4. The Laurel Editor314. The Laurel EditorThe Laurel editor provides a convenient point-and-type style screen editor for editing messages inthe composition region of the Laurel screen. Users of Bravo should be able to use the Laureleditor with almost no training, since the Laurel editor mimics most of Bravo's interaction style.Formatting facilities are restricted to line-turning only; there are no "looks" in the Bravo sense.Only one font (a variation of TimesRoman 10) is supported, and only one face (plain) is availablefor text. Given these restrictions, however, the Laurel editor does provide many facilities that insome areas go well beyond Bravo.The single Laurel program allows a user to select between two distinct editing styles, called modaland modeless. A modal editor style means that depending on the state (or mode) of the editoronly certain actions are allowable. The meaning of a particular keystroke may be different atdifferent times, depending on the current mode of the system. A modeless editor style means anycommand may be given at any time, regardless of the actions performed up to that time.According to this definition, the Laurel modeless editor is not, strictly speaking, modeless. It does come much closerto this ideal, however than does the modal editor.The Laurel modal editor is nearly identical in command structure to the familiar Bravo 7 and 8editors and to the previous Laurel 5.1 editor. The actions necessary to insert text in this editorare roughly: Select an item; type a text insertion command letter (A, I, or R); type or select textfor insertion; terminate insertion (type ESC).The Laurel modeless editor includes all of the commands of the modal editor, but the actionsnecessary for common operations are more streamlined. The modeless editor is similar in commandstructure to the BravoX and LaurelX editors. In the modeless editor, the actions required to insert textare: Select insertion point; type or insert text. No explicit start or stop of insertion is required.Since the commands available in either editor are similar, this section describes each command inonly one place, giving differences between modal and modeless in fine points. When a keyboardcommand is discussed, it will be identified by its command letter in two ways, for modal and formodeless editor invocation. In the modal editor, a command is distinguished by its being given atthe appropriate time, i.e., when a caret is not blinking. Such commands are given merely bytyping the command letter. In the modeless editor, where the caret is always blinking (you areessentially in type-in mode all the time), some other way must be used to distinguish a commandletter from a typed-in letter. The Laurel modeless editor does this by requiring that an extra keybe held down while you type the command letter (similar to holding down SHIFT for capitalletters). The key used for this purpose is called COM (for COMMAND; see section 4.4 for itslocation on various keyboards.)An editor keyboard command, for example, the Time insertion command is described as T (COM-T), indicating that in the modal editor the command is given by typing the letter T when incommand mode (no blinking caret), or by COM-T in the modeless editor (at any time). Somecommands allow synonyms, as with the text deletion command, D (DEL, COM-D). Here, in themodal editor, the command is given by typing the letter D when in command mode, while in themodeless editor the command is given either by typing the DEL key or by typing COM-D.$-fpXFf g^q gZCp X gXxN gVa gT@# gSC gQND gO gL9%r gJGprp 4rp gH|@ gFP gDV gC@sw gA2 g>&p!= g<\.5 g:2spspsp g8)sp g5U> g37s g1,p5 g/>( g,O g*^ g(D g'#O g%X? g#M g!5* gM g.Hsp gcspsp g g'F s g\p4sp g(sp g)spsp g'sp" g2spsp g =Z XLAUREL MANUAL324.1. Getting startedThere are numerous parameters that modify Laurel editor operations that you may set in yourLaurel profile if you choose (see section 5). Fortunately, all of these parameters have defaultsettings, so that you may use the Laurel editor without setting any of these parameters yourself.Laurel chooses the modal editor by default for compatibility with previous versions.Should you wish to use the modeless editor, you must place the entryEditor: Modelessin your Laurel profile. A strongly recommended entry for the Laurel profile should you choosethe modeless editor isBluePendingDelete: TRUEwhich will enable a convenient feature in that editor.After having used either of the Laurel editors for some time, you may wish to set some of theother parameters in the Laurel profile to suit your own taste.4.2. Selecting TextThe