https://invisible-island.net/ded/


ded(man)


NAME

       ded - directory editor

SYNOPSIS

       ded [options] [file-specifications]

DESCRIPTION

       The  directory editor provides the user with a full-screen interface to
       POSIX files and directories.  Multiple lists of files may be displayed,
       sorted by various fields,  and  used  in  built-in  or  ordinary  shell
       commands.   Navigation  among directories is either hierarchical, or by
       means of a directory tree screen.

       Ded provides you with a vi-like interface  to  files  and  directories.
       Two types of displays are provided:

       o   file  list.   One  or  more files are displayed, one per line.  The
           current working directory is shown at the top of the  screen.   The
           bottom  of  the screen (marked with a dividing line) is a work area
           in which shell commands may be issued, and their results displayed.
           You may move the cursor forward or backward through  a  file  list,
           sort the list, and apply various commands to the files shown.

       o   directory  tree.   One or more lines are shown, each representing a
           directory (or symbolic link to a  directory).   You  may  move  the
           cursor  about  the directory tree both by arrow keys, as well as by
           issuing commands to search for particular names.

       Ded manages multiple file lists; commands are provided for opening  new
       lists from either a file list or from the directory tree.  You may page
       between file lists, or back and forth to the directory tree.

       Within  a  file  list, you may mark groups of files on which subsequent
       commands will operate.  Both built-in and shell commands  operate  upon
       the marked files, and may be repeated for different files.

       Ded  uses  the curses (3) screen management package and runs in a POSIX
       environment.

OPTIONS

       Most command-line options initialize the state for display-manipulation
       commands.  They include:

       -a  show "." and ".." entries in each file list (see "&" toggle).

       -b  use the box-character set for  displaying  the  directory-tree  and
           workspace ruler.

       -cfilename
           read  user  commands  from  the  specified  file.  The commands are
           assumed to be in the same format as the log-file generated with the
           "-l" option.  Subprocesses do not (currently) inherit this option.

       -D  force date-display to long format.  Allows editing of  modification
           times using the "T" command.

       -d  enable debug trace.

           If the standard output is a terminal, debug messages are written to
           the  standard  output.  Otherwise, they are written to the standard
           error.

           Repeating the  flag  changes  the  level.   Setting  the  DED_DEBUG
           environment  to  a  nonzero integer will also enable a debug-trace,
           with the corresponding level.  The levels are cumulative:

           1   ded prints the name of each file as it gets its properties, and
               pauses after reading the set of files.

           2   In addition, ded prints the data read from a pipe.

           3   On exit due to error, ded will dump core.

       -e  modify the interpretation of the "e" command to spawn a new process
           of ded when editing a directory.

       -G  toggle  user/group  display   field   (initially   displays   user-
           identifiers).

       -I  toggle  inode/links  display  field  (initially  displays number of
           links for each file).

       -i  invert colors used for filenames.   This  helps  with  contrast  on
           white  backgrounds,  particularly with older curses implementations
           which do not support default-colors.

       -lfilename
           log user commands (and ded messages) to the  specified  file.   Ded
           subprocesses invoked with the "e" command inherit this option.

       -m  disable mouse events.

       -n  disable prompt on ded quit command.

       -P  toggle  file-protection  display  field  (initially  displays  file
           protection in ls-style).

       -p  print full pathnames of tagged files on exit.

       -O  show rcs file-lock owner.

       -rkey
           provide initial reverse-sort by key

       -S  toggle file size (in blocks) display field (normally displays  only
           the size in bytes).

       -skey
           provide initial sort by key

       -T  toggle date-display to long format.

       -tpath
           read  the directory tree file ".ftree" from the specified directory
           path.  This option is inherited in subsequent processes of ded.

       -x  toggle BRE (basic regular expressions) versus ERE (extended regular
           expression).

       -V  show rcs/sccs version.

       -Z  toggle rcs/sccs data display (normally inactive).

       -z  toggle rcs/sccs data display

OPERATIONS

       Most ded commands  are  single-character,  like  those  of  vi.   Where
       appropriate,  ded  commands may be prefixed with a repeat count.  (When
       not specified, the repeat count is always one).

Invoking DED

       When you invoke ded, it scans its argument list.  Options must  precede
       file specifications.  Arguments which do not begin with "-" are treated
       as  file  specifications.   File specification arguments may begin with
       "~" (tilde) to denote C-shell style home-directory specifications.

       You may redirect ded's standard-input to a list of  file-specifications
       (e.g., the output of find).

       If only one file specification is given, ded checks to see if it is the
       name of a directory.  If so, ded changes its working directory to that,
       and  shows  all  files which reside in the directory.  If any files are
       found, ded builds a display showing the files which it found, in an ls-
       like scrollable display.  If no arguments are given,  ded  assumes  the
       current working directory, ".".

       If  more than one file specification argument is given, ded changes its
       working directory to the most  common  pathname  among  the  arguments.
       Note  that  if  you give ded a wildcard argument such as "d*", then the
       shell performs wildcard expansion, not ded.

