VEDIT E-mail Newsletter - June 21, 2002 --------------------------------------- Table of Contents: * New VEDIT 6.03.1 * Download latest VEDIT * Recent enhancements * New printed and .PDF manuals * Planned enhancements * Software Subscription Plan (SSP) * EBCDIC conversion software * VEDIT "PLUS" and "Pro" * How www.vedit.com is hosted * Changing your e-mail address? * From the President Summary: VEDIT+ 6.03 has great new features and is exceptionally polished and stable. New manuals are available as .PDF files; the 750 page printed manuals can be ordered for only $19. New VEDIT 6.03.1 ---------------- VEDIT PLUS 6.03.1 dated 06/20/2002 is now available for download. As described below, new documentation is now available as printed manuals and as downloadable .PDF files. Version 6.03 is a significant enhancement to 6.01 with many useful features that all VEDIT users will appreciate. Here is a brief listing of enhancements in 6.02 and 6.03. For a complete list including bug fixes, see the file: http://www.vedit.com/download/veditlog.txt VEDIT PLUS LOG (veditlog.txt) -------------- 06/20/02 6.03.1 New {EDIT, Formatting} sub-menu (Changes to normal keyboard layout) New "Enable word wrap" button on toolbar Minor - Update cleans old version from registry and program group 03/20/02 6.02.1 New paragraph formatting options in {CONFIG, Word processing} New {EDIT, Convert, All lines same length} pads and truncates New {EDIT, Translate, Unicode to ASCII} and "ASCII to Unicode" New context menu options for file selector window New {CONFIG, Misc, Instance control} controls new instances of VEDIT; override with new "-s" "-s0" and "-s2" invocation options New {USER, Find trailing spaces} New {USER, Check lines same length} New pattern matching code "|*" is restricted to one line New on-line help topics "Opening Files", "Ansi and OEM chars", "Converting Files", "Files with Fixed-length Records", etc New key assignments to , and New color syntax highlighting files for Visual Basic, Fortran, Tex, TealInfo. Also generic Modula2, StonyBrook and Logitech support New compiler support file LATEX.VCS for Miktex compiler Improved indenting of blocks, supports , , Improved {MISC, Wildfile wizard}, including more "Replace" options Improved - Horizontal scroll bar range auto-adjusts to longest line Improved JAVA.VTM template editing macro Simplified re-assigning compiler support keys, e.g. & Simplified searching within highlighted blocks Minor - Tabbar has right-click (context) menu including "Close" Minor - Tabbar "tooltip" displays full pathname of file Minor - {FILE} menu MRU list shortens excessively long filenames Minor - Buffer-close now switches to most-recently-used buffer Minor - can now be used as a function key Minor - USER.MNU and other .MNU files can now contain comments Minor - "-w" invocation option disables File Selector on startup Technical - File type of "4" support 25 (hex) as EBCDIC End-Of-Line Technical - New Max(n,m) and Min(n,m) commands Technical - New command (internal value) Buf_Previous Technical - Trace mode has new "U" and "$" commands Technical - New .SYN file pattern "|[a,b]" for optional terms Technical - New Process_ID (numeric) and PID (string) values Technical - Num_Str() and Itoa() no longer include CR+LF in string Obscure - force B/W mode when printing on color laser printers Download latest VEDIT PLUS -------------------------- NOTE: If your support period expired on 05/31/2002 or earlier, you will not be able to install 6.03 unless you purchase the Software Subscription Plan (SSP). You can download the latest VEDIT PLUS from these links: www.vedit.com/download/vpa-prod.exe (Win, DOS & .PDF, 5 Meg) www.vedit.com/download/vpw-prod.exe (Windows only, 1.5 Meg) www.vedit.com/download/vpd-prod.exe (DOS only, 1.0 Meg) Since the new {HELP, VEDIT User's manual} and {HELP, Macro Language Reference} functions open the VEDIT manuals in Adobe Acrobat, you may want to download the complete vpa-prod.exe file. Notes: If you prefer .ZIP files or need instructions, please go to our download page www.vedit.com/proddownload.htm Recent Enhancements ------------------- This is a brief description of some of the recent enhancements in versions 6.02/6.03. For details, see the file: http://www.vedit.com/download/whatsnew.txt Format "Format paragraph" now starts on the current line Paragraph and maintains the current indentation. Optionally, options it can re-format from the beginning of the paragraph, or change the indentation to the current left margin. Enable word The function {CONFIG, Word processing, Enable word wrap wrap} can now also be accessed from the new {EDIT, Formatting} sub-menu and the toolbar. Pad lines to The new {EDIT, Convert, All lines same length} same length easily makes all lines any desired length. It pads shorter lines with spaces; it optionally truncates longer lines. It can [Scan] the file to determine the length of the longest line. New {USER, Check lines same length} can be used to check that all text lines have the same length. Convert Unicode The new {EDIT, Translate, Unicode to ASCII} to/from ASCII converts from 2-byte Unicode characters to 1-byte ASCII characters. This allows some Unicode files to be edited in VEDIT. Similarly, the "ASCII to Unicode" function converts from ASCII into 2-byte Unicode characters. VEDIT Instance You can now control whether files opened from Control Explorer or the DOS/NT prompt start a new instance of VEDIT or are opened in any existing