xwpe(1)

NAME
xwpe, xwe, wpe, we - XWindow Programming Environment

SYNOPSIS
    xwpe [ options ] file ...
     xwe [ options ] file ...
     wpe [ options ] file ...
      we [ options ] file ...

DESCRIPTION
XWPE can be used with or without the programming interface. It has its own X interface but can be used also on a character terminal. xwpe fires up the X interface together with the programming interface. xwe is the X version but without the special features of the programming interface. In connection with a simple character terminal you can use wpe to programme and we as editor.

xwpe is a X-window programming environment designed to use on UNIX-systems. It is similar to 'Borland C++ or Turbo Pascal' environment. The difference between the programming environments from Borland an xwpe is that many compilers and linkers may be started. From a menu three different debuggers can be chosen. And of course not only key strokes can select these options you can also use a mouse. Errors that occur while compiling and linking a programme can be examined in the sources: The cursor will jump to the corresponding line in the source-file. Programmes using more than one source-file can be managed with the so called project-option (see also project-file). The programme can be started from within the Programming-Environment and errors may be found using a debugger. The debugging-environment allows the user to set and unset breakpoints directly in the source code. The contents of variables may be displayed in a special window, the Watch-Window. This window is updated while reaching a breakpoint. The Stack-Window displays the programme stack. Help is available for xwpe and the man-pages installed on the system may be displayed. All this can be reached via the help-functions. The editor may be used to edit up to 35 files at the same time. They are all displayed in a window of their own. A mouse is used to select special editor function from the top menu. These function can also be selected by hitting a special key or combinations of keys. Some of these features are a complete search and replace function (yes, it can search for regular expressions) and a file-manager. The file-manager is used to open, copy, rename and move or delete files. The X-window programming environment can be used without the special programming features. If it is invoked as `xwe' (`we' if used with a character terminal) it can be used as a editor e.g. for shell-programming.

COPYRIGHTS
Copyright (C) 1993 Fred Kruse xwpe is free; anyone may redistribute copies of xwpe to anyone under the terms stated in the GNU General Public License. The author assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions or damages resulting from the use of xwpe or this manual.

OPTIONS

-so The default options are used. The option file will not be read.

-sc The default colors will be used. All other options are read from the option file.

-sf option file will be used instead of the default file ($HOME/.wpe/wperc).

-r  Start xwpe in the recover mode. The internal buffers are saved in files with the postfix `.ESV' in the name if a signal is catched by xwpe (except for SIGKILL). If the editor is invoked with the `-r' option is specified in the command line, the old session will be recovered.

-mb The next file has to be treated as a binary file.

-mn The next file is an ASCII-file (default)

-nc N is an integer specifying the maximum number of columns that will be used.

-nu The integer N gives the maximum number of steps saved for undo.

-nm The number of steps before an auto-save will be done.

-k  The next file should be decoded with `password' for reading and also be encoded for writing.

-pm The next file is a message-file.

-pt Interpret message file for 'traditional' compiler output (see Compiler-Options).

-pe Interpret message file for 'extended' compiler output (see Compiler-Options). Command-line options used together with XWindow:

-display
    Output to Display 'Disp'

-fn

-font

-g

-geometry
    (e.g. -g 80x20+4+4)

-iconic
    Start xwpe as icon.

INITIALISATION FILES
xwpe reads the initialization file
        wperc

If this file is found in the directory ../lib/wpe
(relatively to the programming environment xwpe) it is used for all users. Each user can save it's personal options in the file $HOME/.wpe/wperc (this is the default path). When xwpe is started, it tries to read the personal wperc file. If this file can't be found the system wide initialization file will be read. Only if this file does not exist the default options will be used. wperc is a binary file written by the programming environment itself and saving all selected options (see also Options-Menu). The following resources are available. (They are normally stored in the file .Xdefaults.)

xwpe.font:
    The font that should be used (8x13, 9x15, 10x20, 8x13bold, 9x15bold, 10x20bold)

xwpe.geometry:

xwpe.iconic:yes
    Start xwpe as icon.

xwpe.color1:

...

xwpe.color16:
    xwpe uses 16 colors. The default setting is alike the PC-colour set.

ATTENTION:
The file .wperc created by Version 1.3.1 or less should be deleted. The file .xwperc created by Version 1.2.1 or less is not recognized anymore and can be deleted. All those initialization files and help files in the primary directory of xwpe should be deleted if Version 1.3.1 or newer is used.

The Main-Menu
The WE-menu system is entered by pressing F10, ALT-<SP> (or <ESC>) from within the editor window. It can be left by pressing <ESC>. A sub menu can be called directly by pressing ALT-<highlighted letter>. Here is a list of those sub menus:
    System-Menu    Environment-management
    File-Menu      file managing
    Edit-Menu      all functions used for editing
    Search-Menu    search and replace
    Block-Menu     block-commands used in the editing
                         windows.
    Run-Menu       Programming-Environment (only available
                   for wpe and xwpe)
    Debug-Menu     debugging-environment (not available for
                   we and xwe)
    Project-Menu   programming with more than one source
                   file (only wpe and xwpe)
    Options-Menu   toggle options
    Window-Menu    window management
    Help-Menu      yes, this is the help system

The System-Menu (Alt-#):
    About WE            A    Display version number and
                             copyright.
    Clear Desktop       C    Close all windows.
    Repaint Desktop     R    Initialize the desktop and
                             reopens all windows.
    System Info         S    Displays the current filename,
    			 directory, ...
    Show Wastebasket    W    Display the files saved in the
                             wastebasket (file-manager).
    Delete Wastebasket  D    Empty wastebasket.

