Chapter 11. Using Profiles

The editor profile (editorprf) is a structured file that you can use to customize the editor by specifying the following:

• What the New Task menu contains
• What the Help menu contains
• Which files the editor should watch for changes
• Which directories the editor should search to locate forms, helpers, messages, and scripts.

You can also create a print profile (printprf) to modify your Print menu and a File Manager profile (indexprf) to change your File Manager screen.

How to Use Profiles with the INed Editor

You can use the following procedures with INed editor subcommands:

• To Create the Editor Profile File
• To Change the New Task Menu
• To Change the Help Menu
• To Enter Files for the Editor to Watch
• To Change the Editor Search Paths
• To Create a Print Profile
• To Create a File Manager Profile

To Create the Editor Profile File

Before you can customize the editor, you must create the editorprf file as follows:

1. Press the F2 key (the Menu function) to display the New Task menu.

2. Move the cursor to Edit Your Editor Profile, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

   If the $HOME/profiles directory and the structured file editorprf do not exist, the editor creates them for you. The editor then displays the Editor Profile File screen, which contains the following options:

   • Change the defaults in your New Task menu.
   • Change your Help menu.
   • Specify files for the editor to watch.
   • Specify editor search paths.
   • Change your keyboard mapping to a different national language.

   When the Editor Profile File screen is displayed, do one of the following:

   • Move the cursor to the option you want to edit and press the F11 key (the Zoom In function).
   • Return to the file you were editing by pressing the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function).
   • Exit the editor by pressing the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function).

To Change the New Task Menu

1. Select MENU Options from the Editor Profile File screen.

   The Menu Options screen is displayed.

   When you change or add options in this screen, you change your New Task menu. You make changes by modifying the existing options or adding new options. For example, you could add an option to compile the current program file. Or, if you use a certain operating system command frequently, you can add it as an option.

2. Move the cursor to an existing menu option to change that option.

   OR

   Move the cursor to a blank line to add a menu option.

3. Press the F11 key (the Zoom In function) to display the Details of Menu Option screen.

4. Make the changes or the new entries you want:
   • Enter the option as you want it displayed in the New Task menu in the Description shown in menu field.
   • Enter one of the following in the Type field to specify how you want the option to work:

     form	Changes to the named form.
     file	Changes to the named file.
     helper	Changes to the new helper.
     screen	Clears the screen and runs the program.
     popbox	Runs a program and displays the results in a popup box.

     If you select screen or popbox, the operating system processes the file or program. This means that you can enter | (pipe symbols) or >, >>, < (redirection symbols).

   • Enter the command, file name, or helper in the Name of file or program field. You can enter shell and editor variables in addition to normal shell variables and operating system file names. Indicate a shell variable by typing a $ (dollar sign) followed by the variable name. Underscore messages that you want to be displayed as a user prompt. In addition to any other shell variables you set, you can use these names:

     $ALTFILE	Name of the alternate file.
     $FORM	Name of the current form.
     $FILE	Name of the file you are editing.
     $HOME	Name of your home directory.
     $HELPER	Name of the current helper.
     $SYS	Editor directory where the helpers, forms, and help files are installed.

   • Enter any character in the appropriate box if you want one of the following functions:
     • Sync and reopen file. A character in this box causes the editor to save the file, run the menu option, and reopen the file. Use this box for any New Task menu option that can modify a file you are editing.
     • Save all files. A character in this box causes the editor to save all text files and run the program. Use this box for any option that can read a file you are editing.

       Note: If there is not enough room in a field, press the Ctrl-A, R key sequence (the Right function) to scroll the field. Press the Ctrl-A, L key sequence (the Left function) to scroll back.

• Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

  The changes you make are effective the next time you press the F2 key (the Menu function).

• To exit this screen or the Menu Options screen, do one of the following:

• Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the previous screen.
• Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to your editing file.
• Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

To Change the Help Menu

1. Select HELP Options from the Editor Profile File screen.

   The Help Options screen is displayed.

   When you change or add options in this screen, you change your Help menu. You make changes by modifying the existing options or adding new options. For example, you could add your own help information to the Help menu or create your own help menu.

2. Move the cursor to an existing menu option to change that option.

   OR

   Move the cursor to a blank line to add a menu option.

3. Make the changes or the new entries you want:
   • Enter the option as you want it displayed in the Help menu in the Description shown in menu field.
   • Enter one of the following (normally, file) in the Type field to specify how you want the option to work:

     form	Changes to the named form.
     file	Changes to the named file.
     helper	Changes to the new helper.
     screen	Clears the screen and runs the program.
     popbox	Runs a program and displays the results in a popup box.

   • Enter the file name (or path name) in the Name of file or program field. You can enter shell and editor variables in addition to normal shell variables and operating system file names. Indicate a shell variable by typing a $ (dollar sign) followed by the variable name. In addition to any other shell variables you set, you can use these names:

     $ALTFILE	Name of the alternate file.
     $FORM	Name of the current form.
     $FILE	Name of the file you are editing.
     $HOME	Name of your home directory.
     $HELPER	Name of the current helper.
     $SYS	Editor directory where the helpers, forms, and help files are installed.

4. Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

   The changes you make are effective the next time you view the Help menu.

5. Create a file that corresponds to the file name in this menu and put the help information into the file.

6. To exit this screen, do one of the following:
   • Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the Menu options screen.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to your editing file.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

To Enter Files for the Editor to Watch

1. Select Files the Editor Should Watch from the Editor Profile File screen.

   The Files the Editor Should Watch screen is displayed.

