VI.  Composing and writing with the text editor Pico

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a.  Introduction

Pico is a friendly and easy-to-use basic editor and word processor that uses
simple keystroke commands --  and if you do not remember them, you may find
the applicable commands listed at the bottom of the editing screen! Also
there are helpful, informative messages and prompts.  

Pico has most of the usual word
processing features except for some formatting (i.e. for layout, fonts and
style items).  Pico is the same editor that is used in your Pine e-mailer and
with the same editing commands.

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B.   Getting started with the Pico text-editor

There are two ways to open Pico, 1. to edit an existing file that is already
in your Home directory, and  2. to create and edit a new file for which you
assign a new name.

1. To edit an existing file  - Highlight the file in your Home directory
   Then press F4 to place this file into Pico for editing. Pretty neat!

2.  Editing a new file  - At any '$-prompt' command line (e.g. at the '$'
   that is always at the bottom of the MC directories screen) type 'pico
   filename' and press ENTER. This brings up the empty Pico editing screen
   with your assigned filename listed at the top, and ready for you to enter
   text. When you periodically save your text to the Home directory with
   CONTROL+o for 'safe keeping', or when you exit Pico with CONTROL+x, it
   will be listed there with this filename.


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C.  Bringing up Pico's Help document

You may at anytime review Pico's Help document while in Pico by commanding

CONTROL+g. You can return to Pico with CONTROL+x.

Below is a copy of this Pine 'help page' in which we have added a few 
additional explanatory comments.

 Picos Help Text

        Pico is designed to be a simple, easy-to-use text editor with a
        layout very similar to your pine e-mailer.  The status line at the
        top of the display shows pico's version, the current file being
        edited and whether or not there are outstanding modifications
        that have not been saved.  The third line from the bottom is used
        to report informational messages in context and for additional
        command input.
        The bottom two lines list the available editing commands.

        Each character typed is automatically inserted into the text at the
        current cursor position. Editing commands and cursor
        movement  (besides arrow keys)  are given to pico by typing
        special control-key sequences.  A caret, '^', is used to denote
        the CONTROL key, sometimes marked "CTRL" or "CONTROL",  so the
        CONTROL+x key combination is written as '^x.

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D.  Pico editing commands- (Navigating)

Remember, you may move the cursor about the screen as usual with the ARROW
keys.

        ^G        Displays this Pico help text.

        ^P        move to beginning of Previous line
        ^N        move to beginning of next line

        ^A        move to the beginning of the current line.
       ^ E        move to the End of the current line.

        ^V        move forward a page of text.
        ^Y        move backward a page of text.

        ^SPACEBAR move forward a word at a time.

        ^W        Search for (where is) text, neglecting case.

        ^D        Delete the character at the cursor position.

        ^K        Deletes entire line under cursor

        ^i        Sets a TAB at the cursor.

        ^J        Format (justify) the current paragraph that includes
                  the cursor. Note: paragraphs delimited by blank lines.
                  (If the cursor is in the separating blank line space
                  the paragraph  below will be formatted correctly.)

        ^T        To invoke the spelling checker, Aspell.

        ^R        Insert an external file (from the Home directory)
                  at the current cursor position.
                  (Note: If you do not remember the full name of the
                  desired file, command CONTROL+r and the CONTROL+t to bring
                  up your Home directory, highlight the                        
                  desired file and press ENTER to insert it                    
                  at the cursor position.)

        ^o        Output the current Pico text to a file, saving it to
                  the Home directory.  Remember, it's important to
                  frequently update your work in this way for 'safe
                  keeping'.

        ^x        Exits Pico, saving file to home directory


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E.   'Cutting and Pasting' in Pico

1. Command CONTROL+6 to .       Mark cursor position as beginning of selected
   text. Then use ARROW keys to highlight text to be selected.

2. Cut this text that is highlighted with CONTROL+k.

3. If desired, you may re-insert (paste)  this 'cut text' at another cursor
   position with the undelete command, CONTROL+u.