File-Menu (Alt-F):
File-Manager M Puts the file-manager-window on top.
                    If it is not found a new one is
                    opened. ADd F.-Mng. D Opens a new file-manager-window. New N Open a new file 'Noname'. Save S Save this file using the `old' name. Save As A Use a new name to save this file
                    (see also file-manager) Save ALl L Save all files that were changed. Execute E Execution-Manager SHell H Start a UNIX-Shell. Find F Search for a file name (see Find). Grep G Search for a regular expression in
                    files (see also Grep) Print P Print this file. Quit Q Quitting XWPE

The Edit-Menu (Alt-E):
Cut T Delete the marked text and copy it
                    into the clipboard. Copy C Copy the marked text into the
                    clipboard. Paste P Insert the buffer behind the cursor. Show Clipboard S Delete D Delete the marked text. Undo U Undo the last change in the text. Redo R Do the last change one time more. Load XBuffer L Copy the XWindow-buffer into xwpe's
                    paste-buffer. Write to XBuffer W Just the other way round.

The Search-Menu (Alt-S):
Find F Search for a regular expression.
                    (see also
                    Search and Replace Functions) Replace R Search and replace a regular
                    expression. (see also
                    Search and Replace Functions) Search again S Repeat the last Find/Replace. Go to Line G

The Block-Menu (Alt-B):
Begin Mark B Mark the beginning of a block. End Mark E Set the end-mark. Mark Line L Mark this line. Mark Whole W Mark the entire scope. Goto Begin G Jump to the beginning of this block. Goto End N Jump to the end of this block. Copy C Copy this block. Move M Move this block. Delete D Delete this block. Hide H Delete the set block-marks. Read R Insert a file at the cursor position. Write W Write a block to a file. Move to Right I Move a block to the right. Move to Left T Move a block to the left. A block can also be marked by pressing `^k b' at the entire beginning and `^k k' at the end of the desired block. xwpe (and xwe) allows marking a block with the mouse: Holding down the left button and moving over the text marks it as block. Holding down Shift and moving with the text cursor around also marks a block.

The Run-Menu (Alt-R):
Compile C Compile a programme.
                        (see Programming-Environment) Make M Create an executable. Run R Create an executable and start it. Install I Install a project.
                        (see also project-file) Execute make E Start make(1). Next Error N Jump to the next Error. Previous Error P Jump to the previous Error. Show Definition S Find the definition of an
                        expression. (see also
                        Commands used for Programming C Show Next Def. X Find next definition of an
                        expression. (see also
                        Commands used for Programming C Matching Bracket K Find the matching bracket.
                        (see also
                        Commands used for Programming C Beautify B Beautify a programme.
                        (see also
                        Commands used for Programming C Arguments A Enter the arguments used to
                        start a programme.

The Debug-Menu (Alt-D):(see also Debugging-Environment)
Toggle Breakpoint B Set/remove a breakpoint. ReMove all Breakp. M Remove all Breakpoints. Make Watch W Select a variable to watch.
                        (see also Watch-Window) Edit Watch E Edit a watched variable. Delete Watch D Delete a watched variable. Remove All Watches A Delete all watched variables. Show StacK K Show the stack. (see also
                        Stack-Window) Step S Execute next programme line
                        (step into any function). Next N Execute next programme line
                        (step over any function). Run/Continue R Start/continue debugging. Quit Q Exit the debugger. OutPut Window P Display the programme output
                        (not available under XWindow).

The Project-Menu (Alt-P):
Open Project P Input a project-file.
                    The Project-Window is opened. Close Project C Stop using a project. The project-
                    window is closed and the project
                    name is set to empty. Add Item A Add a file to this project.
                    The project-window is opened in
                    add-status. Delete Item D Delete the current file from the
                    project. This action is only performed
                    when the project-window is open. Options O Project-Options Adjust Colors A Change the colors. Read Colors R Use the default colors or those
                    from the initialization file. Save Options S Save all changes to the options
                    for later sessions in a reusable
                    options file. Editor E Options used by the editor.
                    (see also Editor-Options) File-Manager F Options used by the file-manager
                    (see also File-Manager-Options) Programming G Options used by the programming-
                    environment (Stop at error/warning)
                    (see also Syntax-Support) Compiler C Change the options for compilers
                    (see also Compiler-Options) Debugger D Select the debugger (gdb, sdb, dbx)
                    and full-screen/normal mode. The Window-Menu (Alt-W): Size/Move S Resize and move this window. Zoom Z Maximise this window. Tile T Put all windows one beside the
                    other. Cascade A Put all windows like a cascade
                    one over another. Next X Choose the next window in the list. Close C Close this window. List All L Display a list of all windows. A
                    window can be selected by pressing
                    <CR> or Alt-<s>. Output Window O Display the output (not X11). Messages M The Message-Window will be brought
                    to the foreground. If not open, it
                    will be opened. Project P The Project-Window will be brought
                    to the foreground. If not open, it
                    will be opened. Watches W The Watch-Window will be brought
                    to the foreground. If not open, it
                    will be opened.

The Help-Menu (Alt-H):
Editor E Help to the editor (WE) FUnction Index U Index to all UNIX-functions
                    (see also Function-Index) Function F UNIX man-pages. Info I The GNU-infosystem. Goto G Goto help page Back B Goto the page you see before Next N Goto the next page Previous P Goto the previous page

Control-character sequences (special keys)
How to enter the special keys Alt and ESC on a UNIX system (without XWindow): Alt-X - is realized by pressing <ESC> X. (X is a printable character.) ESC - is realized by the sequence <ESC> <Return>. The following functions can be reached by control-character sequences:
Cursor-Movement
Editing
Deleting
Block-Commands
Marker-Commands
Search- and Replace-Commands
Buffer-Commands
Read and Save
Window-Commands
Run-Commands
Commands used for Programming C
Debug-Commands
Help-Commands
Quit XWPE

Cursor-Movement:
    up arrow
    Ctrl P              move the cursor one line up
    down arrow
    Ctrl N              move the cursor one line down
    right arrow
    Ctrl F              move the cursor one character right
    left arrow
    Ctrl B              move the cursor one character left
    Ctrl right arrow
    Alt right arrow     move the cursor one word right
    Ctrl left arrow
    Alt left arrow      move the cursor one word left
    Home
    Ctrl A              move the cursor to column 1
    End
    Ctrl E              move the cursor to the last column
    Ctrl up arrow
    Page Up             move the cursor one window up
    Ctrl down arrow
    Page Down           move the cursor one window down
    Ctrl Page Up
    Alt Ctrl A          goto first row
    Ctrl Page Down
    Alt Ctrl E          goto last row
    Ctrl Home
    Alt Ctrl P          goto first row of this window
    Ctrl End
    Alt Ctrl N          goto last row of this window
    <Return>       Insert a line-break.
                   (see also Automatic Indentation)
    Ctrl H
    <Backspace>    Delete a character backwards.
                   (see also Automatic Indentation)
    Ctrl D
    Del            Delete the character the cursor is on.
    <Tab>          Indent the text.
                   (see also Automatic Indentation)
    Alt-I          Switch insert to overwrite mode and
    Insert         vice versa.
    Alt-J          Switch to special-character-insert-mode.

