Using MS-DOS Edlin Utility to Edit Text Files

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

This article outlines how to start and use Edlin, the MS-DOS file editing utility.

MORE INFORMATION

1. At the MS-DOS prompt, type "EDLIN <filename>" (without the quotation marks). If EDLIN.COM and the file you want to edit are not in the root directory or in the MS-DOS path, enter the full path to each.

   For example:

         C:\DOS\EDLIN D:\MYFILE
   

   EDLIN.COM uses the asterisk as a prompt. To view the first 23 lines of your file, type L at the prompt. Each line of the file will be listed with a number next to it.

2. To edit a line, type the number of the line at the prompt and press ENTER. A copy of the line will be displayed and a blank line with the line number will displayed underneath it. If you press ENTER now, no changes will be made to the line. To begin editing, start typing and press ENTER to keep changes and return to the prompt.

3. To remark a line out, do the following:

       a. Type the number of the line at the prompt and press ENTER.
       b. Press INS.
       c. Type "rem" (without the quotation marks).
       d. Press F3 (this will insert the original text).
       e. Press ENTER.
   

4. To save your changes to the file, type "e" (without the quotation marks) at the prompt. Edlin will save the file and end the session, returning you to MS-DOS.

   NOTE: To exit Edlin without saving the changes to your file, type

            "q" at the prompt and press ENTER.  When prompted, type "y"
            to abort the editing session.
   
   

EDLIN Commands

The following information is a list of EDLIN commands and their functionality.

MS-DOS Command: EDLIN <Filename>

Display Commands    Definition
----------------    ----------

L  LIST:            Displays listing of [RANGE] of lines. If [RANGE] is
   [RANGE] L        not specified, L displays entire file or first 23
                    lines.

P  PAGE:            Displays listing of [RANGE] of lines. If [RANGE] is
   [RANGE] p        not specified, p displays entire file. This differs
                    from LIST in that PAGE changes the current line to
                    be the last line.

S  SEARCH:            Searches [RANGE] of lines for [STRING].
   [RANGE] s [STRING]

Editing Commands              Definition
----------------              ----------

C  copy:                      Copies [RANGE] of lines to [LINE].
   [RANGE],[LINE],[NUMBER] c  [NUMBER] specifies how many copies
                              to do.

D  DELETE:                    Deletes [RANGE] of lines.
   [RANGE] d

I  INSERT:                    Inserts new lines beginning at [LINE].
   [LINE] i                   Use CTRL+C to exit insert mode.

M  MOVE:                      Moves [RANGE] of lines to position [LINE].
   [RANGE],[LINE] m

15 LINE EDIT:                 Allows editing of line.
   [LINE]

R  REPLACE:                     Searches [RANGE] for [STRING1] and
   [RANGE] r [STRING1][STRING2] replaces it with [STRING2].

Disk Commands                   Definition
-------------                   ----------

   [NUMBER] a                   Reads [NUMBER] of lines from disk
                                into memory.

T  TRANSFER:                       Merges [FILE] into current document
   [LINE] t [DRIVE:][\PATH][FILE]  at [LINE].

W  WRITE:                       Writes [NUMBER] of lines onto disk.
   [NUMBER] w

Quit Options    Definition
------------    ----------

Q  QUIT:        Quits Edlin without saving changes.
E  END:         Quits Edlin after saving changes.