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<pre><big><big style="font-weight: bold;"><big>The ed Editor</big></big><br
style="font-weight: bold;"><br><br> This has always been the aspect of coding that new<br>creators have most trouble with. It's what discourages most<br>people from creating lots of stuff, in fact.<br><br> With Dead Souls, you can get away with avoiding <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ed</span></big><br>most of the time, by using the <a
href="http://dead-souls.net/example.html">QCS</a>.<br><br> But to add special functions to your code, like <br>magic items, smart NPC's (aka mobs), traps, hidden objects, <br>etc, you need to edit LPC code.<br><br></big><big> There is a web-based editing system called<br>"<a
href="http://lpmuds.net/forum/index.php?topic=614.msg2962#msg2962">creweb</a>" that lets you edit mud files from the internet<br>on your browser. For more info on it: <span
style="font-weight: bold;">help creweb</span><br><br> But if you can't use creweb, then ed is<br>the default method for editing files inside the mud.<br></big><big><br> <big
style="font-weight: bold;">ed</big> is a simple editing program. It is designed to<br>work on a line-by-line basis, so it is called a "line editor".<br> <br> Let's start by looking at, and editing, a small file.<br>We've coded a sword, and we want to change its description<br>from "short sword" to "plain sword":<br><br><br></big></pre>
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<pre><big><br>> <big><span style="font-weight: bold;">cd /realms/cratylus/area/weap</span></big></big><big>1) <span
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I changed my working directory to my area weapons dir</span></big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><big><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big></big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big><br>/realms/cratylus/area/weap:<br>> <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ls </span></big></big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I listed the contents of that dir: </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><big><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></big></big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big><br>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/:<br> 1 dagger.c 1 nco_sword.c~ 1 std_sword.c~ <br> 1 gsword.c 1 sharpsword.c 1 sword.c <br> 001 gsword.c~ 1 staff.c <br> 1 nco_sword.c 1 std_sword.c <br><br><br>> <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ed sword.c</span></big></big><big> <span
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I ran the ed command on the file sword.c.</span></big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big></big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big><br>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c, 641 bytes<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">n </span></big></big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This makes the editor display line numbers next to the lines.</big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big><br>number on, list off<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">1z </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">This lists about 20 lines of text</small></big><br> 1 /* /domains/Examples/weapon/sword.c<br> 2 * from the Nightmare IV LPC Library<br> 3 * a simple sword example, nothing fancy<br> 4 * created by Descartes of Borg 950402<br> 5 */<br> 6 <br> 7 #include <lib.h><br> 8 #include <damage_types.h><br> 9 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 10 <br> 11 inherit LIB_ITEM;<br> 12 <br> 13 static void create() {<br> 14 item::create();<br> 15 SetKeyName("short sword");<br> 16 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 17 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 18 SetShort("a short sword");<br> 19 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 20 SetMass(150);<br> 21 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 22 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br>:z<br> 22 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br> 23 SetClass(20);<br> 24 SetDamageType(BLADE);<br> 25 SetWeaponType("blade");<br> 26 }<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">15 </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I displayed line 15</small></big><br> 15 SetKeyName("short sword");<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">15c </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I used 'c' to replace line 15</small></big><br> 15. * <big
style="font-weight: bold;">SetKeyName("plain sword"); </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>I entered my replacement text</small></big><br> 16. * <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I entered a single dot on a blank line </small></big><br>:<br> 16 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">1z </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I listed about 20 lines, starting from line 1</small></big><br> 1 /* /domains/Examples/weapon/sword.c<br> 2 * from the Nightmare IV LPC Library<br> 3 * a simple sword example, nothing fancy<br> 4 * created by Descartes of Borg 950402<br> 5 */<br> 6 <br> 7 #include <lib.h><br> 8 #include <damage_types.h><br> 9 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 10 <br> 11 inherit LIB_ITEM;<br> 12 <br> 13 static void create() {<br> 14 item::create();<br> 15 SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> 16 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 17 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 18 SetShort("a short sword");<br> 19 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 20 SetMass(150);<br> 21 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 22 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">18 </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I displayed line 18</small></big><br> 18 SetShort("a short sword");<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">18c </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I started the replacement of line 18</small></big><br> 18. * <big
