Very Computer

My previous query has aged a week without a reply...so here we go again:

How might one get a block style cursor using Linux 1.2.13? In particular,
I'd like to have the functionality (trivial to achieve with 4DOS) of
toggling between insert and overstrike mode for editing on the command
line. I realize that mode toggling may require some source code changes
to bash 1.14.5 since it doesn't appear to support overstrike mode unless
vi editing mode is enabled.

Anyway...once I hack the bash source...I'd like to have the CLI cursor
change to show the current editing mode.

On another topic, why doesn't Linux (at least under bash) support the
"shorthand" of "cd ..." (also available under DOS) for "cd ../.."?

--
=============================================================================

      Linux for fun, M$ for $$$...and the NFL for what really counts!
=============================================================================

Quote:>How might one get a block style cursor using Linux 1.2.13? In particular,

There used to be a nonblink patch for some lot of people who couldn't
live without a steady cursor; I never actually looked at it, but if
there's any patches out there to do what you want, I'd expect them to
be in that package. Worth looking into, maybe?

Quote:>I'd like to have the functionality (trivial to achieve with 4DOS) of
>toggling between insert and overstrike mode for editing on the command
>line. I realize that mode toggling may require some source code changes
>to bash 1.14.5 since it doesn't appear to support overstrike mode unless
>vi editing mode is enabled.

I wouldn't know about bash, but at least in tcsh key bindings can be
modified; if bash can do insert mode toggling in one editing mode,
surely you ought to be able to bind that function to the key of your
choice in some other mode as well?

Quote:>Anyway...once I hack the bash source...I'd like to have the CLI cursor
>change to show the current editing mode.

That might be a mite harder, I'm afraid. If you succeed, let me know
how you did it; might be a useful piece of information to have on file
the next time someone asks.

Quote:>On another topic, why doesn't Linux (at least under bash) support the
>"shorthand" of "cd ..." (also available under DOS) for "cd ../.."?

`alias "cd..." "cd ../.."` ... ?
--
" ... got to contaminate to alleviate this loneliness
      i now know the depths i reach are limitless... "
                -- nin

I can give you an easy way to (sort of) implement this one.  Since you're
using bash, just define an alias:

alias cd...='cd ../..'

The only difference between that and the way you specified it in your
question is that the alias can't have a space in it, but that just means
you'll save a keystroke.  :)

                               Chuck

--

: >How might one get a block style cursor using Linux 1.2.13? In particular,

: There used to be a nonblink patch for some lot of people who couldn't
: live without a steady cursor; I never actually looked at it, but if
: there's any patches out there to do what you want, I'd expect them to
: be in that package. Worth looking into, maybe?

: >I'd like to have the functionality (trivial to achieve with 4DOS) of
: >toggling between insert and overstrike mode for editing on the command
: >line. I realize that mode toggling may require some source code changes
: >to bash 1.14.5 since it doesn't appear to support overstrike mode unless
: >vi editing mode is enabled.

: I wouldn't know about bash, but at least in tcsh key bindings can be
: modified; if bash can do insert mode toggling in one editing mode,
: surely you ought to be able to bind that function to the key of your
: choice in some other mode as well?

: >Anyway...once I hack the bash source...I'd like to have the CLI cursor
: >change to show the current editing mode.

: That might be a mite harder, I'm afraid. If you succeed, let me know
: how you did it; might be a useful piece of information to have on file
: the next time someone asks.

: >On another topic, why doesn't Linux (at least under bash) support the
: >"shorthand" of "cd ..." (also available under DOS) for "cd ../.."?

: `alias "cd..." "cd ../.."` ... ?
: --
: " ... got to contaminate to alleviate this loneliness
:       i now know the depths i reach are limitless... "
:               -- nin

cd ... or cd .... is not supported under DOS to my knowledge. I do believe
Netware Drives support this method of reverser-traversal of the directory
tree though. However, it would be nice if Linux supported it. Ideas where
to start, anyone???

You missed the point -- I don't want a non-blink cursor. I simply want
a cursor (blinking) that is something other than the default underline.
This is often known as block-cursor.

Hmmm...why are things that are so trivial to achieve under what most
perceive to be a brain-dead OS (MS-DOS/Windows) such an ordeal in
Linux?

Thus far no one has been able to explain how a simple block-style cursor
can be obtained with Linux. Meanwhile, the shell of choice (at least
according to Matt Welsh's "Running Linux" [bash]) doesn't even support
an basic toggle between insert and overstrike mode according to the
responses thus far in this newsgroup and the e-mail I've received.

MS-DOS (and 4DOS) supported these things years ago.

--
=============================================================================

      Linux for fun, M$ for $$$...and the NFL for what really counts!
=============================================================================

 >> >How might one get a block style cursor using Linux 1.2.13?
 You missed the point -- I don't want a non-blink cursor. I simply want

Quote:> a cursor (blinking) that is something other than the default underline.

There's a lil' program hidden away on my Infomagic Slackware CD set, called
something like SVGATextmode - horrible name, I tend to <tab> it after three
letters.  It's main function is to push your console into eye-busting text
resolutions, like 100x37 characters.  One of it's little tricks is a
*programmable* cursor height!  In the config file, you enter the number of
(scanlines?  pixels?) high you want your cursor; the suggested values are 2
for an underline cursor, 32 or so for block.

I'd imagine you could hack out a little script to change between the two
modes without changing your actual text mode.

John T

--
Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology.
   - Iggy Pop, "Search & Destroy" - think yourself lucky I can't spell
                                     the guitar break

Quote:>cd ... or cd .... is not supported under DOS to my knowledge. I do believe
>Netware Drives support this method of reverser-traversal of the directory

4DOS, which the original poster mentioned using, does support
"cd ...".  I believe Win95 also has this shortcut built into its
pathname parsing routines.