10.0;ed (edit), revision 1.0, 88/01/21
ed (edit) -- Invoke line editor.
usage: ed [-n] [pathname]
DESCRIPTION
ed invokes the line editor. Input text and editing commands are read
from standard input. While you may use ed to create text files
interactively, it is better suited for use in programs and scripts. Use
the EDIT key or the DM command, ce, to create and edit files
interactively.
ARGUMENTS
pathname (optional)
Specify the file to be edited. ed reads the file into a
buffer for editing and remembers its name for future use.
ed operates on the buffer copy; changes made there have
no effect on the original file until you issue a w (write)
command from within ed. Files must be less than 6400
lines and less than 256,000 characters.
If you omit the pathname argument, the edit buffer is
empty and no filename is remembered for future use. You
must specify an explicit filename when you exit the
editor.
Default if omitted: see above
OPTIONS
-n Suppress the printing of line counts by the e (edit), r
(read), and w (write) commands.
SUMMARY OF ED COMMANDS
Addresses:
17 A decimal number.
. The current line.
$ The last line of the file.
/pat/ Search forward for a line containing pat.
\pat\ Search backward for a line containing pat.
line+n n lines forward from line.
line-n n lines backward from line.
Defaults:
(.) Use the current line.
(.+1) Use the next line.
(.,.) Use the current line for both line numbers.
(1,$) Use all lines.
Commands:
(.) A Append text after line (text follows).
(.,.n Bn Browse over the next n lines (default n is 22). If n is
negative, print the last n lines before the current line.
If B is specified, print n lines with the current line in
the center of screen.
(.,.) C Change text (text follows).
(.,.) D Delete text.
E file Discard the current text, enter file, remember filename.
F Print filename.
F file Remember filename.
(.) I Insert text before the line (text follows).
(.,.) Kline Copy text to a new line after the specified line.
(.,.) Mline Move text to a line after the specified line.
(.,.) P Print text. (You can append this to other commands.)
Q Quit.
(.) R [file] Read file, appending after the current line.
(.,.) S/pat/new/GP
Substitute new for leftmost pat. (G implies all
occurrences.)
(1,$) W [file] Write the file; leave the current text unaltered. (If you
do not specify a file, write to current filename.)
(.) =[P] Print the line number and current line.
(.+1) <CR> Print the next line.
(1,$) G/pat/command Execute command on lines containing pat (except A, C,
I, and Q commands).
(1,$) X/pat/command Execute command on lines not containing pat (except
A, C, I, and Q commands).
# ... Comment.
$n Read or write temporary buffer, n.
ed prints the error message "?" whenever it does not understand or fails
to execute a command
NOTE
There is a homonymous DM command: ed -- delete the character preceding
the cursor.
LIMITATIONS
⊕ Files being edited can contain up to 6400 lines.
⊕ When a global search and substitute combination fails, the entire
global search stops.
⊕ Problems sometimes occur when you use @n to remove or insert newline
characters, especially in global commands.
SEE ALSO
More information is available. Type
help ed commands
For detailed information about each ed command
help patterns For information about the pattern-matching scheme
help ce For information on creating and editing files
interactively
help ed_dm For information on the synonymous DM command