Index Menus Key glossary Interface options
The graphical user interfaceThe graphical user interface
Operation of the Edith system, as well as managing user preferences, is
completely windows and mouse-based. Some details of the user interface
can be modified under Interface options... (Options menu, Shift Ctrl I).
Edith's windows can be divided into a number of different types.
THE EDITOR MASTER PANEL
The editor master panel is the small window with a menu bar and a
number of icons you see when you start the Edith server by typing
edith
at the shell prompt. During your Edith session, this window
will always be present, be it most likely as an icon.
TEXT WINDOWS
The menu bar, scroll bar, ruler, button bar and lower status/input line in text windows
can be en/disabled in the size and gadgets panel.
The text row and column are shown in the upper right corner of the
window (menu bar must be switched on). When a text is modified, this is
also indicated (status line must be on). When the status line is
switched on, miscellaneous other information is shown there. Properties
of text windows can be changed in the following panels: Text ruler... (Options menu, Shift Ctrl R),
Size and gadgets... (Options menu, Shift Ctrl Z), Text display/fonts... (Options menu, Shift Ctrl D), Colours... (Options menu, Shift Ctrl C).
MENUS
Both the editor master panel and text windows have a menu bar. The
menus can be used with the mouse, but also with the keyboard. Each menu
title has an underlined letter; typing that letter with the Alt
key held down will open the menu. Use the cursor keys to walk up and
down in the menu, or to move left and right to the other menus; use
Return to select an item (or simply press the key code listed in
the menu); press Escape to cancel. Most menu entries can be
selected immediately with a keyboard combination which is shown in the
menu.
BROWSERS AND BINARY WINDOWS
Two types of text windows are special. Browser windows
are read-only and have no text cursor. Binary windows
contain the binary representation of a file, and have a different
behaviour for the operations Save (File menu, Alt S) and Format paragraph (Text menu, Alt Shift P).
PANELS
Panels come in two sorts; panels for configuring user options
(opened from the Options menu and Windows menu), which can remain
open while you are working in other windows; and panels that require
you to give information immediately, before Edith can proceed; these
are e.g. warning panels and the file selector.
In both types of panels, like in the menus, if a button has an
underlined letter, typing that letter with Alt held down will do
the same as clicking the button. The OK button, if marked with an
`arrow' sign, can be selected by typing Return. Use Ctrl
w to close a window. If there is a button labelled cancel or
similar, it is activated with the Escape key.
Frequently appearing in panels are editable text fields. In these
white text fields, click to position the cursor. Use Left, Right
to walk left and right, use Begin and End to go to the
beginning and end. Use Ctrl U to erase a field. Use Tab
and Shift Tab to move forward/backward to other text fields.
Move the cursor with Shift held down to select text in panel
fields. Selection by moving over with the mouse while holding the
left mouse button will also work.
Typing will delete the selection in panel text fields. The Delete
key will also delete the selected text, but Backspace will not.
Text is often preselected when you open a panel or a warning or
question panel pops up, so when you start typing, what you type will
replace the previous text.
Scrollable lists in panels can be operated with Up, Down,
Page up, Page down, Ctrl Home, Ctrl End.
Index Menus Key glossary Interface options