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Brief comparative comments of a few text editors listed on these two pages:
GENERAL TEXT EDITORS.
Borland Turbo Vision (TV) derived text editors...
This family of DOS text editors essentially derive from the same TV programming code and share a user-friendly, text-mode multiple window interface with pulldown menus and mouse support. GUI users will likely be attracted to these editors. Most seem to be restricted to handling smaller files (<64K, and line lengths around 250 char max). There are many of these clones floating around- a few unique ones are listed here. Also see the similar-looking but much more powerful: 1) SETEDIT, a powerful programmer's editor with a TV interface. 2) The Connect IDE includes an impressive TV style editor.
1. NE- Editor with multiple windows, mouse support, and a spell checker.
* * * 1/2
NE is a Turbo Vision-derived editor that's a good choice as a simple ASCII word processor or EDIT.COM replacement. Although it can only load files smaller than 64K, it has an undo function and offers numerous text-formatting features. EXE size: 87k + speller 367k
Strengths
Limitations
download ne300b.zip. (370K)
2. EditV- Multiple window text editor with mouse support, smaller files.
* * * * [added 1998-08-16 updated 1999-04-03].
Intended primarily as a programmer's editor but doubles as a simple to use general editor. The author is still actively developing EditV, and it's getting more interesting with each update. EXE size= 211K; help file= 130K. Author: Bob Ferguson, Netherlands (1999). Suggested by Tomas Brunclik.
Some unique features:
Limitations:
04-03-99: New in v4.1 (04-99): See docs for version history.
download editv41u.zip (180K)
Other general text editors...
Multi-Edit Lite- Multi-window editor, mouse/menu driven, and edits large files.
* * * * 1/2
Recommended for the Windows/MAC/GUI crowd....
Finding a freeware editor for DOS which is mouse compatible, menu driven, and handles very large files is difficult (there is EDIT that comes packaged with DOS 6.x, but it lacks important features [e.g., undo]). Nearly all the freeware, CUA compliant DOS editors are similar clones derived from the same TFileEditor object included with Borland's Turbo Vision (e.g., NE), and they won't load files bigger than 64K (but see SETEDIT and Connect). A kind reader of these pages pointed me to a "lite" version of Multi-Edit on SimtelNet. The text mode, multiple window interface looks and behaves much like NE but there's much more under the skin:
Features :
Note: Frustrating quirk: The file listing in the File Open/Load dialog is sorted by the second character of the filename- not the first. Instead of scrolling the list, you can find a file more quickly by typing the first few characters of the filename.
*SHAREWARE STATUS NOTE: Multi-Edit Lite is shareware. Quote from the docs: "If you like and use Multi-Edit Lite, we request a donation of $40 (or whatever you feel is appropriate)." (my emphasis).
download melite.zip (224K)
VDE- Excellent text editor designed for word processing.
* * * * * [added 1997 updated 2002-12-11]
"This may be the finest piece of word processing code ever written." - John Dvorak, PC Magazine (April 24 1990).
Few die-hard GUI users will probably be attracted to VDE's editing style- but anyone who's tried it will certainly appreciate the hard work and creativity that's been invested in the development of VDE. It is a very mature and stable product (under development since 1987) that offers many text mode word processing features. It's quite easy to use- but if you rely on a mouse to do all your work (e.g., to "pulldown those menus"), this may not be your program. You can use a mouse for tasks like marking text blocks and cursor positioning. Most commands are available as Word-Star key shortcuts which some people love and some people don't. Coded in assembly language, the executable file is remarkably small (80K) for the tasks this program can perform. Includes excellent documentation. VDE is shareware: registration is not required (but encouraged) from individual users. Author: E. Meyer (2002); Also see these VDE resource pages for latest versions, supporting utils, many interesting macros, and discussion lists: Short.Stop (current) / Punky.Com / WolffSoft.
Text editor features:
Word processor features:
2002-12-11: v1.93D available.
download vde193d.zip (180K)
You can also find the latest versions, and an 8088 compatible version (vde165c) at:
Short.Stop's Mostly VDE Software Page
Pedit- MS-DOS EDIT-like editor with added features, Eng. spell checker, thesaurus.
