Menus, Keybindings, and Macros for FTE REXX Mode
March 19, 2001

DISCLAIMER
Using this stuff is completely up to you. I'm not responsible for any
problems your use of these files may create, no matter how great or
small those problems may prove to be.

INTRODUCTION
Even though FTE is still a beta, it's an excellent text editor. I won't bother
with a commercial for it here, though. You can get it on Hobbes or visit the
FTE website hosted on SourceForge. http://fte.sourceforge.net

One of the challenges to using FTE is the fact that the menus, keybindings, and
macros for the various modes it supports are unfinished. Another challenge is
that the documentation for these is barely there.

I wanted better support for REXX in FTE, and in the spirit of the open source
movement I opened the source and put together what I wanted... more or less. I
am not a programmer; I can barely program in REXX. What I've done works, but it
is probably ungainly. I welcome your improvements and suggestions.

WHAT IT IS
*   Key combinations which automatically create complete loop constructs;
*   Extensive menu for REXX keywords, contructs, functions, and libraries;
*   Ability to recognize REXX files with the extension REX and REXX.


INSTALLATION
It is very important that you back up your FTE configuration files.

1. Add the following line to your UI file (default is fte\config\ui_fte.fte):
       include 'menu/m_rexx.fte';

2. Add the following line to your MAIN.FTE in the appropriate place
   (there are similar lines in the default file):
       include 'ab_rexx.fte';

3. Back up the following files, in case you'd prefer to go back to the old
   configuration some time:
       fte/config/kbd/k_rexx.fte
       fte/config/M_REXX.FTE

4. Place the enclosed FTERXMNU.ZIP in the same directory as FTE.EXE and unzip
   FTERXMNU.ZIP, assuring that directories are recreated. InfoZip's UNZIP will
   re-create directories by default; PKUnzip requires a command-line parameter
   which slips my mind at the moment.

5. If you want REXXUtil, RxFTP, and/or RxSock libraries available on your
   pull-down menus, open fte/config/menu/m_rexx.fte (in the FTE editor, of
   course <g>) and uncomment the appropriate lines in the beginning of the
   file. REXXUtil is already uncommented because I like it that way on my setup.

6. Compile the new CNF file by executing CFTE CONFIG\MAIN.FTE and rename the
   resulting FTE-NEW.CNF to FTE.CNF or FTEPM.CNF, depending on the executable
   you prefer to use.

7. Set an environment variable named USER denoting your name or an alias,
   using your perferred method under your operating environment. I use "SET
   USER=Michael DeBusk" (without the quotes, of course) in my OS/2 CONFIG.SYS
   and in Windows/DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT. This environment variable is used in the
   macro that creates your REXX header comment; the contents of the variable
   are inserted after the word "Author:".

HISTORY

March 19, 2001
Added an abbrev file and eliminated many of the Ctrl-E keystroke combinations
at the suggestion of developer Darin McBride. I like it better and it's easier
to use. Type a short string followed by a space and whole constructs appear.

The abbreviations are as follows:
    headx : REXX program header comment
    utilx : Adds RexxUtil support
    sockx : Adds RexxSock support
     ftpx : Adds RxFTP support
      dox : Constructs a DO loop
      dux : Constructs a DO UNTIL loop
      dwx : Constructs a DO WHILE loop
      dfx : Constructs a DO FOREVER loop
      ifx : Constructs an IF-THEN-ELSE structure
     selx : Constructs a SELECT-WHEN structure

I simply commented out the key combinations in case someone out there
actually prefers them. Delete the "#" to uncomment.

March 2, 2001
Added syntax highlighting for Object Rexx keywords and expanded the existing
NetRexx highlighting; I haven't added menu selections for them yet. Also
realized that not everybody would want all libraries in their menus, so added
conditional statements there. Haven't figured out how to make macros and
keybindings conditional, but they aren't that big.

February 15, 2001
Corrected two bugs that should have never made it out of initial testing.
I had neglected to put the necessary "InsertString" command before two
statements in the CALL menu.

February 9, 2001
I've made some minor improvements, including correction of a mistake in
this document. I also decided to include the keyboard file instead of
asking the user to edit it; no sense making it more complex than it has
to be, right?

STILL TO DO
I would like feedback of any type before submitting these to the maintainers
of FTE. I know it can be better. If you improve it, please send me your
changes so I can distribute them in the next "version" and so I can enjoy
them as well.

Send messages to debu4335@eclipsetel.com with the subject "REXX FTE".

Thanks.
