of'slithy ' to "brillig*. ED verifies th e

screen eac h tim e i t execute s th e command . I f ther e ar e les s tha n fou r
occurrences, the following messag e i s displayed:

2-14

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

Search faile d

If yo u d o no t kno w ho w man y time s th e strin g occur s an d yo u wis h t o

exchange al l occurrences , yo u ca n us e th e R P (RePeat ) command . Fo r
example, to exchange all occurrences of'slithy' to 'brillig', type
RP E /slithy/brillig /

This continues t o exchange th e one string for the other until i t comes to a
stop (fo r example , whe n i t come s t o th e en d o f th e file ) an d the n i t
displays:
Search faile d

in the usual way .

You can giv e mor e tha n on e extende d comman d a t th e sam e tim e i f you
separate the m wit h semicolons . Yo u can the n us e CTRL-G to repeat th e
entire group . Th e whol e grou p shoul d the n b e enclose d withi n
parentheses. Fo r example,
RP ( F /bandersnatch/; 3 IB )

inserts th e currentl y define d bloc k thre e time s o n findin g th e strin g

Tjandersnatch'. R P continue s t o repea t th e comman d unti l a n erro r i s
found. Typin g a character whil e E D i s repeatin g a command cause s th e
repetition to be abandoned with the message :
Commands abandone d
Executing a

Tripos Command

in

ED

It is sometime s usefu l t o be able t o carry out some othe r comman d whil e

still i n ED . Fo r instance , yo u migh t wan t t o kno w i f a fil e exist s befor e
saving a copy t o it . Th e comman d D O enables yo u t o jump out of E D an d
do something (fo r example, lis t a directory) an d then jump back.
DO "LIS T :doc/savedtext "

2-15

Introduction to Tripos

Editing File s

Once th e comman d D O is given , th e scree n clears an d th e actio n define d

within th e delimiter s carrie d out . Afterward s pres s RETUR N t o rewrit e
the screen and return to ED.

2.2 The Line Editor - EDIT

EDIT i s a n alternativ e edito r t o ED . Unlik e ED , EDI T processe s file s
sequentially, lin e b y line . Althoug h th e tex t i s no t necessarily displaye d
on th e screen , editin g a fil e i n EDI T i s simila r t o editin g a fil e wit h
extended commands . Th e fil e t o b e edite d i s know n a s th e original , o r
source, file. EDIT' s editin g command s ma y b e use d t o vie w o r alter th e
contents o f th e sourc e file. EDI T copie s eac h lin e tha t yo u pass , an d
possibly alter , i n th e sourc e fil e t o an sequential file whic h know n a s th e
destination file. Yo u ca n the n choos e t o kee p th e destinatio n file, th e
source file, o r both.
The norma l metho d i s t o mov e dow n sequentially , lin e b y lin e throug h
the source file changing , or not changing, th e text. However , it is possible
to mov e bac k a limite d numbe r o f lines . Thes e line s ca n b e accesse d
because the y have not yet been sent to the destination file, bu t are held i n
the outpu t queue . Belo w i t explain s ho w th e siz e o f thi s queue , o r
window, ca n be changed. I f the siz e has not been made larg e enough, i t i s
possible t o retur n t o th e beginnin g o f th e file an d mak e anothe r pas s
through the text .
2.2.1 Entering EDI T
To ente r EDIT , yo u ca n giv e th e EDI T comman d followe d b y certai n
arguments and keywords. Fo r example, to edit the file 'doc' , type
EDIT do c

You can , i f yo u wish , us e th e th e FRO M keywor d t o identif y th e sourc e

file a s follows :
EDIT FRO M do c

2-16

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

If thi s keywor d i s omitted, the n th e first fil e nam e i s assumed t o be the

FROM fil e b y its position. Th e FROM fil e i s the original (source) . I t can
be kept unaltered i f you exit from the program by typing STOP.
If you wis h t o keep th e original an d to create a new file containin g any
alterations yo u hav e made , then you must specify a TO (destination) file .
The keywor d T O is optional a s the file i s recognized b y its position. The
following command lines :
EDIT do c doc-ne w

EDIT FRO M do c doc-ne w

EDIT do c TO doc-ne w

are al l acceptable. I n this case , afte r yo u exit fro m EDIT , 'doc ' remain s
unchanged, an d 'doc-new ' contain s th e ne w versio n o f 'doc ' wit h an y
alterations. I f 'doc-new ' doe s no t exist , i t i s created ; i f i t does , i t i s
overwritten. I f a TO file i s not specified, the n a temporary fil e i s created,
which i s the n rename d wit h th e same nam e a s the original FRO M fil e
when you exit from EDIT . The old version of the FRO M file is retained in
the tempor y file :t/edit-backup .
Commands i n EDIT are accepted fro m th e keyboard unles s th e keyword
WITH i s given . Thi s keywor d introduce s a file containin g th e EDI T
commands you wish to use on the FROM file. Fo r example,
EDIT do c WIT H e d i t - p r o g

takes command s fro m 'edit-prog ' an d applies the m t o th e text i n 'doc'.

When th e command s i n 'edit-prog ' hav e finished, you r usua l promp t
returns, an d 'doc' is updated (th e destination file overwrite s th e source).
This feature ca n be extremely useful . Fo r example, you can use the RUN
command before th e command line :
RUN EDI T do c WIT H e d i t - p r o g

and thereb y d o your editin g i n the backgroun d whil e yo u get on wit h

something else . Yo u can even se t up a serie s o f EDIT command s wit h
WITH file s i n a C command fil e an d then RU N the command file i n the
background:
2-17

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

RUN C with-command s

where 'with-commands ' is a file containin g the following :

EDIT doc l WIT H edit-pro g T O docl-ne w
EDIT doc 2 WIT H edit-pro g T O doc2-ne w
EDIT doc 3 WIT H edit-prog 2 T O doc3-ne w

EDIT the n verifie s th e command s t o th e scree n (fo r example , i t display s

the globa l numbe r o f an y globa l comman d i t executes) , display s a colo n
(:) promp t whe n i t complete s eac h comman d line , an d copie s th e result s
to th e T O destination file . Therefor e th e abov e exampl e ca n b e see n t o
have worke d if the following appear s on the screen :

All verificatio n o f comman d executio n i s sen t t o th e termina l unles s

another destinatio n ha s bee n specifie d b y th e keywor d VER . Fo r
example,
EDIT doc l WIT H edit-pro g T O doc 2 VE R confir m

takes th e command s fro m 'edit-prog' , applie s the m t o 'docl' , copie s th e

updated file t o 'doc2', and sends the verification t o 'confirm. '
If verification i s to be thrown away, you can use the device NIL:
EDIT doc l WIT H edit-pro g T O doc 2 VE R NIL :

Lastly, EDI T accept s tw o options , whic h ar e introduce d b y th e keywor d

OPT. Th e tw o options are P n and Wn. P n denotes th e maximu m numbe r
of previou s line s tha t ca n b e hel d i n th e virtua l 'window' . W n set s th e
maximum lin e width . The default i s P40 W120.

2-18

Introduction to Tripos

Editing File s

2.2.2 Basic use of EDIT

EDIT command s ar e ver y similar , bu t no t identical , t o E D extende d
commands. Command s type d at th e termina l appea r t o act i n almost th e
same wa y a s extende d command s i n ED , eve n multipl e command s ar e
allowed usin g a semicolo n (; ) separator . Th e F (Find ) comman d take s a
string in the same way in both editors. S o
*F/text/

in ED has the same effect a s

:F/text/

in EDIT. In both cases the command is executed on pressing RETURN .

The mos t obviou s differenc e o n enterin g EDI T fo r th e firs t tim e afte r
using ED is that no text appears on the screen. Instea d this is displayed:
Tripos Edito r

The prompt: appears whenever th e editor i s waiting for a command. Th e

: i s lik e th e * o n th e E D comman d line ; whateve r yo u typ e afte r i t i s
executed a s a command whe n you press RETURN , an d i f you fai l t o giv e
a valid command, an error occurs.
Text onl y appear s whe n a comman d i s received . Eac h comman d mus t
work o n the lin e 'i n hand' . This i s th e lin e whic h i s rea d fro m th e sourc e
and passe d o n t o th e destinatio n file . Whil e th e lin e i s 'i n hand' , i t i s
known as the current line. Commands ac t on this lin e i n the same wa y a s
on the line identified b y the cursor in ED.
Note: Command s i n EDI T ca n b e give n i n uppe r o r lowe r case : f/abc / i s
the same as F/abc/. Th e same i s true of extended commands i n ED.
Lines ar e identifie d i n EDI T b y uniqu e lin e numbers , whic h ar e use d t o
move, or refer, t o a particular line . As EDI T reads each successive lin e i n
a file, i t assign s i t a lin e number . Th e lin e numbe r i s no t par t o f th e
information o n that lin e an d cannot be deleted or changed. However , an y
2-19

Kditing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

[ines tha t yo u inser t whil e i n the edito r wil l hav e n o number assigne d t o
:hem. O n reenterin g EDIT , yo u wil l fin d tha t lin e number s ar e
-eassigned sequentially , an d tha t th e line s tha t ha d n o number s ar e
lumbered i n sequence .
ro move to line 5 , type the M (Move) command followed by a 5:
M5
rhis comman d find s lin e 5 an d make s i t th e curren t line . I f line 5 ha s
>een passed , EDI T return s there , s o lon g a s lin e 5 i s stil l hel d i n mai n
nemory. I t i s importan t t o not e tha t becaus e som e line s ma y no t hav e
lumbers (becaus e the y hav e just bee n inserted , fo r example), lin e 5 ma y
lot necessarily b e the fifth lin e in the file .
Certain symbol s ar e als o accepte d i n lie u o f actua l lin e numbers . A
jeriod (.) is used to refer to the current line. Fo r example,

noves t o the curren t lin e (whic h is , of course, a n unnecessary , an d silly ,

:ommand). Thi s shorthan d fo r th e curren t line , however , i s mos t ofte n
lsed with deletion or insertion commands .
rhe asteris k (* ) symbo l i s use d t o refe r t o th e las t lin e i n th e file . Fo r
ixample,
M*

neans move to the last line of the file .

