		1.  INTRODUCTION
	
		    EDIT is a general-purpose text editor and word processor for the
		IBM Personal Computer.  It also runs on other computers that are 100%
		compatible with the IBM PC.  It is very easy use, and easy to learn. 
		It does everything most people need from a word processor.  It has
		all of the basic text editing and word word processing operations
		that allow you to easily create and modify nicely formatted
		documents.  It even includes some important features that are not
		available even in many expensive word processors.
	
		    EDIT is also fast.  This is because most of the time-critical
		sections of EDIT are written in assembly language.  
	
		    All this makes EDIT a very nice program to use, either as a
		general purpose text editor or as a personal word processor.  Yet
		EDIT's author has placed it in the public domain.  That means that
		EDIT is free.  Anyone can copy it and use it freely.  You are
		encouraged to share it with others.  However, EDIT's author does
		request a donation from those who find EDIT useful.  
	
		    EDIT was written by
	
				Thomas N. Thurston
				1111 W. El Camino Real, Suite 109-115
				Sunnyvale, California  94087
	
			Suggested donation:  25 dollars
	
		    If you do send a donation, be sure to include your name and
		address.  Everyone who donates at least 15 dollars will be notified
		when major updates of EDIT are available, and how to get a current
		copy.  
		
		    The author also appreciates comments, criticisms, and suggestions
		for improvements to EDIT.  
	
	
		1.1.  Simple, Consistent Command Organization
		
		    EDIT's command organization is intuitive and "friendly".  The
		cursor control keys on the right side of the keyboard all perform the
		action designated on the keycap.  A prompt line on the screen
		indicates the command for each of the function keys F1 through F10. 
		The text keys in the center of the keyboard are used to enter text. 
		In addition to the basic commands, most commands also have a
		"stronger" version, that use the same key, but with Ctrl or Shift
		held down.  For example, the cursor control key labeled with a left
		arrow moves the cursor left one character.  By holding down Shift or
		Ctrl with the left arrow key, the cursor will move left by one word.
	
		    For more extensive commands, like those that set up margins, tab
		stops, lines per page, and such, EDIT provides menus to make the
		selection of different options easier.  It also gives a brief
		explanation of each option to help you remember what it does.  
	
		    One aspect of EDIT that is not often found in a text editor or
		word processor is the fact that it is "modeless".  This means that
		each command always means the same thing, regardless of when the
		command is given.  Even if EDIT is in the middle of one command (like
		selecting options from a menu), when you press another command key,
		EDIT will immediately execute the new command.  Of course, this isn't
		the only way to leave a menu, but it's nice, because you don't have
		to remember different commands for different contexts.  This also
		allows you to be able to immediately do what you want, without having
		to give some explicit command that means "stop this, so I can do
		something else".
	
	
		1.2.  Extensive Commands
		
		    EDIT supports approximately 100 commands, some of which have
		several options.  The following list gives an overview of the range
		and power of these commands:
	
			Cursor movements:		Relative movements by character, line,
									screen, word, sentence, paragraph, and
									indentation level.
	
									Direct movements to a specific line,
									column, or to the beginning or end of the
									file.
	
			Editing:				Deletions by character left or right;
									word left or right; to beginning or end
									of line; or entire line.
	
									Both insert and overstrike forms of text
									insertion.
	
			Block operations:		Mark block, delete block, save block,
									insert saved or deleted block (copy or
									move block), write block to file, insert
									block from file.
	
			Search and Replace:		Search forward and backward, global
									search and replace, and conditional
									replace.
	
			Page format control:	Set tab stops, margins, page layout,
									headers, footers, page number, right
									justification, and spacing.
	
			On screen display:		Bold, underline, centering, tab stops,
									margins, etc.  "What you see is what you
									get."
	
			Word wrap:				Full supported; automatic reformatting of
									a paragraph when text is inserted or
									deleted.
	
			DOS commands:			Execute any DOS command directly from
									EDIT, even execute another program or
									another copy of EDIT (DOS 2.0 or later
									only).
	
			Macros:					Keystoke macros, to simplify repetitive
									tasks.
	
		
		1.3.  System Requirements
		
			System:				IBM-PC or system that is 100% compatible with
								the IBM-PC.  The XT, AT, and COMPAQ are all
								okay.  The PCjr works with some restrictions,
								due to its different keyboard.
								
			Monitor:			80 column graphics or monochrome monitor.
								
			Memory:				At least 64K bytes.  96K is prefered.  EDIT
								will use up to 128K if available.
								
			Operating System:	DOS.  1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, and 3.0 all work.

			Printer:			IBM matrix printer or compatible (any printer
								that supports the ASCII printable characters
								plus CR, LF, and FF).
								

		1.4  Installation
		
		    The EDIT distribution diskette contains the following files:
		
				EDIT.EXE  (the EDIT program itself)
				EDIT.HLP  (the text used by EDIT's Help command)
	
		    To install EDIT, you should copy both of these files onto the
		diskette or hard disk that will be used as the default drive when you
		use EDIT.  Generally, the current "default drive" is indicated by the
		DOS prompt.  If the DOS prompt is
		
				A>
		
		then the current default drive is drive A.
		
		    To install EDIT on a computer with two diskette drives, place a
		DOS diskette in drive A, place the EDIT diskette in drive B, and type
		the following command:
		
				copy b:edit.* a:
		
		    After copying these two files onto the diskette in drive A, that
		diskette contains everything neccessary to run EDIT.  The new EDIT
		diskette should be used to run EDIT.  The original EDIT diskette
		should be kept in a safe place in case the new EDIT diskette is
		accidently ruined.  
		
		    To run EDIT, make sure that the EDIT diskette is in the current
		default drive, and then type
		
				edit filename
		
		where filename is the name of the file to create or edit.  Section
		2.2 describes how to run EDIT in greater detail.
		
		    The procedure to install EDIT on a hard disk is very similar. 
		You should copy both files from the EDIT distribution diskette onto
		the hard disk.  Copy them into the directory that will be used as the
		default directory when EDIT is executed, or in a directory that is in
		your command seach path.
		
		
		    For instructions on how to create a DOS diskette, and a more
		complete explanation of the "default drive", "default directory", and
		"command search path", consult the DOS section of the Guide To
		Operations manual, or the Disk Operating System User's Guide.
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