Instructions on using emacs in text-only mode


  Emacs can run either in graphical or in text-only mode.  When you telnet
into husun3 from a windows (or machintosh) system, you can only use emacs
in text-only mode.  This means you can not use the mouse for any purpose, and
there is also no toolbar.  If you really don't want to use emacs, you
may create a text file with some editor or word processor, and then
ftp the file to your unix account (see instructions on ftp below).  

Telnet:  From a Microsoft Windows machine, click on Start, then Run, then
type in "telnet".  When the telnet window comes up, open a connection to
husun3.hofstra.edu.  Log in to your account, and proceed as usual (tcsh, 
source useqt, etc... ).  To start emacs in text mode type 
xemacs -nw filename where filename is the name of the file you want to edit.
If the file does not exist, it will be created.

Here are the basic commands:  "CTRL-" stands for the Control key.

  Use arrow keys to navigate.
  
  CTRL-g	: reset (use this when things go beserk)
  CTRL-a	: move cursor to begining of line
  CTRL-e	: move cursor to end of line
  CTRL-v	: move down a page
  ESC-v		: move up a page
  ESC-<		: go to beginning of file
  ESC->		: go to end of file
  CTRL-d	: deletes character (the one the cursor is over)
  CTRL-k	: deletes a line
  CTRL-y	: "yanks" out the lines you just deleted
      (This feature can also be used to copy and paste)
  CTRL-s	: search for a word   
  CTRL-xs (hold down CONTROL key and type "xs")	: this saves your file
  ESC-x "goto-l" : brings up a prompt for a line number to go to.
  CTRL-xh       : brings up a command summary. (use CTRL-x1 to get rid of it)
  CTRL-xc 	: quits emacs (pay attention to messages at bottom)

  WARNING: depending on certain factors, the backspace character can not
be used to delete.  If this is the case use the delete (del) key instead.

  One thing to keep in mind is that, unlike word processors, you
should not keep typing when you get to the end of a line.  Type
carriage returns manually.

  When things go nuts, type CTRL-g, and if this still does not work,
quit emacs.  You'll be prompted to save all unsaved buffers, so you
won't lose any work.

  This is just the basics.  There are many other commands.  I'll try to 
  mention some while I'm writing programs in class.

  When you've created the program, you can compile it using the same procedures
as in the lab.  You can also run any standard C++ program - those that don't
use graphics.  But you can not run any program created with "qtcompile".  (Qt
is available for Windows, but it costs $1500 per copy).

To log out (after quiting emacs) type exit (may need to do it more than once).


Alternatives:

  There are some alternatives to using text-mode emacs if you want to work 
at home.  

  Other editors: there are other editors that can work in text mode.  One is
  "joe" - but I've decided to let you experiment with that.

  FTP: you can type in your program using some native windows editor such as
  notepad, then ftp it to your account.  From the MS DOS command prompt, type
  "ftp husun3.hofstra.edu".  log in using your username and password.  The 
  commands cd, ls, and pwd can be used to navigate to you where you want to
  store the file.  Before transfering files, type "ascii".  This is important.
  Type send filename to send a file to your account, and get filename to 
  download a file from your account to your windows machine.  Type quit to
  end the ftp session.
  WARNING: make sure your file is saved in text mode, and make sure that 
   windows doesn't attach some suffix (".txt") to your file without you
   knowing about it (Windows like to do that).

  X-Win32: There are software that allows you to use remote unix systems in
  graphical mode.  But these are difficult to use and really not fast enough
  if you connect to the internet through a modem.  

  Linux: This is the best option, but is for advanced users.  Linux is a
  Unix operating systems that works on ordinary PCs.  You can set up a Linux
  system so you can use your account almost exactly as you would use it in 
  the lab.  But don't get into Linux until you've had more experience using
  Unix at school.