instance of VEDIT. Block Search It is now much easier to perform a search or search and replace within a highlighted block. Block Indent The block indenting has been improved and completely follows Windows conventions. Expanded The on-line help has many new topics, including On-Line Help "Opening Files", "ANSI and OEM Characters", "Description of Files", "Converting Files", "Files with Fixed-length Records". The topic "Search and Replace" has been greatly expanded. (Approximately 60 printed pages worth have been added.) Language The new VB-BAS.SYN, FORTRAN.SYN, MODULA2.SYN, Support TEALINFO.SYN and TEX.SYN files provide color syntax highlighting for these languages. M2-LT34.SYN, M2-SB22.SYN and M2-SB30 support specific Modula-2 compilers. New LATEX.VCS file provides compiler support for the Miktex compiler. See LATEX.VCS for details. New Printed and .PDF Manuals ---------------------------- The VEDIT 6.0 User's and Macro Language Reference manuals include about 100 new pages, improved explanations and are completely up-to-date for version 6.03. If you install 6.03 from the vpa-prod.exe file or from CD-ROM, the new manuals are installed as .PDF files and can be accessed from the {HELP} menu. You can also download the .PDF files from these links: http://www.vedit.com/download/v60-pdf.zip (User's manual) http://www.vedit.com/download/vp60-pdf.zip (Reference manual) Printed manuals (750 pages) can be purchased for $19, plus shipping: http://www.vedit.com/order_89.htm#Manuals Planned Enhancements -------------------- The following enhancements will be included in version 6.10. (Everyone updating to 6.03 is guaranteed to receive them; in the unlikely event it takes longer than 3 months, your support period will be extended.) * Project support - ability to define which files make up a "project" and load all files as one group. The File-selector will have an additional tab for Projects. * Send email support - ability to send email messages from within VEDIT. (Already partly implemented, but not yet ready for release.) Planned enhancements for VEDIT 6.1 - 7.0 include: * Edit files larger than 2 Gigabytes. (By internally using 64 bits, there will effectively be no file size limit.) * Improved huge file editing performance. Larger portions of huge files will be held in memory. Jumps to any part of the file will be instantaneous. * Built-in "ftp" support so that you can directly edit any file on the Internet that you have read/write access to. * "Splitter" windows for a Windows-standard way of splitting a window into two views. (MS Word (tm) has a vertical splitter window.) * Enhanced macro language with symbolic names for numeric and string variables. (Don't worry, we are not radically changing the macro language; 5.x macros will still work.) * Auto-compiling of macros for faster execution. * Add a "Search all buffers" option to the standard search and replace dialog boxes. * A print preview that shows the page boundaries. * Color printing that corresponds to the color syntax highlighting. * Support for more colors within VEDIT. * Progress bar to show VEDIT's progress when manipulating huge files. * Ability to directly copy/move blocks between files without using a text register. Blocks can be of any size. * Improved file comparison with better re-synchronization. * Custom menu system - you will be able to configure the entire menu system. Delete any unused functions and add as many new functions and sub-menus as desired. * Full integration with our Website for automatic updates, access to FAQ, macro libraries, additional on-line help and more. Software Subscription Plan (SSP) -------------------------------- The least expensive way to benefit from our continuous VEDIT development is by purchasing the Software Subscription Plan (SSP). The SSP benefits currently include: * All updates (via downloading) for a minimum of 18 months. You can download and install updates at any time, without having to contact us. Our email newsletters will notify you of significant new versions; or check our Website. * VEDIT 7.0 is included. Therefore, your SSP runs for 18 months or thru 7.0, whichever is longer. * A CD-ROM can be ordered at any time for $4. * Free, unlimited (within reason) technical support during the SSP period. * Access to beta-test versions. This is the best way to influence the final product. If you currently have VEDIT PLUS 6.0, you can purchase (or renew) the SSP for only $59. If you have an older VEDIT, the price of an update with SSP is $99. New EBCDIC Conversion Software ------------------------------ A detailed newsletter will be sent soon to customers of our EBCDIC (mainframe to PC) conversion software. Recent enhancements include: * Conversion speed has been tripled! EBCDIC files with packed fields can now be converted at up to 1 Gigabyte per hour. * Floating point fields (both single and double precision) can now be converted to ASCII. * Many COBOL copybooks for variable length records (OCCURS DEPENDING ON clauses) can now automatically be converted into a .LAY file which controls the conversion. VEDIT "PLUS" and "Pro" ---------------------- As mentioned in the last newsletter, we have begun renaming our product line a bit. "VEDIT PLUS" is now just "VEDIT", and the previous stripped down "VEDIT" is now "VEDIT Lite". Later this year, we will introduce a "VEDIT Professional". Only the "Pro" version will have the EBCDIC translation features, some planned enhancements for data file editing, and (possibly) the new multi-key sorting. The Pro version will likely be priced in the $285 range. Rest assured that everyone who is on the Software Subscription Plan (SSP) when VEDIT Professional is released will be upgraded to the "Pro" version. So don't wait too long before purchasing (or renewing) your SSP, or you will have to pay extra for the Pro version. ===> Therefore, this is the last newsletter in which we will refer to "VEDIT PLUS", which is now officially renamed to just "VEDIT". How www.vedit.com is Hosted --------------------------- For many years our web site was hosted by Hostpro which was recently bought by Interland. Like most big hosting companies, they gave unacceptably slow service. Therefore, we decided to switch to a dedicated or "virtual private server". We contacted about 6 companies by email. One company stood out, answering all emails within 2 hours and often within minutes. That company is Remarkable Hosting at www.remarkablehosting.com and they now host our main web site. Their service is excellent; there is never a wait to reach them by phone and they answer all emails within a few hours. Their servers are located at a large data center; this ensures excellent uptime and connectivity. A "Virtual Private Server" gives you full control over web, ftp, email and other services via a browser control panel. If desired, you can even access the "root" of the Linux server, e.g. to configure the Sendmail program. If you are looking for an excellent web hosting company, we highly recommend Remarkable Hosting. (They also offer basic web hosting plans.) Changing Your E-mail Address? ----------------------------- Please remember to keep us up-to-date with any changes in your e-mail address. From the President ------------------ Writing these newsletters lets me review how I have spent my time since the last newsletter - in this case, six months. The biggest chunk of time was spent adding 100 pages of documentation to the printed (and .PDF) manuals and updating almost every existing page. Most of this doco is also in the on-line help. This was the most thorough change ever to the doco; some features added back in version 4.2 are only now fully documented. You will find the many new sections useful and enlightening. After all, what good are new features that you don't know exist or don't know how to use. If you like the new documentation, please let Barbara Behling know at barbara@vedit.com. If you have ever had to proofread 750 pages over and over again, you know what she went through. :-) Version 6.0 attracted many new first-time VEDIT customers. After some noted a few VEDIT "idiosyncrasies", we simplified block searching and block indenting, improved paragraph formatting, and made numerous other refinements. While VEDIT does not yet directly support Unicode (2-byte character) files, you can now translate between Unicode and ASCII. We will eventually directly support Unicode, but it is such a big project for a program mostly written in assembly language, that it won't happen until after version 7.0 next year. While I am pleased (and am confident you will be too) with the enhancements, refinements and stability of 6.03, I am disappointed that few of the "Planned Enhancements" from the last newsletter have been implemented so far. In particular, I had hoped to have "Projects" added to VEDIT by now. Therefore, I will guarantee that everyone purchasing an update to 6.03 now will receive "Project" and "Send email" features during their support/update period. While Tom Burt finishes those two features, I will remove VEDIT's current 2 Gigabyte file-size limit. This is the most requested enhancement from our EBCDIC conversion customers. The current plan is to use the 64-bit MMX instructions (available on Pentium II and later) for the calculations needed for really huge files. This will make a Pentium II a minimum requirement for VEDIT 6.1, but I don't think that will affect many of you. As I have mentioned before, EBCDIC (mainframe) to PC conversion is a big part of our business. We specialize in converting data files that are structured according to a COBOL "copybook". While the conversion software is mostly a huge VEDIT macro, Tom recently implemented much of it in assembly language for a huge speed improvement. We now also support the conversion of floating point numbers. Personally, my older daughter Jodi has completed two years at the University of Wisconsin. She is working for Greenview this summer. My younger daughter Cheryl will start at the Penn State University this fall where she will run track as a sprinter. Therefore, my wife and I will be "empty nesters" soon, and we are not exactly sure what to expect. My work on the new VEDIT manuals greatly impinged on my bicycling this year, but I hope to get out more this summer. I look forward to my yearly, 3-day, 300 mile fund raising ride for the Make-A-Wish Foundation this July. (Tax-deductible donations are welcome, please contact me). As always, I kindly ask you to consider purchasing the Software Subscription Plan. It gives you the lowest price on updates (especially considering the upgrade to the "Pro" version) and at least 18 months of telephone/email support. Although it is easy to order on-line, I know that some of you don't like to order on-line, or you may have questions. In that case, please call us at 1-800-458-3348. We look forward to hearing from you! Thank you again for your support. Sincerely, Ted Green