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To "invoke" the editor, type the name pico followed by the file name, at a % prompt.
For example: %pico sample.txtIf a file with the given name exists in your current directory, it will be displayed for you to edit. If there is no file with that name, you will get a blank screen to create it.
You give "commands" to the editor by using the Ctrl key plus another key on the keyboard. (If you are using telnet, see the warning below)
Press Ctrl-G to display the help information. Read all of it! Notice the directions on the bottom line, press Ctrl-V to display the next page and Ctrl-X to exit help.
Use your arrow keys to move the cursor around the file. Try the backspace and delete keys to make corrections.
Press Ctrl-T to find words which may not be correctly spelled. The spellchecker will move through the file and display "words" on the message line. Edit them, if needed, and press the Return key to go on.
- Mark the text to be moved. Move the cursor to the beginning of the section to be moved and press Ctrl-^ (the message Mark Set should appear on the message line). Press the right and/or down arrow keys to extend the highligh ting.
- Cut the highlighted section. Press Ctrl-K to remove the section and place it in the "cut buffer"
- Move the cursor to the new location
- "Undelete" the marked text. Press Ctrl-U to copy the text which is in the "cut buffer" at the cursor location. This operation can be repeated as many times as needed. (Note - there is no "copy" co mmand. To copy text, cut it, paste it back in the same place, then move the cursor and paste it again)
Press Ctrl-W to display the Search prompt at the bottom of the screen. Type the string of characters you are searching for, and press the Return key. String searches are not case sensitive.The search begins at the current cursor location. If there is an occurrence of the search string in the file, the cursor will move to its location. You can edit it here if you wish.
To continue looking for the same string, press Ctrl-W again. The previously entered string will be found by default, so just press the Return key.
To find a new string, press Ctrl-W and type a new string at the search prompt.
To save your work, press Ctrl-O. The file name will be displayed. To replace the old version of the file, just press the Return key. To keep the old version intact and save a separate copy of the revised file, type a new name here.
To exit the editor, press Ctrl-X. If you have not saved your work, you will be prompted to do so. Press y to save your work or press n to exit without saving.
You should return to the % prompt.
Pico commands are entered using the Ctrl key. Some communications programs will not send the Ctrl key correctly at all times. (it may work sometimes, it may not work at all) You can "emulate" a control key by press the Escape key twice. For example, pressing Esc Esc k would be the same as pressing Ctrl-k
If you are using Pathworks with the vt320 emulation in the 97/121 lab to connect to your Intranet account, you will get an error message if you try to run pico. Before you run pico, try the following command at the % prompt:
set term=vt100