BOX SELECT
Selects a box rather than a standard, linear range---useful to edit tables
and lists. In the Buffer List, lets you view the a buffer without having
to type the buffer name.
Steps:
1. Put the cursor where you want to select text---typically
where you want the the upper left corner of the box.
2. Use BOX SELECT---or if you used SET BOX SELECT, you can use SELECT.
(For example, on DECwindows you can use MB1 clicks.)
3. Move the cursor to where you want the diagonally opposite corner
of the box. Text that cursor crosses is highlighted in bold video.
Examples:
Typically you use BOX SELECT where you want the upper left corner of
the box, and then move the cursor to where you want the lower right
corner. In the following example, BOX SELECT highlights from "Him" to
the end of the second line (that is, after the period). Note that the
cursor ([]) is outside the box. Also, all of the second line would be
highlighted in bold video, but the first four words are not part of the
box.
start +------------------------+
|Him there they found |
Squat like a toad, |close at the ear of Eve.[] end (cursor
+------------------------+ position)
Usage notes:
o To edit the selection, use a command or key that works on a box,
such as COPY, BOX CUT, FILL, REMOVE, or UPPERCASE. See help on
Ranges And Boxes.
o To cancel the selection, use RESET (GOLD-SELECT) or repeat SELECT or
BOX SELECT. If the selection was done with mouse clicks, moving the
cursor out of the select range cancels the selection.
o In the Buffer List, SELECT or BOX SELECT lets you view a buffer
whose name the cursor is on, without having to type the buffer name:
1. Use SHOW BUFFERS to list the buffers you created.
2. Put the cursor on the name of the buffer you want to view.
3. Use BOX SELECT, SELECT, or RETURN.
o When the $CHOICES$ buffer is displayed and you are in the list of
choices, pressing a key defined as BOX SELECT copies a choice onto
the command line (see help on Choices Buffer).
o On DECwindows, if you select text, the pop-up menu (displayed by
holding down MB2) contains COPY, CUT, FILL RANGE, case changes, and
other commands for editing a selection.
Related topics:
Pending Delete Ranges And Boxes RESET SELECT
SET BOX SELECT
1 RESTORE_BOX_SELECTION
RESTORE BOX SELECTION
Restores (undeletes) the box you last erased with pending delete or
with DECwindows Quick Copy (CTRL/MB3CLICK or CTRL/MB3DRAG).
Steps:
1. Put the cursor where you want to restore the text---that is,
where you want the upper left corner of the box.
2. Use RESTORE BOX SELECTION---or if you used SET BOX SELECT,
you can use RESTORE SELECTION.
Example:
In the following example, you enable pending delete, select a box,
(instead of a linear range), erase the selection, and then put back the
erased text:
Command: SET PENDING DELETE
Command: BOX SELECT
.
.
Command: DELETE
Command: RESTORE BOX SELECTION
Usage notes:
o RESTORE BOX SELECTION overwrites existing text---unless you used SET
BOX NOPAD and restore a box into an insert-mode buffer:
Setting Effects on RESTORE BOX SELECTION
----------------------------------------------------------------
SET BOX PAD (Default.) Restoring a box overwrites existing
text, regardless of the mode of the buffer.
SET BOX NOPAD Restoring a box depends on the mode of the buffer.
In insert mode, pushes existing text to the right.
In overstrike mode, overwrites existing text.
o Restoring a box converts tab characters to spaces, to the right of the
box or overlapping the box. See help on CONVERT TABS.
o If you erased a standard, linear selection and then use RESTORE BOX
SELECTION, the restored text may have a ragged right edge.
Related topics:
Pending Delete RESTORE SELECTION SET BOX PAD SET BOX NOPAD