* * * * 1/2 [added 6-97 updated 1999-10-06]
Overall, Pedit is one of the more versatile yet user-friendly editors listed here. Although a programmer's editor, Pedit's design also incorporates a selection of word processing features (e.g., a spell checker and thesaurus- English only). Superficially similar to MS-DOS's EDIT (pulldown menus, dialogs, mouse compatible), Pedit is vastly superior in most respects. Loads files as large as available conventional memory. EXE size= about 300K. A smaller (100K) version is included which lacks the speller/ thesaurus (PEDITLGT). Author: Paul Brand, Hong Kong. (1999)
Features:
Limitations:
New in v. 4.00 (10-99): " Word wrap on the fly...Pop-up menu when right mouse button is clicked. Key to remove (empty) directories in the file chooser. Key to delete all entries in the pick list. Much more Alt-F1 functions. Changed revert message. Added a light version. Included Windows installer. Included Hex editor."
download pedit.zip (330K)
IE- Mouse and menu driven editor handles large files.
unrated [updated 1999-04-16]
A menu driven, multi ("split") window editor that handles big files. External directory browser includes some file management commands. Feature list from the docs:
Notes: Requires 386+ PC, VGA+. Text search and replace commands available from keys but not pulldown menu. Can't horizontal scroll with mouse.
04-16-99: new in v1.02 (2-99): Fixes and enhancements...see docs.
Author: Ian Gay, Canada (1999)
download ie102.zip (160K)
Pico- Pine text editor for DOS.
Nano- Open source, enhanced clone of Pico (Pine) text editor.
unrated
1. Pico [added 1998-09-13] is a familiar friend to users of the Unix Pine e-mail program. A unique yet easy-to-learn editor, this DOS DJGPP version includes mouse support (text selection and command invocation). Navigation commands are not difficult to master- a command menu is always visible at the bottom of the screen.
Pico was not designed to be a full-featured text editor (e.g., single file editing only, no text replace command in this version) but it can be used for simple word processing tasks (automatically wraps text at right margin, paragraph justification command). Can use a spell checker such as ISPELL. Requires 386+, DPMI server (CWSDPMI) under plain DOS. Win 9x LFN compatible. Handles large files. Includes a separate program (PILOT) which functions as a directory browser.
Remarks: To select text with mouse, double click to mark start of block and single click at end of block. To see available startup command line options, enter "pico -h." v3.96 DJGPP port by Tim Van Holder (1997)
download pico396b.zip (235K)
Also see: 16-bit versions of Pico (no PILOT) can be found packaged with Pine (v3.96 and 3.91 [smaller]) at U. Washington's PC PINE page.
2. Nano [added 2000-12-14 updated 2001-09-19] is an open source (GPL), enhanced clone of Pico which is now (2000) undergoing active development for Linux platforms. DOS and Win32 ports have also been created.
Some advantages over Pico: GNU autoconf support, truly free license (GNU GPL), goto-line # (no command-line flag needed), case sensitive search, interactive search and replace, regexp s/r support, specify tab width...and more.
386 DOS (DJGPP) executables are available, but have tended not to be as current as latest source distributions. Author: Chris Allegretta (2001). Suggested by Pio Del Real.
2001-09-19: v1.0.4 (09-01) available.
Find DOS binaries at the nano Home page.
SMALL TEXT EDITORS.
In a software age where bigger is....well, bigger, these size-optimized editors demonstrate just what can be packed into a little bit of computer code. Included here are small editors suitable for emergency disks, computers lacking disk space/ memory, or quick, portable text editing. They're also just plain fun to explore. All have unique key commands, quirks, and surprises.
