Starting EDT

From the DCL command line, issue EDIT/EDT filename, where filename is the file you would like to edit. If no file with that name exists, it will be created.

EDT is compatible with hardcopy terminals (a terminal that has no video screen, but prints directly on paper). By default, EDT starts in line mode for compatibility with such devices, unless your system manager or LOGIN.COM causes it to start in screen mode. This chapter describes the full-screen mode, but includes a few useful line-mode commands.

Why Hardcopy Terminals?

Although they may seem obsolete, hardcopy terminals are very useful as console terminals. System-event messages, security alarms, and other important messages are always displayed upon the system console terminal, which is also known as the operator's console. Hardcopy terminals print a record of all console activity and system messages, preserving a security auditing record that cannot be falsified without physical access to the logs.

When you start EDT in line mode, it will display either the first line of the file or the message "Input file does not exist," followed by the line-mode prompt, a single asterisk (*).

     $ EDIT/EDT NOSUCHFILE.TXT     Input file does not exist     [EOB]     * 

Switch to full-screen mode by entering C or CHANGE at the line-mode prompt and pressing ENTER. EDT will switch to full-screen mode and will display the first 22 lines of the file—or the [EOB] (End of Buffer) marker if the file does not exist. Your cursor will be positioned at the first character of the file.

Your system manager may have configured EDT to automatically start in full-screen mode. If so, the instructions above are unnecessary.