2 min read

Maximizing NEdit: The function keys

Some of you will know that I like to use the NEdit text editor, over things like Vi, Emacs, NetBeans, Eclipse, Gedit, or other various versions of editors. I'm always looking for ways to improve my experiences with NEdit and to make it more convenient for me to use.

Lately, after purchasing a 122-key Unicomp keyboard, I felt the need to improve my workflow with NEdit to take advantage of the function keys. I did the standard remapping of some of the keys to macros and shell scripts I have. Namely, I have a macro that automatically builds the documentation for my ChezWEB programs, and another that displays it for me.

Additionally, I've remapped many of the common functions that I use, that lend themselves either to mouse+keyboard work or to moving my hands off the home row, to function keys. Here's a copy of what I have in my .Xresources:

*enableThinThickness: true
*enableToggleVisual: true
*enableToggleColor: true
*XmToggleButton.indicatorSize: 11
*enableEtchedMenu: true
*XmMenuShell*XmTearOffButton*ShadowThickness: 2
*background: grey90
*XmText.background: GhostWhite
*XmTextField.background: GhostWhite
*XmList.background: GhostWhite

nedit.stdOpenDialog: true

neditfileMenu.save.accelerator: <Key>F1
nedit
fileMenu.save.acceleratorText: F1
neditfileMenu.exit.accelerator: <Key>F2
nedit
fileMenu.exit.acceleratorText: F2
neditfileMenu.close.accelerator: <Key>F3
nedit
fileMenu.close.acceleratorText: F3
nediteditMenu.fillParagraph.accelerator: <Key>F4
nedit
editMenu.fillParagraph.acceleratorText: F4
neditsearchMenu.gotoMatching.acceleratorText: [F17]F5
nedit
searchMenu.gotoMatching.accelerator: <Key>F5
neditsearchMenu.gotoMatchingShift.accelerator: Shift <Key>F5
nedit
searchMenu.findAgain.accelerator: <Key>F6
neditsearchMenu.findAgain.acceleratorText: F6
nedit
searchMenu.replaceFindAgain.accelerator: <Key>F7
neditsearchMenu.replaceFindAgain.acceleratorText: F7
nedit
searchMenu.gotoLineNumber.accelerator: <Key>F8
neditsearchMenu.gotoLineNumber.acceleratorText: F8
nedit
searchMenu.findDefinition.accelerator: <Key>F9
neditsearchMenu.findDefinition.acceleratorText: F9
nedit
searchMenu.showCalltip.accelerator: <Key>F10
neditsearchMenu.showCalltip.acceleratorText: F10
nedit
editMenu.shiftLeft.acceleratorText: [F23]F11
nediteditMenu.shiftLeft.accelerator: <Key>F11
nedit
editMenu.shiftLeftShift.accelerator: Shift <Key>F11
nediteditMenu.shiftRight.acceleratorText: [F24]F12
nedit
editMenu.shiftRight.accelerator: <Key>F12
nediteditMenu.shiftRightShift.accelerator: Shift <Key>F12
nedit
fileMenu.open.accelerator: Shift <Key>F1
neditfileMenu.open.acceleratorText: F13
nedit
fileMenu.includeFile.accelerator: Shift <Key>F2
neditfileMenu.includeFile.acceleratorText: F14
nedit
fileMenu.newOpposite.accelerator: Shift <Key>F3
neditfileMenu.newOpposite.acceleratorText: F15
nedit
fileMenu.new.accelerator: Shift <Key>F4
neditfileMenu.new.acceleratorText: F16
nedit
searchMenu.find.accelerator: Shift <Key>F6
neditsearchMenu.find.acceleratorText: F18
nedit
searchMenu.replace.accelerator: Shift <Key>F7
neditsearchMenu.replace.acceleratorText: F19
nedit
searchMenu.findSelection.accelerator: Shift <Key>F10
nedit*searchMenu.findSelection.acceleratorText: F22




More such features that I use in NEdit can be found at gopher://gopher.sacrideo.us/1nedit/.