CENIO EDITOR

My first job (in 1974) was as a computer programmer at the Census Bureau in Suitland, MD - near Washington, D.C. The language we used was FORTRAN IV. We had some excellent classes in how to program in FORTRAN. However, soon after I started, the language NU ALGOL was introduced. I was one the pioneers to first use it. The increased power of the language enabled me to write an editor for the unique format in which the bureau kept its data (on magnetic tapes!). I have retained the full listing of the program - since 1977! I wrote the editor on my own time. It was such great fun.

The text in the following image was extracted by chatGPT. It did a pretty good job.

CENIO EDITOR DOCUMENTATION

Designed and Written by Jon Bjornstad

I. INTRODUCTION

For those who want to make a quick use of this editor without searching through the whole document, see page 31 for a description of the basic commands.

The element SYS$*ALGOL.CE contains a program which implements for CENIO files many of the same text editing functions that @ED does for SDF files. Other instructions are included to handle the unique features of CENIO files. To make repetitive editing tasks easier, there are facilities for programming the editor with “IF”, “WHILE”, “REPEAT”, and “PROCEDURE” instructions. The commands “FORMAT”, “LIST”, “SUSPEND”, “RESUME”, and “LISTFILE” make the editor a generalized listing program.

Two limitations should be pointed out. The editor cannot go backwards except to rewind the files back to the very beginning. The maximum record length that can be handled is 4092 characters or 682 words. For most applications the editor simply does a straight copy with a few side tracks along the way. The side tracks should be relatively inexpensive. The execution time is printed at the end so that users can judge the cost vs. performance for themselves.

The editor is a conversational program designed to be used from the demand terminal. This means that there are many self-explanatory error messages which protect the user from termination due to careless mistakes. It also means that the program itself should be a good teacher providing quick feedback.

The ideas for a procedure capability and default parameters came from the University of Maryland’s @UED. Conversations with Charlie Linett and Ron Angus were both helpful and inspiring.

This program was tailor-made to suit the needs of people who use CENIO files every day. Anyone with a suggestion on how to improve the fit should call (Jon) at X35108 Room 156T. Anyone wishing to see the program is also very welcome.

In view of the size of this document and the number and variety of commands, the following quotation from Mark Twain seems appropriate:

“If I were to sell the reader a barrel of molasses, and he, instead of sweetening his substantial dinner with the same at judicious intervals, should eat the entire barrel at one sitting, and then abuse me for making him sick, I would say that he deserved to be made sick for not knowing how to utilize the blessings this world affords. And if I sell to the reader this volume of nonsense, and he, instead of seasoning his graver reading with a chapter of it now and then, when his mind demands such relaxation, unwisely overdoses himself with several chapters of it at a single sitting, he will deserve to be nauseated, and will have no one to blame but himself if he is.” — Mark Twain

The program begins here with line #1. It ends at line #4336!

An example of the NU ALGOL code (NU = Norwegian University):

The procedure capability was quite a challenge.

An ecstatic experience!