TECO

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Ian Schofield

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Apr 22, 2025, 3:38:13 PMApr 22
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On of the projects I have just completed is a VT52 emulator
for a Waveshare 4.3" LCD. I can connect this to my PiDP8I.
However, i was wondering about trying TECO using the VTEDIT.TE
module. This is referenced in the TECO.IN file but using the command:
.TECO <somefile> it only returns with an '*'.
The impression I got from Warren's page is that this ought to show a screen editor.
Does anyone know how to make this happen.
NB MI$$ does nothing either.

Thanks, Ian.


Rick Murphy

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Apr 22, 2025, 11:41:37 PMApr 22
to Ian Schofield, PiDP-8
What's in TECO.IN?
Mine has:
0UI
GZ J 1A-^^R"N
ET&512"N
:ERSYS:VTEDIT.TEC$UXQX"S YHXI HK YHK
^UXMI$ 1UI '
QX"F^A[SYS:VTEDIT.TEC not found]
^A '
''
HK 0UX
QI

i.e. it's going to read VTEDIT.TE from SYS: but only if the terminal flag 512 is set - i.e. SET TTY SCOPE. (The ET&512"N means 'terminal flags and 512 non-zero; the definition of the 512 flag is "Terminal is a VT52 and VT52 support is available". 
For my VT100/ANSI terminal patch for TECO-8, the 512 bit means VT100 as well. 
For both, 80x24 terminals is all you get - there's no support and no way to support arbitrary terminal sizes.

    -Rick


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Ian Schofield

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Apr 23, 2025, 11:13:16 AMApr 23
to Rick Murphy, PiDP-8
Thanks all. I was looking at this page...  PiDP-8/I Software: Using VTEDIT
I have renamed TECO.IN so it shouldn't load and tried the command: ERVTEDIT.TEC$YHXIHK$$
The first (comment) line in (dsk:)VTEDIT.TE is: !VTEDIT - V00.00-8!
This just returns with only an '*' (no control sequences / text)
Any other suggestions?

-Ian.

Rick Murphy

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Apr 23, 2025, 12:32:18 PMApr 23
to Ian Schofield, PiDP-8
You're missing "MI" - you loaded VTEDIT into Q-reg I but need to execute it.

I'd try 
ERVTEDIT.TEC$HXIMI$$
That way you'll have the VTEDIT code in the window, versus a blank screen.
    -Rick

Ian Schofield

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Apr 23, 2025, 2:04:23 PMApr 23
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Thanks Rick,

 Your command returns 'unterminated macro'.....

Rick Murphy

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Apr 23, 2025, 4:12:33 PMApr 23
to Ian Schofield, PiDP-8
Gotta love TECO. When everything looks like line noise.. it's easy to miss a mistake 
Insert a "Y" before "HXI". (i.e. yank a buffer from the file before loading into the Q reg.)
ERVTEDIT.TEC$YHXIMI$$
    -Rick

Ian Schofield

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Apr 24, 2025, 1:33:24 PMApr 24
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Hi Rick,

 Thanks again for this. I sort of got the macro(s) to run if I don't load a file for editing first.
 But, after loading a file (ER<file>$Y$$) restarting VTEDIT with MI$$ only moves the cursor to the top of the screen.
 I have concluded that this is probably not worth pursuing at the moment as it is very unlikely to be better than Bill Silver's most excellent EMACS app.
I think it has been mentioned that the default ITS  (PiDP10) editor is EMACS as well.
However, out of the PiDP11 systems, RT11 remain a bit of a problem. So, I have cheated here and stolen a very simple screen editor for a VT100.
This is outlined at the end of this manual: B2_MPF.pdf and is quite sufficient for most projects. The source disks are at: Index of /bits/DEC/pdp11/floppyimages/minc/rx02 ... install and find EDIT.SAV
This works perfectly with TERATERM.
RT11 has KED and K52 but even these are problematic.

Hope this is of some interest to someone... Ian.
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