Some menu options require additional information to perform the correct task. For example, the Print option cannot do anything until you tell it what you want to print and which printer to use. When you select this type of option, a form appears on the screen. By filling in the form, you give the com-mand the information it needs.
The following example demonstrates how forms work, by showing you how to print a file in your current directory. After the example, Tables 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 list the keystrokes that allow you to move around the form, edit it, and make "point-and-pick" selections.
To print a file, first select Dirs/Files ¢ Print. The Print form is displayed:
Enter file or directory name or press (F3) for a file list
...
/ Frlday August 31, 1990 1'06
, - - - Print Files - - - ,
Enter file(s) to print: [
I
Enter destination printer:
Using forms
Notice that the highlight is on the first item in the form. You can fill in the field or obtain a list of ~hoices by pressing (F3). You can enter the filename if you know it but, for the sake of this exercise, assume that you need to find the filename and press (F3) now. A window opens up overlapping part of the Print form:
Enter file or directory name or press I (F3) for a file list Frlday August 31, 1990 1 06
...
r - - - Print Files - - - ,
Enter filets) to print:
Enter destination printer:
lIB
fileSfile2 file6
file3 file4
The window contains a list of the files that you can select. To select a file,
"point" to it by highlighting it, and "pick" it by pressing return. This is known as point-and-pick, and it is used whenever a range of choices is displayed.
After making your selection, the window closes and you return to the Print form.
Note that the name of the file you selected is now displayed in the form. You can now change the name using the edit keys (listed in Table 2.4 later in this section), or press (Return) to move to the next field.
Now enter the name of the printer to be used. If you do not know the printer name, press (F3). Another, smaller window opens that contains a list of installed printers:
Enter printer name or press I (F3) for a list of printers Frlday August 31, 1990 1.06
...
, - - - Print Files - - - ,
Enter file(s) to print: [filel Enter destination printer:
printer 1 printer2
'."'UM
You can select the printer just as you did the name of the file. After selecting a printer, you return to the Print menu.
Using forms
The keystrokes listed in the following tables allow you to use forms easily.
Table 2·3 Form operations Keyboard Mouse
tells the program that you changed your mind and do not want to finish filling in this form. The form is removed, and no action is performed. You are returned to the previous menu. In addition, (Esc) followed by (Return) acknowledges that an error message was read and that you are ready to continue.
moves to other fields in a form. Some fields are res-tricted and no input is allowed. The Arrow keys skip over these. Other fields must be filled in. With the mouse, move the cursor to the field and click the Left button. Pressing the Down Arrow key on the last item in a form brings you back to the first item.
moves left and right in the current field. This allows you to change text without retyping the entire line.
completes the data entry to a field and moves the cursor to the next field. In the last field, pressing (Return) or the middle mouse button completes the entire form and tells the shell that the data is ready to use.
exits and executes the form from wherever you are.
Think "x" for "execute". (FlO) does the same.
calls the spelling checker utility when you are in a form. If you think a word might be misspelled, press (F4) while the cursor is on the word and a list of possible correct spellings appears in a point-and-pick list. The word you select replaces the misspelled word.
exits and executes the form from wherever you are.
(Ctrl)x does the same.
* On a two-button mouse, pressing both buttons simultaneously emulates the middle mouse button.
Table 2·4 Edit keystrokes·
Keystroke (Ctrl)y (Ctrl)w (CtrI)g-(Ctrl)h (Ctrl)g-(Ctrl)l (Ctrl)v (Del) (Bksp) (Ctrl)u (Ctrl)d (Ctrl)n (CtrI)p
Action
deletes the current line, and begins the line again.
deletes the current word.
moves the cursor to the beginning of the line.
moves the cursor to the end of the line.
toggles into or out of overstrike mode.
deletes the character over the cursor.
backs up and deletes one character (left of cursor).
pages up - moves up one page.
pages down - moves down one page.
goes to the next word.
goes to the previous word.
Left, Right Arrow' moves left and right within the edit line.
* You cannot use the mouse for edit operations; if a form opens a window for input, you must use the keyboard. Even the Right button «Esc» will not affect the win-dow.
Table 2-5 Point-and-Pick Operations removed and no action is performed.
toggles between selecting all or none of the items appearing in a list.
moves to other items in a list.
moves across a multicol1:mn display.
marks items when the application accepts more than one. A marked item is
"Search" key. A prompt appears and you enter the string to search for, then press (Return). If the item is found, the highlight moves to that item, and another (Return) selects the item. If no match is found, the highlight does not move. The; and: keys repeat the previous search, forward and backward respectively.
selects an item by its first letter. It is the fastest method of selection. Pressing (Return) selects the highlighted item. (If there is only one item beginning with that letter, it is marked by typing its first letter.
There is no need to press (Return) again.) If several items begin with the same letter, the cursor moves to the first occurrence in the list.
* On a two-button mouse, pressing both buttons simultaneously emulates the mid-dle mouse button.