style="font-weight: bold;">SetShort("a plain sword"); </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>I entered my replacement text</small></big><br> 19. *<big> <span
style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I entered a single dot on a blank line</small></big><br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">1z </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I displayed about 20 lines starting from line 1</small></big><br> 1 /* /domains/Examples/weapon/sword.c<br> 2 * from the Nightmare IV LPC Library<br> 3 * a simple sword example, nothing fancy<br> 4 * created by Descartes of Borg 950402<br> 5 */<br> 6 <br> 7 #include <lib.h><br> 8 #include <damage_types.h><br> 9 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 10 <br> 11 inherit LIB_ITEM;<br> 12 <br> 13 static void create() {<br> 14 item::create();<br> 15 SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> 16 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 17 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 18 SetShort("a plain sword");<br> 19 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 20 SetMass(150);<br> 21 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 22 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">x </span><span
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I saved and exited</span></big><br>"/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c" 26 lines 633 bytes<br>Exit from ed.<br>> <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">update sword </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I loaded the file into memory</small></big><br>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword: Ok<br></big></pre>
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<pre><big><br><br>Let's take this step by step:<br><br>1) I changed my working directory to my area weapons dir: </big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">cd /realms/cratylus/area/weap<br><br></span></big></big><big>2) I listed the contents of that dir: </big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"> ls<br><br></span></big></big><big>3) I ran the ed command on the file sword.c: </big><big><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ed sword.c</span></big><br><big><span
style="font-weight: bold;"></span></big></big><big><br>4) Within the editor, I issued the '<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">n</span></big>' command. This makes the editor<br> display line numbers next to the lines.<br><br>5) Within the editor, I issued the '<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</span></big>' command. What '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">z</big>' does is display<br> about 20 lines of the file (the exact number depends on your screen<br> settings. In my case it's 22). If you happen to be looking at line 1, it<br> will display lines 1 through to about 20. If you happen to be looking <br> at line 40, it will display from line 40 to about 60. <br> If you want to start looking at lines starting at line 15, you<br> can issue the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">15z</big>' command, which basically means "display about 20<br> lines starting at line 15".<br> In this case, I wanted to start from the beginning of the file, <br> so I issued '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</big>'.<br><br>6) '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</big>' stopped listing the file at line 22, so I entered '<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">z</span></big>' again to<br> list the rest.<br><br>7) Since I want to change "short sword" to "plain sword", I examined each<br> line to find the word "short". I noticed that line 15 has "short" in it,<br> so to get a look at that line alone, I entered '<span
style="font-weight: bold;">15</span>'.<br><br>8) Now that I'm sure line 15 needs to change, I issue the '<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">15c</span></big>' command.<br> '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">c</big>' indicates that I want to change a line. '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">15c</big>' means "delete whatever<br> was in line 15, and replace it with what I am about to type".<br><br>9) You can see that my editor prompt changed from ":" to "*". What this<br> means is that I am now in "input mode". Whatever I type now will be<br> added to the file. Since my last command in "command mode" was '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">15c</big>',<br> I am now replacing that line with what I want the line to contain:<br> <big
style="font-weight: bold;">SetKeyName("plain sword");</big><br><br>10) Ok, I replaced the line, but I'm still in input mode. To go back to<br> command mode, I type a single period and enter, like this:<br> <big