Phe plu s ( + ) sig n i s use d t o refe r t o th e furthes t lin e forwar d yo u ca n
nove t o an d stil l retur n t o th e curren t lin e usin g th e M command. T o
nove a s fa r a s possibl e forward s t o th e las t lin e i n th e curren t memory ,
ype
M+

?o move as far backwards as possible t o the first lin e i n memory, typ e

2-20

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

M-

Movement can also be effected withou t referenc e t o a particular line . Fo r

instance, yo u ca n tel l th e edito r t o advanc e t o th e nex t lin e wit h th e N
(Next) command. T o move t o the nex t line , typ e
N

and to move down two lines, typ e

N N

and so on. A s this is tedious, you can place a repetition number BEFOR E
the N to denote the number of lines you wish to advance. Fo r example ,
4N

tells EDIT to perform N fou r times. Thi s command can be combined wit h
a specific move :
M5;4N

In othe r words , 'Mov e t o lin e 5 an d the n mov e o n fou r lines' . A s line s

inserted during an editing session have no associated number, the abilit y
to move on without specifying a number i s essential .
In th e sam e wa y tha t N i s use d t o mov e t o th e Nex t line , P i s use d t o
move to the Previous line . Fo r example,
P

moves on e lin e back . A numbe r befor e th e comman d denote s ho w man y

times you wish to repeat the command. So ,
4P

tells EDI T t o perfor m P fou r time s (tha t is , 'Mov e bac k fou r lines') .
Although N work s unti l th e end-of-fil e i s reached , P only work s o n line s
held in main memory .
2-21

Editing File s

Introduction to Tripos

It is also possible t o specify a particular lin e b y its context. As mentione d

above, th e searc h comman d F work s i n th e sam e wa y a s i n ED . Th e
command i s give n followe d b y a string. The editor the n searches forwar d
to fin d a lin e containin g tha t string , makin g th e locate d lin e th e ne w
current line. The search continues unti l the end of the file i s reached. Th e
message displaye d b y E D i s 'Searc h failed ' i f th e contex t i s no t found ;
EDIT displays 'SOURC E EXHAUSTED ' if it cannot find it .
Like i n ED , i t i s als o possibl e t o search backward s i n EDI T wit h th e B F
(Backwards Find ) command . Again , onl y th e line s i n memor y ca n b e
used. Th e same synta x as E D is use d
BF / J a c k an d J i l l /
(that is , 'searc h bac k throug h th e fil e t o find a lin e containin g Jac k an d
Jill'). I f the string is not found, then the messag e
NO MOR E PREVIOU S LINE S

is given.
Character string s hav e delimiter s i n the sam e wa y as in ED. There are a
number of characters that can be used; however, they must not be letters,
numbers, spaces , semicolons , o r brackets . Th e delimite r tha t i s chose n
must not also occur within the string's text. So,
fetch a

p a i l o f water .

should no t hav e a period (. ) a s a delimiter. Space s between th e comman d

and the first delimite r ar e no t significant, an d are ignored; spaces withi n
the string are significant, sinc e the context must match exactly.
Jack f e l l dow n
is different fro m
Jack f e l

l dow n

and so no match is made.

2-22

Introduction to Tripos

Editing File s

An F wit h n o followin g strin g repeat s th e previou s search . Th e searc h

starts at the current line, and so, if the same command i s typed again, th e
context i n th e sam e curren t lin e i s found . T o progres s t o fin d ne w
occurrences, you must advance the current line . Fo r example,
N;F

moves onto th e nex t lin e an d repeat s th e searc h forwards . Similarly , fo r

Backwards Find,
P;BF

moves back a line and repeats the search back through the file .
EDIT has further additiona l refinement s t o the simple searc h command .
These ar e know n a s qualifiers . The y allo w th e searc h t o be limited , fo r
instance, to the beginning or end of the line . Thus,
F B /Jack/
finds th e firs t lin e beginnin g wit h th e wor d 'Jack' . I n thi s case , i t find s
the first lin e o f the rhyme . T o find a line wit h a specific ending , you ad d
the E (End) qualifie r
F E / water. /

This finds a line ending i n' water.'; in this case:

to fetc h a pai l o f water .

The string s /Jack / an d / water. / ar e calle d qualifie d strings . Anothe r

qualifier restrict s th e searc h t o findin g a lin e containin g precisel y a
string wit h n o other characters , eithe r befor e o r after th e string . Thi s i s
the P (Precisely) qualifier. Hence ,
F P/ t o f e t c h a

pai l o f water. /

locates the lin e

2-23

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

to fetc h a pai l o f water .

whereas
F P/ f e t c h a

pail /

does not . Yo u ca n als o giv e a nul l strin g (tha t is , tw o delimiter s

enclosing nothing) afte r ' F P':
F P //

In other words, 'Find Precisely nothing', or 'find an empty line' .

Typing Text

Sometimes i t i s no t sufficien t t o ge t th e contex t fro m th e singl e curren t

line. I n which case i t is possible t o type out (that is, display) severa l line s
using the T (Type) command. Fo r example,
T

starts a t th e beginnin g o f the curren t lin e an d continues t o 'type' until i t

reaches th e end of the file. Yo u can also specify ho w much you wish to be
'typed'. Fo r example,
T6

types the next six lines , and

TP

types the lines in the output queue.

Changes on

the Current Line

Exchange - To exchange on e character string for another type :

E /Jack/John /

2-24

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

This exchange s th e firs t occurrenc e o f the firs t strin g o n th e current lin e

for the second string, giving :
John an d J i l l
If /Jack/ is not found the messag e
NO MATC H

is given.
After - This places a second string immediatel y afte r th e first occurrenc e
of the first string on the current line. Fo r example,
A /John/ny /
results in:
Johnny an d Jil l

Before - Thi s place s th e secon d strin g immediatel y befor e th e firs t

occurrence o f th e firs t strin g o n th e curren t line . A n empt y strin g (tw o
delimiters togethe r wit h n o spac e i n between) , cause s th e secon d strin g
to be placed at the beginning of the line . For example:
B //Mary , /
Mary, Johnn y an d Jil l

All th e previou s command s work b y readin g th e lin e lef t t o right , an d

then actin g o n th e firs t occurrence . T o ac t o n the las t th e qualifier 'L ' is
used. This causes the line to be read right to left. Fo r example:
E L/y/ie /
Mary, Johnni e an d Jil l

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Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

Globals

The command s E (Exchange), A (After), an d B (Before) onl y wor k on one

line. Eac h occurrenc e o f Jack ca n b e exchange d fo r John throughou t b y
setting u p a globa l exchange . A globa l exchang e comman d remain s
active unti l i t i s cancelled . Eac h tim e a ne w lin e i s read , an d th e strin g
matched, the exchange i s made. S o
G E/Jack/John /
globally exchange s Jac k fo r John, and th e line s tha t contained th e strin g
'Jack' will appear as follows :
John an d Jil l
John fel l dow n
Op Joh n go t

and so on
Line Deletion and

Insertion

Delete - To delete a line, you us e th e D (Delete) command followed by th e

line number of the line you wish to remove. Fo r example,
D5

deletes lin e number 5. To delete th e current line, typ e

D.

where perio d (. ) denote s th e curren t line . ( D withou t a perio d i s a

synonym fo r 'D.'. ) I t i s als o possibl e t o delet e line s inclusivel y fro m on e
numbered line to another. Fo r example,
D5 7

deletes line s 5 to 7.

