Using Line-Mode Commands

This book concentrates on using EDT in full-screen mode. However, there are certain instances in which line-mode commands are more efficient for a given task. When instructed to use a line-mode command, use one of the following two methods:

1. The first method consists of the following steps:

1. Enter line mode by pressing CTRL/Z. The line mode prompt (*) will be presented.

2. Enter the line-mode command and press ENTER. This executes the command.

3. Enter C or CHANGE to return to full-screen mode.

2. The second method is to use the COMMAND key (PF1,KP-7). When you issue COMMAND from screen mode, a command: prompt appears at the bottom of the screen. You may issue your line-mode command at this prompt, but when finished, you must use the ENTER key on the keypad, not the main keyboard ENTER key.

The normal ENTER key would be interpreted as an instruction to insert CTRL/M (shown as "^M") into your command. If you accidentally use the keyboard ENTER key, simply use the DELETE key (BACKSPACE on PC-style keyboards) to erase the "^M" and use the keypad ENTER key instead.

Why "^M" Sometimes Appears When ENTER or RETURN Is Pressed

In the ASCII standard (see the Glossary), a carriage return is denoted by the value 13. Lower numbers of the ASCII table represent unprintable control codes, historically generated by pressing the CTRL key in combination with another key. Since the letter M is the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet, CTRL/M and RETURN (ENTER) both represent the ASCII value of 13. This trick is sometimes used to insert an extra carriage return into the middle of a line.