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A-Shell Reference

Updated February 2024; see History

When executed, VUE starts by searching for an ini.vue file. The search path consists of the current PPN, the [p,0] directory, and DSK0:[7,0]. If found, the contents are processed in much the same way they would be if they were typed in VUE’s command mode. Launch VUE with the /T switch to display details about ini.vue processing.

The set of ini.vue commands is shown below. Most of the options work under A-Shell as they do under AMOS, with a few exceptions as noted.

Command

Value(s)

Default

Action

ASCII7

Boolean

 

All characters with the 8th bit set display as dimmed question mark. Even when not set, certain problem characters which appear to AM* and WY* terminals as commands are also handled this way.

AUTODELETE

Boolean or number

 

Toggles autodeletion of old auto update history notes (see UPDATE) or sets the maximum number to keep before deleting older ones.

AUTOSAVE

Number

Zero

If not zero, forces file to be automatically saved after every <number> changes. Each character counts as one change, some commands count as five changes.

BAKDIR

 

 

= <Unix directory spec>  Allows you to put the .BAK (backup) files into the specified directory, rather into the current directory. Applies to Unix only, and generally only to the standalone version.

CHARINS

Boolean

False

Start in character insert mode, vs. overwrite mode; use ^q during editing to toggle; also see INSERT.

COLOFFSET

Number

0

Set number of first column (see COLUMN).

COLUMN

Boolean

False

Displays cursor column number during editing, either on bottom status line or upper left corner of screen.  

CRNL

Boolean

 

Determines if file will be output with CRNL or just NL line terminators. Default=true for Windows or if OPTIONS=CRNL in miame.ini, otherwise false (normal Unix case.)

CVTWARN

Boolean

True

Controls whether you get a warning that it will convert the CRLF line terminators (AMOS/Windows format) to native format terminators (LF for Unix).

DEFAULT

Ext1, Ext2, ... Extn

 

Define up to 25 default extensions (to check if none specified on cmd line).

DRAW

Boolean

False

Change cursor advance direction.

ENCRYPT

Boolean

False

Causes any file written out by VUE to be encrypted using EFS. Ignored if EFS not enabled. See EFS in the index for more details.

GO

One to several lines

 

Specifies command(s) to execute on GO exit.  ’%’ expands to file.ext; ‘@’ expands to ext.

INSERT

Boolean

False

Start in line insert mode; use ^\ during editing to toggle. Also see CHARINS.

LCKFILE

Boolean

False

Lock file while editing level 1.

LOCKSTRICT

Boolean

False

Lock file while editing level 2.

MODEM

Boolean

False

If true, command mode display output is minimized.

MOUSEPOS

Boolean

True

Disable mouse position. This normally defaults to ON (mouse wheel enabled), and is always re-enabled on exit. However, it defaults to OFF if OPTIONS=NOWHEEL is set in miame.ini, and in any case, VUE always restores the original global setting on exit.

NARROW

 

 

Forces VUE to start in the normal 80 column mode.

PCNAV

Boolean

False

Forces the Home and End keys to go to beginning/end of line instead of file.

QUITWARN

Boolean

True

Enables warning when quitting after changing file.

SAVEBAK

Boolean

False

When set to TRUE, each SAVE operation (whether explicit or triggered by the AUTOSAVE feature) starts by copying the file being edited to the .BAK file prior to the SAVE operation. The default is FALSE (traditional behavior) in which the SAVE operation does not affect the .BAK file.

SEARCHFOLD

Boolean

True

If true, search is not case sensitive.

SHORT

 

 

Forces VUE to start in the normal 24 row mode.

SHOWTABS

Boolean

True

Show TABs as specified character rather than as space.

START

"End" or "Command"

blank

Specify starting position: end of file, command mode, or top of file (blank).

TAB

Number

8

Specify <number> spaces per TAB. If 8, use TAB character. If not 8, use spaces.

TALL

Number

42

Forces VUE to start in a display mode consisting of the specified number of rows. If equal sign and value are omitted, VUE begins with 42 rows.

UPDATE

Boolean or sc{,ec}

 

Automatically adds a note to the top of the file whenever the file is updated. Note includes date, time, edit time, and operator. If the sc,ec parameters are specified (in place of ON), they specify the characters to insert at the beginning and end of each update entry, e.g. UPDATE = !,*. (See AUTODELETE)

UPDSSL

Boolean

False

Force shifted status line to be the same as unshifted status line.

USETABS

Boolean

False

Determines whether the TAB key is stored as a TAB character or is expanded to spaces, overriding the behavior previously determined by the TAB # directive, which otherwise sets the tab width. If USETABS is not specified, the choice continues to be based on the TAB # directive: TAB 8 effectively enables the USETABS option, any other TAB value disables it.

WIDE

Number

132

Forces VUE to start with width set to <number> columns. If equal sign and value are omitted, is treated like WIDE = 132.

WIDTH

Number

 

Determines column for wrap if WRAP=true.   Default=screen width-2.

WRAP

Boolean

False

If true, cursor wraps after column specified by WIDTH.

 

History

2024 February, A-Shell 7.0.1756, VUE.LIT 3.2(381):  Add SAVEBAK.