Deleting:
    Ctrl T         Kill the next word after the cursor.
    Ctrl O T       Kill the word immediately before the
                   cursor.
    Ctrl Y         Delete a whole line
    Ctrl Z
    Ctrl O Y       Kill from the cursor position to the end
                   of line.

Block-Commands:
    Shift + Cursor-movement
                   mark a block
    Ctrl K  B      Set the beginning mark
    Ctrl K  K      Set the end mark
    Ctrl K  L      Mark this line
    Ctrl K  X      Mark the whole document
    Ctrl K  A      Jump to the beginning mark
    Ctrl K  Z      Jump to the end mark
    Ctrl K  C      Copy block
    Ctrl K  V      Move block
    Ctrl K  Y      Kill block
    Ctrl K  H      Hide block
    Ctrl K  R      Insert a file at the cursor position
    Ctrl K  W      Write a block to a file
    Ctrl K  I      Shift a block to the right
    Ctrl K  U      Shift a block to the left
    Ctrl K n       Set the marker no. n ( n = 1 - 9 )
    Ctrl O n       Jump to the marker no. n

Search- and Replace-Commands:
    Find
    F4
    Ctrl O F       Search for a string
    Alt-F4
    Ctrl O A       Replace a string with another string
    Ctrl-F4
    Ctrl L         Repeat the last search or replace
    Alt G          Goto line

Buffer-Commands:
    Cut
    Shift Del
    Ctrl X         Kill the marked text to the kill-buffer
    Copy
    Shift Insert
    Ctrl C         Copy the marked text to the kill-buffer
    Paste
    Ctrl Insert
    Ctrl V         Copy the kill-buffer to the cursor
    Ctrl W         Display the kill-buffer
    UNDO
    Ctrl U         Undo an unwanted change
    REDO
    Ctrl R         Undo the last undo
    Alt Delete     Copy the marked text to the X-buffer
    Alt Insert     Copy the X-buffer to the cursor

Read and Save:
    Open
    F3        Start the file-manager (Open a file etc.)
    F2        Save the file

Window-Commands:
    Alt-Z
    F5        Zoom the window (maximum size)
    Ctrl F5
    Alt-F2    Resize and move the window
    F6
    Alt-N     Switch to the next window
    Alt-F3    Close this window
    Shift F4  Put all windows one beside the other
    Shift F5  Put all windows like a cascade one
              over another.

Run-Commands:
    Alt F9
    Alt C     Compile (see also Programming-Environment)
    F9
    Alt M     Create an executable
    Ctrl F9
    Alt R     Create an executable and start it
    Alt L     Install a project (see also project-file)
    Alt A     Start make(1). Errors that occur are
              displayed in the Message-Window and
              interpreted (see Message-Window).
    Alt V     Jump to the previous error
              (see also Message-Window)
    Alt T     Jump to the next error (see Message-Window)

Commands used for Programming C:
    Ctrl O S Search the definition of an expression
             (see Programming C)
    Ctrl O N Search for the next definition of an
             expression (see Programming C)
    Ctrl O K Search for a corresponding bracket
             (see Programming C)
    Ctrl O B Beautify C-source code (see Programming C)

Debug-Commands:
    Ctrl F10
    Ctrl G R       Start the debugger (see
                   Debugging-Environment)
    Ctrl F2
    Ctrl G Q       Quit the debugger
    F7
    Ctrl G S       Execute next programme line
                   (step into any function)
    F8
    Ctrl G N       Execute next programme line
                   (step over any function)
    Ctrl F8
    Ctrl G B       Set/remove a breakpoint
    Ctrl G M       Remove all Breakpoints
    Ctrl F7
    Ctrl G W       Select a variable to watch
                   (see also Watch-Window)
    Ctrl G E       Edit a watched variable
                   (see also Watch-Window)
    Ctrl G D       Delete a watched variable
                   (see also Watch-Window)
    Ctrl F6
    Ctrl G K       Show the stack. (see also Stack-Window)
    Ctrl G O       Display the output (not X11)

Help-Commands:
    F1             Help to the editor (WE)
    Alt F1         UNIX man-pages
    Ctrl F1        Index to all UNIX-functions
                   (see also Function-Index)

Quit XWPE
Alt-X Quit from XWPE

Changing the Control-character sequences

(Common User Access):
Some function-keys may be used in a second form which is compatible to OSF-Motif and MS-Windows. These are the changes:
    Window management:
    F6        ->  Ctrl F6    Select next window
    Alt F3    ->  Ctrl F4    Close window
    F5        ->  Shift F6   Zoom
    Search and Replace:
    Ctrl F4   ->  F3         Search again
    F4        ->  Alt F3     Search
    Alt F4    ->  Ctrl F3    Replace
    File operations:
    F3        ->  F2         Start the file-manager
    F2        ->  Alt F2     Save
    Debugger:
    Ctrl F8   ->  F5         Set a breakpoint
    Ctrl F7   ->  Ctrl F5    Watch
    Ctrl F6   ->  Ctrl F3    Call stack
    Quit from XWPE:
    Alt X     ->  Alt F4

Quitting XWPE:
Files that are NOT changed will be closed without any warning after the Quit-command is send. If any changes have not been saved, xwpe displays a warning message and allows the user to save these files:
    Yes       Save the file
    No        Close without save
    ESC       Cancel from quit (no more files are closed)

The Editor
The editor may be used to edit up to 35 files at the same time. They are all displayed in a window of their own (Editor-Window). The functions of this editor may be selected by pressing a special key, using the mouse or selecting it from the menu. These functions are, besides killing or inserting single characters from/into the text: Copy, move and delete a block in one file (see also Block-Menu). Copy, move and delete a block between different files (see also Edit-Menu). Search and replace strings (see also Search-Menu). Resize and move the windows used to edit files (see also (Window-Menu). Change the behavior of the editor (see also Options-Menu). Edit, save and manipulate files (see also File-Menu).

