,MOD
- R 44X (12 April 1983) <PSL.NMODE-DOC>NM-BROWSERS.ibm
PLA 97_LAS 80 0_FIR 2_INT 1 6.0_TYP 160 163 162 193_INP 12 101_MAR 2
,END
,PRO
201 OUT 160_202 OUT 163_203 OUT 162_204 OUT 193
205 INP 12 101_206 INP 12 102
,END
,DEFINE
 UNIT SPACE
 FUNCTION
,END

          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).