Attributes Global attributes are settings that apply in all buffers and can be saved in a section file or as EVE-generated code in a command file, so you can keep your settings for future editing sessions: SET BACKUP CONTROL STRING SET [NO]FILE BACKUP SET BOX [NO]PAD SET FIND CASE [NO]EXACT SET BOX [NO]SELECT SET [NO]PENDING DELETE SET [NO]CLIPBOARD SET [NO]SECTION FILE PROMPTING SET CURSOR BOUND or FREE SET SCROLL ON, OFF, JUMP, or SMOOTH SET [NO]DEFAULT COMMAND FILE SET TABS INSERT, MOVEMENT, or SPACES SET [NO]DEFAULT SECTION FILE SET TABS [IN]VISIBLE SET [NO]EXIT ATTRIBUTE CHECK Other global settings are not saved, such as scroll margins or type of wildcards. Buffer settings, such as margins and tab stops, are not saved. Attributes and Section Files o A section file is in binary form so it is loaded quickly at startup, but it cannot be printed or edited. In effect, the section file is your own, customized version of EVE. o To create a section file, use SAVE ATTRIBUTES or SAVE EXTENDED EVE. A section file saves the following: * Compiled procedures * Global attributes (see list above) * Key definitions, including learn sequences * Menu definitions for the DECwindows interface o If you prefer to save in a section file, use the following commands, so that when you save attributes, EVE creates a new version of your default section file without prompting for the file name. This also makes attribute saving faster because there are fewer prompts. Command: SET NOSECTION FILE PROMPTING Command: SET DEFAULT SECTION FILE mysection.tpu$section Command: SAVE ATTRIBUTES o For more information about creating and using a section file, see help on Section Files. Attributes and Command Files o A command file contains TPU procedures and statements which are compiled and executed at startup---in effect, a series of TPU programs for extending EVE. A command file may be slower at startup than a section file, but it takes up less disk space and it can be edited and printed. o When you use SAVE ATTRIBUTES, you can have EVE create or update a command file. EVE then generates a specially marked block of TPU statements for--- * Global attributes (see list above) * Menu definitions for the DECwindows interface Thus, if you created a command file containing TPU procedures and key definitions of your own, you can have EVE add the block of statements to this command file. If there is already an attribute block in the command file, EVE replaces it with the new block. o If you prefer to save in a command file, use the following commands, so that when you save attributes, EVE prompts for a command file and shows the name of your default command file (TPU$COMMAND.TPU) in the prompt line. This also makes attribute saving faster because there are fewer prompts. Command: SET NOSECTION FILE PROMPTING Command: SET NODEFAULT SECTION FILE Command: SET DEFAULT COMMAND FILE tpu$command.tpu Command: SAVE ATTRIBUTES o For more information about using a command file, including a sample file, see help on Command Files. Attributes and Initialization Files o An initialization file (typically named EVE$INIT.EVE) contains commands you want executed at startup. This is particularly useful to set margins, tab stops, and other attributes that are applied to the $DEFAULTS$ buffer. For example, if you prefer a right margin of 70, put SET RIGHT MARGIN 70 in your initialization file. See help on Defaults. o At startup, an initialization file is slower than a section file or command file, depending on how many commands are to be executed. For example, if you have several key definitions, you should save them in a section file. o For more information about using initialization files, including a sample file, see help on Initialization Files. Attribute Checking and Exiting o On exiting or quitting, if you changed attributes and have not already saved them, EVE asks you whether to save your changes. If you respond Yes, EVE does a SAVE ATTRIBUTES. o To simplify or speed up exiting and quitting, you can use (and save) SET NOEXIT ATTRIBUTE CHECK. This is also useful if you frequently change global settings but do not want to save the changes. However, SET NOEXIT ATTRIBUTE CHECK does not apply to the current editing session, but only to subsequent sessions in which you use the section file or command file in which you saved the setting. Related topics: Command Files Defaults Initialization Files Section Files SAVE ATTRIBUTES SAVE SYSTEM ATTRIBUTES