style="font-weight: bold;">.</big><br><br>11) I'm back in command mode now. When I list the file contents with<br> '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</big>' I can see that line 15 now says what I wanted.<br><br>12) Now I see another line that needs changing, so I enter '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">18</big>' to <br> get a closer look.<br><br>13) Sure enough, 18 needs to change, so I issue '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">18</big>c'.<br><br>14) Like I did for line 15, I enter what the line should be.<br><br>15) To return to command mode, I enter a single period on a blank line.<br><br>16) I list the file contents, and see that my change was successful.<br><br>17) I'm finished making my changes, so I issue the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x</big>' command. '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x</big>' <br> means "save the changes I have made, and exit the editor".<br><br>18) I am now at my regular command prompt. To load my changes to this<br> file, I type '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">update sword</big>'.<br><br><big
style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"><big><big><br>Editor basics, part 2</big></big></big><br><br><br> In the last section you saw what a simple line<br>replacement looks like in ed. Next we'll talk about some common<br>ed actions.<br><br><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ADDING STUFF</span>:<br><br> Suppose I want to specify that this sword requires only<br>one hand to wield it:<br><br></big></pre>
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<pre><big><br>> <big><span style="font-weight: bold;">ed sword.c </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">started the editor</small></big><br>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c, 633 bytes<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">n </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">enabled line number printing</small></big><br>number on, list off<br>:<big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">15,22 </span><small
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">listed lines 15 to 22</small></big><br> 15 SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> 16 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 17 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 18 SetShort("a plain sword");<br> 19 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 20 SetMass(150);<br> 21 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 22 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">20a</big> <span
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">appended to the file after line 20</span><br> 21. * <span
style="font-weight: bold;"><big>SetHands(1); </big></span><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>entered my added text</small></big><br> 22. * <big
style="font-weight: bold;">. </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>single dot on a blank line to exit input mode</small></big><br>:1<big
style="font-weight: bold;">8,22 </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>displayed line 18 through 22</small></big><br> 18 SetShort("a plain sword");<br> 19 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 20 SetMass(150);<br> 21 SetHands(1);<br> 22 SetDollarCost(50);<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>exited editor and saved</small></big><br>"/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c" 27 lines 646 bytes<br>Exit from ed.<br></big></pre>
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<pre><big><br><br> Here you can see that instead of '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">c</big>', which replaces, I<br>used '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">a</big>', which adds. I decided my new line would go after line<br>20, so I issued the command '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">20a</big>'. Once I was done, I typed<br>a single dot on a blank line to exit "input mode". You'll notice<br>I didn't use the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">z</big>' command. Instead, since I knew where my<br>changes would go, I decided to list lines 18 through 22 with<br>the command '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">18,22</big>'. I then issued the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x</big>' command to save my <br>changes and exit the editor.<br> If had I wanted my addition to go in front of line 20, <br>I could have used the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">20i</big>' command.<br><br><span
style="font-weight: bold;">DELETING LINES</span><br><br> Suppose I'm tired of seeing header lines that no<br>longer apply to this file. We can delete a single line, or<br>a range of lines, with the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">d</big>' commmand:<br><br></big></pre>
<hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;">><big
style="font-weight: bold;"> ed sword.c</big><br>
<pre><big>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c, 646 bytes<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">n </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>enabled line number printing</small></big><br>number on, list off<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1,10 </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>listed lines 1 to 10</small></big><br> 1 /* /domains/Examples/weapon/sword.c<br> 2 * from the Nightmare IV LPC Library<br> 3 * a simple sword example, nothing fancy<br> 4 * created by Descartes of Borg 950402<br> 5 */<br> 6 <br> 7 #include <lib.h><br> 8 #include <damage_types.h><br> 9 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 10 <br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1,5d </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>deleted lines 1 to 5</small></big><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1,5 </big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>listed (the new) lines 1 to 