mechanics of selecting text in the Laurel editor are quite similar to those of Bravo, althoughLaurel extends the available functionality considerably. With one mouse button click you mayselect a character, word, line or paragraph. With an extra click you can extend the currentselection. By clicking multiple times it is possible to expand a selection from character to word toline to paragraph to the complete document, or you may shrink one edge of the selection backdown through the selection hierarchy.4.2.1. Target and source selectionsTwo general types of selection will be referred to in this manual. The first is target selection,known in Bravo terms as primary selection. This selection is called target because it indicateswhere the editing will occur. A target selection is indicated on the screen with a solid underlineor with a solid bottomed video reversal in the modeless editor when the selection is a replace selection. The othertype of selection is source selection, known in Bravo terms as secondary selection. This selectionis called source because it indicates the source of text to be copied. Source selections, bothsecondary and shifted, are indicated on the screen by a dotted underline or by a "serated bottom"video reversal in the modeless editor for move selection.The mechanics of selection described below apply to both target and source selections exceptwhen otherwise indicated.$fpspXs gfp g_t gZpO gXK gV?" gU*T gQD]O gL{F gJ]H gEt6 gBY g@7> g:Kt g5pb g39$ g2)P g0_E g... g,% g(=t# g$pG rp g#rpA g!6L gksip grp$rp g>! g > s gA9 gp3) g g=UN4. The Laurel Editor334.2.2. The selection hierarchyThe selection hierarchy refers to the character, word, line, paragraph, and document levels atwhich a text selection may be made. Going up the hierarchy means changing levels to the nexthigher one, e.g., from character to word. Note that line is considered higher than word, although a very longword that occupies multiple lines may actually be longer than a line. Such a case is rare. Going down thehierarchy means the opposite, i.e., changing levels from a higher level down to the next lowerone.4.2.3. Character selectionA character is any single character. To select a character, point the cursor at that character andclick RED. A solid underline will appear under the character selected. If you hold RED downwhile you move the cursor, you will see the solid underline move from character to character asthe cursor moves. When you lift up on RED, the solid underline will remain under the lastcharacter thus underlined.In character selection, as with all text selection actions in Laurel, the previous selection isremembered while the new selection is being made. If the cursor is moved out of the text regionin which the selection is being made while the mouse button used for selection is still down, theprevious text selection is restored. To make a selection "stick", the mouse button (in this caseRED) must be lifted up while the cursor is still pointing at the selected object. This last featureallows you to push down a mouse button at any place on the Laurel screen and hold it downwhile moving the mouse to any desired location (e.g., a screen command) without danger ofdestroying any selections along the cursor's trajectory.4.2.4. Word selectionA word is any of the following: a contiguous sequence of letters and digits, a contiguous run ofblanks and tabs including at most one CR at the right edge, or a single punctuation character. Toselect a word, point the cursor at any place within that word and click YELLOW. A solidunderline will appear under the word selected. If you hold YELLOW down while you move thecursor, you will see the solid underline move from word to word as the cursor moves. When youlift up on YELLOW, the solid underline will remain under the last word thus underlined.A word may also be selected with two rapid clicks of RED, as described in Selection expansionbelow.4.2.5. Line selectionA line is one line of text as displayed on the Laurel screen. Lines are somewhat arbitrary units ofselection when several contiguous lines contain no CR, since the exact break point between linesdepends on the widths of characters and on the width of the Laurel screen. To select a line,move the cursor into the line bar, the area of the Laurel screen to the left of the text and to theright of the scroll bar. When the cursor is in the line bar it appears as a right-pointing arrow.Point the cursor at the desired line and click RED. A solid underline will appear under the lineselected. If you hold RED down while you move the cursor in the line bar, you will see