Using the Help-Functions
If the help is selected, a separate window is opened which displays a case-sensitive help. If Help/Editor is selected the contents of the editor-functions-help will be displayed. Most documents include links to other help-pages. They are highlighted and may be selected by clicking on them with the mouse or pressing <CR> after the cursor is moved over them. By pressing <Backspace> the last visited help-page is re-displayed. This can be done also by clicking on the highlighted title. Programmer also want to take a look at Help-Menu.

The File-Manager
The purpose of the file-manager is to select files, create new directories, copy files and directories, move and rename files and directories, delete and change the access permissions of files and directories.

Alt-N
    Select the 'Name'-line where the default entry may be changed. If the entry is
     1. a existing file, pressing <Return> will open this file for editing
     2. a new (non-existing) file, pressing <Return> will be created
     3. a mask (regular expression) selecting the files for the 'Files'-menu. '*' matches all characters, one charter in the range of "a..z". Pressing <Return> will select all matching files and the

Alt-F
    Select the 'Files'-menu which shows all files in the selected directory. The marked file can be opened by pressing <Return> or Alt-E.

Alt-D
    Select the 'Directory'-line. The working directory may be entered here. <Return> selects the w.d.

Alt-T
    Select the tree of directories. Pressing the cursor keys walks through the tree, <Return> selects the working directory.

Alt-C
    Change the working directory to the one entered in the

Alt-E
    The file selected in the 'Name'-line will be opened for editing.

Alt-P
    The last edited file will be replaced by a new window selected in the 'Name'-line.

Alt-M
    Rename or move into another directory.

Alt-U
    Duplicate the marked file. The new name is [oldname].dup.

Alt-R
    Delete the marked file. The file will be moved into the wastebasket or removed from the disk, this can be selected from File-Manager-Options.

Alt-L
    Create a link for the marked file. If possible, a hard link will be created. Only if a directory or files that are saved on different disk-partitions are selected a soft link will be used.

Alt-O
    The file will be copied. The new name must be entered.

Alt-K
    Make a new directory named "new.dir". This name may be changed.

Alt-A
    Change the file attributes.

Alt-S
    (only avail-able in function Save As) The file will be saved using the name displayed in the line 'Name'.

<ESC>
    Quit the file-manager.

The Execution-Manager:
The purpose of the execution-manager is to start executable files and shell-scripts. Only files with execute-attribute will be selected in the 'Files'-menu.

Alt-N
    Select the 'Name'-line where the default entry may be changed. If the entry is
     1. a existing file, pressing <Return> will be executed.
     2. a mask (regular expression) selecting the files for the 'Files'-menu. '*' matches all characters, one character in the range of "a..z". Pressing <Return> will select all matching files and the

Alt-F
    Select the 'Files'-menu which shows all files in the selected directory. The marked file can be opened by pressing <Return> or Alt-E.

Alt-D
    Select the 'Directory'-line. The working directory may be entered here. <Return> selects the w.d.

Alt-T
    Select the tree of directories. Pressing the cursor keys walks through the tree, <Return> selects the working directory.

Alt-C
    Change the working directory to the one entered in the

Alt-E
    The file selected in the 'Name'-line will be opened for execution by the OS.

<ESC>
    Quit the execution-manager.

Programming-Environment
If a Project-File is selected this project will be compiled, linked and executed from the Run-Menu. If there is no project the file in the current window will be taken as target. The compiler / linker is selected automaticly by xwpe and is distinguished by the file-name postfix. The compiler and its options may be selected in the menu Run/Options (see also Compiler-Options). Only those files which were never compiled or which have been changed since the last time they were compiled are compiled (and linked). Changes in 'include'd files are only considered for C-programmes. Error in compilation and linking are listed in the Message-Window. These errors stop the creating process and the file that contains the error will be opened and the cursor will be set in the corresponding line.

The Debugging-Environment
The Debug-Menu is used to set breakpoints in the source code and to start debugging. If the debugger stops the corresponding line in the source is marked. Files will be opened if necessary. Stops are caused by breakpoints or signals. In the Watch-Window the contents of selected variables and constants are displayed after each stop. The stack is displayed in the Stack-Window after a stop.

Find:
Find starts a search for files in a specified directory. This search may be recursive.

Alt-L
    Enter the filename or a file-mask as described in File-Manager.

Alt-I
    Enter the starting directory for the search.

Alt-K
    Enable a recursive search.

Alt-O
    Start.

<ESC>
    Break find. All those directories containing matching files are listed in the Find-Window. Search for files containing a substring. The files selected for the grep must match an expression also used for the File-Manager.

Alt-T
    Enter the string to search.

Alt-C
    Distinguish between small and capital letters.

Alt-W
    Only search for whole words.

Alt-R
    Search for regular expressions. (See Search and Replace Functions)

Alt-L
    Enter a file-name or a file-mask, as described in File-Manager, to search in.

Alt-I
    The directory to search in.

Alt-K
    Also search in sub-directories.

Alt-O
    Start the search.

<ESC>
    Don't search any further. All those files containing matching strings are listed in the Grep-Window.

Alt-T
    Enter the string to searched.

Alt-N
    New string that replaces the old one. (Only used for Replace)

Alt-C
    Distinguish between small and capital letters.

Alt-W
    Only search for whole words.