2-26

Introduction t o Tripo s

Editing File s

All successive line s unti l a line containing a specific strin g can be deleted
by the D F (Delete Find ) command. Fo r example,
DF / f e t c h a

pail /

deletes th e line s
Jack an d Jil l
went u p th e hil l

but stops when it reaches the lin e

to fetc h a pai l o f wate r

Insert - To insert a line, you use the I (Insert) command followed by a lin e
number or accepted symbol. Fo r example,
I.

inserts anythin g yo u typ e on the keyboar d befor e th e current line . Unti l

the insertio n i s terminated , al l characters , includin g thos e use d a s
commands, ar e treate d as text t o be inserted . To terminate th e insertion ,
type the letter 'Z' on a line by itself. Fo r example,
II

Jack an d J i l l
went u p t h e h i l l
Z

tells EDI T to take th e tw o lines typed before th e Z and insert the m befor e
line 1 .
To insert th e tex t of another file, yo u use th e I (Insert) command followe d
by the nam e of the file yo u wish to insert in the form of a string:
I ":Bill/nursery-rhyme "
The origina l line s ar e unchange d wheneve r yo u us e a n insertio n
command. Th e ne w line s are , fo r th e present , hav e n o lin e numbers ; i f
2-27

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

you mov e t o them , yo u wil l se e tha t the y hav e plu s sign s ( + + + ) wher e
the lin e numbe r usually appears .
To remov e a lin e an d inser t a replacement , yo u us e th e R (Replace )
command. Thi s comman d i s use d i n exactl y th e sam e wa y a s th e inser t
command; it even ha s the same terminator . Fo r example,
R.
and the y al l live d happil y eve r after .
Z

replaces th e current lin e wit h th e tex t typed before th e Z. Notic e that th e

text must be on a separate lin e from the Z.
A commo n mistak e wit h bot h th e I and R commands i s t o forget t o typ e
the Z ; if you d o forget, the n nothin g appear s t o wor k a s EDI T think s th e
commands you type are just line s of text you wish to insert.
Split an d Join

Splitting a line - A line can be split before or after a string. The firs t par t
of th e lin e bein g sen t t o output , an d th e secon d par t remainin g a s th e
current line .
The S B (Split Before ) comman d split s th e lin e befor e th e specifie d string .
For example,
SB /Jill /

rewrites the lin e 'Jac k and Jill' as:

Jack an d
Jill
The S A (Spli t After ) comman d split s th e lin e afte r th e specifie d string .
For example,
SA /Jack /

2-28

Introduction t o Tripos

Editing File s

rewrites th e same lin e as:

Jack
and Jil l

The leadin g space woul d have been lost if the split had been
SA / J a c k /
Joining line s - To join, or concatenate, a lin e s o tha t th e beginnin g of the
new curren t lin e i s th e curren t lin e followe d b y th e give n string , endin g
with th e nex t line , yo u us e th e C L (Concatenat e Line ) command . Fo r
example,
CL / /

puts a spac e a t th e en d o f th e curren t lin e an d the n concatenate s th e

current lin e an d the nex t lin e t o make a new, longe r curren t line . I f this
command i s executed when the current line is the first lin e of the rhyme ,
the result is as follows:
Jack an d Jil l wen t u p th e hil l

A repea t counte r befor e C L enable s yo u t o specif y ho w man y line s yo u

wish t o b e concatenated : 2CL / / cause s th e nex t tw o line s t o b e
concatenated, 3CL/ / the next three lines, and so on.
2.2.3 Terminating an EDIT Session
You can can terminate EDI T in one of two ways. First , you can use the W
(Windup) command ; thi s allow s yo u t o kee p al l you r alteration s i n th e
TO fil e whe n yo u leav e EDIT . Second , you can us e th e STO P command ;
this stop s EDI T immediatel y an d throw s awa y an y alteration s yo u ma y
have made. Fo r example ,
w

2-29

Editing File s

Introduction t o Tripos

W write s th e sourc e fil e bac k t o th e destination . I f ther e ar e an y

oustanding globals , the n the y ar e execute d a s th e sourc e fil e i s rea d an d
then writte n out to the destination .
STOP

immediately stop s whateve r comman d i s bein g executed , keep s th e

source fil e intact , throw s awa y th e destinatio n file , an d terminate s th e
EDIT session. All edits are then lost .

2-30

Table of Contents
3.1

Tasks

3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3

Commands to Tasks
Stopping a Task
Starting and Restarting a Task
Examining Task s

3.3

Patterns

3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4

Command File s
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4

3.5

Command Path s

3.6

Startup Sequenc e

3.7

Errors

Chapter 3: Further Use of Tripos

This chapte r introduce s furthe r topic s an d explain s i n greate r detai l
some of those raised in Chapter 1 .

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

3.1 Tasks
Like som e othe r moder n operatin g systems , Tripo s provide s th e use r
with th e abilit y t o perform a numbe r o f different jobs concurrently. Thi s
ability t o multi-task mean s tha t single users , at one console, can act as i f
they hav e severa l machine s a t thei r comman d a t th e sam e time . Thes e
virtual machine s all shar e th e sam e screen ; a simple escap e combinatio n
enables yo u t o switc h fro m on e t o th e other . Usin g thi s system , yo u ca n
print out a file an d compile a program, while editing another file. Instea d
of having on e machin e fo r severa l people , Tripos make s th e machin e ac t
as if it is several machine s for one person.
Each Tripo s tas k represent s a particula r proces s i n th e operatin g
system. (I n fact , th e ter m 'process ' i s a synony m fo r 'task ' an d yo u wil l
find tha t both terms ar e use d interchangeably i n this manual. ) Onl y on e
task i s actuall y runnin g a t a time ; othe r task s ar e eithe r waitin g fo r
something t o happen , o r hav e bee n interrupte d an d ar e waitin g t o b e
resumed. Fo r eac h tas k ther e i s a n associate d priorit y level . Th e tas k
with th e highes t priorit y run s first . Lowe r priorit y task s ru n onl y whe n
those a t a highe r leve l ar e waitin g fo r som e reaso n - such a s fo r dat a t o
arrive from a disk or from th e keyboard .
Tripos ha s a t leas t fou r task s i n th e standar d system . Th e firs t task ,
task 1 , is th e Comman d Lin e Interprete r o r CLI. This accept s command s
and attempt s t o execut e them . Al l command s an d use r program s ru n
under a CLI . T o se t u p furthe r CLIs , yo u ca n us e th e NEWCL I o r RU N
command. (Se e Chapte r 1 , "Tripo s Commands, " of the Tripos User 's
Reference Manual fo r a full specificatio n o f NEWCLI and RUN. )
The secon d task, tas k 2 , is the debug task. Yo u may select th e debug tas k
yourself, o r yo u ma y fin d tha t th e syste m enter s i t fo r yo u i f somethin g
goes wrong . Onc e i n debug , yo u ca n examin e an d alte r th e stat e o f th e
computer and then continue progra m execution if all i s well .
Task 3 and tas k 4 handl e th e termina l an d th e filin g syste m o n th e disk .
If there i s mor e tha n on e dis k device , a separat e tas k i s devote d t o eac h
one.
3-1

Further Us e

Introduction to Tripos

Initially anythin g yo u typ e on th e keyboar d i s directe d t o th e Comman d

Line Interprete r (CLI) . Inpu t and output i s then processe d b y the consol e
(terminal) handler , whic h perform s loca l lin e editin g (fo r example ,
character and line deletion) .
To selec t anothe r task , pres s CTRL- P ( P fo r Process) . Thi s combinatio n
allow yo u t o mov e fro m tas k t o task . Eac h tim e yo u pres s CTRL- P yo u
select anothe r task . B y repeatedl y pressin g CTRL- P yo u ca n cycl e
through all the available tasks .
If necessary, yo u can us e th e CONSOL E comman d t o change th e contro l
combination t o something else. That is, you can choose another characte r
to pres s wit h th e CTR L key . Yo u shoul d mak e sure , though , tha t th e
character yo u specif y i s no t alread y use d fo r somethin g else . Fo r
example, i t is not a good idea to exchange CTRL- P for CTRL-X; if you do,
you'll lose the ability to cancel a line.
Initially inpu t i s directe d t o th e CL I o n tas k 1 a s i t handle s al l
commands. However , yo u can use th e CTRL- P combination t o connecte d
your termina l t o othe r tasks . I f you us e NEWCL I t o creat e a ne w task ,
then yo u ca n pres s CTRL- P t o selec t i t (yo u ma y hav e t o pres s CTRL- P
several time s t o do so , though) . Whe n yo u selec t anothe r CLI , you leav e
the firs t CL I suspended . T o reselect th e initia l CL I again, pres s CTRL- P
as man y time s a s i s necessar y unti l yo u retur n t o th e correc t task . Yo u
can tell whic h task i s which if you use the following PROMP T command:
PROMPT %n >

the prompt then includes th e task number . Fo r example,

8>

means tha t you are usin g task 8 . Tas k 2 (debug) is easily recognized as i t
has its own prompt, an asterisk (*) .