       Items from the argument list which are  not  found  are  not  displayed
       (though  they  are retained in the argument list for subsequent rescans
       with the "R" command).  Arguments may be given  in  absolute  or  path-
       relative  names  (i.e.,  beginning  with  "/"  or  some  sort  of  ".."
       construct).

Exiting From DED

       To exit from ded, you must be in the file list display.  If you are  in
       the directory tree, typing "q" (for quit) will release the current file
       list  and  move  to  the  next  file  list  (if any).  Typing "Q" moves
       backward.  When only one file list is left, ded will toggle back to the
       file list display.  If there are a lot of file lists, it is  faster  to
       toggle  back  directly with "D".  (A repeat count may be applied to the
       directory tree quit-command).

       To exit from ded's file list display, type "q" (for quit).  If you have
       entered any other file lists (or a subprocess  of  ded),  you  will  be
       prompted  to ensure that you really intend to quit the current process.
       (If you specified the "-n" option  on  invoking  ded,  this  prompt  is
       bypassed).

Interrupting DED

       You  may  also  forcibly  exit  from ded by typing your terminal's quit
       character.  This causes ded to exit without updating the ".ftree"  file
       (the directory-tree database).

       Some  of  ded's  commands  may  take  a long while to execute.  You may
       interrupt these commands by typing your terminal's interrupt character:

       o   The  directory-tree  "R"  command  may   be   interrupted   between
           individual files in the directory-scan.

       o   inline  changes  which  propagate to a tagged group of files (i.e.,
           the "p", "u", "g" or  "="  commands)  may  be  interrupted  between
           individual files in the group.

       o   the "t" type-file command.

Cursor Movement and Scrolling

       Cursor  movement  in  ded  is  styled after vi (i.e., the h, j, k and l
       keys).  However, since there are two types of displays, there are  some
       differences:

       o   In file list displays, you may normally move the cursor only up and
           down.   This frees the left/right keys for other uses.  As you move
           the cursor up and down in the  display,  it  stays  in  the  column
           immediately  before the file names.  The left-arrow and right-arrow
           keys scroll the screen left and right, respectively.

       o   Movement in the directory tree is two-dimensional.   You  may  move
           the  cursor left or right (up or down levels of the directory tree)
           or up or down (to different directory names).  The  screen  display
           of the directory tree has markers (vertical bars or dashes) showing
           where  you  are  allowed  to  put the cursor.  Vertical movement is
           normally within items at the same directory level.   You  may  move
           from one line to another at any level by the "J" and "K" commands.

       Single-character cursor movement commands are:

       h   (directory): same as left-arrow.

       k   move cursor up count entries (also: backspace, up-arrow).

       j   move cursor down count entries (also: return, down-arrow).

       l   (directory): same as right-arrow.

       f   scroll forward count screen(s).

       b   scroll backward count screen(s).

       left-arrow
           (file list): scroll left count/4 screen(s).
           (directory): move up count directory level(s).

       right-arrow
           (file list): scroll right count/4 screens.
           (directory):  move  down  count  directory level(s).  The cursor is
           limited by the rightmost name on the current line.

       J   (directory): move down count lines(s).

       K   (directory): move up count line(s).

       H   moves cursor to the first entry on screen.

       M   moves cursor to the middle of screen.

       L   moves cursor to the last entry on screen.

       ^   repositions the screen with  current  line  at  the  top.   If  the
           current  line is already at the top, ded toggles, putting it at the
           bottom of the screen.

       Within either the file list or directory tree displays, you may  scroll
       to  different items in the ring of file lists.  Within a file list, the
       ring-scrolling pages to a different  file  list  display.   Within  the
       directory tree, the ring-scrolling simply moves the cursor (and changes
       the context marker) to the specified file list.

       Ring-scrolling commands are:

       F   scroll forward (through the ring of file lists) count entries.

       B   scroll backward (through the ring of file lists) count entries.

Search Commands

       You  may  move  the  cursor  by searching for a particular string.  The
       following search commands are provided a la vi:

       /   Ded will prompt you for a regular expression.  If you give it  one,
           it will search forward (with wrap-around) for it.  A return without
           text will cancel the search.

       ?   Ded  prompts  you  for  a target and searches backwards (with wrap-
           around) for it.

       n   continue previous search (in the prevailing direction).

       N   continue the previous search, but in the reverse direction.

       Ded maintains a separate search context  for  the  file  list  and  the
       directory   tree   display.    That  is,  the  targets  are  maintained
       separately.  Searches in the directory tree  do  not  include  the  "/"
       marks  which  separate  path  names;  you  may search only for the leaf
       names.

Display-Adjustment

       You may use the following file-list commands to alter the format of the
       display, to refresh it, or to re-stat specific lines.  Several commands
       are provided for toggling the display format:

       &   toggles display showing "." and ".." entries in each file list.

       CTL/G
           toggles a status display in the header which shows  the  number  of
           files  tagged  and  their total size (in blocks).  Type "2CTL/G" to
           show the total size in bytes.