   The editor can watch files to see if they have changed. It does this by checking the files when you start the editor or refresh the screen. For example, if you have a mail file, the editor can check whether you have any new messages. Use this screen to enter any file that you want the editor to watch and display a message when the file changes.

2. Move the cursor to an existing menu option to change that option.

   OR

   Move the cursor to a blank line to add a menu option.

3. Make the changes or the new entries you want:
   • Enter a message in the Message to display when the file changes field. This is the message you receive when the editor notifies you of the file change.
   • Enter the file name (or path name) in the Name of file field. You can enter shell variables in this field.

4. Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

   The changes you make are effective immediately.

5. To exit this screen, do one of the following:
   • Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the Menu options screen.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to your editing file.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

To Change the Editor Search Paths

Use the Editor Search Paths screen to specify the search paths for the editor to use to find forms, helpers, messages, and scripts.

1. Select Editor Search Paths from the Editor Profile File screen.

   The Editor Search Paths screen is displayed.

2. Move the cursor to the appropriate box, and enter the names of the directories, one per line, that you want the editor to look in. (Enter the directories in the sequence you want the editor to search.)

3. Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

   The changes you make are effective after you exit the editor.

4. If necessary, put the forms, helpers, messages, or scripts in the directories you specified.

5. Do one of the following to exit this screen:
   • Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the Menu options screen.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to your editing file.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

To Create a Print Profile

1. Press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Enter function), type /usr/lpp/msg/$LANG in the ENTER box, and press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to access the File Manager screen for the profiles directory.

2. Move the cursor to the printprf file, and press the F9 key (the Pick Copy function).

3. Press the F2 key (the Menu function), move the cursor to the Show Your Profiles Directory option, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Enter function). If the $HOME/profiles directory does not exist, the editor creates it. The $HOME/profiles directory is then displayed.

4. Press the F8 key (the Put Down function), and then press the F11 key (the Zoom In function).

   The Print Options screen is displayed. When you change this screen, you change the options in your Print menu.

5. Move the cursor to an existing option to change that option.

   OR

   Move the cursor to a blank line to add a menu option.

6. To display the Details of Print Option screen, press the F11 key (the Zoom In function).

7. To make the changes or the new entries you want, do the following:
   • Enter the option as you want it displayed in the Print menu in the Description shown in menu field.

   • Enter the print output instructions in the Command field. You can enter these types of commands:
     • Operating system commands
     • | (pipe symbol)
     • > (redirect and overwrite symbol)
     • >> (redirect and append symbol).
     If you enter a | (pipe symbol) in the first column, the editor pipes the printed output through the specified program. If you enter > or >> (redirect symbols), the editor redirects the output to the specified file. If you enter an operating system command, the editor executes the command. If you leave the Command field blank, the Print Helper prompts for an operating system command. If you do not specify a file or program name after the pipe or redirect symbol, the Print Helper prompts for the missing information.

     You can enter the following shell and editor variables in addition to normal shell variables and operating system file names:

     $ALTFILE	Name of the alternate file.
     $FORM	Name of the current form.
     $FILE	Name of the file you are editing.
     $HOME	Name of your home directory.
     $HELPER	Name of the current helper.
     $PRTCMD	Expanded command (used only in the Description for popbox).
     $PRTFILE	Name of the temporary print output file.
     $SYS	Editor directory where the helpers, forms, and help files are installed.

   • Enter the message you want the editor to display while the print command is executing in the Description for popbox field.

   • Enter any character in the appropriate box if you want one of the following functions:
     • Save all ASCII files. A character in this box causes the editor to save all of the open text files before printing the file.
     • Clear screen and run command. A character in this box causes the editor to clear the screen before executing the print command.
     • Display all output of command. A character in this box causes the output of the print command to display in a popup box.

8. Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

   The changes you make are effective the next time you use the Print menu.

9. To exit this screen, do one of the following:
   • Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the previous screen.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to the profiles file.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

To Create a File Manager Profile

1. Press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Enter function), type /usr/lpp/msg/$LANG in the ENTER box, and press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to access the File Manager screen for the profiles directory.

2. Move the cursor to the indexprf file, and press the F9 key (the Pick Copy function).

3. Press the F2 key (the Menu function), move the cursor to the Show Your Profiles Directory option, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Enter function). If the $HOME/profiles directory does not exist, the editor creates it. The $HOME/profiles directory is then displayed.

4. Press the F8 key (the Put Down function), and then press the F11 key (the Zoom In function).

   The Directory Helper Options screen is displayed. When you change this screen, you change the defaults in your File Manager.

5. To change an existing default, move the cursor to the appropriate field and modify it:
   • The first field lets you specify whether the editor updates (synchronizes) the directory listing if you create a file with the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function). The default for this is x for yes. No character in this field means that you must manually list files created with the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function). You can manually list these files by selecting the Local menu option (1) Display Visible Files.
   • The second field specifies the directory for storing deleted files and directories.
   • The third field specifies the files to be hidden. The default hidden files are any files that begin with a . (period) or end in .bak, .index, or .old. The * (asterisk is a pattern-matching character that means any character or characters.

6. Press the Ctrl-A, S key sequence (the Save function).

7. To exit this screen, do one of the following:
   • Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the previous screen.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, U key sequence (the Use function) to return to the profiles file.
   • Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to return to the system prompt.

Related Information

System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices contains information for AIX users.

INed Editor Overview introduces general concepts about the INed editor, lists the INed editing functions and describes the system guidelines for using the INed editor.

INed Editor Functions for the Standard Keyboard is a table that shows the INed editor command keys on a standard keyboard.

INed Editor Files in AIX Version 4.3 Files Reference contains reference information about the files used by the INed editor.