3-2

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

3.2 Commands to Tasks

This sectio n describe s th e command s tha t le t you start , stop , and restar t
a task. I t also explains ho w you can examine tasks .
3.2.1 Stopping a Task
BREAK - The command BREA K (no t th e BREA K key) , sets u p specifie d
attention flags . Th e fla g CTRL- C i s se t b y default ; CTRL-D , CTRL-E ,
and CTRL- F ma y als o b e used . Th e resul t o f th e comman d BREA K i s
identical t o selecting th e relevan t tas k an d pressin g th e require d CTRL .
For example,
BREAK 7

means set the CTRL-C (default) o f task 7 . Alternatively, selec t tas k 7 (by
pressing CTRL-P as many times as is necessary) and then press CTRL-C,
the effect shoul d be the same. To set the CTRL-D flag of task 5 , type
BREAK 5 D

ENDCLI - Thi s comman d terminate s a n interactiv e CL I task . Tha t is ,

ENDCLI terminate s th e CL I currentl y selecte d b y th e CTRL- P
combination. ENDCL I i s normall y use d t o en d a CL I create d b y
NEWCLI. I f the initia l CL I (task 1 ) is terminated, and no new one set up,
then th e sessio n i s automaticall y ended . Yo u shoul d us e thi s comman d
with care.
3.2.2 Starting and Restarting a Task
NEWCLI - Thi s comman d create s a ne w interactiv e CL I tas k whil e
remaining i n th e sam e currentl y selecte d task . T o us e th e ne w CLI , yo u
must press th e CTRL- P combination a s man y time s a s i s necessary unti l
you obtai n th e correc t prompt . Onc e yo u hav e selecte d a ne w CL I wit h
NEWCLI an d CTRL-P , you wil l fin d th e current directory an d prompt i s
the sam e a s i n your initia l CLI . Whe n a ne w CL I start s u p i t announce s
its task number , whic h you can then use t o identify it .
3-3

Further Us e

Introduction t o Tripos

3.2.3 Examinin g Task s

STATUS - This command displays informatio n abou t th e task s currentl y
in existence . Th e comman d alon e produce s a lis t o f th e tas k numbers ,
with a n indicatio n a s t o whethe r the y ar e waiting , suspended , running ,
interrupted, held , broke n o r i f thei r work queu e i s empty . Informatio n
about a specific tas k can also be given:
STATUS 4

will sho w th e stat e o f task numbe r 4 . Furthe r argument s ca n be give n t o

get fuller or more specific information .

3.3 Patterns
A patter n i s use d t o matc h certai n files . I t consist s o f severa l specia l
characters whic h hav e certai n meanings , an d an y othe r character s
which match themselves. The special characters are as follows :
' ( ) ? % # !

The prefi x ' is use d t o remove th e specia l effec t o f any of these character s
and caus e the m t o matc h themselves . Fo r instanc e ' ? matche s ? and "
matches'. The action of the special characters is as follows :
? matche
% matche
# < p > matche

s any single characte r

s the nul l strin g
s an y numbe r o f occurrences o f the patter n

<p>
< p l > < p 2 > matche
s a sequenc e o f pattern < p l > followe d b y
<p2>
< p l > | < p 2 > matche
s i f either patter n < p l > o r pattern < p 2 >
match
() ar
e used to group patterns togethe r

3-4

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

Thus
A#BC matche
A#(B|C)D matche
A?B matche
A#?B matche
'?#?'# matche
A(B|%)#C matche

s AC , ABC, ABBC, and so on

s AD, ABD, ABCD, and so on
s AAB, ABB, ACB, and so on
s AB, AXXB, AZXQB, and so on
s ?#, ?AB# , ??## , an d so on
s A, ABC, ACCC, and so on

This i s rathe r complicate d but , onc e mastered , allow s LIS T an d othe r

commands to be used with extreme flexibility. Fo r example,
LIST .-bil l PAT doc#?(x|y )

means "Examin e th e director y :bill , printin g informatio n o n files whic h

start 'doc' and which end with either 'x ' or 'y'."
Many command s tak e pattern s a s arguments , som e example s usin g
familiar command s appear below. For instance, to copy all th e files i n the
current directory which start 'test-' to the disk device 'dfl:' , typ e
COPY test-# ? t o dfl :

Deleting files i s always dangerous. I f many have to be deleted it is easy t o

suffer fro m 'finge r factor' , o r cheerfull y continuin g t o eras e file s tha t
should b e kept . T o avoid accidentally deletin g to o many files , yo u shoul d
consider carefull y an y patter n se t u p fo r deletio n befor e yo u us e it . A n
example of its use might be as follows :
DELETE t#?/#?(l|2 )

which means : 'delete al l file s endin g i n 1 or 2 in directories startin g wit h

t.' Thi s i s usefu l t o clea r ou t th e temporar y director y :T . Th e mor e
cautious use r can always check wit h LIS T before using DELETE .
You d o no t hav e t o understan d th e us e o f pattern s t o us e Tripos .
However, the y can save you a lot of typing.

3-5

Further Us e

Introduction t o Tripos

3.4 Command Files

This sectio n provide s additiona l example s fo r the C command. Althoug h
C comman d file s ca n b e simple , the y ca n als o b e highl y complex . Th e
examples i n this chapter show just how sophisticated they can be.
3.4.1 Example 1
This exampl e show s paramete r substitutio n b y keywor d nam e and/o r
position.
The .KE Y (o r .K ) statemen t supplie s bot h keywor d name s an d position s
in comman d files . I t tell s C how man y parameter s t o expect an d ho w t o
interpret them . I n othe r words , .KE Y serve s a s a "template " fo r th e
parameter value s yo u specify . Onl y on e .KE Y statemen t i s allowe d pe r
command file. I f present, i t should be the first command line in the file .
When yo u ente r a comman d line , Tripo s resolve s paramete r
substitutions fo r th e keyword s i n tw o ways : b y specificatio n o f th e
keyword i n fron t o f th e parameter , an d b y th e relativ e position s o f th e
parameters i n the line. Keywor d name substitutio n take s precedence .
For example, the following KE Y statement :
.KEY f l a s h , p a n
tells Tripo s t o expec t tw o paramete r substitutions , < flash > an d
< p a n > . (Th e angl e bracket s indicat e th e keywor d valu e t o b e
substituted a t execution time. )
Suppose you enter the following command line :
C DEMO l pa n soraenam e f l a s h othernam e
The valu e "othername " i s assigne d t o <
"somename" is assigned t o < p a n > .

3-6

flash >, an d th e valu e

Introduction t o Tripos Furthe

r Us e

You ca n omi t th e keywor d name s i f th e paramete r substitution s ar e i n

the orde r give n i n th e .KE Y statement . Fo r example , th e followin g
statement i s equivalent t o the preceding one:
C DEMO l othernam e somenam e

This i s becaus e th e value s correspon d t o th e keywor d orde r specifie d i n

the .KE Y statement .
You ca n als o mi x th e tw o method s o f paramete r substitution . Suppos e
you have a .KEY statement wit h several parameters , as follows :
.KEY wordl,word2,word3,word 4

The C file processo r remove s paramete r name s fro m th e inpu t lin e t o fil l
the meaning s o f any keywor d value s i t finds . Then , wit h an y remainin g
input, i t fill s th e leftove r keywor d position s accordin g t o th e positio n o f
the input value .
For example:
C DEMO 2 word 3 cc c word l aa a bb b dd d

The processo r assign s cc c t o < w o r d 3 > , aa a t o < wordl > , an d ha s tw o

parameters lef t over . Scannin g from lef t t o right i n the .KE Y statement ,
it find s tha t <word2 > i s stil l unassigned . Thus , < w o r d 2 > get s th e
next inpu t word , bbb . Finally , < word4> hasn' t bee n assigne d either , s o
it gets the last inpu t word , ddd.
You ca n indicat e specia l condition s fo r paramete r substitution , a s
follows:
.KEY namel/a , name2/a , name3 , name4/ k

The "/a " indicates tha t a value mus t b e supplied to fill th e parameters fo r
namel an d name2 . Value s fo r name 3 an d name 4 ar e optional , thoug h
the 7k " indicate s tha t < n a m e 4 > (i f supplied ) mus t b e preceded b y th e
explicit keywor d "name4. " For example:

3-7

Further Us e

Introduction t o Tripos

C DEM0 3 fe e fi e fo e name 4 fu m

If th e use r doe s no t suppl y a require d paramete r (suc h a s name l o r

name2 in the preceding example), C issues a n error message .
As a n exampl e o f th e us e o f th e / k option , suppos e yo u hav e create d a
command-file name d COMPIL E an d i t let s yo u optionall y specif y a fil e
name t o whic h a printou t o f th e compilatio n i s t o be directed. You r .ke y
statement might read :
key c o m p i l e w h a t / a

printfile/k

If a user enters a line suc h as:

C COMPIL E m y f i l e PRINTFIL E myprin t
the command-file say s th e keywor d PRINTFIL E i s optional an d need no t
be supplied , bu t i f used , ther e mus t b e a valu e entere d alon g wit h it .
Thus th e abov e lin e i s correct , sinc e myprin t i s specifie d a s th e targe t
output file.
3.4.2 Example 2
This exampl e demonstrate s ho w yo u ca n assig n defaul t parameter s an d
different bracke t characters.
Note: the following example ca n be executed a s a batch file.
.KEY word l
The .DE F directiv e establishe s a default valu e fo r a keywor d i f the use r
does no t specif y a valu e o n th e comman d line . T o detec t a n unsupplie d
parameter value , yo u ca n compar e i t t o " " (two double-quote s i n a row) .
You must perform thi s comparison befor e executin g any .DE F statemen t
in the command file.
You ca n assig n default s i n eithe r o f tw o ways . Th e firs t wa y require s
that yo u specif y th e defaul t ever y tim e yo u referenc e a parameter, usin g
the "$ " operator.
3-8

