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AIX Version 4.3 INed Editor User's Guide

Chapter 12. Using the Local Menu and the History Display Menu

The Local Menu allows you to display hidden files and details of files and directories. Hidden files are usually created and used internally by the system. To display or change your hidden files, see (2) Display All Files in the following procedure.

You can use the History Display menu to access the different levels (history) of a structured file and keep track of changes to the file. The History Display menu lets you see previous versions of a file. By using menus and forms, you can save the current version or re-create an earlier version of a file, or you can remove the history of structured files.

Note: Start the INed editor to perform an INed function.

For information on procedures, refer to the following:

How to Use the Local Menu with the INed Editor

The following procedure describes how to use the Local Menu:

  1. Access the File Manager screen by entering e . at the system prompt.

  2. Press the F3 key (the Local Menu function).

  3. Move the cursor to one of the following options, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function):

    (1) Display Visible Files

    Displays the File Manager screen for the current directory. To display or change which files are hidden in your File Manager screens, create a File Manager profile.

    (2) Display All Files

    Displays the File Manager screen containing all files in the directory, including hidden files. Hidden files are usually created and used internally by the system; most hidden files begin with a . (period). To display or change which files are hidden in your File Manager screens, create a File Manager profile.

    (4) Show Details About Files

    Displays the Detailed File Status screen showing some detailed file information for all the files in the directory.

    (5) Show More Details About This File

    Displays the Detailed File Status Information screen for a specific file.

    Note: When you become familiar with the Local Menu options, you can select the first two options without going to the Local Menu by using the Ctrl-A, F1 or Ctrl-A, F2 key sequence. To select an option, (1), (2), (4), or (5), highlight the appropriate Local Menu option by using the up or down arrow key, and then press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function). For more information on the function keys, see the INed Editor Functions for the Standard Keyboard.

How to Access Previous Versions of a File with the INed Editor

The following procedures describe how to use the History Display menu:

To Access the History of File Screen

  1. Place the cursor on the file you want, and press the F2 key (the Menu function).

    The New Task menu is displayed.

  2. Move the cursor to the Display the History of the Current File option.

    If this option is not on your menu, you can change the New Task menu to add it.

  3. Press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The History of File screen is displayed.

    This screen shows the name of the user who edited the file, the date and time the editing session started, and the number of lines or records that were inserted, deleted, or changed.

  4. To exit this screen, do one of the following:

    Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to an editing session.

    OR

    Press the Ctrl-A, D key sequence (the Exit function) to end the editing session and return to the system prompt.

To Access the History of a Structured File

  1. Press the F2 key (the Menu function).

    The New Task Menu is displayed.

  2. Move the cursor to the Display the History of the Current File option.

    If this option is not on your menu, you can change the New Task menu to add it.

  3. Press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The History of File screen is displayed.

  4. Move the cursor to the version of the file you want to display and press the F11 key (the Zoom In function).

    The editor displays the version of the file you selected.

  5. Press the F3 key (the Local Menu function).

    The History Display Options menu is displayed.

    Note: When you become familiar with the Local Menu options, you can select the first two options without going to the Local Menu by using the Ctrl-A, F1 or Ctrl-A, F2 key sequence. To select an option, (1), (2), (4), or (5), highlight the appropriate Local Menu option by using the up or down arrow key, and then press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function). For more information on the function keys, see the INed Editor Functions for the Standard Keyboard.
  6. Move the cursor to one of the following options and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function):

    (1) Show Time of this Version of the File.

    Displays the last modification time of the current version in a popup box.

    (2) Show Next Time.

    Displays the next version of the file.

    (3)Show Previous Time.

    Displays the previous version of the file.

    (4) Redisplay History.

    Displays the History of File screen.

    (5) Save Current Version of File.

    Allows you to save this version of the file.

  7. To remove the History Display Options menu, press the F4 key (the Cancel function).

To Save a Version of a Structured File

  1. Press the F2 key (the Menu function).

    The New Task menu is displayed.

  2. Move the cursor to the Display the History of the Current File option.

    If this option is not on your menu, you can change the New Task menu to add it.

  3. Press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The History of File screen is displayed.

  4. Move the cursor to the version of the file you want to display and press the F11 key (the Zoom In function), and press the F3 key (the Local Menu function).

  5. Move the cursor to (5) Save Current Version of File, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The editor displays the following message:

    Enter file name.
    Note: The wording of this message may vary.

    When you save a version of a structured file, you must give the version a new name or make the version you are saving the current version.

  6. To save this version of the file and retain the current version, type a new file name and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The new file name consists of one version. It has no history until changes are made to the new file. The current version retains all of the history.

    Note: If you press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function) without typing a new file name, the current version of the file is put into a .bak file. The version of the file you are viewing becomes the current version, and the entire history of the file is removed.
  7. Press the F12 key (the Zoom Out function) to return to the History of File screen.

To Remove the History of Structured Files

To remove dots files without removing the history, use the del command.

To remove the history from only one file, use the rmhist command.

To remove ... files (files the editor creates when you edit text files) and the history from all of your structured files, use the following procedure:

Note: If you create many structured files, this procedure can take a long time to run. You may want to use the at command to schedule this procedure for a time when you are not using the system.
  1. Press the F2 key (the Menu function).

    The New Task menu is displayed.

  2. Move the cursor to Housekeep, and press the Ctrl-A, Enter key sequence (the Execute function).

    The messages Executing "Housekeep" and No output from "Housekeep" are displayed.

Related Information

The at command, del command, rmhist command in AIX Version 4.3 Commands Reference.

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.


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