Alt-R
    Search for regular expressions. The following regular expressions (like (e)grep(1)) may be used:

^   Matches the empty string at the beginning of a line.

$   Matches the empty string at the end of a line.

.   The period matches any single character.

[]  A list of characters enclosed by [ and ] matches any single character in that list.

[^ ]
    Matches any single character not in the list of characters enclosed by [ and ].

[ - ]
    A range of ASCII characters is represented by giving the first and the last character separated by a hyphen.

*   The character in front of the asterix is repeated zero or more times.

+   The character in front of the plus is repeated one or more times.

?   The character in front of the question mark is repeated zero or once.

|   OR: OR separates two strings of which one will match.

\   The character after the \ will not be interpreted as special character.

Alt-P
    (Replace only) Ask before each replacement. Possible answers are:
                Yes    Y  Replace text
                No     N  Don't replace text
                <ESC>     Stop search

Alt-D
    Search forward.

Alt-B
    Search backward.

Alt-G
    Search in the whole text.

Alt-S
    Only search in the marked block.

Alt-F
    Start search from cursor-position.

Alt-E
    Search from the text or block beginning.

<RETURN>
    Search/Replace only one time than stop.

Alt-A
    Execute all replacements till the end of the entire scope. (Replace only)

<ESC>
    Don't search any further.

Function-Index:
XWPE creates a list of all manual-pages that can be found in the search-path given by the environment variable MANPATH. The index is distinguished in the following sections:
    User Commands
    System Calls        : C - functions
    C-Lib.-Functions    : C - functions from the C -library
    Devices & Network Interface
    File Formats
    Games & Demos
    Environments, Tables and TROFF Macros
    Maintenance Com.    : Administrations commands
After the section is selected a list of all manual pages belonging to that section will be displayed. One of these pages may be selected by pressing <Return> or clicking on the name. A new window appears containing the manual page. A manual page can also be selected by giving its name in the Menu Help/Functions. Manual pages are read-only documents (like all other help files too). But they can be used as source for editing commands.

The Editor-Window
If a file has to be edited the Editor-Window is used. The mouse (see also The Mouse in the Editor-Window), function keys or the editor-menu can be used to edit a text. The most important menus are: Copy, move and delete a block in a file (see Block-Menu). Copy, move and delete a block between different files (see also Edit-Menu). Search and/or replace strings (see also Search-Menu). Resize and move the windows (see also Window-Menu). Change the options used by the editor in the Options-Menu. Files may be selected, saved and changed in the File-Menu.

The Find-Window
The Find-Window is used to list all directories in which the searched file was found. Alt-S and <Return> open a File-Manager for the selected directory which displays all found files. <ESC> closes this window.

The Grep-Window
The Grep-Window is used to list all files in which the searched string was found. Alt-S and <Return> open the marked file for editing. The cursor jumps to the first occurrence of the searched string. <ESC> closes this window.

The Message-Window
Errors in compilation and linking are listed in the Message-Window which is a read-only file. An error can be selected by moving around using the cursor-keys and pressing <Return> or by using the mouse. If an error is selected, the file causing this error will be switched to the current file (if it is not loaded, it will be loaded into a new window) and the cursor jumps to the position indicated by the compiler. This file is (normally) read-write and can be edited immediately so that the next trial can be started.

The Project-Window
All those files that are listed in the project-file will be displayed in the project-window which is started from the Project-Menu or from the Window-Menu. New files may be entered by pressing Alt-A (Add) or <Ins> directly from the file-manager. The project-window is opened in add-status. An already existing entry may be changed after it is selected by Alt-E (Edit) or <CR> or be deleted by pressing Alt-D (Delete) or <Del>. Deletion is only performed when the project-window is open. Alt-O enters the Project-Options and <ESC> closes the project-window.

The Variable-Window
In the Project-File variables may be selected, they are displayed in the variable-window which can be started from the Project-Options. Alt-A (Add) and <Ins> are used to enter a new variable, Alt-E (Edit) and <CR> change an existing entry and Alt-D (Delete) and <Del> are used to delete an entry. <ESC> will close this window.

The Install-Window
This window is selected from the Project-Options and used to display and change those commands which will be executed to install a file/project. Alt-A (Add) and <Ins> are used to enter a new command, Alt-E (Edit) and <CR> change an existing entry and Alt-D (Delete) and <Del> are used to delete an entry. <ESC> will close this window.

The Watch-Window
This window displays read-only values from variables selected in the watch-function (see also Debug-Menu). To search for an entry the cursor keys may be used to walk around and the search-function finds a variable. Other possible functions are:

<Return>
    Edit a selected variable.

<Return>
    Enters a new variable if the last line of this file is selected.

<Insert>
    Insert a new variable at this position in the file.

<Del>
    Delete this entry. If a variable is not found in the current context a warning is displayed.

Stack-Window
The stack history is displayed in this window, but it can't be edited. The cursor keys are used to walk around in this list and the search-function will find an entry. <Return> will jump within the stack (this is not possible together with the The stack may be examined if a signal is catched by the programme. If this happens within a system-function than the calling visible function is shown.

Usage of the mouse with XWindow:
All those keystrokes used to select from within a menu or mark a block can be replaced by using the mouse. A command will be selected by one click on the word or the corresponding line. A click on the 'Cancel'-command or the upper left 'Close-Button' will close a window. The mouse can be used within the editor-window (see the Mouse in the Editor-Window) and within the file-manager (see Mouse in the File-Manager). Clicking the middle mouse button in an editable line will paste the contents of the buffer at the mouse-cursor position (Paste).

The Mouse in the Editor-Window
All those keystrokes used to select from within a menu or mark a block can be replaced by using the mouse. A command will be selected by one click on the word or the corresponding line. A click on the 'Cancel'-command or the upper left 'Close-Button' will close a window. The upper right button labeled with [z] is the Zoom-Button used to zoom a window. A click on the upper frame and moving the mouse while holding the left button down will move the window. Resizing a window is done be clicking on an edge and moving the mouse around while holding the button down. A line is selected by clicking on the line-number on the lower frame. A new window is opened to enter a new number. The right and the lower border move the cursor around in the window. The cursor moves one line/character if the arrows at both ends of the borders are selected. A whole page is the size of the movement if a click is set on the border itself. Moving the marker will move the displayed entry around.