       @   toggle the display of symbolic links.  When  active,  ded  displays
           the  mode,  owner  and group of the target of the link, rather than
           the link itself.  To make this simple to see, ded displays the mode
           in uppercase.  If you apply an inline command (i.e.,  "p",  "u"  or
           "g")  to  a  tagged  group  containing  a  symbolic  link, ded will
           automatically toggle the display to display the targets rather than
           the links.

       C   toggle date-field to display.  POSIX  maintains  three  file  dates
           (changed, modified and accessed).  The current state of this toggle
           is shown in the screen heading (e.g, "[mtime]").

       G   toggle  user/group display field.  Type "2G" to show user and group
           names at the same time.

       I   toggle inode/links display field.  Type  "2I"  to  show  inode  and
           device code at the same time.

       P   toggle  file protection-mode (octal/normal) display field.  This is
           useful  because  occasionally  the  POSIX  protection  display   is
           ambiguous.   Type "2P" to show the user/group field's numeric value
           as well.

       S   toggle the display of file size between  bytes  and  blocks.   Type
           "2S" to show both fields at one time.

       T   toggles  the  display  of  file-dates,  or  allows  you to edit the
           modification time if the "-D" option was given.

           Normally ded displays the file-dates in a compact form based on the
           relative dates.  The long form shows all  information  returned  by
           ctime  (2).  Type "2T" to show a number which represents the age of
           the files in days (and fractions thereof).  Type "3T" to  show  the
           file timestamp in seconds, e.g., since 1 Janaury 1970.

           See  the section Built-in Operations on Groups of Files for details
           of editing the modification time.

       X   toggles the screen between one and two viewports.  You  may  adjust
           the size of these viewports with the "A" and "a" commands.  The two
           viewports  share  the same scrolling sense, but have an independent
           notion of the current file.

       Other commands (which do not simply toggle between different  displays)
       are:

       tab moves the cursor to the other viewport.

       A   move workspace marker up count line(s).

       a   move workspace marker down count line(s).

       CTL/R
           causes ded to prompt you for a regular expression (see ex(1)) which
           will  control  the  set  of files subsequently shown in the current
           file-list.  Ded then rescans the current directory,  adjusting  the
           file-list.

       R   re-scan  argument  list  (refresh).  This clears file grouping, re-
           reads all of the directories specified in the  argument  list,  re-
           sorts  and  repaints  the screen.  The cursor is moved to the first
           file in the list.  (If nothing is found, ded will exit).

       Directory names which are encountered in the  scan  are  added  to  the
       directory-tree.   If  the "@" toggle is set (see above), symbolic links
       which resolve to actual directories are also added.

       W   re-stat entries in the current screen.  If a repeat count is given,
           this  command  is  repeated  at  3-second   intervals   (or   until
           interrupted).

       w   refresh (i.e., repaint) the window.

       l   re-stat  the current entry, as well as files which are grouped.  If
           a repeat count is given,  this  command  is  repeated  at  3-second
           intervals (or until interrupted).

       space
           clear  workspace window.  This command is particularly useful after
           executing a shell command, since curses has no notion  of  what  is
           shown in the workspace.

       CTL/K
           causes  a  copy  of  your  current screen (obtained from the curses
           window-state)  to  be  appended  to  the  file  "ded.log"  in  your
           process's home directory.

Sorting the Display

       You  may  issue commands for sorting the file-list.  The cursor remains
       positioned at the same file after  a  sort.   (The  directory  tree  is
       always sorted alphabetically).

       rkey
           reverse-sort entries.

       skey
           sort  entries in the "normal" order (dates and other numeric fields
           in descending order, names in ascending order).

       The key suffix denotes the fields which are compared, and are always  a
       single character:

       @   sort by symbolic-link target-names

       .   sort, using "." characters as column-separators.

       c   last-change date (e.g., chmod)

       d   directory-order  (i.e.,  order  in  which  items were read from the
           directory)

       D   device-code (displayed when you toggle the display with "2I").

       g   group-identifier (lexically)

       G   group-identifier (numerically)

       i   inode

       l   number of links

       n   filename

       N   filename leaf (i.e., without directory names)

       o   rcs/sccs lock-owner

       p   file-protection mask/mode.

       r   last-access (read) date

       s   file size (bytes)

       S   file size (blocks)

       t   file type (after first ".")

       T   file type (after last ".")

       u   user-identifier (lexically)

       U   user-identifier (numerically)

       v   rcs/sccs versions

       w   last-modification (write) date

       z   rcs/sccs check-in dates

       Z   rcs/sccs check-in dates over modification dates

       You may sort tagged files separately from the remainder of the files by
       following the "r" or "s" character with  a  "+".   For  example,  "s+w"
       sorts  the  file  list  into  two  parts,  with the tagged files at the
       beginning,  and  untagged  files  following  (both  lists   sorted   by
       modification date).

