Creating and Using Prestored Commands

If you are a frequent user of the Screen Editor, and especially if you edit the same type of files often, you might find it productive to use the * (Prestore Record) and CTRL+P (Prestore Run) commands.

The * command allows you to capture and store a sequence of commands and execute them either immediately or at a later time. You can execute a long series of commands as a single step, resulting in a considerable saving of time, effort and keystrokes.

Record

Use the * command to capture and store the command sequence:

  1. Press the asterisk (*) to start recording.
  2. Type the desired sequence of commands.
  3. Press the asterisk (*) to end the recording of commands.
  4. Save the command sequence if it is to be used again. Saved command sequences are placed in an item in the current file with the item-id suffixed with -PS.

Editing

You can further edit any prestored command item in a -PS item with either the Screen Editor or the Line Editor.

Run

A prestored command sequence can be executed at any time by pressing CTRL+P. The Status/Command Line prompts for the item-id of the -PS item.

Deleting

After developing a program or completing some other long series of editing tasks, you might have a file with a large number of -PS items that you no longer need. The only way to delete them is from TCL. For example, if you have a large number of '-PS' items in a file named TEST and you want to delete them all, you could enter the following:

:SELECT TEST EQ '[-PS'
2  ITEMS  SELECTED.
>DELETE TEST

All items ending with '-PS' are then deleted from TEST.

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