Function within the window:

The left mouse-button:
One click will move the cursor to the corresponding position. If the button is pressed while the mouse-cursor is over the text-cursor a word is marked. A marked word being marked again selects the whole line. Holding the button down and moving the mouse around is used to mark an array. If <Shift> is pressed, too, the new text will be added to the previous selected one.

The right mouse-button:
Clicking the right button will copy the marked text into the buffer. The Alt-key selects the X-buffer. Shift selects the cut-option: The text is copied into the selected buffer and is cut from the file.

The middle mouse-button:
Clicking the middle button will copy the contents of the buffer at the mouse-position (Paste). The Alt-key selects the X-buffer.

The Mouse in the File-Manager:
All those keystrokes used to select from within a menu or mark a block can be replaced by using the mouse. A command will be selected by one click on the word or the corresponding line. A click on the Cancel-command or the upper left Close-Button will close the file-manager. The upper right button labeled with [z] is the Zoom-Button used to zoom a window. A click on the upper frame and moving the mouse while holding the left button down will move the window. Resizing a window is done be clicking on an edge and moving the mouse around while holding the button down. The right and the lower border move the mark around in the files-list and in the tree. The cursor moves one line if the arrows at both ends of the borders are selected. A whole page is the size of the movement if a click is set on the border itself. Moving the marker will move the displayed entry around.

Function within the window:

The left mouse-button:
One click will mark a not selected file or directory. A marked file is selected for loading into the editor on a second click. A marked directory becomes the current working directory after clicking again on it's name. A marked file may be moved into another directory if the left button is held down while moving the mouse-pointer into the directory displayed in another file-manager window.

The right mouse-button:
Clicking the right button on an already marked file or directory will call the Move/Rename-function. A link is created by "moving" a file or directory into another file-manager-window. The link will be created in the current selected working directory in the other window.

The middle mouse-button:
To duplicate a file or directory in the current directory just click with the middle mouse-button on its marked name. A copy into another directory is performed by holding down the middle button while moving the mouse-pointer into another file-manager window.

Editor-Options

Data:

Alt-A
    If this option is selected the next file loaded will be treated as ASCII-file.

Alt-B
    The next file loaded will be a binary file.

Display:

Alt-S
    The end-of-line will be displayed as '$' if a <NL> was entered and as '' as NULL (the next line the connecting line).

Auto-save:

Alt-P
    All options will be saved after the quitting the editor.

Alt-H
    After N changes a file will be saved automaticly. The number N can be entered/changed in the Max. Changes -field (Alt-X). For the saved file 'file-name'.ASV will be used as new file-name, the original file is not changed. After a normal quit from xwpe the .ASV-files are deleted.

Keys (Setting up the function keys):

Alt-L
    The function keys are bind like introduced in xwpe version < 1.2.0 (Turbo C alike).

Alt-C
    The 'Common User Access' function key binding will be used (MS-Windows alike).

Auto-Indent (Automatic Indentation):

Alt-Y
    Auto-Indent is used only for files that can be used for compilation (that are defined in the Option/Compiler -menu).

Alt-W
    Auto-Indent is used for all files.

Alt-V
    Don't use Auto-Indent.

Alt-M
    The maximum number of columns per row. After this number or columns a word wrap is performed.

Alt-T
    The number of characters a TabStop counts.

Alt-X
    The number of changes that force an auto-save (if enabled).

Alt-N
    The number of steps that are saved for an undo (Edit/Undo).

Alt-I
    The number of columns used for auto-indent.

File-Manager-Options

Directories:

Alt-F
    Hidden files are displayed.

Alt-D
    Hidden directories are displayed.

Alt-K
    All actions (Move, Link, Copy and Remove) are recursive (sub directories will be used as source too).

Sort Files By:

Alt-N
    Name

Alt-I
    Time (time of creation time)

Alt-B
    Bytes (Size)

Alt-R
    Reverse order.

Move/Copy:

Alt-Q
    If the source of a Move/Copy-operation already exists it is only overwritten after a confirmation.

Alt-V
    An existing files is overwritten.

Alt-T
    Existing files are not overwritten.

Remove:

Alt-W
    Deleted files are moved into the wastebasket.

Alt-A
    Files are really deleted. A confirmation is necessary.

Alt-M
    Files are really deleted. No confirmation.

Links on Files:

Alt-H
    First try a hard-link. If this does not succeed a soft-link is used.

Alt-S
    Use a soft-link.

Wastebasket:

Alt-P
    After exit of xwpe a confirmation for deleting the files in the wastebasket is necessary.

Alt-E
    The contents of the wastebasket is removed.

Alt-L
    The contents of the wastebasket is not removed.

Compiler-Options
If the Menu Run/Options is selected the entries Add Compiler and Remove Compiler and all compilers that are defined are displayed. If Add Compiler or a defined compiler is selected the following options menu is enabled:

Language
    The name of the programming language.

Compiler
    The path to the compiler.

Compiler-Options
    Options used by the compiler.

Loader-Options
    Options used to link the files.

Executable-Name
    The name of the resulting executable (default: [programme-name].e).

File-Postfix
    The postfix that forces this compiler to be used (e.g. .c implies to use the C-compiler).

Compiler-Style
    Select whether error-messages are created like a GNU or similar compiler would create it or whether the definition for messages entered in the Message-String should be used.

OK  Accept the changes made.

CANCEL
    Reject the changes.
    A new compiler/programming language can be entered in Add Compiler. If the new one is selected its options may be changed.

    A compiler selected from the list is removed by Remove Compiler.

Project-Options

Compiler
    The path to the compiler.

Compiler-Options
    Options used by the compiler.

Loader-Options
    Options used to link the files.

Executable-Name
    The name of the resulting executable (default: a.out).