       To make sorting simpler (there are, after all, a lot of possibilities),
       ded recognizes the following special sort-keys:

       ?   directs ded to show the current sort-key as a message.

       :   causes  ded  to  prompt  you  for the sort-key.  In response to any
           legal sort-key, ded immediately shows the  message  describing  the
           sort.   You  may scroll through the list of possibilities using the
           up/down arrow keys.  To complete the selection,  press  return  (or
           newline).  To quit without sorting the list, type "q".

       newline
           (or  return)  directs ded to resort the file list using the current
           direction (i.e., "s" or "r") specifier and the last sort-key.

Grouping Items in the Display

       Both the file-list and directory tree support the notion of tagging  or
       grouping items in the display.  Groups in the file list mark files upon
       which  commands can operate as a whole.  Directory tree groups are used
       to mark entries for purging from the database.  The following  commands
       mark and unmark items for the group:

       +   Add  the count entries to the group.  Grouped items are highlighted
           in the display.  - Remove the count entries from the group.

       _   Remove all entries from the group.

       #   Tags (or untags) all files which are currently sorted  adjacent  in
           the  file list, which have the same sort-key.  For instance, if the
           list is sorted by modification date, the "#" command tags all files
           which have the same modification date as the current entry.  To tag
           all files having the same sort-key as a neighbor in the file  list,
           use  "2#".   To untag files having the same sort-key as the current
           file, use "0#".

Inline Editing of the File List

       Ded provides you with several built-in commands to modify fields of the
       display.   An  inline  editing  command  is  initiated  with  a  single
       character.   Typing  this  character  again  (while  in  cursor  mode!)
       toggles out of the inline editor.

       Initially, the inline editor is in cursor mode.  If you are  editing  a
       text field (i.e., user-identifier, group-identifier or file-name), then
       you may toggle to insert mode by typing CTL/I (tab).

       q   (cursor) aborts the command.

       command
           (cursor) completes the command.  A newline or return in either mode
           will also complete it.

       printing
           (insert)  Typing  a  printing character while in insert mode causes
           that character to be inserted into the field.

       erase-char
           (insert) deletes the character to the left of the cursor.

       erase-word
           (insert) deletes the word to the left of the cursor.

       kill-char
           (insert) deletes the character at the cursor position.

       left-arrow
           (cursor) moves cursor left one column within the edited field.

           The backspace key does the same operation.

           The h key (like vi) also moves the cursor left.

       right-arrow
           (cursor) moves cursor right one column  within  the  edited  field.
           The form-feed (CTL/L) key does the same thing.  The l key (like vi)
           also moves the cursor right.

       up-arrow
           saves  the  current  set of editing keystrokes and replays an older
           set from the command's history.

       CTL/P does the same thing.

       down-arrow
              saves the current set of editing keystrokes and replays an newer
              set from the command's history.

              CTL/N does the same thing.

       CTL/I  toggles between cursor and insert modes.  While in  cursor  mode
              for  text  fields,  the field is highlighted and prefixed with a
              "^" character.

       CTL/B  move cursor to beginning of field

              The ^ key (like vi) also moves the cursor to the beginning.

       CTL/F  move cursor to end of field

              The $ key (like vi) also moves the cursor to the end.

       b, w, and e
              (cursor) move the cursor to the beginning of the previous  word,
              or  to  the  next  word, or to the end of the current/next word,
              respectively as in vi.

Built-in Operations on Groups of Files

       Inline file-oriented commands operate  on  the  current  entry.   Where
       appropriate,  commands  operate  on  a tagged group of entries as well.
       (If any files are grouped, the file list heading is highlighted).

       p   Edit protection-code for group  of  entries.   The  code  from  the
           current  entry  is  edited  inline.   The  result  is  used for all
           selected entries.  Editing is done with single characters:

           p   complete command  (a  newline  or  return  also  completes  the
               command)

           q   abort command

           octal-digit
               set  chmod-field to the given value, which must be in the range
               0 to 7.

           space
               move cursor right 3 columns (or the next octal digit if the "P"
               toggle is in effect).

           backspace
               move cursor left 3 columns (or to the previous octal  digit  if
               the "P" toggle is in effect).

           P   toggles  display  mode  (current  line  only) between octal and
               normal.

           s   toggles "set user id" or "set group id" bit, according  to  the
               position of the cursor.

           t   toggles  "save  swapped  text" bit if cursor points to the last
               chmod field.

           CTL/B
               move cursor to beginning of field

           CTL/F
               move cursor to end of field

       u   Edit user-identifier field.  The  current  entry's  uid  is  edited
           inline and the result used for all selected entries.

       g   Edit  group-identifier  field.   The  current entry's gid is edited
           inline, and the result used for all selected entries.

       T   If the "-D" option was given, you can edit  the  selected  file  or
           directory's  modification  time by moving the cursor left/right and
           using "+" or  "-"  to  increment  or  decrement  the  part  of  the
           modification time on which the cursor lies.