the solid$-fpXFf g_t g[prp%" gYT gX sC gVDM p gTy^ gR gN#t gJpc gHspB sp gG'8 gEQsp0 gC g@(7 g>J"> g<.3 g:W g8spY g7L g5U@ g38 g.t g+pA g) sp: g'&"sp g&,J+sp+ g<I g:sp* g8 sI g7 g3p;sp% g1sp*spr g0p g+t g(p7s g&Op'5 g">sp g! sp)sp gHsp"rp gt gJp&spsp gX gD g20 g b gUN g   g C=[94. The Laurel Editor35If you extend a character, word or line selection by pointing in the line bar, then the extension ismade at the line level and the selection level is changed to the line level. When a selection isalready at the line level, then extensions made by pointing within the text will also be made atthe line level.If a selection is already at the paragraph level, then extension by pointing within the text orwithin the line bar is made at the paragraph level. If a selection is already at the full documentlevel, then extension merely reselects the full document.Extending a selection to some point, when that point is not inside the existing selection, willextend the selection so that all of the existing selection plus the extra text up to (or down to) thatpoint is included in the resulting selection. Extending a selection to some point that is within theexisting selection will actually cause the selection to shrink. In this case, the endpoint of theexisting selection that is closer to the beginning of the message will be retained in the resultingselection.4.2.9. Selection expansionSelection expansion differs from selection extension in that it expands the current selection to thenext higher level in the selection hierarchy. Selection expansion is accomplished by rapidmultiple RED or YELLOW mouse clicks, where each click after the first is given within theselection existing at that time. For example, pointing at a character and clicking RED once willselect that character as usual. Pointing at a character and clicking RED twice will select the wordcontaining that character; clicking three times will select the line containing that character; fourtimes will select the paragraph containing that character; five times will select the entire message.Multiple clicks with YELLOW are similar, except that the first click selects a word and subsequentclicks go up the hierarchy from there.Multiple clicks with RED in the line bar start at the line level, then up to paragraph level andthen to document level. Multiple clicks with YELLOW in the line bar start at the paragraph level,then go to document level.Clicking rapidly is important. There is a timeout associated with multiple clicking for selectionexpansion. If the next click is given within the timeout after the last click is completed, theselection is expanded. If the next click is given after the timeout has elapsed, then the selectionstarts at the original level in the selection hierarchy (for that button and position) again. Thetimeout should be selected so that stationary multiple clicks are naturally produced within thetimeout, while mouse motion between clicks uses enough time so that the multi-click hierarachystarts over.The default timeout for selection expansion via multiple clicks is 0.39 seconds. It is possible thatyour own mouse habits may not be in agreement with this setting, causing you to get selectionexpansion when you don't want it or vice versa. If this is the case, or if you wish to disable themultiple click--selection expansion feature altogether, then you may want to use the Click: entryin the Laurel profile (see section 5).$-fpXFf g_S g]KG g[] gY gVD6) gTy9* gR9 gO=B gMr06 gK] gI4. gHR gFH gAt g>Jp40 g<"9 g:spsp2 g8!3sp g78 sp g5U); g3*; g1spG g/& g,sp/ g*.sp g( g%|O g#` g!M g ^ gQT g P g gJG g@ g?$ gI g & ` g=X2.LAUREL MANUAL364.2.10. Selection reductionThe level of a selection may be reduced by multi-clicking BLUE. The first BLUE click causesextension as usual. If another BLUE click is given within the timeout, then the level of theselection is reduced by one (but never below character level). This feature is useful if you start aselection at the word (or higher) level, but after extending the selection you realize that the newendpoint should be at a character boundary. Just re-click BLUE several times to knock theselection level down, and select the endpoint as you wish. Selection reduction uses the sametimeout as selection expansion (see above).4.2.11. Type-in point selection (modeless editor only)To set the type-in point in the modal editor, a keyboard command such as A, I, or R must begiven (see section 4.4). In the modeless editor, the type-in point is selected along with the textwhenever you make a target (primary) selection. The type-in point is shown by a blinking caret(also