5</small></big><br> 1 <br> 2 #include <lib.h><br> 3 #include <damage_types.h><br> 4 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 5 <br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1d </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>deleted blank line 1</small></big><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>displayed the file starting at line 1</small></big><br> 1 #include <lib.h><br> 2 #include <damage_types.h><br> 3 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 4 <br> 5 inherit LIB_ITEM;<br> 6 <br> 7 static void create() {<br> 8 item::create();<br> 9 SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> 10 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 11 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 12 SetShort("a plain sword");<br> 13 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br> 14 SetMass(150);<br> 15 SetHands(1);<br> 16 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 17 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br> 18 SetClass(20);<br> 19 SetDamageType(BLADE);<br> 20 SetWeaponType("blade");<br> 21 }<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x </big><big style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small>exited and saved</small></big><br>"/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c" 21 lines 476 bytes<br>Exit from ed.<br></big></pre>
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<pre><big><br><br> First I deleted lines 1 through 5 with the command '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1,5d</big>'. <br>Then, for good measure, I removed the remaining blank line '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1d</big>'.<br> Voila. Cleaner code.<br><br
style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">REPLACING STRINGS</span><br><br> Well now I want to replace all instances of "short" with<br>"plain", and I don't feel like editing each matching line<br>manually. I can do a search and replace. First I will list which<br>lines need to change, then I will change them:<br><br></big></pre>
<hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;">> <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">ed sword.c</span></big><br>
<pre><big>/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c, 476 bytes<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">n</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> enabled line number printing</small></big></big><big><br>number on, list off<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">g/short/p</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> searched for and displayed lines containing "short"</small></big></big><big><br> 10 SetId( ({ "sword", "short sword" }) );<br> 11 SetAdjectives( ({ "short" }) );<br> 13 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull short sword.");<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">g/short/s/short/plain</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> searched for "short" and replaced with "plain"</small></big></big><big><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">g/short/p</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> searched for "short" again but found none</small></big></big><big><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> listed file from line 1</small></big></big><big><br> 1 #include <lib.h><br> 2 #include <damage_types.h><br> 3 #include <vendor_types.h><br> 4 <br> 5 inherit LIB_ITEM;<br> 6 <br> 7 static void create() {<br> 8 item::create();<br> 9 SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> 10 SetId( ({ "sword", "plain sword" }) );<br> 11 SetAdjectives( ({ "plain" }) );<br> 12 SetShort("a plain sword");<br> 13 SetLong("A cheap and rather dull plain sword.");<br> 14 SetMass(150);<br> 15 SetHands(1);<br> 16 SetDollarCost(50);<br> 17 SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br> 18 SetClass(20);<br> 19 SetDamageType(BLADE);<br> 20 SetWeaponType("blade");<br> 21 }<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> moved to line 1</small></big></big><big><br> 1 #include <lib.h><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">I</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> ran automatic indentation</small></big></big><big><br>Indenting entire code...<br>Indentation complete.<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">1z</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> listed file from line 1</small></big></big><big><br>#include <lib.h><br>#include <damage_types.h><br>#include <vendor_types.h><br><br>inherit LIB_ITEM;<br><br>static void create() {<br> item::create();<br> SetKeyName("plain sword");<br> SetId( ({ "sword", "plain sword" }) );<br> SetAdjectives( ({ "plain" }) );<br> SetShort("a plain sword");<br> SetLong("A cheap and rather dull plain sword.");<br> SetMass(150);<br> SetHands(1);<br> SetDollarCost(50);<br> SetVendorType(VT_WEAPON);<br> SetClass(20);<br> SetDamageType(BLADE);<br> SetWeaponType("blade");<br>}<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x</big></big><big><big
style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><small> exited and saved</small></big></big><big><br>"/realms/cratylus/area/weap/sword.c" 21 lines 488 bytes<br>Exit from ed.<br></big></pre>
<hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;">
<pre><big><br><br> The command <big style="font-weight: bold;">g/short/p</big> showed me all the lines<br>that contained the substring "short". Then I ran the global<br>search and replace command to substitute "plain" for "short",<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">g/short/s/short/plain</big><br> Then I searched again for the string "short" and<br>nothing came up, because it had been replaced.<br><br> Finally I went to line number 1 and issued the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">I</big>'<br>command. This auto-indents the code, making it neater and<br>easier to read.<br><br><big