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Use

For example, in the following statement :

ECHO "<wordl$defwordl > i s t h e d e f a u l t f o r Wordl. "
"defwordl" i s th e defaul t specifie d fo r word l an d is printe d whe n th e
above statemen t executes . Th e second wa y is t o define a defaul t once .
For example, with the following assignment :
.DEF word l "defwordl "
you can execute the following statement :
ECHO "<wordl > i s t h e d e f a u l t f o r Wordl. "
The output of both of the above ECH O statements wil l be:
d e f w o r d l i s t h e d e f a u l t f o r Wordl .
Note that a second use of .DEF for a given parameter ha s no effect :
.DEF word l "

Ne

w d e f a u lt "

ECHO "<wordl > i s STILL t h e d e f a u l t f o r Wordl. "

(The firs t assignment , "defwordl " wil l b e substitute d fo r word l a t

execution time. )
Wherever C finds enclosin g angl e brackets , it looks withi n the m t o see if
it can substitut e a parameter. A n unsupplied paramete r wit h n o defaul t
becomes a "null" string.
Suppose yo u wan t t o us e a strin g tha t contain s th e angl e bracke t
characters, < an d > . Yo u can use the directives .BR A and .KET t o
define substitute s for the bracket characters. Fo r example ,
ECHO "Thi s l i n e doe s NO T p r i nt < a n g l e > b r a c k e t s . "
. BRA {
.KET }

ECHO "Thi s l i n e DOE S p r i n t < a n g l e > b r a c k e t s . "

ECHO "Th e d e f a u lt f o r word l i s { w o r d l } . "
3-9

Further Us e Introductio

n t o Tripos

The first ECH O statement cause s th e processor to look for the paramete r
substitution fo r "angle, " sinc e that' s th e curren t meanin g o f th e angl e
bracket characters . Sinc e "angle " wasn' t include d i n th e .KE Y
statement, th e processo r substitute s th e nul l strin g fo r it . Then , afte r
the .BR A an d .KE T directive s redefin e th e bracke t characters , th e
second ECH O statement print s the characters :
This lin e DOE S prin t <angle > brackets .

The thir d ECH O statemen t illustrate s tha t th e brace s ( { an d } ) no w

function t o enclose keyword s for the purpose of parameter substitution .
3.4.3 Example 3
This exampl e demonstrate s file cop y simulatio n showin g comman d file
structures.
The I F statement let s you peform test s an d cause differen t action s base d
on the results of those tests . Amon g th e possible tests are testing string s
for equalit y an d testin g t o se e i f a fil e exists . Yo u ca n us e a n ELS E
statement wit h a n I F t o specif y wha t shoul d b e don e i n cas e th e I F
condition i s no t true . Th e ELS E statement , i f used, i s considere d a par t
of the IF statement block . A n ENDIF terminates a n IF statement block .
The exampl e program s belo w als o us e a SKI P statement . Th e SKI P
statement let s yo u ski p FORWAR D ONL Y withi n you r command-fil e t o
a labe l defined b y a LAB statement .
The IF...ENDI F structur e i s illustrate d b y th e followin g shor t example .
It i s generall y a goo d idea t o test fo r keyword s tha t migh t b e omitted, o r
might be entered as null ("") in quotes, as shown below:
IF "<wordl> " E Q "usage "

SKIP USAG E
ENDIF
IF "<word2> " E Q " "
SKIP USAG E
ENDIF

3-10

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

Enclosing your parameter substituitio n word s in double-quotes withi n I F

statements prevents C from reporting an error if the keyword is omitted.
If you omit th e double quotes and th e valu e i s not supplied, th e result ca n
be a line tha t reads:
IF E Q "usage "

This produce s a n error , becaus e th e tw o operator s I F an d E Q ar e

adjacent. Usin g doubl e quote s aroun d th e keywor d replacemen t
indicators results in a line that reads:
IF " " E Q "usage "

which is legal .
You ca n us e NO T i n a n I F statemen t t o revers e th e meanin g o f the tes t
you perform. Fo r example:
IF NO T exist s <from >

There ca n b e nothin g o n th e I F lin e othe r tha n th e tes t condition ! Fo r

example, th e following i s incorrect :
IF <something > E Q tru e SKI P DON E

The correct form of the above statement i s as follows :

IF <something > E Q "true "

SKIP DON E
END IF

As th e exampl e abov e shows , th e strin g constan t teste d fo r nee d no t b e

enclosed i n double-quotesi n th e precedin g example , eithe r "TRUE " o r
TRUE is acceptable.
As shown in the sampl e comman d file below , I F statements ca n be neste d
so tha t command s ca n b e execute d base d o n multipl e tru e statements .
Note tha t C lets yo u inden t t o mak e th e nestin g o f I F statement s mor e
readable.
3-11

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

The followin g sampl e comman d fil e simulate s a fil e copyin g utilit y tha t
illustrates certai n usefu l structure
si na
comman d file :
IF...[ELSE]...ENDIF, LAB , and SKIP.
.KEY from , t o
IF "<from> " e q ""
being supplied .
SKIP usag e
ENDIF
IF "<to> " e
q ""
being supplied .
SKIP usag e
ENDIF

Assign paramete r lis t

Check fo r a FRO M fil e
No file , sho w use r ho w to use.
Check fo r a TO fil e
No file , sho w use r ho w to use.

IF NOT exists <from > ? Check i f FROM fil e

; doesn' t exis t
ECHO "Th e FROM fil e yo u selected (<from>) "
ECHO "coul d no t be found. "
ECHO "Pleas e us e the DIR or LIST command "
ECHO " and try again."
SKIP DON E ;
Note: We can SKIP ou t of an IF.
ENDIF
IF exist s <to > ;
Chec k i f TO fil e exists .
IF "<o> " EQ "O" ;
Di d the user suppl y "O "
on th e line ?
copy fro m <from > t o <to >
ECHO "Replace d fil e name d <to > wit h a cop y of
ECHO " file name d <from>. "
ECHO "Reques t fulfilled. "
ELSE
ECHO "Comman d overwrite s a n existing fil e "
ECHO "ONL Y i f the O paramete r i s specified. "
ECHO "Reques t Denied "
SKIP usag e ;
Explai n ho w to use this fil e
ENDIF
ELSE
ECHO "cop y fro m <from > t o <to>. "
ENDIF
SKIP DON E
3-12

Introduction t o Tripos

Further U s e

LAB usag e
ECHO "cp : usage.... "
ECHO "Th e following cop y form s ar e supported: "
ECHO " x cp FROM sourcefil e T O destinationfile "
ECHO " x cp FROM sourcefil e destinationfile "
ECHO " x cp sourcefile T O destinationfile "
ECHO " x cp sourcefile destinationfile "
ECHO " x cp TO destinationfile FRO M sourcefile "
ECHO " x cp sourcefile destinationfil e 0 "
ECHO " x cp FROM sourcefil e T O destinationfile 0 "
ECHO " x cp 0 FRO M sourcefil e T O destinationfile "
ECHO "where : x i s short fo r Ccp is the name of"
ECHO "thi s comman d file , an d * " 0 *" means "
ECHO "'overwrit e existin g file'. "
LAB DON E
3.4.4 Example 4
This example provide s a sample loopin g batch file .
The SKI P comman d allow s onl y forwar d jumps . T o creat e a loo p
structure withi n a comman d file , us e C iteratevely . Tha t is , us e th e C
command withi n th e fil e itsel f t o sen d executio n backward s t o a label .
The following executable example illustrates looping .
;This fil e display s fiv e messages :
;"This print s onc e a t th e start. (pl,p2) "
;"Loop numbe r I. "
;"Loop numbe r II."
;"Loop numbe r III."
;"This print s onc e a t th e end. (pl,p2) "
.KEY pi,p2,loopcnt,looplabe l
FAILAT 2 0
IF NOT "<looplabel>" E Q "" ;
SKIP <looplabel > ;
ENDIF
3-13

Called wit h label ?

Yes, then loop .

