Linux / Unix ed command

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About ed

Line oriented file editor.

Below is a listing of know limitations of the ed editor:

64 characters per file name.
256 characters per global subcommand list.
LINE_MAX characters per line (although there is currently a system-imposed limit of 255 characters per line entered from the keyboard).
128,000 character buffer size,

Syntax

ed [-C] [-p string] [-s] [-] [-x] filename

red [-C] [-p string] [-s | - ] [-x] filename

-C	Encryption option; the same as the -x option, except that ed simulates a C command. The C command is like the X command, except that all text read in is assumed to have been encrypted.
-p string	Allows the user to specify a prompt string. By default, there is no prompt string.
-s or -	Suppresses the writing of character counts by e, r, and w commands, of diagnostics from e and q commands, and of the ! prompt after a !shell command.
-x	Encryption option; when used, ed simulates an X command and prompts the user for a key. The X command makes an educated guess to determine whether text read in is encrypted or not. The temporary buffer file is encrypted also, using a transformed version of the key typed in for the -x option.
filename	The name of the file that you wish to edit.

Examples

Assuming the file myfile.txt has the following lines in it:

Hello world
this is a test
of the ed editor

ed myfile.txt - Would open the file myfile.txt in the ed editor.

Below is examples of how you could navigate with the ed command.

$	Reads the last line in this case "of the ed editor"
-	Moves back one line. For example, if $ was typed, if - was entered would move up to "this is a test". A number can be added to move more than one line at a time. For example, if at the last line typing -2 would move back to the first line in this example.
+	The + moves one line forward instead of back like the -. Like the - the + can have a number added after it, for example, +2 to move two lines instead of one line.
/.	Reads the first line in this case "Hello world" additional dots can be added to read other lines.
/text/	Searches for the text typed in-between the forward slashes and displays the next line that has this text. For example, if we were at the first line "Hello world" and typed /test/ the line displayed would be "this is a test"
i	Inserts text above the current line. Once you are done inserting text press CTRL + C to exit out of the insert option.
j	Joins lines of text.
t	Copies the line.
c	Used to change text. For example, if our current line was "this is a test". Typing c would allow you to enter a new line. Typing "this is a tester" and then pressing CTRL + C would replace the previous line with this new line.
r	Removes the specific line you are currently on.
X	Allows you to skip to a line. For example, typing X and when asked to enter a key you enter 3 would display the line "of the ed editor"

Additionally many of the above options can be combined. For example, typing /test/i would insert a line before the first line that has test.

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