Book of Jornada: Chapter 9 Capture Video Display Editor (VDE) for DOS

Yesterday I started a thread on hpcfactor discussing PocketDOS (which doesn't seemed to get mentioned much there). A fellow member there recommended VDE (Video Display Editor). I wasn't aware of this program until the forum post. Then I checked out the dedicated website for VDE and started to learn more about the app.

A little bit background from the official VDE manual: 

VDO was a tiny program assembling to a 4k COM file, with just a rudimentary set of basic editing commands, and it could edit only files small enough to fit into about 50k of memory remaining on a CP/M system after it loaded itself -- but it was fast.

... My own inspiration was to develop a sort of hybrid program with as much word-processor functionality as was practical to combine with the efficiency of a simple text editor, and after I had rewritten, improved, and expanded the code enough I began to call my program "VDE".  My approach wasn't merely derivative; I tried to maintain as much compatibility as possible with Wordstar to avoid confusion, but also created new features like macros and macro programming (in 1986, before Wordstar had macros), and unique ones like block zoom and split screen with compare, that gave VDE even greater potential...

VDE does look like a very capable ultra lightweight editor and seems quite popular among the HP LX Palmtops users (a dedicated version is available). I will definitely dig it.

Here are the highlighted features from the manual:

VDE is a small, fast DOS-based text editor for PC compatibles offering:

     * WordStar-style command keys, or easy menu-driven basic operation

     * multiple file editing with dual windows, copy and paste, compare

     * block copy, move, delete, read, write, zoom, and column mode

     * find and replace (including backward, ignore case, all files, etc)

     * protected mode, multi-level undo, and automatic timed save

     * powerful programmable macros to automate tasks or create new features

     * definable function keys and many other user-configurable options

     * many choices of text, screen, and window sizes

     * full-featured file browser (tag, edit, import, delete, etc)

     * access to DOS utilities, full DOS shell, and Windows Clipboard

     * compatibility with Windows features like Long File Names

     * fast, effective operation even on older PCs, laptops, palmtops

 Yet VDE is also an effective word processor, with:

     * fully automatic, permanent paragraph formatting (manual optional)

     * wordwrap, adjustable margins, center, flush right, variable tabs, 

          autoindent, double space, right justify

     * writer's tools including word count, list numbering, sorting

     * print preview to check format and pagebreaks before printing

     * customizable printer drivers for special effects (bold, underline, 

          italic, super/subscript, overstrike, fonts, etc)

     * many printing options (headers, pagination, selective print, single 

          sheet feed, address envelopes, print to file, etc)

     * multiple file formats for text exchange/translation, including DOS, 

          Windows/Unicode, RTF, WordStar, WordPerfect, Word, HPLX, Unix

Finding and loading VDE in PocketDOS on the Jornada is noob-proof. Just grab the file here: https://sites.google.com/site/vdeeditor/Home/vde-files , unzip the archive to the storage card, then simply run "vde" or "vde FILENAME" from the command prompt.