Further Us e

Introduction t o Tripos

ECHO "Thi s print s onc e a t th e start . (<pl>,<p2>) "

= = = = star t o f loo p = = = =
LAB lst-loo p
IF "<loopcnt> " E Q "III " ;
finished looping ?
p
SKIP loopend-<looplabel > ;Yes
, unwind .
END IF
ECHO "Loo p numbe r <loopcnt>I. " ;G o 'backwards '
; i n thi s fil e
;

C. [Link] e "<pl> " "<p2> " <loopcnt> I lst-loo p

LAB loopend<looplabel >
IF NO T "<loopcnt> " E Q " "
SKIP EXI T
ENDIF ;
=== en d o f loo p = = = =
ECHO "Thi s print s onc e a t th e end . (<pl>,<p2>) "
LAB EXI T

3.5 Command Paths

The ful l descriptio n o f a particula r director y o r fil e i s calle d it s path ; i t
describes th e complet e hierarch y fro m th e roo t (: ) throug h t o tha t
directory o f file . I n othe r words , i t describe s th e 'path ' you hav e t o g o
along i n order to find tha t directory or file.
When you us e a command , Tripo s look s fo r i t firs t i n C : and, i f it canno t
find i t there , i t the n look s fo r i t i n you r curren t directory . Yo u can ,
however, specif y furthe r directorie s fo r Tripo s t o search . I n fact , th e
PATH comman d no t only allow s yo u t o specify exactl y whic h directorie s
Tripos shoul d search , bu t i t als o let s yo u specif y th e orde r i n whic h i t
should search them .
You may wish t o add to the default list . Thi s can be done by typin g

3-14

Introduction t o Tripos

Further Us e

PATH AD D

followed b y between one and ten names. Fo r example,

PATH AD D :co m :mary/command s :fred/command s

adds these thre e directorie s afte r th e currentl y se t ones, and in the orde r
given (that is, :com is searched before :mary/command , whic h is searche d
before :fred/commands) .
To replac e th e entir e searc h list , omi t th e keywor d AD D whe n yo u lis t
the director y names . T o clea r th e list , yo u giv e th e comman d wit h n o
arguments; that is, you set the command path search list to nothing.
If you wish to find ou t the directories i n the list , give th e keywor d SHO W
after th e command; for example,
PATH SHO W
> c : bil l :co m :mary/command s :fred/command s

3.6 Startup Sequence

Sequence file s ar e hel d i n th e sequenc e librar y o n th e logica l devic e S: ;
they contain command sequences . On e sequence file tha t you will almos t
certainly us e i s S:startup-sequence. Thi s fil e set s up all your own defaul t
commands whe n yo u startu p Tripo s o n you r computer . Fo r example , i t
can se t you r defaul t CONSOL E parameter s an d you r defaul t termina l
type:
VDU TV I
CONSOLE PAG E O N AUTL N OF F

3-15

Further Use

Introduction t o Tripos

3.7 Errors
When a command fail s it returns a failure cod e and sends a brief messag e
to th e terminal. Mor e informatio n abou t wha t ha s gone wron g ca n be
obtained by using the command WHY .
The comman d FAUL T accept s a failure cod e (als o variousl y know n as a
return, fault , o r erro r code ) a s a n argumen t an d return s it s
corresponding message . Yo u can specify u p to ten codes a t a time . Fo r
example,
FAULT 2 2 221 218

displays the messages for faults 22 , 221 and 218.

If you r comman d fails , us e FAUL T o r WHY. I f you ar e still confused ,
you can loo k up the error in Appendix A, "Erro r Codes and Messages," in
the Tripos User's

Reference

Manual.

Thi

s appendi x suggest s

what migh t hav e gon e wron g an d supplies a possibl e cours e o f action.

Not all errors are recoverable, however .

3-16

Introduction t o Tripos

Glossary

Glossary
Arguments
Additional informatio n supplie d t o commands.
Character pointe r
Pointer t o th e lef t edg e o f a lin e windo w i n EDIT . Yo u us e i t t o
define th e part of a line that EDIT may alter .
Character strin g
Sequence of printable characters .
Command
An instruction you give directly to the computer .
Command Line Interpreter (CLI)
A process that decodes user input .
Console handle r
See terminal handler .
Command templat e
The metho d of defining th e syntax for each command.
Control combinatio n
A combination o f the CTRL key and a letter o r symbol. Th e CTR L
key i s pressed down while the letter or symbol i s typed. I t appear s
in the documentation, for example, i n the form CTRL-A .
Current cursor positio n
The position the cursor is currently at .
Current directory
This i s eithe r th e roo t director y o r th e las t director y yo u se t
yourself in with the command CD.

Glossary

Introduction t o Tripo s

Current drive
The dis k driv e tha t i s inserte d an d declare d t o b e current . Th e
default i s SYS:.
Current lin e
Either th e lin e tha t EDI T ha s i n it s han d a t an y tim e o r th e lin e
pointed at by the cursor in ED.
Current string alteration comman d
An instruction tha t changes the current string .
Delimiter character s
Characters use d a t th e beginnin g an d en d o f a characte r string ;
that is, characters tha t define th e limits of the string .
Destination fil e
File being written to.
Device nam e
Unique nam e given to a device (fo r example, DFO : - floppy drive 0).
Directory
A collection of files.
Editing commands
Commands inpu t fro m th e keyboar d tha t contro l a n editin g
session.
Extended mod e
Commands appear on the command lin e and are not executed unti l
you finish th e command line .
File
A collection of related data.
Filename
A name give n to a file for identification purposes .

ii

Introduction t o Tripos

Glossary

Immediate mod e
Commands are executed immediately .
Keyword
Arguments to commands that mus t b e stated explicitly .
Line window s
Parts of line for EDIT to execute subsequent commands on.
Memory
This i s sometime s know n a s stor e an d i s wher e a computer store s
its data and instructions .
Multi-processing
The executio n o f tw o o r mor e processe s a t th e sam e time , rapidl y
switching fro m on e t o th e othe r accordin g t o a stric t orde r o f
priority.
Output queue
Buffer i n memory holdin g data before bein g written out to file.
Priority
The relativ e importanc e o f a process.
Process
A job requested by the operating system o r the user; see also Task
Qualifiers
Characters tha t specif y additiona l condition s fo r th e contex t i n
string
Qualified strin g
A string preceded by one or more qualifiers .
Queue
- see Output queue.
Root directory
The to p level i n th e filing system . File s and directories withi n th e
root directory hav e thei r names preceded by a colon (:).
iii

Introduction t o Tripos

Glossary

Sequential file s
A fil e tha t ca n b e accesse d a t an y poin t b y startin g a t th e
beginning and scanning sequentially unti l th e point is reached .
Source fil e
File being read from.
Syntax
The format or 'grammar' you use for giving a command.
Task
A tas k i s anothe r nam e fo r a process. Task s ar e numbere d fro m 1
onwards: tas k 1 i s th e initia l CL I task , tas k 2 i s th e debu g task ,
and so on. T o select th e next available task , press CTRL-P.
Terminal handle r
A process handling input and output from the terminal o r console.
Volume nam e
The unique nam e associated with a disk.
Wildcard
Symbols use d to match any pattern .

IV

Introduction t o Tripo s
"(double quote ) 1.3 , 1. 9
| 3. 4
#3.4
%3.4
'3.4
0 3. 4
( a s t e r i s k ) 1.3 , 1 . 4 , 1 . 1 1 , 2 . 7 , 2 . 2 0
+ (plus) , us e o f l . 2 9 , 2.2 0
- (minus), us e o f 2.2 0
. (period), us e o f 2.20, 2.2 6
.71.6
.A 1. 6
/(slash) 1.5,1.6,1.3 2
/A 1.3 2
/K 1.3 2
/S1.32
: (colon) 1 . 6 , 1 . 7 , 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 1 4
:T 1.14 , 3. 5
; (semicolon) 2.1 8
< 1.2 9
> 1.2 9
= (equals ) 1.3 0
? 1.33,3. 4
A 2.13,2.2 5
After, inser t 2.2 5
Altering tex t 2.1 3
Argument templat e 1.3 3
Arguments 1.30-3 3
A r g u m e n t s , pattern s a s 3. 5
A r g u m e n t s , require d 1.3 2
ASSIGN 1.1 5
Asterisk (* ) 2 . 7 , 2 . 2 0
Attention flag s 1.30 , 3. 3
Attention interrup t level s 1.30 , 3. 3
AUX: 1.1 0
[Link],2.23,2.25
B A C K S P A C E 1. 2
Backwards find 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 1 2 , 2 . 2 2 , 2.2 3
Badargs 1 3 3
Basic us e o f EDI T 2.1 8
BE 2.9 , 2.1 0
Before, inser t 2.2 5
Beginning o f line, mov e t o 2. 3
Beginning o f line qualificatio n 2.2 3
BF 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 1 2 , 2.22 , 2.2 3
Block marker s 2.9 , 2.1 0
Blocks 2.9 , 2.1 0
Bottom o f E D file , mov e t o 2.1 1
BREAK 1.30,3. 3
Broken task s 3. 4
BS 2 . 9 , 2 . 1 0
C 1.13 , 1.29 , 1 . 3 0 , 2 . 1 7 , 3 . 6
C: 1.12 , 1.13 , 1.1 4

