Next Article
Are you ready to learn, or brush up on, your CMS editor skills? Feeling comfortable with the editor can increase
your productivity level and really make life easier. For instance, would
you rather spend your time deleting each character in a line with the
delete key, or type d' in the command line and remove the entire line
with a simple key stroke (lesson 3)? Have you ever deleted a line that
you want back (lesson 5)? Need to learn to use multiple screens (lesson
9)? The more you understand the editor's features, the faster you can
accomplish your task, and the faster you can get out the door for pizza
and a movie.
For first-time (or rusty) users, try the on-line tutorial package,
SELF-TEACH. SELF-TEACH has 15 lessons that you can use in any order, at
any time. These lessons cover such things as XEDIT commands, XEDIT
PROFILE, and a brief look at macros with REXX and EXEC 2. A list of the
lesson topics is included in the SELF-TEACH introduction (on screen 2).
Just type SLFTEACH at the CMS *Ready prompt. (Just
s-l-f-t-e-a-c-h, don't put the e' in self.) You'll see this
SELF-TEACH/IBM logo screen at the beginning of the introduction and at
the beginning of each of the 15 lessons. The bottom line of the logo
screen prompts you to press < PF8 > to continue.
The screens for the lessons and introduction are generally set
up with the title of the module on the first line (i.e.: Introduction to
Self-Teach, Tailoring Your Screen, Moving Through a File, etc.) and your
location in that module in the top right corner. For instance:
Introduction to Self-Teach Intro
1 of 7
The above heads the first page' of the introduction module
showing you that you are on screen 1 and there are 7 screens in the
introduction. Most screens are set up in this manner. The exercise
screens are exceptions to this. They look like ordinary XEDIT sessions
with no lesson title and no screen numbering in the upper right corner.
Each lesson module will have its objectives clearly stated on
one of the early (usually the second or third) screens, as well as the
approximate length of time needed to complete the lesson. For example,
the first lesson (Tailoring Your Screen) has these objectives and time
estimate:
introduces you to the XEDIT editor and the basics of its
commands
explains the forms of the commands accepted by XEDIT
provides exercises to give you experience using the screen
tailoring commands
provides a list of IBM manuals that support XEDIT
This lesson should take approximately 25 to 40 minutes to
complete.
By paging to the lesson's objective screen, you can determine if the lesson covers areas which interest you and decide if you have the time to really use the exercises as they were intended. These lessons are self-paced and can be as fast or slow as you need. You can, of course, leave a lesson at any time by using the
key to exit.
To begin lesson one, at the CMS Ready prompt, type: SLFTEACH
LESSON1
Already familiar with the editor? Want a quick check on a command?
At the Ready prompt, type HELP XEDIT MENU for a list of XEDIT
help topics. These include XEDIT commands, but not the hints and
how-to's you'll find with Self-Teach. Self-Teach tells you how to use a
forward slash in the prefix area (lesson 2) and you have to know to look
in the *PREFIX topic for a /' to know that this will set the new current
line in XEDIT.
HELP is a good tool to use when you have at least a nodding
acquaintance with XEDIT, but need some clarification on a particular
command or subcommand.
Next Article
If you have problems or questions about this server, please contact me as soon as possible. You can send mail to the following address: www@unt.edu