       =   Edit  name  of  current  file.  Files which are grouped are renamed
           using the template formed by your command.  For example, you  might
           rename   files   ending   in  ".o"  to  end  in  ".bin"  by  typing
           "= CTL/F CTL/I erase .bin".

       >   Edit link-text of the current symbolic link.  Symbolic links  which
           are  grouped are renamed using the template formed by your command.
           For example, you might edit links beginning  with  "/local/bin"  to
           begin with "/usr/local/bin" by typing "= CTL/I /usr".

       <   Like  ">",  except that the special substrings "%F", "%B", "%D" and
           "%d" are  translated  into  the  forward,  backward,  original  and
           current  directory  paths  in  the  ring  of file lists, and "#" is
           translated into the current entry's name.

       "   Repeats the last "p", "u", "g", "=" or "c" command.  This uses  the
           actual  set  of  characters  typed  for  the command, so an editing
           template may be  made.   (Ded  buffers  the  last  set  of  editing
           keystrokes for inline editors).

       'xx Repeat  the  last xx command, where xx is one of the inline-editing
           commands (e.g., "p", "u", "g", "=", etc).  For example, type

                'cf

           to replay the last create-file command.  Ded replays the  specified
           command, not including the final newline.  You may modify or reject
           the command.

Creating New Entries

       You  may add new entries to the display list by rescanning with the "R"
       command (to pick up new names which are added by  programs  other  than
       ded.  You may also use ded to create new entries using the "c" command:

       cf  create file

       cd  create directory

       cL  create  hard-link  (to  the current file, whose name is the initial
           template).

       cl  create symbolic link (initially with "." for text).

       Each "c" command opens the list at  the  current  position.   You  must
       provide  a name, using the same inline name-editing as the "=" command.
       When the name is complete (non-null, and non-conflicting), ded  creates
       it.

       The "c" commands may be repeated using the '"' command.

Built-in Operations on the Current File

       The  following  built-in  operations  operate only on the current file,
       because grouping operations would not be meaningful:

       E   If the current entry is a  directory  (or  a  symbolic  link  to  a
           directory),  open a new file list on it.  The new list inherits the
           display options and sorting  sense,  as  well  as  the  last  shell
           command from the current display.

           If the entry is a file, invoke the editor (e.g., vi) on it.

           If the entry is a symbolic link to a file, ded opens a file list in
           the directory containing that file, and positions to that file.

       e   If  the  current entry is a directory, spawn a new ded process with
           that as argument.  If it is a file, invoke the editor (e.g., vi) on
           it.

       v   If the current entry is a directory, spawn a new ded  process  with
           that as argument.  If it is a file, invoke the browser (e.g, view).

       m   run  the  pager (e.g., more) on the current file.  Ded will not let
           you page directories or other entries which are not regular files.

       On return from the editor, browser and pager, ded prompts  you  (for  a
       return) and then repaints the screen.

       Ded  provides  you  with  a pager which operates in the workspace.  For
       small files, or for just peeking at things, this works much faster than
       spawning a copy of more.  The workspace pager displays either  text  or
       binary files:

       o   When  displaying  text  files,  ded  shows sequences of consecutive
           blank lines as  a  single  blank  line,  and  shows  overstruck  or
           underlined  text with highlighting.  (Ded interprets backspaces and
           returns in text files).  You may scroll left or right in the  pager
           to see very long lines.

       o   When  displaying binary files, ded shows control characters as ".".
           Non-ASCII characters (i.e., having  the  high-order  bit  set)  are
           converted to ASCII (by stripping this bit) and shown highlighted.

       As  you  scroll  through the file, the pager shows the percentage which
       you have viewed a la more.   You  may  use  the  following  subcommands
       within the workspace pager:

       q   quit   the   pager.   To  prevent  accidentally  quitting  ded,  an
           immediately succeeding "q" command will clear the workspace.

       w   repaint the screen.

       tab causes the tab stops  used  for  the  text-display  to  be  toggled
           between 4 and 8.  Use a count prefix to specify other tab stops.

       CTL/K
           causes  a  copy  of  your  current screen (obtained from the curses
           window-state)  to  be  appended  to  the  file  "ded.log"  in  your
           process's home directory.

       A   move the workspace marker up count lines, redisplay.

       a   move the workspace marker down count lines, redisplay.

       ^   scroll to the beginning of the file.

       $   scroll to the end of the file.

       f   scroll  forward  count  sub-screens  (also,  the  space and newline
           keys).

       b   scroll backward count sub-screens (also, the backspace key).

       h   scroll left count columns (also, the left-arrow key).

       j   scroll down count rows (also, the down-arrow key).

       k   scroll up count rows (also, the up-arrow key).

       l   scroll right count columns (also, the right-arrow key).

       <   scroll left count/4 screens (also, the CTL/L key).

       >   scroll right count/4 screens (also, the CTL/R key).

       The "/", "?", "n" and "N" search commands work in the workspace  pager.
       All lines containing a match are highlighted.

       The following commands use the workspace pager:

       h   type ded's help-file in the workspace.

       t   type  the current file, in the workspace.  Sequences of blank lines
           are compressed to a single  blank  line,  and  overstruck  text  is
           highlighted.

