VSI OpenVMS Forum

Having a first look at LSE. Is there an explanation anywhere as to the commands that are used e.g. load an existing file, create a file etc (all the usual editor stuff.)

The opening screen shows | Write | Insert | Forward at the bottom of the screen. Is there a command mode? I can't see how to input commands - anything I type merely gets echoed in the $MAIN buffer above [End of File].

And how does LSE recognise COBOL?

Thanks

Paolo,

the Language Sensitive Editor LSE is part of the DECset bundle. Various documentation for it is available at the VSI documentation website. What you're looking for is probably the VSI DECset for OpenVMS Language-Sensitive Editor Command-Line Interface and Callable Routines Reference Manual

COBOL is supported, AFAICT.

HTH,
Martin

martinv

Thanks. Yes, I found that manual and it was helpful. Also helpful is the fact that I've got an old USB keyboard with an LSE (and EVE) compatible keypad which should make using LSE very much easier.

As far as COBOL is concerned is there an initialisation/parameter file that I need to set up to activate COBOL support? I wasn't easily able to find anything about this, merely some comment about [placeholders..] which I'm afraid didn't mean anything to me.

Thanks

Paul

If you hit the DO key (or the keys mapped to VT DO key) then you should get a prompt where you can enter comands.

I believe LSE should determine language based on file extension, but it has been a long time since I last tried LSE.

I doubt spending time learning LSE is worth the effort. LSE is totally obsolete. If you need a general purpose text editor then use EVE. If you need an IDE with language support then run VMS IDE (VS Code with VMS plugin) on a PC.

arne

Thanks for your comments. I will still examine LSE - out of interest

With respect to VME IDE - as it runs on a PC how does it cooperate with OpenVMS running on an emulator?

Paul

You edit on PC, the IDE upload files to VMS, builds on VMS and even debugs.

https://wiki.vmssoftware.com/VMS_IDE

OK, arne, many thanks.

Paul