Index
CD 1.6 , 1 . 1 7 , 1 . 2 1 , 1 . 2 2 , 1.34 , 1.3 5
CE2.11
C h a n g e s o n th e current lin e 2.2 4
C h a n g i n g th e proces s selecto r 3. 2
Character, eras e - see B A C K S P A C E
Characters 1. 3
CL 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 2 8 , 2.2 9
CLI 1.1,1.2 , 1.15 , 1.28 , 1.29,1.30 ,
3.1,3.2,33
C o m m a n d (various ; s ee below )
- a r g u m e n t s 1.30 , 1.3 2
- f a i l u r e 1.2 9
- f i l e s 1.29 , 2 . 1 7 , 3 . 6 - 1 4
- I / O 1.2 9
- keywords 1.3 0
- line 2. 7
- Lin e Interprete r - see CL I
-line, ED2. 2
- line , eras e - s ee CTRL- X
- line , e x t e n d i ng a 1.2 9
- line , terminatin g a 1.2 9
- n a m es 1.1 5
- paths 3.1 4
- patterns 3. 4
- separator 2.1 8
- sequence interrup t (CTRL-D )
1.30
- template 1.30 , [Link] 3
C o m m a n d s director y 1.1 3
C o m m a n d s t o task s 3. 3
C o m m a n d s , e x e c u t i n g 1.1 5
C o m m e n t s 1. 9
Concatenate line s 2.28 , 2.2 9
Concurrency 3. 1
Connecting th e termina l t o other t a s k s
3.2
CONSOLE 1.21,2.4,3.2,3.1 5
Console handle r 1.2 , 2.1 , 3. 2
Control combination s 1.2,1.3 0
Control o f output 1. 2
COPY 1 . 1 0 , 1 . 1 1 , 1 . 1 8 , 1 . 1 9 , 1 . 3 5 , 3. 5
C o p y i n g f i l e s 1.1 8
Correcting error s 1. 2
Correcting m i s t a k e s 1. 2
CR2.11
Creating a directory 1.2 3
CS2.11
CTRL-B 2.5 , 2.1 4
CTRL-C 1 . 2 5 , 1 . 3 0 , 3 . 3
CTRL-D 1.30 , 2.6 , 3. 3
CTRL-E 1 . 3 0 . 2 . 3 , 3 . 3
CTRL-F 1.30 . 3. 3
CTRL-G 2 . 6 , 2 . 1 3
CTRL-H 2. 3
CTRL-I 2. 4
CTRL-J 2. 3

Index
CTRL-K 2. 3
CTRL-N 2.5 , 2.1 4
CTRI.-0 2. 5
CTRL-P3.2, 3. 3
CTRL-Q 1.2 1
CTRL-R2 3
CTRL-S 1.2 1
CTRL-T 2. 3
CTRL-U 2.6 , 2.1 1
CTRL-V 2. 6
CTRL-X 1 . 2 , 2 . 1 , 2. 3
CTRL-Y 2. 5
C T R L - U . 2 , 1 . 1 1 , 1.3 5
CTRL-I2.3
Current c o m m a n d interrup t (CTRL-C ) 1 3 0
Current devic e 1. 7
Current director y 1.6 , 1.7 , 1.17 , 1.23 ,
1.34
Current driv e 1. 7
Current lin e 2 . 1 9 , 2 . 2 0
Cursor contro l 2.3 , 2.1 1
Cut an d past e 2.1 0
D2.14,2.26
DATE 1 . 2 6 , 1 . 2 8 , 1 . 2 9
Date, settin g th e 1.26 , 1.27 ,
1.28
DB2.10
DC 2.1 4
Debug tas k 3. 1
DEL 1. 2
DEL CHA R 2. 5
DEL LIN E 2. 5
DELETE 1.21 , 1 . 2 2 , 1 . 3 2 , 2 7 , 3. 5
Delete 2 . 5 , 2 . 1 0 , 2.14 , 2.2 6
-block 2.1 0
- character 2.1 4
- find 2.2 6
- from curso r 2. 5
- l i n e 2.5 , 2.14 , 2.2 6
- word 2. 5
Deleting 1 . 2 , 1 . 2 1 , 1 . 2 2 , 1 . 2 5 , 3. 5
-directories 1.22 , 1.2 5
- f i l e s 1 . 2 1 , 1 . 2 5 , 3. 5
Deletion key s 2. 5
Delimiters 2 . 7 , 2 . 1 0 , 2 . 2 2
DEOL2.5
Destination file 2.16 , 2.2 9
Device n a m e s 1.8 , 1.1 0
Device, settin g th e curren t 1. 7
Devices, logica l 1.1 2
Devices, physica l 1.1 2
DEVS. 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 1 4
DEVS:VDL"2.1
DP" 2.26
DIR 1.10 , 1.24 , 1 2 5

Introduction t o Tripo s
Directories, deletin g 1.2 2
Directory 1.4 , 1.5 , 1.6 , 1.12 , 1.22 ,
1.24. 1.3 4
- c o n v e n t i o n s 1.1 2
- n a m es 1.5 , 1. 6
- nesting 1. 5
- structure 1.4 , 1.3 4
Directory, listin g file s i n a 1.2 4
Directory, makin g a n e w - s e e MAKEDI R
Disk 1.1 , 1.4 , 1 . 7 , 1 . 1 0 . 1 . 2 8
- drive 1. 1
- n a m es 1.7 , 1.1 0
- s h a r i ng 1. 4
- structure validatio n (restar t
process)1.28
Displaying a fiie 1.2 5
DO (ED) 2.1 5
Down 2. 3
Drive n a m e 1. 7
D u m m y devic e 1.1 0
E 2.12 , 2.13 , 2.23 , 2.24 , 2.2 5
ED 1 . 2 3 , 2 . 1 , 2 . 2 , 2 . 8 , 2 . 1 6 , 2 . 1 9
- command lin e 2. 2
- commands, extende d 2. 2
- commands, i m m e d i a t e 2. 2
ED, t e r m i n a t i n g 2. 8
EDIT 1 . 1 1 , 1 . 2 3 , 2 . 1 , 2 . 1 6
- destination file 2.1 6
- source file 2.1 6
Editing i n a background tas k 2.1 7
Editing line s locall y 1. 2
Editors 1.1 4
End interactiv e CL I tas k 3. 3
End o f ED file, mov e t o 2.1 1
End-of-file indicato r - see CTRL- \
End-of-line qualificatio n 2.2 3
End-of-line, mov e t o 2.3 , 2.1 1
End-of-screen, mov e t o 2. 3
EN DC LI 1.1,3. 3
Entering dat a 1.3 5
Entering E D 2.1 , 2. 2
Entering EDI T 2.1 6
EQ2.12
Erase c o m m a n d lin e - s ee CTRL- X
Erasing m i s t a k e s 1. 2
Errors 3.1 6
E S C A P E 2.7 , 2 . 8 , 2 . 9 , 2 . 1 0 , 2 . 1 1 ,
2.14
Escape combination s 3. 1
E x a m i n i n g files 1.1 7
Example sessio n 1.3 4
E x a m p l e s o f patterns 3. 4
Exchange 2.11 , 2.12 , 2.2 4
Exchange an d quer y 2.1 2
Executing comman d file s 3.6 , 3.7 , 3.8 ,

!1

Introduction t o Tripo s
3 . 9 . 3 . 1 0 , 3 . 1 1 , 3 . 1 2 . 3 . 1 3 , 3.1 4
Executing Tripo s c o m m a n d s i n El ) 2.1 5
Extended command s 2.2 , 2 . 6 , 2 . 7 , 2.11 .
2.18
F 2.11 , 2.18, 2 . 2 1 , 2 . 2 2 , 2 . 2 3
FAILAT 1.2 9
Failure o f c o m m a n ds 1.2 2
FAULT 3.1 6
Filename 1.3,1. 6
File pat h 1 . 5 , 1 . 1 7 , 1 . 1 8
File specificatio n - s ee Fil e Pat h
FILENOTE 1. 9
F i l e s 1. 3
F i l i n g s y s t e m 1 . 1 , 1 . 3 , 1 . 5 , 1 . 6 , 3. 1
Find blank lin e 2.2 4
Find strin g 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 2 1 , 2 . 2 3
Finger facto r 3. 5
First tas k 3. 1
FORMAT 1.1 4
Fourth tas k 3. 1

Index
Interrupts 1.3 0
J2.14
Join line s 2.14 , 2.2 8
Keyword 1.30 , 1.3 1
- a r g u m e n ts 1.3 1
- a s a switc h 1.3 2
-qualifiers 1.3 2
- s y n o n y m s 1.3 0

Hard dis k 1.1 4

HDO: 1.1 4
Held t a s k s 3. 4
Helpf?) 1.3 3
HOME 2. 3
Horizontal scrollin g 2.3 , 2. 4

L2.25
L: 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 1 3
Last 2.2 5
LC2.13
Left, mov e curso r 2 . 3 , 2 . 1 1
Letter c a s e , us e o f 1. 2
Levels o f attention interrup t 1.3 0
Library director y 1.1 3
Line deletio n 2.2 6
Line e d i t i n g 2.5 , 3. 2
Line editing , loca l 1. 2
Line edito r (se e als o EDIT ) 2.1 , 2.1 6
Line insertio n 2.2 6
Line lengt h 2. 4
Line n u m b e r s 1.20 , 2 . 1 9 , 2 . 2 7
Line, e r a se - s ee CTRL- X
LIST 1 . 9 , 1 . 1 7 , 1 . 2 4 , 1 . 3 4 , 1.35 , 3. 5
Listing directorie s 1.24,1.2 5
Listing file s 1 . 1 7 , 1 . 2 4
Local lin e e d i t i n g 1 . 2 , 2 . 5 , 3 . 2
Logical device s 1.1 2
Lowercase 1.2,2.13,2.1 9