           To  type  a binary-file, use "2t".  This causes ded to display non-
           ASCII bytes highlighted.  Typing "3t" causes all non-ASCII bytes to
           be shown as blanks.

           Directory-files are displayed by showing  the  inode  and  filename
           list via a temporary-file.

Shell commands

       Shell  commands  are executed in the work-area.  Ded invokes the Bourne
       shell via the system (2) call.

       !   Prompt for, and execute a shell command.

       %   Prompt for, and execute a shell command, prompting (for return) and
           repainting screen afterwards.

       *   Display text of last "!" or "%" command.  Use  a  repeat  count  to
           display items from the command stack.

       :   Edit text of last "!" or "%" command, re-execute.

       .   Re-execute last "!" or "%" command.

       To  re-execute  a  command while changing the flag which directs ded to
       clear the screen, use a prefix-code:

       0   resets the repaint-screen flag  (so  that  ded  won't  repaint  the
           screen).

       2   sets the repaint-screen flag.

Command Substitution

       In  any  shell command which you issue via ded, you may use the special
       character "#" to cause ded to substitute the names of the current-  and
       grouped-files.  (A "\" preceding a "#" overrides this).

       You may do more elaborate substitution on the current file using a two-
       character sequence beginning with "%":

       %B  substitutes  the  name  of the directory before the current one, in
           the ring of file lists.

       %d  substitutes the name of the current directory.

       %D  substitutes the name of the original directory from which  ded  was
           invoked.

       %e  substitutes  the current filename, removing all but the ".xxx" part
           (i.e., "extension").

       %F  substitutes the name of the following directory in the ring of file
           lists.

       %g  substitutes the group-name of the user (who owns) the current file.

       %h or %H
           substitutes the name of the current file, after removing  the  last
           component (i.e., "head").

       %n or %N
           substitutes the name of the current file.

       %o  substitutes  the  name  (if  any)  of the user who has reserved the
           current file with RCS or SCCS.

       %r or %R
           substitutes the name of the  current  file,  removing  ".xxx"  part
           (i.e., "root").

       %t  substitutes  the  current  filename,  removing all leading pathname
           components (i.e., "tail").

       %u  substitutes the name of the user (who owns) the current file.

       %v  substitutes the highest RCS/SCCS version of the  current  file,  if
           known.

       The  %N,  %H, %R and %E substitutions are performed after concatenating
       the current filename with the current directory, to  make  an  absolute
       pathname.

       Dollar  signs  and  other  special  characters in filenames which could
       cause problems in command substitution are  escaped  (prefixed  with  "
       command.

       To  insert a literal "%" or "#" character, prefix it with the backslash
       (\) character.

Command Editing

       You may edit any shell command which you issue to ded, either before it
       is issued, or after, when using the ":" command.   Command  editing  is
       done  in  either  insert  or  cursor  modes,  using  the same character
       convention as the inline commands (see  "Inline  Editing  of  the  File
       List").   Ded  is initially in insert mode.  When it is in cursor mode,
       the character prefixing the command-entry is set  to  a  "^".   Command
       editing controls are similar to the inline editor, except:

       o   A repeat count may be prefixed to any subcommand in cursor mode.

       o   Commands may be continued (with ded controlling wraparound) as long
           as space remains in the workspace to enter new command text.

       o   A  kill  character  in  insert  mode aborts the command.  In cursor
           mode, it deletes the count characters at the cursor position.

Directory Tree

       Ded maintains a database of directory names.  You may  scroll  in  this
       display,  as  well as enter a new ded process from it.  Cursor movement
       may be done not only up and down as in the file list, but also left and
       right.  The  "/",  "?",  "n"  and  "N"  search  commands  work  in  the
       directory-tree  (though  they  find  only  leaf names, rather than full
       paths).

       Commands which manipulate ded's file list state are:

       D   Toggle between directory-tree and file-list display.  Ded will show
           the most recently selected file list, which is marked with "=>".

       E   Enter a new file-list at the indicated directory-name.

       e   Enter a new ded file-list with the indicated  directory  name.   If
           you  have  specified  "-e"  on  the  command line, ded spawns a new
           process.

       F   Move forward (with wraparound) in the ring of file lists.

       B   Move backward (with wraparound) in the ring of file lists.

       W   writes the database file (if changes have occurred).

       Commands which modify the display characteristics are:

       &   Sets  a  flag  which  causes  ded  to  suppress  names  (and  their
           dependents) which begin with "." or "$".

       I   Sets a runtime flag which disables searches into subtrees which are
           made invisible with "V".

       V   Sets a flag in the database for the current entry which directs ded
           to  suppress  subdirectories  from  the  display.   If you supply a
           repeat-count, ded shows up to that many levels.

       w   Repaint the display.

       Z   Directs  ded  to  suppress  from  the  display  all  RCS  and  SCCS
           directories.

