Re: mail-to resolved (Was: Re: [cobalt-users] New Cobalt Forum)

[Jens Kristian Søgaard <jens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I never wanted to learn a new editor after Wordstar (written by and for
> a friend of mine at the time).  So I use "joe" on Linux/Unix.

> So I've got no experience on any other editor... for better or for
> worse.

Oh, okay. If you do not want to dive in at the Emacs keybinding, then you
can just install WordStar emulation in Emacs (the great thing about Emacs
is, that you can download hundreds of extensions on the Internet).

A few of the most popular ones are available here:

http://www.xemacs.org/Download/elispPackages.html

(note that some of them is already installed on your RaQ)

This site got several hundred packages:

http://www.anc.ed.ac.uk/~stephen/emacs/ell.html

The Wordstar emulation package is already installed on your RaQ, so just
fire up emacs and write:

M-x wordstar-mode

(you can use TAB completion)

That should give you keybindings that matche the ones in your WordStar
editor. You can ofcourse put this in your .emacs file, so that you do not
have to write that every time you start up the editor.

But you need to beware of the number 1 newbie mistake regarding Emacs: Don't
close it!

(i.e. do not get the habit of starting the editor to edit a file, closing it
again - moving around in the shell - open the editor again, etc.)

I suggest that you install the Windows version on your home computer first,
so that you can get a hang of the system. Most people seem more comfortable
having the mouse to navigate the point-n-click menus and dialogs, before
having to use the keyboard only.

> > (the last part means Meta-x gnus. I.e. press your Meta key while
pressing x,
> > and enter gnus and press the enter key)
> Not sure I know what a Meta key is.

Oh, I thought you worked with Unix machines normally? (they got Meta keys,
Compose keys, Menu keys, etc.)

You can use the ALT key or in need the ESC key on your PC keyboard to
achieve almost the samme effect.

> I've got the "Programming with GNU Software" O'Reilly book... It's
> almost bedtime; I'll take it to bed with me, and read it's Emacs
> chapter.  It'll give me a place to start.

Sure, or maybe try reading this book (online):

http://linux.tomsk.ru/docs/programms/emacs/index.htm

(Sams Teach Yourself Emacs in 24 Hours)

--
Jens Kristian Søgaard, Mermaid Consulting I/S,
jens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
http://www.mermaidconsulting.com/