1. Terse -Tiny text editor with search/replace, undo.
2. EzEdit -4K dual file text editor.
3. SuperTed -Tiny text editor with word wrap, file import.
4. SLED - Small text editor with big features.
5. SHHED- Small text editor, limited mouse support, directory browser.
6. E - Tiny, friendly text editor for simple word processing.
7. Tiny Editor - Small (9K) customizable multi-file text editor.
8. Tiny EMACS- 4K text editor w/ EMACS key bindings, macros, multi-undo.
9. Swift Programmer's Editor- Small, friendly text editor.
Here's a more detailed, quickly researched feature comparison:
(see key for abbreviations; revised 2001-10-10):
Editor KEY: [1] terse [2] ezedit [3] superted [4] e [5] tinyemacs [6] tinyed [7] sled [8] shhed [9] swift PROGRAM======[1]===[2]===[3]==[4]==[5]===[6]==[7]==[8]=[9] Size(K) ....| 4.....4.....6....7....4.....9...17...17...20 Packed ; )..| 4.....4.....4....4....4.....7...11...11...14 File load...| C.....CI...CI....CI...CI...CI...CI...CB...CB MaxSize File| 65...200...65....cm...60...cm...cm...cm...65 Max columns.| nl ..128....?....80...nl ..255..16K..255..nl Mark modes..| S....CL.....S....L....S.....S...LS....S...LS Copy/paste..| y.....n.....n....y....n.....y....y....y....y Cut/paste...| y.....y.....y....y....y.....y....y....y....y Undo........| y.....y.....y....n....y.....n....n....n....n Mult. Undo..| n.....n.....n....n....y.....n....n....n....n Find txt....| y.....y.....y....y....y.....y....y....y....y Replace txt.| y.....y.....y....y....y.....y....y....y....y PROGRAM======[1]===[2]===[3]==[4]==[5]===[6]==[7]==[8]=[9] Hard wrap...| n.....n.....y ...y....n.....y....y....n....n Soft wrap...| n.....n.....n ...n....y.....n....n....n....n Reflow txt..| n.....n.....y....y....n.....y....y....n....n Auto-indent.| n.....n.....n....o....n.....n....o....o....o Macros......| n.....n.....n....n....y.....n....n....n....n Mult. files.| n.....2.....n....n....n.....y....y....n....n Quote text..| n.....n.....y....n....n.....y....n....n....n R/W unix txt| R/W...R.....n....n....R/W...n....R/W..R....n Shell 2 DOS.| y.....y.....n....y....n.....y....y....n....y Mouse supp..| n.....n.....n....n....n.....n....n....y....n File hist...| n.....n.....n....n....n.....n....n....y....n Help Screen.| y.....n.....y....y....n.....y....y....y....y Configure...| n.....n.....n....y....y.....y....y....y....n
Key and notes:
Shareware info: Terse is shareware, free for individual use. SLED is now a freeware program- but was originally fee-ware. Most FTP sites still carry the old zip with the shareware documentation. The author later modified the documentation to indicate freeware status, but the new zip has not been widely distributed.
WORD PROCESSORS.
Also see: VDE
Easy Word- DOS Word Processor.
unrated [added 2001-08-12]
2002-03-31: NOTE- looks like Easy Word was originally pay-shareware- then it was briefly distributed as freeware in 2001- and now (2002) it's being distributed as pay shareware again. So it's not free anymore.
Easy Word is a streamlined and somehat unorthodix (by modern standards) word processor. It is quite easy to quickly master its limited set of functions.
Obvious limitations: No mouse support, doesn't support any DTP funcitons (e.g., graphics/images), and lacks an undo function. Cannot be run from a floppy.
Author: John Turnbull, Easy Software (1998). Also see other freeware and shareware at Easy Software Home Page
Word (MS) - Powerful DOS word processor, Y2K upgrade.
unrated [added 1999-07-21]
This Y2K "update" is actually a (nearly?) complete and wholly functional MS WORD for DOS word processing package with spell checker, thesaurus, and print drivers. Microsoft® is distributing it as a "complimentary upgrade for customers of Microsoft Word 5.0" (Perhaps too complimentary...) This pack is missing fonts??
Go to Microsoft's download page. (Wd55_eng.exe is a PKZIP exe, about 3.3MB).
PcWord- Free word processor.
unrated [added 2000-07-05]
From the docs: "A fast, compact, flexible Text-Processor; Uses HyperText functions to facilitate links for Table of Contents and Index, with automatic page numbering."
Notes: A feature-rich text mode word processor. Unique help system requires a little study for efficient use. Loads multiple documents. Appears to handle files as large as available conventional memory. Several video modes supported; mouse support. Print drivers included. EXE size 120K, will run on an XT. Under development since late 1980's (?) and formerly distributed as shareware. Part of the talifree.zip package. Hints: ESC toggles menu bar. ALT-S to change settings.
Author: Andrew Sprott, UK (2000). Home Page. Suggested by Jon-Egil Korsvold.
download talifree.zip (470K)
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