called the insertion caret); the tip of the caret shows where typed-in characters will beinserted. Thus in the modeless editor, you get both an underlined piece of text and a blinkingcaret together with each selection action.The type-in point is placed between characters at one end of the selected text. This end is theone closest to the tip of the cursor when the selection is made.Text geography lesson: The point after the last character on a line is logically the same as the point before the firstcharacter on the next line. Laurel will place the type-in point before the last character on a line when the above rulestates that it should be placed after that character. This is done because 1) a caret meant to blink at the point afterthe last character on a line is always placed before the first character of the next line, 2) such a placement would bespatially distant from the text selection and thus confusing, and 3) it is the "right" thing. Thus you may sometimessee the display of the blinking caret slightly "inside" of the solid underline. If you wish to place the caret after thelast character of a line, then select the beginning of the next line. The only way in the modeless editor to positionthe insertion point after the last CR of a message is with the COM-A command (section 4.4).In general, one is interested in either selecting a piece of text or in selecting the type-in point, butnot both. If you want to select a piece of text in the modeless editor, just select that text ignoringthe placement of the insertion caret. If you want to place the type-in point, then point the tip ofthe cursor at the point between characters where you want the type-in point to be. The selectionunderline will be drawn under either the previous or subsequent item. The underline placementin this case is irrelevant, the important fact to remember is that the insertion caret will be placedproperly if you point at the spot where you want it to be.4.2.12. Replace selection (modeless editor only)When you make a replace selection, subsequent type-in will delete the selected text automaticallyin addition to inserting the typed-in characters. Although in the modeless editor it is possible toreplace text by selecting that text, deleting it, and then typing in the new text, it is easier to selectthe original text with replace selection and then just type the new text.Whenever a selection is made a replace selection, it is indicated on the screen by video reversalrather than by the usual solid underline. For example, the initial text selection in the skeletonform provided by the New form command is made this way.$fpspXs gfp g_t g[psp sp gYsp* gX,9 gVDS gTy,sp gRN gP+ gLXt6 gHpEspspsp gGO gEQN gC-2 gAP g?* g<<$ g:@ g7fsq g5,us1 g4^` g2b g1U[ g/y g.M3C g,[ g){p<, g'(? g%22 g$a g"PG g F g: g/t0 gp-4 gX g(i g]I g E g ;' g Vtp8 g <]A4. The Laurel Editor37There are several ways in which you can select text with replace selection. One is that severalcommands (New form, Answer, Forward, Find, and NEXT--section 4.4) select text this way. Asecond way is enabled if you have set the BluePendingDelete feature in your Laurel profile(highly recommended if you use the modeless editor). If this feature is enabled, then allselections made with BLUE automatically become replace selections. The reasoning behind this is that ifyou use BLUE for selection, you are more interested in the selected text than in the insertion point, and your interestin this text is for purposes of deleting or replacing it. On the other hand, if you only want to insert text, then thereis no need to use BLUE in making the selection. The parameter name "BluePendingDelete" is retained for historicalreasons.4.3. Text inputText may be inserted into the message in the composition region in several ways. The editordisplays a blinking caret in the position in which text will be inserted whenever the editor isready for text insertion. In the modal editor, the blinking caret is only displayed when in insertmode. In the modal editor, you must enter insert mode by giving one of the three start-of-type-inkeyboard commands, A, I or R. In the modeless editor, the caret is always blinking; it isessentially in insert mode all of the time.When type-in is acceptable, character insertion may be performed simply by typing charactersfrom the keyboard. The characters will be entered into the message in the composition region atthe blinking caret, and Laurel will continuously format and display the entire message toaccomodate the new type-in.4.3.1. Special charactersSeveral characters have special meanings during type-in:BS, CTRL-A (either editor): Back up over (erase) the previous character. Characters of newlytyped-in text that are erased by BS or CTRL-A are not recoverable via U (CANCEL, COM-U) (section4.4). In the modal editor, BS or CTRL-A will not back up beyond the original insertion point forthis sequence of type-in. In the modeless editor, BS or CTRL-A will back up from any positionregardless of the original insertion point.SHIFT-BS, SHIFT-CTRL-A (modeless editor only): Erase the following character.CTRL-W (BW on Alto II keyboard, modal editor only), (COM-BS, modeless editor only): Back upover (erase) the previous word. This "word" is of the form A+N*, where A+ is one or more alphanumericcharacters (letters and digits) and N* is zero or more non-alphanumeric characters (white space and punctuation.) Thisis different from, and consists of roughly two "words" as defined in section 4.2, Word selection. In the modaleditor, CTRL-W will not back up beyond the original insertion point for this sequence of type-in.In the modeless editor, CTRL-W will back up from any position regardless of original insertionpoint.SHIFT-CTRL-W, SHIFT-COM-BS (modeless editor only): Erase the following word. Here a word isdefined as N*A+, with N* and A+ defined as above.$-fpXFf g_K g]K tptptptpsp  g[!9 gYZ gWsp+s$ gVD6A gT5D gS<W gQ gKt gGp8$ gEQ? gCDr gAp\ g?spspsp> g>&+ g:3) g8X g7; g5U g0t g-Vp8 g)spspL g(!spspspspsp g&Ospsp9 g$spsp g"+ gHsps p8 gspspsp g !s    gdc g.$u sp gsp E g(sp@ g] g s ps p3s g    g =\2WLAUREL MANUAL38ESC, DEL (modal editor only): Terminates insertion. Insert mode is terminated; command modeis entered.TAB: Laurel 6 supports tabs. There are twelve equally spaced tab stops (in Bravo parlance, 40point plain tabs) across one screen line. A TAB will insert white space up to the next tab stopfrom the point at which the caret is blinking. Fine point: A TAB must be at least 5 points wide, the widthof a space, to make selection of tabs reasonable. A TAB inserted less than five points before a tab stop will tab overto the next tab stop. Although TAB's may be inserted across line breaks in Laurel, it is recommendedthat they be used only on lines preceded by a CR. Otherwise, subsequent insertions can rearrangethese tabs in unexpected ways, and in addition, hardcopy may not correspond to the display.LF: The LF key in the modal editor inserts a Line Feed character into your message. There isgenerally no need to use this character, as Laurel displays new lines based on CR or line breaksalone. In the modeless editor, this key is actually a separate command key (PASTE), therefore itshould be avoided during type-in.4.3.2. Shifted selectionA special kind of selection, called shifted selection, is available as an alternative to type-inwhenever type-in is allowed (either editor). To make a shifted selection, hold down either SHIFTkey, make a selection in either the message display region or in the message composition regionaccording to the standard conventions while holding the SHIFT key down, and then lift up on theSHIFT key. The selection will be highlighted with a dotted underline as you make it. When youlift up on the SHIFT key, the dotted underline will disappear, and a copy of that text will beinserted at the blinking caret.In either editor, no ESC is necessary to confirm the shifted selection. Lifting up the SHIFT key isall that is required. Also, insert mode is not terminated by using shifted selection. You mayproceed to type or perform another shifted selection immediately. You may find intermixingtype-in and shifted selections during a single insertion sequence to be very convenient. Allselection rules apply while making a shifted selection, in particular, multi-clicking for selectionexpansion is allowed.In the modeless editor, a replace selection will be replaced by shifted selection just as it is replaced by type-in.If you start to make a shifted selection by mistake, you may cancel that shifted selection any timebefore lifting up the SHIFT key. Just press the DEL or CANCEL (modeless) key while the SHIFTkey is still down. The dotted underline will disappear, and no text copying will take place.4.3.3. Secondary selection (modal editor only)A holdover from the previous version of Laurel (and from Bravo) is secondary selection. Thiskind of text selection is available only in the modal editor. It is similar to shifted selection exceptthat$fpspXs gfp g_spsp+) g]K gYspS gXsp0 gVD "s; gTZ gRp sp0 gQ+sp1 gO`< gKspsp3 gJ#>sp gHY6sp gF! gBt g>p$rp' g<5's g:p=" g90&rurp g7fspL g5spA g3 g0_sp;sp g.I g,B g*J g)4c g'i g#s\ g p W gspspsps gp8% gdt. gp8 rp g(#E g] d g