       Commands which operate upon the directory database are:

       R   Read   directory   names   at   the  current  position  (also  done
           automatically whenever a file list is constructed).  If you  supply
           a repeat-count, ded recurs that many levels.

           Unlike  the  "R"  command  in  the  file-list display, this command
           always attempts to resolve symbolic links to directories.

       +   Mark directory name for removal from database.  - Unmark  directory
           name.

       _   Clear list of marked names.

       p   Purge marked names from the database.

       @   Ded  moves  your cursor to the header.  You may edit the path name,
           causing ded to jump to the newly specified  path.   The  path  name
           need not be present in the directory tree; if it is not, it will be
           entered into the tree.

       ~   Like  the "@" command, this is used to reposition the cursor within
           the tree.  Instead of editing the current path name, you are  given
           the home directory token "~".

       :   Finally, you may position your cursor to an entry by specifying its
           number  (displayed  in the left column) by typing ":" (which causes
           ded to prompt for the number).

RCS and SCCS Commands

       Ded provides you with a  visual  interface  to  rcs  (revision  control
       system) and sccs (source code control system) files.

       o   For  a  given  file,  the  corresponding  rcs files (by convention)
           reside in a subdirectory called "RCS".   The  rcs  file  names  are
           formed  by suffixing the given file name with two characters (i.e.,
           ",v").

       o   For a given file, the  corresponding  sccs  files  (by  convention)
           reside  in  a  subdirectory called "SCCS".  The sccs file names are
           formed by prefixing the given file name with two characters  (e.g.,
           "p." and "s.").

       Ded  assumes that the rcs files are checked in using the script rcsput,
       and that the sccs files are checked in using the script sccsput.  These
       scripts extend the basic rcs and sccs scheme by making the file's  date
       and  the  archival check-in date the same.  When directed to do so, ded
       will scan the archived files to obtain  and  display  the  most  recent
       check-in  date  and version.  A special display column shows the result
       of the comparison between the file's modification and check-in dates:

       blank
           no corresponding archive file was found.

       =   the check-in and modification dates match.

       <   the file's modification date is later than the check-in date.

       >   the file's modification date is earlier than the check-in date.

       Using ded, you can quickly verify which files have  been  checked  into
       rcs  or  sccs.  Ded's sorting options (i.e., the "v", "y", "z", and "Z"
       keys) facilitate this also.

       The following file list commands are used for archive display:

       O   toggle display showing the owner of the current lock on  the  file.
           Ded  examines the rcs archive file to see if there are any locks on
           it.  If so, it displays the name of the first lock-owner

       V   toggle version display.

       Z   toggle check-in date display.  The date display has  three  states:
           off, invisible (except for the comparison column), and visible.  If
           the  archive  display  is  initially  off, ded must scan all of the
           files in the current directory to see which  have  a  corresponding
           rcs  ",v"  or sccs "s." file, and then to extract the check-in date
           and version number.

       z   clears archive display.  Normally the archive display is  inactive,
           since  it  does  slow  ded.   If you accidentally type "z", you can
           recover the data immediately with a  "Z"  command.   Ded  does  not
           reset the archive display data until directed to do so by a re-stat
           command (e.g., "R ", "W" or "l").

       Viewing  the check-in date information from within an archive directory
       shows the comparison of the archived file's modification date with  the
       corresponding  file  modification  date.   This  is  mostly  useful for
       showing archived files for which there is no corresponding  checked-out
       file.

Logfile Format

       The  log  file  created  with  the  "-l"  option logs all ded commands.
       Logged commands begin with the repeat  count  in  column  one.   Multi-
       character commands are logged on a single line, e.g.,

            1st
            1%ls -l #

       Comments  are  inserted  with a tab followed by a "#" character.  Ded's
       log comments indicate the names of files affected by commands,  current
       working directory, etc., e.g.,

                     # process 1417 begun at Thu Mar 16 09:51:11 1989
                     # argv[0] = 'ded'
                     # argv[1] = '-lz'
            1D       # path: //dickey/local/dickey
            1\r      # path: //dickey/local/dickey/bin
            1E       # chdir //dickey/local/dickey/bin
            1/SCCS
                     # "SCCS"
            1e       # "SCCS"
                     # process 1631 begun at Thu Mar 16 09:51:43 1989
                     # argv[0] = '//dickey/local/dickey/bin/ded'
                     # argv[1] = '-l//dickey/local/dickey/z'
                     # argv[2] = 'SCCS'
            1+       # "s.Makefile"
            1+       # "s.args.c"
            1+       # "s.keycode.c"
            1%ls -l #
                     # execute ls -l s.Makefile s.args.c s.keycode.c
            \r       # Hit <RETURN> to continue
                     # elapsed time = 9 seconds
            1q       # process 1631 ended at Thu Mar 16 09:52:24 1989
                     # process 1417 resuming
            1q       # process 1417 ended at Thu Mar 16 09:52:41 1989

       Ded commands which are read in "raw" (single-character) mode are logged
       as backslash-codes, if necessary, to make them readable (e.g., "\t" for
       tab).   In  addition  to the standard backslash codes defined for the C
       language, ded also uses

       \s  for space (to make it visible in the log)

       \U  up arrow

       \D  down arrow

       \L  left arrow

       \R  right arrow

       \F  control/F

       \B  control/B

       \B  control/W - usually word-erase

       Other text (which is buffered) contains no non-printing characters.

