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UNIT SPACE
FUNCTION
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201/NMODE Manual (Browser Subsystems) Page 8-1
202/8. Browser Subsystems
8.1 General Features of NMODE Browsers
201/NMODE has a number of subsytems called browsers. Among NMODE's
browsers are a buffer browser, a file browser, a documentation browser, and
a browser browser. A browser is a subsystem that displays a list of objects
and allows the user to select particular objects from the list for viewing or
editing. The user can select objects by placing the cursor on their line.
The object pointed to by the cursor is considered the current object. The
list of the names of these objects is displayed immediately upon entering the
browser in question. Because of NMODE's multiple window features, the list
of objects in the browser can often be displayed at the same time as a portion
of one of the objects. In the buffer browser, for instance, it is possible to
view a buffer's contents in the lower window while still displaying the list of
all buffers in the upper window.
202/8.1.1 Commands Common to Browser Subsystems
201/A number of commands are common to all the browser subsystems. For
instance, in all the browsers the list of objects displayed can be shortened
selectively. The I command (203/browser-ignore-command201/) will remove the
current object from the list. The filter command F (which function is invoked
depends on the browser) will remove a set of objects, typically those
matching a user-supplied string in some way. The options availible in the
filter command differ from browser to browser. They can always be displayed
by typing ? after entering the filter command with an F. The list of objects
can be restored to its former size by using the N command
(203/browser-undo-filter-command201/).
Other common commands are the E command (203/browser-edit-command201/) and the
V command (203/browser-view-command201/). They allow closer examination of the
objects listed in the browser. The current object is displayed when the view
or edit command is given. In split screen mode, edit will select the bottom
window while view does not. Split screen mode can be activated by giving an
argument to E or V. In the buffer and file browsers, edit and view can be
used to initiate actual alteration of a buffer or file. The buffer and file
browsers are often used, in fact, to easily locate and enter buffers and files
with long names that the user has forgotten. After editing a file or buffer
one can escape back to the browser with C-M-L. Similarly, one can escape
back out of any browser with a quit, Q, command (which function is invoked
depends on the browser).
As can be seen from these examples, browser commands are often single
printing characters, which are not self-inserting in browser modes. The
browser helps users keep track of commands by displaying an information line
at the bottom of the screen. This line shows the commands available in the
browser, with the character that invokes the command capitalized. In
addition to this cue the browsers provide a line or two of on-line
documentation about each command. This information can be displayed by
typing ? (203/browser-help-command201/) to the browser's top level.
201/Page 8-2 NMODE Manual (Invoking Browsers)
202/8.2 Invoking Browsers
201/Each browser can be entered with a particular command. The
documentation browser can be entered with M-X Apropos (203/apropos-command201/).
The buffer browser can be entered with C-X C-B (203/buffer-browser-command201/).
The file browser can be entered through either C-X D (203/dired-command201/) or
through M-X Edit Directory (203/edit-directory-command201/). The browser-browser
can be entered through M-X List Browsers (203/browser-browser-command201/). On
the HP9836, several of these commands are availible through soft keys.
Another way to enter most of the browsers is to enter the browser-browser
and then create or visit a particular browser with the B command
(203/browser-browser-browse-command201/). This will visit an existing browser, or
create a new browser from a browser template (possibly prompting the user
for some input in the process).