Re: [Bug-apl] 2 questions wrt editing my programs

[Juergen Sauermann]

Hi Peter,

the built-in ∇-editor should almost work like "Editor 1" described in 
the IBM language reference
manual for APL2, chapter 9. When you are scripting GNU APL then you can 
define functions in your
script like this:

)ERASE AVERAGE
∇Z←AVERAGE B
Z←(+/B)÷⍴B
∇

Having that said, this is how I work:

I use multiple xterm windows (for easy cut-and-paste of APL code).

In the 1. window I edit an APL script using vi (!).

In a second window I start that script when I have edited a function to 
see if it works.

Since I am an APL newbie, I have a 3rd window with GNU APL running 
interactively to try out
small things. In this window I sometimes edit small functions with the 
∇-editor.

Regarding other ways of importing functions, you could write a small 
function using FILE_IO that
reads an entire text file (containing one function) and ⎕FX it. There 
are lots of other possibilities,
e.g.having a makefile instead of window 2 and use ":make from within vi. 
That saves one window.
The method above works best for me, though.

/// Jürgen


On 04/22/2014 12:33 AM, Peter Teeson wrote:
> (1) Where is docn for the built in function editor when running in terminal 
> mode?
> (I have the IBM manuals - should I be looking there? Also I am not familiar 
> with emacs or vi)
> (I'm only familiar with the IPSA one)
>
> (2) Can I use an external text editor and interface with quad FX?
>
> Because I now want to get on with my original intent which is to solve a 
> problem using APL
> rather than C/C++ since APL is much better suited for that purpose - lots of 
> arrays involved.
>
> TIA
>
> respect….
>
> Peter