Store Objects in Library
    If a filename is entered this file is used as library to all object-files. This library is used automaticly for linking.

Compiler-Style
    Select whether error-messages are created like a GNU or similar compiler would create it or whether the definition for messages entered in the Message-String should be used.

Variables ...
    Variables used by the project can be entered and removed from a separate Variable-Window.

Install ...
    The commands used to install a programme are edited in the Install-Window.

Save
    The new project-file will be saved.

Save As
    The new project-file will be saved with a new file- name.

CANCEL
    Quit from the menu without any changes.

Programming C
For all C- and C++-programmes there are some utilities installed to aid the programmer:

Show Definition (^O S):
Jump to the definition of a C-expression: The file containing the definition of the entered expression will be put in the foreground and the cursor jumps to the definition which will be highlighted. Structs, unions, classes, typedefs, preprocessor definitions, extern variables and functions can be searched. If a project is defined all files belonging to it will be scanned for the definition. Also all #include'd files are scanned recursively as long as they can be found in the System-Include-Path defined in Options/Programming. If the name is used more than one time in definitions (e.g. as name of a struct and as name of an external variable) the next definition may be found with ^O N (Show next Definition).

Matching Bracket (^O K):
If the cursor is above a bracket the corresponding closing / opening bracket is searched and the cursor is moved to it. Otherwise the cursor is moved to the next opening bracket. The following pairs of brackets are recognized: {}, [] and ().

Beautify (^O B):
As C is a block-oriented language all blocks are indented equal. The depth of the intention depends on the degree of the blocking-depth.

The project-file
The project-file allows to compile and create programmes containing more than on module. It is created from the menu Project/Options (see also Project-Options) or directly with an editor. The syntax corresponds to that of a Makefile (for version 1.1.0 and above only). In a project-file only definitions of variables and install-targets are recognized. The definition of variables is used like this:
    name = string
The number of variables is not limited. They are accessed by writing $(name). If a variable is named like an environment variable than this environment variable is used. If a variable is not defined an empty string is inserted. The following variables are predefined:

FILES
    The names of modules being compiled and linked together to create the executable file.

CMP Compiler-Path

CMPFLAGS
    Compiler-Options

CMPSWTCH
    How are mistakes interpreted? ('GNU'(Default)/'other')

LDFLAGS
    Loader-Options

EXENAME
    The name of the Executables (Default: a.out)

LIBNAME
    The filename used for a library. This library will hold all object-files belonging to the project. This library is used automaticly for linking.
    A makefile can be transformed to a project-file very simple by adding the following lines to it (C-code):
        FILES=$(CFILES)
        CMP=$(CC)
        LDFLAGS=$(LIBFLAGS)
        EXENAME='Targetname'
    How Compile and Make work: The files are translated in the order given in the FILES- variable. If a source has changed after the last translation then it is translated again else the next source is taken. An error occurring while making stops the work and is displayed in the Message-Window. If no error occurs then all object-files are linked together to an executable named $(EXENAME). The project-file can contain an 'install'-target. The first line of this target is
        install: dependencies
    The dependencies are ignored because they have to be entered into the FILES-variable. All following lines starting with <TAB> are interpreted as UNIX-commands and are executed. These line may contain variables defined above:
        <TAB> Command1
        <TAB> Command2
    Command can be every UNIX-command (only 'cd' is not executed). The 'install'-target is started from the menu Run/Install or Alt-L (see Run-Menu).

The Message-String:
The Message-String defines how warnings and error-messages produced by a compilation should be interpreted if the Compiler-Style 'Other' was selected. It has to be changed for each compiler and work like this. character, '[a-z]' matches one character in the range of "a..z". (This was described in the section File-Manager.)

${FILE}
    is like '*' but the characters are stored as name of the file containing the error.

${LINE[+-N]}
    is like '*' but the characters are stored as line-number containing the error. An integer N can be added/subtracted to the line-number.
    The message-string has to contain both ${FILE} and ${LINE}. If a line of output can be interpreted so that it contains a valid filename and a valid line number it is used as error-output. Also the column number can be used to interpret an error- containing line.

${COLUMN[+-N]}
    With ${COLUMN} being used as number.

${COLUMN=BEFORE[+-N]}
    The string ${COLUMN} is the expression to search for and the column is Before the string found.

${COLUMN=AFTER[+-N]}
    The string ${COLUMN} is the expression to search for and the column is after the string found.
    An integer N can be added/subtracted to the column-number. If a message is written in more than one row (e.g. Sun- Pascal: pc) the message-string must contain CRs (^M) to divide the string into different rows. ${COLUMN=PREVIOUS?STR[+-N]} is compared against the ${CMPSTR}-string containing a string to compare with.

Warnings:
    A warning is detected by comparison with a string STR like this: ${?N:STR} - N can be a number or a '*'-character. If N is a number then N is then number of the column where the warning begins. Otherwise if N is '*' then STR can begin at every position in the text. More than one warning-message can be defined.
    Some examples:
        gcc: ${?*:warning:}${FILE}:${LINE}:* before \
               `${COLUMN=BEFORE}'
        cc(Sun): ${?*:warning:}"${FILE}", line ${LINE}:* \
                  at or near * "${COLUMN=AFTER}"
        cc(HP): ${?*:warning:}cc: "${FILE}", line ${LINE}:* \
                  at or near * "${COLUMN=AFTER}"
        pc(Sun): ${?0:e}${?0:w}${?0:s}*:*:* * ${FILE}:^M^M* \
                 ${LINE}  ${CMPTXT}^M*-------${COLUMN=PREVIOUS?^}

