28/06/02 - M21 Announce New MW Editor

"It's amazing how long programmers have been developing in M using antiquated editors that would be laughed at in other programming environments"
Stavros Goulis, M Programmer since 1976, CCS

Good editors, it would seem, are few and far between in M technology, and even fewer are windows based. Of course, development has taken place with such editors quickly and effectively for many years, but M21 designer Adam Clarke, felt a change was needed.

"For the less experienced programmer", writes Clarke, the developer of the MW editor, "working in a DOS environment is very frustrating, greatly slowing the speed of software development. Error checking, imparticular, becomes tiresome. This editor makes for more user friendly M development."

Of particular importance, however, is that the editor can also be used in a Linux environment, using WINE, a program that allows Unix workstation users to run MS Windows binaries. See to the above for more details on WINE.

Distributed free with M21, the MW Editor conforms to the standard windows practices, incorporating many typical conventions, allowing programmers to quickly and effectively use the editor within seconds.

Such conventions also allow for faster error checking, and multiple routine editing. A full list of some of the standard features (and some not so standard), can be found below:

• Color coded syntax highlighting, with customisable colors.
• Multiple routines can be opened at once, with single key/click change between them.
• Easy to see list of labels within programs.
• Indent/Unident/Comment/Uncomment chunks of code.
• CTRL+Click a routine call in code to go to that program/routine label.
• Bookmarks within code.
• Full search and replace.
• Multiple undo levels.
• Auto format code function.
• Jump to line number/label, with option to skip comment lines.
• Record a series of keystrokes as a macro and store/play back as needed.
• Scratch pad for temporary code storage.
• Save piece of code as a block for later use (store commonly used pieces of code).
• Routine locking so only one person can open a routine at once, any further options are read only.
• Basic syntax checking, ie unmatched brackets.
• List of recently opened/edited routines.
• Ability to list routines stored on M server.
• Customisable format types. eg ....D or . . . .D
• Copy/Paste
• Export/Import routines to text/.rtn files
• Printing using a windows printer
• Save Routine As...., and delete routine capabilities.
• Compiler, which removes excess comments for smaller distributable code size.
• Shortcut keys for all major features.
• Customizable font.
• Convert case of selected text.

A primary aim of M21 is to bring a Graphical User Interface to M technology, and the MW Editor is the first step in this process. Regular updates will be posted here, to keep you updated on how M21 are ensuring a bright future for M.

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