12.13,2.27
IB 2. 9
IF 2 1 0
Immediate c o m m a n d s 2 . 2 , 2 . 7 , 2.1 1
Information abou t t a s k s 3. 4
I N P U T 1.2 3
Input an d outpu t (I/O ) 3. 2
INS CHA R 2. 5
Insert 2 . 4 , 2 . 9 ,2 10 , 2.13, 2.26 ,
2.27
- before 2.2 5
- block 2. 9
-file 2.1 0
- from fil e 2.2 7
- line 2.26 , 2.2 7
- new lin e 2.1 3
- t e x t i n E D 2. 4
Installation 2. 1
Interactive CL I tas k 3. 3
Interactive c o m m a n d s 1.1 6
Interactive listin g 1.2 5
Interrupted t a s k s 3. 4

M2.19
M* 2.2 0
M + 2.2 0
M- 2.2 0
M. 2.2 0
M A K E D I R 1.10,1.2 3
M a k i n g a ne w director y 1.2 3
Margins 2. 4
Match patter n 3. 4
Match th e nul l strin g 3. 4
M a x i m u m lin e widt h 2.1 8
M a x i m u m numbe r o f line s hel d 2.1 8
M e r g i n g file s 2.1 0
Minus (-) , us e o f 2.2 0
M i s t a k e s , correction/erasur e 1. 2
M O U N T 1.1 0
Move bac k a s fa r a s possibl e 2.2 0
Move bac k i n EDI T 2.1 6
Move b e t w e e n processe s (tasks ) 3. 2
Move bloc k 2. 9
Move curso r (ED ) 2.3 , 2.1 1
- d o w n 2. 3

GE 2.2 5
Getting ou t of E D 2. 8
Globals 2 . 2 5 , 2 . 2 9
Group pattern s togethe r 3. 4

iii

Introduction t o Tripo s

Index
left 2.3 , 2.1 1
right 2 3 , 2.1 1
to end o f lin e 2.3 , 2.1 1
to end o f file 2 1 1
- to end o f screen 2. 3
- to nex t wor d 2. 3
- to previou s wor d 2. 3
to start o f lin e 2.3 , 2.1 1
to to p of file 2.1 1
- to to p of screen 2. 3
- u p 2. 3
Move t o 2.1 1 2 . 1 9 , 2 . 2 0 , 2 . 2 1
- current lin e 2.2 0
- e n d o f file 2.2 0
- last lin e i n current m e m o r y
2.20
-line 2.19,2.2 0
- next lin e 2.2 1
- previous lin e 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 2 1
Multi-processing 1. 1
Multi-task 3. 1
Multiple E D c o m m a n d s 2. 7
N 2 . 2 0 , 2 . 2 1 , 2.2 3
N e s t i n g o f directories 1. 5
N e w CL11.28 , 3. 3
N e w lin e 2. 4
NEWCLI 1 . 1 , 1 . 1 1 , 3 . 1 , 3 . 2 , 3 . 3
N e x t line , mov e t o 2.20 , 2.21 , 2.2 3
N e x t word , mov e t o 2. 3
N I L d e v i c e ( N I L : ) 1.10,2.1 8
N u l l string , us e o f 2.2 4
Open devic e call s 1.1 4
Organizing informatio n 1. 4
Output contro l 1. 2
Output queu e 2.1 6
P 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 2 1 , 2.2 3
Page mod e 1.2 1
Panic button s 1.3 0
Parallel por t (PAR: ) 1.10,1.1 1
Path 1. 5
PATH 3.14 , 3.1 5
Patterns 3.4 , 3. 5
Period (.) , use o f 2.20, 2.22 , 2 2 6
Physical device s 1.1 2
PIus( + ) , use o f 2.2 0
Pn 2.1 8
Positional a r g u m e n t s 1.3 1
Precisely 2.2 3
Previous line , mov e t o 2 . 1 1 , 2 . 2 1 ,
2.23
Previous word , mov e t o 2. 3
Priority 1 . 1 , 1 . 2 8 , 3. 1
Process - see als o Tas k

Process selecto r (CTRL-P ) 3. 2

Process, changin g 3. 2
Processes 1.1 . 1.2 8
Processes, mov e betwee n 3. 2
Prompt 1.15,1.16 , 1.2 9
PROMPT 1.16, 3 2
Q2.8
Qualified command s 2. 7
Qualified string s 2.2 3
Qualifiers 2.2 3
R2.27
RAM devic e (RAM: ) 1.1 0
Reading outpu t t o the termina l 1. 2
Redirecting comman d I/ O 1.2 9
Remove specia l effec t o f character 3. 4
R E N A M E 1. 9
Repeat editing c o m m a n d s 2.2 , 2.6 ,
2.14,2.15,2.22
Replace lin e 2.2 7
Required a r g u m e n t s 1.3 2
Restart validatio n 1.28,3.1 5
Restarting a task 3. 3
RETURN [Link],2.4 . 2.7,2.1 4
Return t o immediat e mod e 2. 7
Rewriting th e scree n 2. 6
Right han d margin , se t 2. 4
Right, mov e curso r 2.3 , 2.1 1
Root directory 1 . 4 , 1 . 6 . 1 . 7
RP2.I5
R U B O U T 1.2 , 1.21,2. 7
R U N 1.1 , 1.28,1.29 , 2 . 1 7 , 3 . 1
Running editin g c o m m a n d s i n th e
background 2.1 7
Running t a s k s 3. 4
S2.14
S: 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 1 3 , 3 . 1 5
S:startup-sequence 3.1 5
SA 2.8 , 2.2 8
Save 2. 8
S B 2.10 . 2 2 8
Screen edito r 1.24 , 2. 1
Scrolling 2.3 , 2 . 4 , 2 . 5, 2.6 , 2.1 1
Searching fo r strin g 2 . 1 1 , 2.2 3
Second tas k 3. 1
Select a ne w tas k 3. 2
Semicolon (;) , us e o f 2 . 1 8
Separating multipl e c o m m a n d s 2.1 8
Sequence librar y 1.13 , 3.1 5
Sequential processin g 2.1 6
Serial devic e (SER: ) 1.10,1.1 1
Set righ t han d margi n 2. 4
Setting tab s 2. 4
S h a r i n g a Dis k 1. 4

iv

Introduction t o Tripo s
Show bloc k 2.1 0
SIZE 2 . 1 , 2 2
Source file 2.16 , 2.2 9
Spaces, us e o f 2.2 2
Special character s 3. 4
Specification o f a file 1. 5
Split lin e 2 . 4 , 2 . 1 4 , 2 . 2 8
Start of line , mov e curso r t o 2.1 1
Starting a task 3. 3
Startup sequenc e 3.1 5
S T A T U S 3. 4
STOP 2 . 1 6 , 2 . 2 9
Stop/start output t o termina l 1. 2
Stopping a task 3. 3
Structure of directories 1.4,1. 5
Sub-directories 1. 6
Suspended t a s k s 3. 4
Syntax, comman d 1.3 0
SYS: 1 . 7 , 1 . 1 2 , 1 . 1 4 , 1 . 3 4
S y s t e m dat e an d t i m e 1 . 2 6 , 1 . 2 8
S y s t e m dis k 1. 8
S y s t e m dis k roo t directory 1.1 2
S y s t e m tailorin g 2. 1
T2.11.2.24
T: 1.1 2
TAB 2. 4
Tailoring you r s y s t e m 2. 1
Task - see als o Proces s
four 3. 1
- information 3. 4
- o n e 3. 1
- selection 3. 2
-selector(CTRL-P) 3. 2
- starting an d restartin g 3. 3
-stopping 3. 3
- t h r e e 3. 1
- t w o 3. 1
Tasks, 3 . 1 , 3 . 2 , 3 . 3 , 3 . 4
- broken 3. 4
- c o m m a n d s t o 3. 3
- h e l d 3. 4
- interrupted 3. 4
- move betwee n 3. 2
- r u n n i n g 3. 4
-suspended 3. 4
- waiting 3. 4
Template, argumen t 1.3 0
Temporary director y 1.1 4
Temporary file 1.14 , 2.1 7
Terminal handle r 1.1 , 1.2 , 3 1,3. 2
Terminals supporte d 2. 1
Terminating E D 2. 8
Terminating EDI T 2.2 9
Third tas k 3. 1
TIME 1.2 8

Index
Time, s e t t i n g th e 1.26 , 1.27 , 1.2 8
Top of file, m o v e t o 2. U
Top of screen, mov e t o 2. 3
TP 2.2 4
Tripos c o m m a n d s i n ED , e x e c u t i ng 2.1 5
T Y P E 1 . 2 0 . 1 . 3 3 . 1 .36
Typing a h e a d 1. 2
Typing tex t o n th e scree n 1.2 , 1.20 ,
2.24
U2.9
UC 2 . 1 3
Undoing th e las t c o m m a n d i n E D 2. 9
Uppercase 1.2,2.19,2.1 3
U s e o f patterns 3. 5
Validation o f disk structur e 1.2 8
VDU2.1
VER2.18
Verification 2 . 6 , 2 . 1 8
Vertical scrollin g 2 . 3 , 2 . 6
Volume n a m e 1. 8
W2.29
W a i t i n g t a s k s 3. 4
WB2.10
WHY 1.22,3.1 6
Windup 2.2 9
Wn 2.18
Work q u e u e 3. 4
Work spac e (SIZE ) 2 . 1 , 2 . 2
Write bloc k 2 .10
X2.8
Z 2.27, 2.2 8