Syntax-Support:
xwpe supports the syntax of a language by using different colors to display keywords, constants, preprocessor- comments, operators and everything else. This support is defined already for the programming languages C, C++, FORTRAN and Pascal. More languages can be added to the file
        we_synt_defs
and the predefined languages can be changed. The languages are distinguished by the postfix of the filename. The file we_synt_defs is stored in the directory $prefix/lib/wpe ($prefix/bin is the directory containing the xwpe-binary) or in $HOME/.wpe. This file must contain the following line for each language:
    "string:  The postfix for the filename."
    "integer: Then number of keyword."
    "strings: The keywords."
    "integer: Number of operators with more than one
              character length."
    "strings: Operators with more than one character
              length."
    "string:  Operators containing one character."
    "string:  Begin of comment"
    "string:  End of comment"
    "string:  Begin of comment reaching til the end
              of line."
    "string:  Characters used for comments depending on the
              column."
    "string:  Special single characters."
    "integer: Column for comments (-1 for none)."
    "integer: Column for continuing line (-1 for none)"
    "Integer: Column for comment till the end of line (-1
              for none)"
Strings and integers are separated by blanks or CRs. The strings used for single character operators and for column depending comments must not contain blanks. All strings used for comments can contain NULL to indicate that there is no such comment. An integer can be zero if there is no keyword or multiple character operator. The keywords and operators with more than one character have to be alphabeticaly sorted (uppercase before lowercase characters). The string for special single characters contains the following fields:
    Character for string-constants
    Character for character-constants
    Character for preprocessor-commands
    Character for quoting the next character
    Character for next line is continuing line
              (if it is the last character in the line)
    Character (not defined)
    Character for next line is continuing line
              (at each column of the line)
    Character (if not empty: the language is not
               case sensitive)
If one character is not defined (e.g. missing) a blank is inserted at the corresponding position. An example:
     .c
     33
     NULL auto break case char const continue default do
     double else enum extern float for goto if int long
     register return short signed sizeof static struct
     switch typedef union unsigned void volatile while
     0
     ()[]{}<>+-/*%=|&!.?:,; /* */ NULL NULL "'# -1 -1 1000
     .f
     64
     ACCESS ASSIGN BACKSPACE BLANK BLOCKDATA CALL CHARACTER
     CLOSE COMMON COMPLEX CONTINUE DATA DIMENSION DIRECT DO
     DOUBLE PRECISION ELSE END ENDFILE ENTRY EQUIVALENCE ERR
     EXIST EXTERNAL FILE FMT FORM FORMAT FORMATTED FUNCTION
     GOTO IF IMPLICIT INQUIRE INTEGER INTRINSIC IOSTAT
     LOGICAL NAME NAMED NEXTREC NUMBER OPEN OPENED
     PARAMETER PAUSE PRINT PROGRAM READ REAL REC RECL
     RETURN REWIND SAVE SEQUENTIAL STATUS STOP SUBROUTINE
     TO UNFORMATED UNIT WRITE
     13
     .AND. .EQ. .EQV. .FALSE. .GE. .GT. .LE. .LT. .NE.
     .NEQV. .NOT. .OR. .TRUE.
     ()+-/*=$.:, NULL NULL ! C* '      1  0 5 72

Automatic Indentation
The behavior of the auto-intention can be selected in the Editor-Options-menu. The following keys are defined:

<Return>
    The next (new) line is indented to the beginning of the previous line.

<Tab>
    If <Tab> is entered in front of the first visible character the whole line is indented like the previous one. If the cursor is placed behind this column then the line is indented N characters more than the previous. N is the number entered for the Tabstops in the menu editor-options. If the cursor is placed behind this position or between visible characters a <Tab> is inserted.

<Backspace>
    If entered in front of the first visible character of a line the line is indented like the last line that started in front of this cursor- position.

Hints for installation
The XWindow Programming Environment is set of programmes compatible to System V. To use the plain UNIX-part of it the Curses-Library and the Terminfo-terminal capability information are required. To install xwpe on a system not having this Terminfo the preprocessor-variable TERMCAP can be used to access the termcap-information instead. On systems like Sun Os 4, that contain System V extensions in additional directories, these directories must be added to the Include- and Library-path. To use xwpe together with XWindow X11R3 or above is needed. The Path has to be added/changed in the Makefile. The Alt-key is interpreted as mod4 (like Sun). To set this key xmodmap -e "add mod4 = Alt_L" may be necessary. To use the help for functions 'Function-Index' it is necessary to set the environment variable MANPATH correct. If more languages than C, C++, FORTRAN and Pascal should be used then the file .wpe_pr_opt has to be edited for Syntax-Support. The message-string has to be set for each compiler. Some systems (e.g. S400) require to link some parts of the network-library to use XWindows.

NEW IN VERSION 1.6.x (xwpe 2026)

UTF-8 terminal support via SCREENCELL buffer model and ncursesw. Terminal resize handling (KEY_RESIZE). Modern autotools build system. Compiler integration for gcc, g++, gfortran, fpc, and javac with error navigation (Alt-T/Alt-V). Debugger backends: gdb (C/C++/Fortran/Pascal) and jdb (Java) with pty-based program output capture (Ctrl-G P). Emacs-compatible cursor keys (Ctrl-P/N/F/B/A/E). 12-chapter Texinfo manual.

AUTHORS
Fred Kruse <fkr@cs.tu-berlin.de> (original author, 1991-1997).
Dennis Payne <dulsi@identicalsoftware.com> (xwpe-alpha 1.5.x, 2000-2006).
Juan Manuel Mendez Rey <juan.mendezr@proton.me> (current maintainer, 2026-).

See the AUTHORS file for the full list of 30+ contributors.

BUGS
Report bugs at https://codeberg.org/mendezr/xwpe/issues

For Debian-specific bugs, use reportbug xwpe or file at https://bugs.debian.org/xwpe

SEE ALSO
gcc(1), g++(1), gfortran(1), fpc(1), javac(1), gdb(1), jdb(1), ncurses(3NCURSES)

Full documentation: the xwpe Texinfo manual. Access via info xwpe or https://codeberg.org/mendezr/xwpe

HISTORY
Written by Fred Kruse in 1993 at TU Berlin. Maintained by Dennis Payne (2000-2006). Rescued and modernised by Juan Manuel Mendez Rey (2026). This manpage was originally written by Fred Kruse in 1994 and restored from the 1.4.2 source in 2026.

LICENSE
GPL-2+. See COPYING in the source distribution.