This topic discusses how to work with files in general. For a complete list of editing functions, see MEP Editing Function Reference.
MEP accepts two basic forms of commands:
You can either type the argument or select characters by moving the cursor from its current position. After you begin entering a command, you can cancel it by pressing ESC. Note that some commands work differently when used with the meta prefix (F9).
The following table shows how to use some of the most common file operations:
| Editing Task | Key |
|---|---|
| Exit editor after saving current file. | F8 |
| Exit editor without saving current file. | F9+F8 |
| Save current file without exiting. | ALT+A ALT+A F2 |
| Save current file as filename without exiting. | ALT+A ALT+A filename F2 |
| Load another file. | ALT+A filename F2 |
| Copy another file into current file at cursor. | ALT+A ALT+A filename SHIFT+INS |
| Discard most recent changes and reread the file from disk. | SHIFT+F7 |
The following table shows how to move through a file.
| Editing Task | Key |
|---|---|
| Move a single character. | DirectionKey |
| Move to beginning of line. | HOME |
| Move to end of line. | END |
| Move up a page. | PGUP |
| Move down a page. | PGDN |
| Move to the top of the screen. | F9+UP |
| Move to the bottom of the screen. | F9+DOWN |
| Move to the top of the file. | CTRL+UP |
| Move to the bottom of the file. | CTRL+DOWN |
| Move to the next word. | CTRL+RIGHT |
| Move to the previous word. | CTRL+LEFT |
The following table shows some of the most common ways to edit text.
| Editing Task | Key |
|---|---|
| Change to insert mode. | INS |
| Insert a blank line (insert mode). | ENTER |
| Insert a blank line (overstrike mode). | CTRL+N |
| Select text. | ALT+A DirectionKey |
| Remove text. | DEL |
| Remove text from cursor to end of the line. | ALT+A DEL |
| Remove line or selection. | CTRL+Y |
| Copy text. | ALT+A CursorMovement CTRL+INS |
| Paste text. | SHIFT+INS |
| Move text. | DEL CursorMovement SHIFT+INS |
| Find text. | ALT+A text F3 |
| Find and replace text. | CTRL+L argument argument (prompts for the search string, then the replace string) |