From: garno@cs.arizona.edu (Steven W. Garno)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps,comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Free Editor Results
Keywords: Free Editor Edit Freeware
Date: 16 Oct 92 05:51:09 GMT
Followup-To: Need Free Editor


To everyone who had responded to my request for a free editor.


   I normally respond to each person who writes me, but I had such an
overwhelming response, that I would spend many hours explaining my
choices to everyone.  So I have decided to post here instead.

   I was given quite a few choices to select from, here are some of 
them:

   1) MicroEmacs
   2) VDE
   3) TDE
   4) Point
   5) THE (The Hessling Editor)
   6) TPE
   7) PE2

   And a few others.  These were the major ones.


Well, even though I asked for something other than Emacs several people
still suggested MicroEmacs.  Don't get me wrong, but even though it is
configurable, it still has the same interface as emacs.  Think of this:
try placing a person who knows very little about computers in front of
this editor, and have them type in a file, save it, edit another etc.
Still a little clunky.  (Could be also that the version of ME I remember
is old)

Next, someone suggested the DOS 5.0 edit program.  I thought this to
be an interesting suggestion because it not only requires Dos 5.0, which 
I have no control over, but it also is a commercial software.  Even 
though it is included with Dos, you cannot distribute it.  Besides I 
would have to include QBasic too.

Next I looked at Point.  Strange way of implementing menus, but never
the less, the idea was better than the first few suggestions.  I had
trouble myself paddling through the menus.  And if it takes me more than
5 minutes, I don't think I want to distribute it to people who have little
or no experience.  But definately better.

THE I haven't had a chance to look at yet.  I will as soon as I can.

VDE I had looked at prior to several people suggesting.  Although I found
it to be very WordStar-ish, it was at least explanitory enough for someone
to move through the options.  My main reason for tossing this one is because
of the limited size of the files you can edit.  Some people edit files
that are several hundred K in length.  Especially since this will be used
in an area where SQL server extract files are common.  These files can
range in length from 10K to several meg.

TPE and PE2 I didn't really care for.  After looking at TDE, these looked
rather bland.

So far, TDE is my choice.  It has many features to it that make it one of
the best free editors I have seen to date.  As a matter of fact, it even
beats many of the commercial editors.  The interface is intuitive.  It
supports macros.  Does some simple word processing.  Edits files up to
400K (450K if using DOS 5).  Multiple windows.  FULLY configurable keyboard
with a very easy to use keyboard editor.  Color support.  Self modifies
so that only one file need be distributed (very nice feature).  

The only thing that TDE lacks is mouse support.  It is a nice feature to
include, but not necessary.  I would strongly recommend TDE for anyone
who wants to write software using a canned editor.  Or, as I am now
doing, using it as my primary editor (since my company does not allow
shareware or personal software on company computers).  Since TDE comes 
with source code, maybe someone will modify it to allow for mouse
support (HINT HINT HINT :-) )

I still have a few more to look at, but TDE provides a stiff competition.


       Thanks for all those who responded.  It is this kind of support
   that makes this internet great!  Keep it up.



       	       Steven Garno
       	       garno@caslon.cs.arizona.edu