NAME

ex, edit, e − text editor

SYNOPSIS

ex [ − ] [ −R ] [ −r ] [ −t tag ] [ +command ] [ −v ] [ −x ] [ −wnnn ] [ −l ] file...
edit [ options ]

DESCRIPTION

ex, a line editor, is the root of a family of editors that includes edit, ex, and vi (the display editor).  In most cases vi is preferred for interactive use. 

OPTIONS

− supress all interactive feedback to the user — useful for processing ex scripts in shell files. 

−R Read only.  Do not overwrite the original file. 

−r recover the indicated files after a system crash.

−t tag
edit the file containing the tag tag. A tags database must first be created using the ctags(1) command.

+command
start the editing session by executing command.

−v start up in display editing state using vi(1). You can achieve the same effect by simply typing the vi command itself. 

−x prompt for a key to be used in encrypting the file being edited. 

−wnnn
set the default window (number of lines on your terminal) to nnn— this is useful if you are dialling into the system over a slow ’phone line.

−l set up for editing LISP programs. 

FILES

/usr/lib/ex?.?stringserror messages
/usr/lib/ex?.?recoverrecover command
/usr/lib/ex?.?preservepreserve command
/etc/termcapdescribes capabilities of terminals
~/.exrceditor startup file
/tmp/Exnnnnneditor temporary
/tmp/Rxnnnnnnamed buffer temporary
/usr/preservepreservation directory

SEE ALSO

awk(1), ed(1), grep(1V), sed(1V), grep(1), vi(1), termcap(5), environ(5V)

Editing Text Files on the Sun Workstation

BUGS

The undo command causes all marks to be lost on lines changed and then restored if the marked lines were changed. 

Undo never clears the buffer modified condition. 

The z command prints a number of logical rather than physical lines.  More than a screen full of output may result if long lines are present. 

File input/output errors don’t print a name if the command line ‘−’ option is used. 

There is no easy way to do a single scan ignoring case. 

The editor does not warn if text is placed in named buffers and not used before exiting the editor. 

Null characters are discarded in input files, and cannot appear in resultant files. 

The editor checks the first five lines of the text file for commands of the form "ex:command" or "vi:command."  This feature can result in unexpected behavior, and is not recommended in any case.

RESTRICTIONS

The encryption facilities of ex are not available on software shipped outside the U.S. 

Sun Release 3.2  —  Last change: 29 May 1986