New Command [N]
Creates a new, empty Qedit workfile and opens it. This can be either an unnamed extra scratch file or a named workfile. The advantages of a workfile are that you can instantly Open and Shut it, and that it compresses your data. You can use Text to make a copy of a Qedit file when you wish to protect the work you have done.
NEW filename [,language [ (size) ]
NEW
(Default: extra scratch, 3200 lines)
Qedit shuts the current file and builds filename, which it then opens for editing. If you leave out filename, Qedit creates a new extra scratch file and assigns it a number (1,2,3..) so that you can recognize it in Verify Open and Open ?. Up to eight extra scratch files are allowed (see also the TextJ command). You can convert a scratch file into a named workfile at any time by Opening it and doing Shut filename. You cannot Exit without discarding or saving any edits you have done in an extra scratch file.
The language defaults to the current Set Lang value, but can be overridden. This is useful for forcing creation of a Jumbo workfile in Qedit/MPE by doing “new abc,data.”
If you want to force creating a Wide-Jumbo format, you should set the Length to a value larger than 1,000 before issuing the New command.
/Set Length 2500 /New newwork
These commands create a new permanent workfile called Newwork. If you want to create a new scratch file, enter the New command by itself.
The optional size specifies the number of lines you expect to add to the file. The minimum size is 200 lines, the default is 3200 (see Set Work for increasing or decreasing the default size), and the maximum is either 65,535 or 99,999,999.
Examples
/new {create an extra scratch file} /new memos {create an empty file named Memos} /set lang job {define file as 80-column records} /add /new forbig,data (100000) {Jumbo workfile} /new frankie(500) {build Frankie for 500 lines} /aq 1=johnny {memos was shut automatically}
Building Workfiles with Text
You can also create new workfiles while doing a Text command.
/text johnny {copy Johnny file into Qeditscr} /shut frankie {save Qeditscr as Frankie file} or... /t frankie=johnny {build Frankie file ...} {and copy Johnny into it}
The advantage of this method over New is that Qedit ensures that the size of the new workfile is always large enough for the external file, plus room for expansion. When you create the workfile with New, you may not build it large enough to hold a file that you Text into it later.