EDLIN.COM (among several other commands) in IBM PC DOS 1.0Using EDLIN for typing Japanese with the ATOK 8 input method editor, running on MS-DOS 3.3C for the PC-9800 series
Microsoft acquired 86-DOS and, after some further development, sold it as MS-DOS, so Edlin was included in v1.0–v5.0 of MS-DOS. From MS-DOS 6 onwards, the only editor included was the new full-screen MS-DOS Editor.
Windows 95, 98 and ME ran on top of an embedded version of DOS, which reports itself as MS-DOS 7. As a successor to MS-DOS 6, this did not include Edlin.
However, Edlin is included in the 32-bit versions of Windows NT[6] and its derivatives—up to and including Windows 10—because the NTVDM's DOS support in those operating systems is based on MS-DOS version 5.0. However, unlike most other external DOS commands, it has not been transformed into a native Win32 program. It also does not support long filenames, which were not added to MS-DOS and MS-Windows until long after Edlin was written.
The FreeDOS version was developed by Gregory Pietsch.[7]
UsageEdit
There are only a few commands. The short list can be found by entering a ? at the edlin prompt.
When a file is open, typing L lists the contents (e.g., 1,6L lists lines 1 through 6). Each line is displayed with a line number in front of it.
*1,6L 1: Edlin: The only text editor in early versions of DOS. 2: 3: Back in the day, I remember seeing web pages 4: branded with a logo at the bottom: 5: "This page created in edlin." 6: The things that some people put themselves through. ;-) *
The currently selected line has a *. To replace the contents of any line, the line number is entered and any text entered replaces the original. While editing a line pressing Ctrl-C cancels any changes. The * marker remains on that line.
Entering I (optionally preceded with a line number) inserts one or more lines before the * line or the line given. When finished entering lines, Ctrl-C returns to the edlin command prompt.
*6I 6:*(...or similar) 7:*^C *7D *L 1: Edlin: The only text editor in early versions of DOS. 2: 3: Back in the day, I remember seeing web pages 4: branded with a logo at the bottom: 5: "This page created in edlin." 6: (...or similar) *
i - Inserts lines of text.
D - deletes the specified line, again optionally starting with the number of a line, or a range of lines. E.g.: 2,4d deletes lines 2 through 4. In the above example, line 7 was deleted.
R - is used to replace all occurrences of a piece of text in a given range of lines, for example, to replace a spelling error. Including the ? prompts for each change. E.g.: To replace 'prit' with 'print' and to prompt for each change: ?rprit^Zprint (the ^Z represents pressing CTRL-Z). It is case-sensitive.
S - searches for given text. It is used in the same way as replace, but without the replacement text. A search for 'apple' in the first 20 lines of a file is typed 1,20?sapple (no space, unless that is part of the search) followed by a press of enter. For each match, it asks if it is the correct one, and accepts n or y (or Enter).
P - displays a listing of a range of lines. If no range is specified, P displays the complete file from the * to the end. This is different from L in that P changes the current line to be the last line in the range.
T - transfers another file into the one being edited, with this syntax: [line to insert at]t[full path to file].
W - (write) saves the file.
E - saves the file and quits edlin.
Q - quits edlin without saving.
ScriptsEdit
Edlin may be used as a non-interactive file editor in scripts by redirecting a series of edlin commands.
edlin < script
FreeDOS EdlinEdit
A GPL-licensed clone of Edlin that includes long filename support is available for download as part of the FreeDOS project. This runs on operating systems such as Linux or Unix as well as MS-DOS.[8]
Microsoft Operating System/2 User's Reference(PDF). Microsoft. 1987.