style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><big><big><br>Editor basics, part 3</big></big></big><br><br><br>Now let's look at some common problems:<br><br><br>1) <big><span
style="text-decoration: underline;">Accidental deletion</span></big><br
style="text-decoration: underline;"><br><br> If you type <big><span
style="font-weight: bold;">1,20d</span></big> when you meant to type <big
style="font-weight: bold;">1,2d</big> you will end<br>up with a file 18 lines shorter than you intended. <big
style="font-weight: bold;">ed</big> does not<br>have an "undo" command, so those lines will never come back.<br> However, if you quit the editor *without saving*, then that<br>deletion will not be committed to the file. You can issue the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">Q</big>'<br>command:<br><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">Q</big><br><br> To force quit without saving. Of course, if those lines<br>weren't already in the file, this won't help much.<br><br><br>2) <big><span
style="text-decoration: underline;">Can't leave the editor</span></big><br><br><br> You try to write and exit, but get this:<br><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">x</big><br>File command failed.<br><br> What this means is that for some reason, you can't write<br>to the file, so you don't exit the editor. What this usually means is that<br>you tried to edit a file that does not belong to you. Since you do not<br>have permission to modify the file, ed refuses to commit your changes.<br><br> There are two ways around this. If you don't really care<br>whether your changes are saved or not, you can just force quit the <br>editor with '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">Q</big>':<br><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">Q</big><br>Exit from ed.<br><br> Your changes will be lost, but you'll be out of the editor.<br><br> If you really want to save this file, you'll have to save it<br>somewhere other than your current working directory (cwd). You can save<br>it to your home directory with the '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">w</big>' command, then force quit:<br><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">w /realms/cratylus/sword.c</big><br>"/realms/cratylus/sword.c" 20 lines 478 bytes<br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">Q</big><br>Exit from ed.<br><br><br>3) <big><span
style="text-decoration: underline;">Indent command fails</span></big><br><br><br> You try to auto-indent your code but get an error like this:<br><br>:<big
style="font-weight: bold;">I</big><br>Indenting entire code...<br>Unterminated string in line 13<br>Indentation halted.<br><br> This is pretty self explanatory. Indent relies on a certain <br>amount of coherence in your code, and if your syntax is sufficiently<br>munged, it can't figure out how to properly do its thing.<br> Examine the line that indent complains about, and also the<br>line before it. Sometimes a good line is accused of being bad, just<br>because it comes after a bad line.<br><br><br>4) <big><span
style="text-decoration: underline;">I need to [something] in ed, but don't know how!</span></big><br><br><br> While in command mode, type '<big
style="font-weight: bold;">h</big>' and enter. You'll get<br>a handy list of ed commands available to you.<br><br><br>5) <big
style="text-decoration: underline;">My ability/patience/time is limited. I want not to use ed.</big><br><br><br> I feel your pain. The currently available ways around<br>this are:<br><br>1) Shell account. If you can get shell, or command line access<br>to the computer that is running the mud, then you can probably<br>use an editor local to that computer (like vim) to edit files.<br> Chances are, though, that if you are a regular rank-and-file<br>creator, you will not be given shell access. Most system admins<br>consider giving random people off the net shell access <br>an abomination.<br><br>2) Server FTP/SFTP. The server that runs the mud might have an<br>ftp server or sftpd access. Again, most security-conscious sysadmins<br>will not permit Just Some Person Off The Internet to have this<br>kind of access.<br><br>3) Mud FTP. I don't like this option. Unix FTPD is a security <br>concern as it is. Using unsupported, un-warrantied mud network code<br>to provide ftp access to files seems to me to be equivalent to pulling<br>down your pants, bending over, and whistling for the Internet to<br>come visit. But...it's an option.<br><br>4) Client upload. This is actually the most sensible option, if<br>you are truly allergic to ed. You still need to use ed, but what<br>you can do is write your code in your favorite local editor, like <br>notepad or gvim or whatever. Then use your mud client (most of them<br>have an option to "send text") to send the code by running ed,<br>entering input mode, copying the code from your editor, and<br>pasting it into your client.<br> This is a somewhat awkward system, and ill-suited to <br>making minor changes. But it has the virtue of working well and<br>being a widely available option.<br><br>5) Suck it up. Really, you need to just get used to it. Don't<br>make me tell you stories about how when I was younger I had to<br>code using a VT terminal with no cut-and-paste, in an unheated,<br>locked computer lab 20'x10' in size, at 9600 bps. In a snowstorm.<br>Uphill both ways.<br><br><br> <br><a
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