X Windows Enhancements

       Ded assumes that you are running under the X Window  System.   In  this
       case,  if  the  program xterm is found in your execution path, ded will
       permit the following commands:

       CTL/E
           edit the current file (using the default editor invoked by the  "e"
           command) in an xterm process.  Ded waits until you have exited from
           the process before continuing.

       CTL/V
           view the current file (using the default browser invoked by the "v"
           command)  in  an  xterm process.  Ded does not wait for you to exit
           from this process; it will proceed to accept new commands.

       Ded also allows you to move the cursor  by  clicking  with  the  mouse.
       Double-click to edit a selected item.

       Ded  can  also  handle window-resizing events, when properly configured
       (e.g., with BSD4.x curses, or ncurses).  When running in  an  xterm  or
       similar  terminal  emulator  which  supports  the  SIGWINCH signal, ded
       resizes the curses display structures.

Color Displays

       If the curses libraries which you use to build ded support color (e.g.,
       SystemV or ncurses),  ded  can  display  filenames  in  color.   It  is
       designed to use the /etc/DIR_COLORS file which supports the Linux color
       ls program.

       Ded looks for the color-file in one of the following locations:

           ~/.ded_colors
           ~/.dir_colors
           /etc/DIR_COLORS
           datadir/ccodes.rc
           datadir/cnames.rc

       The  color-file specifies terminal types that can display in color, and
       patterns and their corresponding colors.  On Linux, the colors  may  be
       specified  by  a  series  of  numbers.   On all systems, ded recognizes
       assignments of the form

           f=white
           b=blue

       to specify the foreground and background of characters.

       Ded does not attempt to manage the background color  of  your  display,
       because  that  does  not  work  well  when mixed with interactive shell
       commands whose output goes to the workspace.

ENVIRONMENT

       Ded uses the following environment variables:

       PATH
           used to establish where ded is run from, so that the help file  can
           be found.

       DED_CM_LOOKUP
           specifies  the  order  to  use when looking for the last version of
           files in RCS, SCCS, CmVision, CVS.  If you do not specify  it,  the
           default   order   is   "rcs,sccs,cvs,svn",   according   to   their
           availability at build time.  Specify CmVision with a "cmv" keyword.
           Specify CVS with  a  "cvs"  keyword.   Specify  SVN  with  a  "svn"
           keyword.

       DED_TREE
           overrides the default location of the directory-tree database file.
           Use  this to maintain separate database files on a system which has
           your home directory mounted on several hosts.

       EDITOR
           overrides default editor invoked by "e" command (vi)

       BROWSE
           overrides default browser invoked by "v " command (view).

       PAGER
           overrides default pager invoked by "m" command (more).

       TERM
           used to determine control sequences for  cursor  keys  on  computer
           systems which do not support this in curses (3x).

       RCS_DIR
           gives  the  name  of  the rcs directories ded searches for the file
           list "V", "Y" and "Z" commands.   If  not  specified,  ded  assumes
           "RCS".

       SCCS_DIR
           gives  the  name  of the sccs directories ded searches for the file
           list "V", "Y" and "Z" commands.   If  not  specified,  ded  assumes
           "SCCS".

FILES

       When executed, ded determines (by inspecting the zeroth argument passed
       to it by the shell, as well as the contents of the PATH variable) where
       it  was executed from.  Its help file ded.hlp is checked in the datadir
       (compile-time data directory), If not found there,  the  help  file  is
       assumed to reside in the same directory.

       The  directory  tree  manager  maintains  its  database  in  your  home
       directory (i.e., the path is derived from  your  process's  uid).   The
       name  of the file is ".ftree".  If changes have been made to the memory
       copy of the database, this file is updated whenever ded spawns  a  copy
       of itself, or when exiting from ded.

ANTICIPATED CHANGES

       Make  spawned  ded  processes  inherit display options from the current
       one.

       Provide more transparent use of symbolic links (in the directory tree),
       including storing and showing link text.

       Enhance the treatment of multiple viewports.   This  would  permit  the
       user  to  group  files  in  one  file  list and then move the cursor to
       another file list to operate upon the group files (e.g.,  a  bulk  move
       without  typing  a path name).  Additionally, the user would be able to
       sort the viewports independently, as well  as  operate  upon  different
       directories (from the directory-ring).

       Use  the  SHELL environment variable, and parse arguments so that shell
       commands need not use the Bourne shell.

AUTHORS

       Thomas E. Dickey <dickey@invisible-island.net>.

SEE ALSO

       rcsput(1), rcsget(1), sccsput(1), sccsget(1)

                                  2025-09-28                            DED(1)