External linksEdit
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Guide to Windows Commands
Edlin | Microsoft Docs
MS-DOS edlin command help
Open source EDLIN implementation that comes with MS-DOS v2.0
October 15, 2023
edlin, other, uses, disambiguation, line, editor, only, text, editor, provided, with, early, versions, although, superseded, later, full, screen, editor, notepad, microsoft, windows, continues, included, versions, current, microsoft, operating, systems, origin. For other uses see Edlin disambiguation Edlin is a line editor and the only text editor provided with early versions of IBM PC DOS 1 MS DOS and OS 2 2 Although superseded in MS DOS 5 0 and later by the full screen MS DOS Editor and by Notepad in Microsoft Windows it continues to be included in the 32 bit versions of current Microsoft operating systems EdlinOriginal author s Tim PatersonDeveloper s Microsoft IBM Gregory PietschInitial release1980 43 years ago 1980 Written inMS DOS x86 assembly languageOperating system86 DOS IBM PC DOS MS DOS FreeDOS OS 2 eComStation ArcaOS WindowsTypeLine editorLicenseMS DOS MITFreeDOS ReactOS GPL86 DOS PC DOS OS 2 Windows Proprietary commercial softwareWebsiteEdlin Contents 1 History 2 Usage 2 1 Scripts 2 2 FreeDOS Edlin 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory Edit nbsp EDLIN COM among several other commands in IBM PC DOS 1 0 nbsp Using EDLIN for typing Japanese with the ATOK 8 input method editor running on MS DOS 3 3C for the PC 9800 seriesEdlin was created by Tim Paterson in two weeks in 1980 for Seattle Computer Products s 86 DOS QDOS 3 based on the CP M context editor ED 4 5 itself a distant derivative of the Unix ed line editor Microsoft acquired 86 DOS and after some further development sold it as MS DOS so Edlin was included in v1 0 v5 0 of MS DOS From MS DOS 6 onwards the only editor included was the new full screen MS DOS Editor Windows 95 98 and ME ran on top of an embedded version of DOS which reports itself as MS DOS 7 As a successor to MS DOS 6 this did not include Edlin However Edlin is included in the 32 bit versions of Windows NT 6 and its derivatives up to and including Windows 10 because the NTVDM s DOS support in those operating systems is based on MS DOS version 5 0 However unlike most other external DOS commands it has not been transformed into a native Win32 program It also does not support long filenames which were not added to MS DOS and MS Windows until long after Edlin was written The FreeDOS version was developed by Gregory Pietsch 7 Usage EditThere are only a few commands The short list can be found by entering a at the edlin prompt When a file is open typing L lists the contents e g 1 6L lists lines 1 through 6 Each line is displayed with a line number in front of it 1 6L 1 Edlin The only text editor in early versions of DOS 2 3 Back in the day I remember seeing web pages 4 branded with a logo at the bottom 5 This page created in edlin 6 The things that some people put themselves through The currently selected line has a To replace the contents of any line the line number is entered and any text entered replaces the original While editing a line pressing Ctrl C cancels any changes The marker remains on that line Entering I optionally preceded with a line number inserts one or more lines before the line or the line given When finished entering lines Ctrl C returns to the edlin command prompt 6I 6 or similar 7 C 7D L 1 Edlin The only text editor in early versions of DOS 2 3 Back in the day I remember seeing web pages 4 branded with a logo at the bottom 5 This page created in edlin 6 or similar i Inserts lines of text D deletes the specified line again optionally starting with the number of a line or a range of lines E g 2 4d deletes lines 2 through 4 In the above example line 7 was deleted R is used to replace all occurrences of a piece of text in a given range of lines for example to replace a spelling error Including the prompts for each change E g To replace prit with print and to prompt for each change rprit Zprint the Z represents pressing CTRL Z It is case sensitive S searches for given text It is used in the same way as replace but without the replacement text A search for apple in the first 20 lines of a file is typed 1 20 sapple no space unless that is part of the search followed by a press of enter For each match it asks if it is the correct one and accepts n or y or Enter P displays a listing of a range of lines If no range is specified P displays the complete file from the to the end This is different from L in that P changes the current line to be the last line in the range T transfers another file into the one being edited with this syntax line to insert at t full path to file W write saves the file E saves the file and quits edlin Q quits edlin without saving Scripts Edit Edlin may be used as a non interactive file editor in scripts by redirecting a series of edlin commands edlin lt script FreeDOS Edlin Edit A GPL licensed clone of Edlin that includes long filename support is available for download as part of the FreeDOS project This runs on operating systems such as Linux or Unix as well as MS DOS 8 See also EditList of DOS commands ed and ex similar Unix line editors 86 DOSReferences Edit Disk Operating System PDF Bitsavers org January 1982 Retrieved 24 January 2022 OS 2 1 0 Os2museum com A Short History of MS DOS Patersontech com ED Utility Shaels net Archived from the original on 20 June 2013 Retrieved 24 January 2022 ED A Context Editor for The CP M Disk System archive org Retrieved 8 May 2023 16 Bit Applications Included with Windows NT Microsoft com FreeDOS Package edlin FreeDOS Base Ibiblio org FreeDOS Edlin Sourceforge net Further reading EditMicrosoft Operating System 2 User s Reference PDF Microsoft 1987 External links Edit nbsp Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Guide to Windows Commands Edlin Microsoft Docs MS DOS edlin command help Open source EDLIN implementation that comes with MS DOS v2 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edlin amp oldid 1176162652, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
